This morning.

Quote: to know what you prefer instead of humbly saying amen to what the world tells you ought to prefer, is to have kept your soul alive-Robert Louis Stevenson

 The day after the “big” storm. The surfers are out and enjoying the waves.

Little surfer little one–made my heart come all undone–Beach Boys.

These pilings are all that is left of Barnacle Bills Fishing Pier where all (or many) of the surfers used to come. I remember watching from the pier as long 8′ sharks surfed along with the boys. Of course, they were sand sharks. My dear friend Yogi Paliotti told me at those times they did the 10 toe shuffle, pulling in their toes. Alas! those sand sharks did not keep our tough surfers from doing what they loved.

Yes, this is a manatee! Not a common sight here in North Carolina, but nonetheless, there it is.
While visiting friends at Swan Point Marina this beautiful creature came swimming around the finger docks. We threw lettuce and fresh water. Wow! Hope this big guy is safe.

Of course, I do not remember being here, but I’m told I was. This is when we lived in the Azores before coming to TI. They do bullfights a little differently in the Azores. Seems, rather than kill the bull, one is to drag it into the water -or something like that. Obviously, nobody dragged el toro anywhere that day-except maybe the slaughterhouse.
Okay- another cool quote for you writers out there. And having read Jack London’s MARTIN EDEN, I totally agree with the following quote: How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live-Henry David Thoreau.

Super morning. Hazy and muted—soooooooooooooo cool. Quote: Because he loved true things he tried to explain-John Steinbeck.

So this is the new cover to BRIDGE TENDER. Much like the previous, but more ominous, don’t ya think. Again, thanks to Connie Pletl and Loggerhead Designs.

quote: And I know Martin Eden’s
           gonna be proud of me
           And many before me
          who’ve been called by the sea.
          –Tom Waits

One of the observation towers from the late 1940s when Operation Bumble Bee was active on the island. The missiles being observed were part of an anti-aircraft, surface to air missile defense system.This ramjet powered design is still used in some technology today. The Navy left in 1948, turning over leased land to land owners, opening the floodgates for developers.

Back in the day, young courageous hearts and souls climbed the rickety stairways and dared each other to jump from the towers. We did, but we had tall, voluptuous sand dunes to land in.

A writing tip-QUOTE-If you are lucky enough to find a way of life you love, you have to find the courage to live it.–John Irving.

When I was a kid I used to swim out ten stokes and if I could touch bottom, I’d swim out ten more-and on and on.

QUOTE:  Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go-
 T.S. ELIOT

THESE DAYS, CHARACTER IS LIKE MONEY–SO FEW HAVE IT.