April Blogging A to Z Challenge 2026: X is for Xunantunich

 Belize might be a younger country, but its history stretches to ancient civilization. Mayan temples and ruins are certainly places not to miss. Xunantunich is one of the ruins

April Blogging A to Z Challenge 2026: W is for Waterfalls in Belize

 Belize is a beautiful country with lots of nature areas. Mountains, jungles, rivers and seas make up the landscape of Belize.

On my first adventure in Belize I found a waterfall.

I also jumped in and wasn't worried about water for the rest of my trip.

IF you are searching for waterfalls Belize is a place to find them!

A to Z: Downtown these Days

 I welcomed in 2020 in what you could call Downtown New Orleans. Okay technically it was a music hall in uptown. 2020 I saw a couple of musicians in downtown Mobile. I was going to go see the same musician I saw on New Year's again in downtown Mobile  last month but my plans got cancellled. I've done my share of travelling through downtown Jacksonville as I have driven from exit 5 to the coast of the Atlantic. 9In my life I have spent plenty of time in Downtowns both big and small. A lot of Downtown fun has been put on hold these days so I thought I would do a musical tribute to downtown.


Rod Stewart with "Downtown Train" ….

Petula Clark "Downtown"

Thin Lizzy "Downtown Sundown"

What are some of your favorite Downtown songs? See you Monday with a new post.

Remembering Joel Markowitz

Today is the anniversary of Joel Markowitz's birth, he would have turned 61. He passed away on November 7, 2017. I should have wrote something about him passing sometime closer to his death. Suppose it is easier to write about the deaths of celebrities than the deaths of friends.

  Joel was my editor when I wrote for the Maryland Theatre Guide and then later when I moved over to his start up DC Metro Theater Arts. I first met Joel in June or July of 2011. My first assignment was reviewing "Rock of Ages" at the National Theatre in Washington. I wrote 30 articles with the Maryland Theatre Guide from July of 2011 to March of 2012. Needless to say during that time Joel and I developed a friendship.  My writing was growing. Certainly Joel was a big help to that. When he said he was branching off on a new start up I was going with him. I had no issue with Maryland Theatre Guide but my loyalty was with him.

The move to the new outlet also embraced my passion for music. Joel was open to suggestions and I don't recall him ever saying no. We did have are differences from time to time and we hammered them out. I opened up my time with the new venture covering Smokey Robinson at the Kennedy Center and Experience Hendrix at the Strathmore. 95 articles, a mix of reviews, previews and interviews were written by me from March of 2013 to May of 2014. Probably my writing peak. Nothing I have written since has matched the work I did with Joel. He created a wonderful platform that continues. Writing on the web finding something that continues is so rare! That in itself is a testament to my friend Joel Markowitz.

I moved away from the area in September of  2013 the key reason our writing relationship ended. I dreaded telling him I was moving. Being wise and understanding he knew the move was best for me and my family. He was very supportive and a great friend. He always asked about the family as well I still supported his site. We remained friends chatting on facebook or over the phone.

He always encouraged me to take my daughter to the shows. If it was a kid's show  or a circus he would always tell me to ask her what she thought of the show and write her thoughts and share her perspectives on shows. Of course I dragged my daughter out to grown up concerts too. Now my daughter is a performer with a love of dance and music. She has even taken some acting lessons. Sure my wife and I support her love for the arts. However, I think Joel deserves some of the credit for encouraging me to take her to see the arts! The arts is what Joel loved and was passionate about!

Joel was excited he had lost some stubborn weight. His spirits were high. Then he was diagnosed with ALS in March of 2017. Five years after he started DC Metro Theater Arts. Joel fought ALS but passed away last November. I wasn't expecting him to pass so soon. It caught me by surprise and unfortunately I couldn't go to his funeral. Obviously I have a lot of respect for the man Joel Markowitz was. The performing arts world of Washington, Baltimore and beyond lost a great advocate.

You can read his tribute at DC Metro Theater Arts here. You can read his obituary here from the Washington Post. Joel may you rest in peace! I am thinking about you on your birthday!

A to Z Challenge: Snakes

I live in Florida so snakes are common. You can run into snakes almost anywhere. This snake decided to join us in the Church yard for Easter..



It was a non-venomous snake. The snake was treated properly, everyone was able to get a good look and then everyone left the snake alone.

My daughter last held a snake about two years ago. This Spring she was able to hold a few more at our trip to Alligator Alley.



They even let me hold the snake...





This snake was a tickler...





Notice the smiles on her face. My daughter has been able to hold alligators, birds, kangaroos, monkeys, snakes, and even fed a baby tiger. I've been lucky enough to fill her life with adventures and still hope to add a few more adventures into her life.

My wife is not a fan of snakes. Two years ago, I had someone comment that wrapping a big snake around a  young child wasn't a good idea, that the snake was stronger than I thought and could squeeze at anytime. Yes there is some risk to it. Even if a smaller snake decided to bite it would upset my daughter, which would surely earn me an earful from my lovely wife and her Irish temper. So yes there is risk. However, look at the smiles!



I win she is happy, she is learning to respect snakes (and other animals), she is making memories and having adventures. As for me I'm spending quality time with my daughter.

A to Z: Lizard Adventures

So last year I posted a video about lizards that chill. Staying on that theme I thought I would share some lizard adventures.

This lizard wanted to fish..





This one made friends with my daughter..



At least we don't have lizards like this..



Wonder what M will bring?

A to Z Challenge 2016: Quick Sand

The A to Z Challenge keeps rolling along and at this point in our adventure I was thinking we need Quick Sand. It adds to any adventure. Check out this scene from The Princess Bride...

Here is an interesting experiment with Quick Sand...

Bear Grylls shows us how to survive Quick Sand...

Quick Sand appears to be sticky situation!

A to Z Challenge: Blue, Great Blue Heron

Maybe at one time these big birds were daytime creatures. Sure, I have seen them many times during  the day. However, I have found them to be my fishing companions in the overnight hours. Maybe they are like people open 24 hours a day. Maybe I was were they come to roost and maybe they liked the company.



They are big birds. Large beaks. They are predators. I have come to discover they are also very intelligent. The one below spent part of the night sneaking around trying to steal some of my bait.



They don't need hand outs as they are quite capable of catching their own meals.



They really don't mind me sticking around and taking pictures of them. All photos were taken by me. What I do when I am not working, booked up with the family, or writing. Just hanging out with birds of a feather!

Today was for the Birds

When I booked my fishing trip I wasn't sick. Then yesterday when my trip was cancelled and they left a message offering a shorter trip I assumed that was for today. The same day as the longer trip was scheduled. I tried to call back but no living voices answered the phone and my calls weren't answered.

Anyway, I prepared myself for the trip. Was it 6 or 7AM I didn't know. I made sure I was there early for the 6AM trip. My wife looked at me like I was crazy and said "they gave you an out, you're sick, you should take the out." She was right like most wives tend to be, husbands just hate to admit it.

The light frost on the top of my car may have been a hint from a higher power this wasn't a great idea. However, I was determined to go fishing!  I was at my destination by 5 including a pit stop at some gas station to stock up on cough drops, a vitamin water, and regular water.  I took medicine and downed vitamins before I left home.

When I got to my destination the only living thing around was the "early bird" and heck he may have stayed up all night. It could have been the "party bird" as the place looked like a night time fun stop.



The familiar hurry up and wait game we all have played a million times before. I waited, I walked around checked out all the boats. Sat on a bench and waited. Repeated those last two sentences a few times.

The light inside the boat I was supposed to go on was on. I could hear the radio playing from the vessel. Could it be a glimmer of hope?

6AM came. No one. Time kept ticking. Even the sun got out of bed..



The time moved closer to seven and with no one showing up I knew the only one going fishing was the birds!



Shortly after seven, I said goodbye to my feather friends like this one...



I took my bag and walked to my car. I drove to a local fishing pier. I debated fishing from the pier and when 8AM struck I was on the pier casting my line.

My adventures with birds would continue. I met a curious crow who decided to check out my bag, He hopped on top of it and peaked his head inside. Then he checked out my bait. I walked over and the crow barely moved just kind of looked at me. I picked up the bait and stated "mine." If I knew how my fishing luck was going to be I certainly would have given the bird a piece. Hindsight is always 20/20.

The only thing I caught was a seagull and a sunburn! The sea birds were chasing baits most of the morning. Then some kids decided to feed them creating a kind of feeding frenzy for the gulls. The next thing I knew I had one tangled in my lines.

I reeled the bird in which kept it from going into the water. The gull had twisted himself up quite well. Another angler grabbed the bird with a towel and we both began the task of untangling the poor bird. The bird had tangled both wings! Amazingly the bird stayed rather calm and we were able to untangle the critter. He lost a couple of feather but was able to fly away unharmed. Later I saw a one legged seagull and I pondered how it had lost it legs. Then it dawned on me that bird may have gotten tangled in a fishing line and may have endured a worse fate than the bird I had caught.

As far as fish I didn't catch a single one. The only fish that was a caught by anyone was a puffer fish. Oh well that is why they call it fishing.

The sun was shinning and when I looked at the coast I saw white sand beaches as far as the eye could see.



Gazing out into the Gulf of Mexico this was my view..



Add in the fact I was able to watch a pod of dolphins swim bad the the day was that bad. Years ago I probably would have been more upset about the fishing trip being cancelled or not catching a fish. I guess I am mellowing as I age. Maybe I am just able to look at things with different perspectives. After all I could have stayed home and be sick just as well. Of course being sick and sitting in the sunshine looking at beautiful scenery works just fine. As Jimmy Buffett sings "changes in latitudes changes in attitudes."

Until my next adventure take care!