Oakland USA

Southern Parades are best viewed while drinking Mint Juleps 

Standing in front of the Brown and Beige Episcopal Church, painted with left over paint from the old Rail Road Station.  I watched my fifth Jefferson  County Watermelon parade: 

Cop cars, 

Fire Trucks; 

Ashville Fire Trucks

Jefferson County* Waissa Truck # 7; Engine # 1; 

Gainesville Volunteer Fire Department; 

Convertable BMW's with grand Marshall for the 60th Watermelon parade; 

Marine Marching Band from Georgia playing "From the Halls of Montezuma"; 

Baby photo contest winners on flat bed trucks,
Teenage Watermelon pagent winners,
Miss. Watermelon;
regally wave at their servants.

Smokey the bear in a John Deere Tractor says "Only You!"; 

Scottish Bagpipes Marching in Plaid Kilts 

Cylar Howard Family Reunion members having fun with a  

Remote Control Car that zips around;

Candidates for future elections hand out pencils, and wave eagerly.

Free Masons and Vietnam Veterans 

Marzuq Bandits in mini clown cars doing circle eights; 

Mini Nascars driven by Mason gearing up; 

Swamp Thing- a hunting platform driving down main street; 

A mini big foot built from a Suzuki Samurai Body; 

Jefferson County Football Warriors play at 6 pm.                                                     

Confederate Soldiers march for a war that has not ended (yet)
I wave my Confederate  Battle Flag at the
boys, in the alligator hunting platform.

Memories of
when I was a hyper kid
jumping up and down for parades.
I am carried to the festival by
smells of fried Mullet, 

 wafting into
 muggy air.
Followed
by the
Sheriff
and Street
Sweepers.

Dark Dreary Night in Monticello

UPON THE HALF decayed porch of a small frame Old Catholic Church, we were waiting for the HauntedMonticello Ghost Tour to begin. One could tell that the Church was made out of a love for Christ, because of the detailed masonry and eye for perfection found in the sanctuary's design. 
Outside the church it was a dreary night.   Tallahassee was being washed out by torrential downpours, and lightning strikes every ten feet. Monticello was so far clear of any rain or any threats from lighting. 
The tour guests were arriving with expectations of seeing a real ghost.
"Do y'all find any actual ghosts on this tour?", said a man wearing an "Astro Boy" t-shirt.
"Well last night… one of our guests thought she fell into a spider web; but in all actuality it was a ghost." said the tour guide.
The tour guide, Margaret Defraud,  was dressed up in a Victorian style dress.  
She knew what the guests were thinking,  "history is spooky".  
But I will show these Yahoos, I will disprove their doubt that "History is bunk!" I will replace this notion with History is a living breathing thing.  History is a monster that stalks its victims." 


I will walk them down that darkened street damned street Stoneham.  Stoneham Street which served as a conduit for lost souls.  Stoneham Street which was always five degrees cooler compared to adjoining streets.  She had witnessed that the wind moved constantly there. 


Margaret Defraud  believed Stoneham Street was an express way for Lost Souls.

Punt Bama Punt

1972; a year before I was born. The score of the Iron Bowl was 16-3. Bama undefeated. Auburn hungry for a victory. Bama punts. Auburn blocks the point and runs it back for a touchdown. Score 16-10. Then the incredible happened, Bama punts again, again the same guy blocks the punt, and the same Auburn Tiger scores; the score now was 16-17. Auburn won. Punt 'bama punt; a rivalry had become even more fierce.

Due South Fridays: Holidays in Florida

Halloween in Central Florida is a big deal.

Winter holidays in Florida are a big deal. Why is this?For one reason; the weather does not change, it still is hot outside. For another; trees do not change color and loose their leaves.
So how do we make up for the weather's indifference to time?

We decorate. We create fake snow. We hold haunted houses.

Jessica my wife, and I went to the Bedlam Haunted house last night.
The house was mental. The theme of the house is an insane asylum.
Everyone there will drive you insane, for you can check in anytime you want to but you can never find the door knob to exit; for I had become one of them and did not want to leave and face the cold cold cold world.

The house is a fundraiser for the Winter Haven based ridge art foundation.
Check it out-
Oct 29th, 30 Nov. 1st 7:30-10:30
Oct 31 6:00-12:0

Location: Downtown Winter Haven243 W. Central Avenue

Phone: 863-291-566

Tickets can be had at
Hand Picked of Winter Haven 1503 6th St. SE
or The Ridge Art Gallery 210 Cypress Gardens Blvd
$7 in advance
$8 in advance

Tuesday: Due South: Watermellon Festival Monticello

Due South? Go Up to the South this weekend to the 59th Annual Watermelon Festival in Monticello Florida. South of South?

Monticello is the county seat for Jefferson County, Florida. Jefferson County in 1884 was the Producing King of the U.S. Watermelon. William M. Girardeau from Jefferson County, was the first to create a Watermelon Seed Separating Machine.

Why go? One can go for the following five reasons:

1. Bed Races where held on June 5th. (Heehaw!)
2. 10 AM Parade
   
3. Drink Mint Juleps if your Lucky!
4. Car Show
   
5. Children's Theatre at Monticello's Opera house.
   

Come on up now you here!