Florida summers can be rather interesting due to the heat but this one was special. Summer of ‘08 was straight up and down the shi…great!

Tampa

The crew and I headed out to Tampa to film about a dozen locations. Even though we had the Open Florida RV, there were places that it just couldn’t go so I did a lot of driving.

Our hotel was about 5 minutes away from International Plaza and that meant runs to Gelateria del Duomo for gelato were always priority one. Sugar shocked by our gelato experiences, Missy and I found ourselves screaming “GELATO” in moments of silence for no apparent reason. This usually made Steve cringe and that was the signal for us to do it again.

These guys were a bunch of characters who only spoke in pirate talk. They were all about the Gasparilla Pirate Festival and of course a picture op.

I caught up with Arturo Fuente Jr., President of Tampa Sweethearts Cigar Company and learned a thing or two about cigars.

The attic to the old cigar factory was perfect for smoking and taking pictures. Which cigar is that you ask? The A. Fuente Hemingway.

I also found a great deal of H.O.P.E. during the heritage shoot in south Tampa.

When it came time to film the progress of the Tampa Museum of Art we had to wear hard hats. We didn’t actually get to go on the work site because OSHA also states that it is a hazard to have shorts on at a construction site. So we did the interview outside their aluminum gates.

Forecasting the summer weather in Florida is pretty easy…HOT! Ice pops were essential for successful cool-downs. Missy and I would usually eat about 3 a session.

I had a chance to kick it with the Tampa Bay Lightning mascot ThunderBug! He had a field day on the RV before he got around to signing it.

We also stopped by Burn’s Steak House to film and grub. Burn’s has a wine cellar in their basement which is home to over 100,000 bottles, crazy.

When we got back to the Hyatt Place, Steve-O snapped a few practice shots.

Two Words, King Mogul.

Jungle Island

In Miami, there is a place called Jungle Island and it is home to this thing. This thing, is called a Cassowary. From what I understand from the safety speech I was given prior to filming, is that, this thing…this thing, will kill you if you ever see it in the wild. So if you’re walking down an open plane somewhere in Australia and you happen to cross paths with this thing right here, don’t even bother running. Just make peace with the experience of a turkey-ostrich looking animal with a prehistoric horn shredding you to pieces.

Those were all the thoughts on my mind after the tour guide wrapped his safety speech then put me feet away from the beast that loved to swallow apples whole.

This was also the summer where I issued many cool points to lemurs.

Ft. Myers

We filmed a bunch of fantastic hotels in the Ft. Myers area. Across the street from one of them was a little place called Cuban Tropical Grill. Of course I had to indulge in one of their signature mango smoothies

and then I ordered a sandwich.

Later that night, we hit the Waffle House (sober) for some breakfast and a variety of wild football stories from one of the locals. Yum.

Everglades Alligator Farm

Here is Alligator Bob breaking down the difference between a gator and a croc. They both have teeth and that’s all you really need to know about that.

Here is Bob’s assistant Jeanette the Reptile Wrangler giving her version of the whole gator and croc presentation. For some reason I liked hers a lot better.

Here is a shot of Jeanette hooking me up with an experience with with one of her snakes.

Years ago I would have been like “What? Hold a snake? Fug that!” Now after almost 2 years on the job I’m like “What? Hold a snake? Get the camera.”

Since Jeanette was such a good sport with the crew that we had her sign the RV.

No Everglades excursion would be complete without an airboat ride. Right?

The BBQ out in YBOR

What is a summer with out a BBQ?

At the birthday BBQ, the girls were really into this game called Taboo. I’m supposed to be paying attention.

What is BBQ without a nice dose of healthy laughter?

I was buzzin’ like crazy off MJ’s classic Piña Coladas and if it were possible, I’d be drinking one right now .

Stress

No summer is complete without a healthy serving of stress. I got a big spoon full toward the end of the season but I was on familiar ground so I knew exactly what to do.

At The Beach

Steve and I were brainstorming in the office one day and fun was the topic. Out of about 15 minutes of conversation we manage to come up with a concept called We Ain’t Bored. Pretty soon we got some co-workers, we got some props, and then we shot a video.

One of the videos we shot for the We Ain’t Bored concept took place at the beach.

Missy, Emilie, and Mo all showed up for a Sunday of fun in the sun on the beach. Don’t believe me? Here is the video: At The Beach

Kissimmee

We filmed Medieval Times a few months ago. The only thing I can remember about the show is a woman in a Native American costume riding a horse.

During our travels from destination to destination we ended up in Poinciana and found a little Caribbean jewel called Atty’s Restaurant for lunch. I had the jerk chicken and a bottle of my favorite grapefruit soda, Ting.

Family Reunion

Sometime around the 4th of July I drove with my aunt to Virginia to meet over 100 family members I didn’t even know I had till about a year ago.  Yeesh, it was pretty eerie how much we had in common too.

Here is an actual visual representation of what my family tree looks like on my father’s side.

My sister, my pops, and of course the kid.

I love my family.

My little cousin with the glasses has a name that I love…BROOKLYN!

My silly sister and I doing what we do best, clowning.

I caught this flick with my cousin Rush moments before he chased me through the family luncheon for a one on one game of basketball. I’ve been undefeated in every game that we’ve played since we were kids. Now that I’m grown and out of shape he is dying to play one last game. I’m retired and as it currently stands I’m the chickety chickety CHAMP! Chump.

My pops is a good sport.

I’m really missing my pops and sister as I try to think of a caption for this picture.

My uncle, my pops, and my little cousin.

I wonder what my pops just said to my uncle.

Well folks, it’s a wrap for me. It took me forever and a day to get this post out and hopefully the next one will be a lot sooner than 3 months.

Till Next Time,

Amon Focus

I knew this event was pretty popular in some circles but I got to experience it firsthand—sitting in traffic right outside the entrance of the park. As we drove by full parking after full parking, I knew we were in store for some long lines. I killed time with Missy by updating her slang book and hip-hop hand gestures. Hopefully she doesn’t take me too seriously by trying out her new urban skills the next time she parties with the Wu-Tang Clan or the Woo-Tank-Clane as she cheerfully says it. That could get quite interesting.

We met up with Paco and his wife and headed straight to the candy shop. This candy was fresh, like it had been made minutes before we entered. My mouth watered as I grabbed a bag and went to town on the sour pears, gummy whales and of course numerous flavors of Jelly Bellies. I paid for my candy, took a photo op with two healthy nurses, and proceeded to an astonishing roller coaster humbly known as The Sheikra.

The walk to the ride consisted of the crew trying really hard to convince Wipeout’s friend, Julie, to ride the rollercoaster, and Missy screaming at everything that moved in the scare zones. Once we got to Sheikra, we split up because Julie wasn’t getting on the monster and Wipeout stayed back with her. The rest of us made our way to the line. I’ve learned that waiting in line, especially in a amusement park, is an art. No matter how long the line is, how fast it moves really depends on the company you are with. Luckily I was in line with Missy, Paco and his wife. We killed time playing the “What If” game and my childhood favorite, “To Save Your Pops,” which consists of creative scenarios you are willing to endure just to save a loved one’s life. When we got to the head of the line it seemed like the weather just got better. It was cooler and breezier up at top than way down below.

I’d been on the Sheikra once before but for some reason as I stood in line I couldn’t remember for the life of me the details of the ride. But once the car began its journey to the top of the roller coaster, my previous experience was slowly creeping back to me. When we hit the top and I saw the view I said out loud, “Oh I remember this now!” which was soon followed by an “Ohhhhh aaaaaaaarrrrrhhhhhhh!” That first drop is incredible.

After Sheikra, I spent the rest of the night laughing my head off at Missy. We all headed to two haunted houses and Missy was the victim in both of them. I watched characters run past us and straight to Missy as if they were getting notches on their scream quota. In one haunted house, I watched Missy seriously start running and ducking through it like she was in a classic 80s horror flick. She did everything but fall to the ground. I had a serious laughter headache when it was all said and done.

Everybody said their goodbyes. Then Wipe Out, Missy, Julie, and I took a 35-minute trek back to the vehicle.

Till Next Time,

Amon Focus