Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog

Sticks of Fire has added another writer! Lisa has two blogs already, Tampa Film Fan and Tampa Book Buzz. Lisa has agreed to share her Tampa-related findings in both the Film and Book worlds with us here at Sticks of Fire.

By day I’m a productive member of society, hard at work for a large non-profit organization. By night, I’m a couch potato, content to stay home with my husband and read and watch TV and movies. And blog about it all, of course.

At Tampa Film Fan I write about movies and TV, with an emphasis on what’s going on locally. At Tampa Book Buzz I write about local book signings and events, and about reading and books in general.

The Tampa Bay area has so much to offer local book and film lovers; besides the various local film festivals and screenings, there are many talented writers, directors, actors and scholars in the area. On Sticks of Fire, I will write about some of the local talent and the local events that make the Tampa Bay area so much fun for readers and film fans.

Welcome Lisa!!

On October 7, Federal ICE Agent Frank Figueroa bragged about his concern for children. After busting a head shop selling cartoon character bongs, he said:

“There’s no doubt that these items were made to make drug use attractive to kids and we simply will not tolerate this type of activity in our community.”

I guess pulling your junk out in front of children is a different story.

Figueroa was profiled in the Tribune just a short while ago. More recently he took credit for busting up a prostitution ring in Central Florida. Last week he was arrested for exposing himself in front of a 16-year-old girl at the mall. Authorities have videotaped evidence.

The entire affair is stomach-churning. A 49 year old man caught on tape fondling himself at the mall - in front of, and staring at a sixteen year old girl. This guy is a father to two young girls. He’s a law enforcement officer sworn to protect the public, who promised to focus on sexual predators.

Outrageous.

Tampa’s first Hall of Fame baseball player, Al Lopez passed away Sunday morning. He suffered a heart attack, and at 97 years old, it was a fatal blow.

El Señor helped to put Tampa on the map – at least in the sports pages. Many other great baseball players followed from this area. Both local papers offer their thoughts on the former Major League catcher and manager, and Tom McEwen chimes in as well.

Back in the day, if the ball went over the fence, it was a home run – even on a bounce. Al Lopez hit the last ever bounce home run in MLB history. The following year such hits became a “ground rule double.” The tribune give some other interesting tidbits, as does Tedd Webb.

In Tampa, Al Lopez Field opened in 1954 and was home to the Cincinnati Reds Spring training team. The ballpark was razed in 1989 to make way for Raymond James Stadium. Just north of the old stadium, Horizon Park was renamed to Al Lopez Park in 1992.

Al Lopez was an ambassador for the Tampa area, and a wonderful representative of Tampa. He will be sorely missed.

Perhaps it should be renamed Odeatha?.

If you’re not too hung over from Guavaween and would enjoy learning a bit of Tampa history, you have an excellent opportunity this Sunday to join a Gothic Graveyard Walk. On October 30 at 4pm you can walk with a guided one hour tour through the historic Oaklawn Cemetary in downtown Tampa.

Oaklawn is Tampa’s first public cemetery, founded April 1, 1850 at 100 Morgan St. The first mayor of Tampa is buried there. If you had died back then, the burial fee was 2 1/2 cents per sq. ft. on top of a $5 interment charge. Dying costs alot more nowadays. Over 1,000 graves at the cemetary were officially declared “historic” in 1976.

The informational and humorous tour is guided by Maureen Patrick, a lively historian-actor complete with period clothing. Admission for the event is $5 and benefits the Tampa Historical Society. For more information please call (813) 831-5214 or email info@historicalguides.com

Let’s say you are a manager at a call center. You are in charge of seven people. They were all hired on the same day, and all do the same job. In fact, they each do a great job, no one better than the other, and no slackers. Each of the six works in cubicles on the main floor, and you have an office with a great view of Tampa Bay.

One day you are told that two more offices with windows are opening and available to you. Which of the six current workers will get other two offices?

If you are going to be fair, none of the six will get a window.

Kate recently bemoaned the loss of a few religious holidays at school, accusing the board of being chickensh*t. I have to say she’s right, it is chicken. But I also cannot blame the board. They made the right move.

Originally Christians made the rules, so school holidays followed that calendar. Other off days were scheduled for various secular reasons (Presidents, Veterans, Columbus, MLKing, Gasparilla, Labor, Fair Day), or for logistics (planning days, etc.). Along came other religions, rightfully asking for consideration for their holy days, which were eventually granted at the expense of any other given off day. Now comes another religion rightfully asking to switch another day off. It’s all well and good, but we are running out of window offices.

What is next? Buddah Day? Day of Chaos? L. Ron Hubbard Day? Samhain/Halloween? Pastafarian Day? Pick your own, there are plenty of choices.

The point is if we must consider all religions, we must consider none. Perhaps these kids should be going to school every Saturday and Sunday too.

Check the byline on the current Weekly Planet cover story. You may have heard of her. Congrats, you! Great job on the article too.

to my beautiful, loving, perfect wifey:

Hey there, sweetie. I sure do love ya!

ahem.

A lot!