Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog

Tommy Duncan claims he is a native Tampan. He was born at MacDill Air Force Base in 1967 to Air Force Dad and Canadian Alien Mom. When dad left the Air Force, the clan moved to Springfield, MA, home to the Basketball Hall of Fame, Tampa Bay Lightning affiliate Springfield Falcons, The Big E, and long time home of his parents and grandparents. In 1980, tired of shoveling snow and temperatures in the single syllables, and perhaps dreaming of breezy winters in Florida, the family returned to live in Tampa Bay.

Back in Florida, Tommy studied at Greco Jr. High (back before it was a “middle”) in Temple Terrace, and went on to high school at Tampa Bay Tech (great band, horrible football team) to become an electrician. During high school, he was employed by one of the biggest conglomerates in the world. One memory from that time includes driving through an eerie calm at 6 in the morning to cook what seemed like a million hamburgers for folks in emergency shelters during Hurricane Elena. After high school, Tommy worked each spring at H&R Block, preparing income tax forms. This would help to form his interest in accounting. The rest of the year was spent doing odd jobs, one of which was spinning 45’s as a DJ at all sorts of local events, including the opening night cast party for The Phantom of the Opera.

Toward the end of the spin around the Block, Tommy got a job at the local newspaper. In the Business Office. During those years at The Tampa Tribune, he made friends with a lot of great Tampa people. Happy hours were found every day of the week at such places as Valencia Gardens, the Chatterbox (closed), Malio’s (closed), The Hub (moved), and The Press Box. After happy hour, Tommy and his friends could be found looking for the JGLB at MacDinton’s tent parties (new owners), Speedy Brown’s, (gone) and The Green Iguana (the original on Westshore). Otherwise you might have found him shooting pool at Baker’s Billiards, or Mom’s Place (gone) in Seffner. He worked at the Tribune nearly ten years, building a fairly decent retirement fund. Tommy quit in1997 to attend USF in pursuit of a degree in Business Administration.

That didn’t really work out, but Tommy enjoyed a year and a half off, spending the entire retirement fund, and soaking up all he could about this new-fangled internet thing (mostly p orn and video games). He worked a couple more jobs in accounting, somehow making a decent living, which allowed him to continue his pursuit of cheap drinks and great local music.

At the end of the last century, Tommy began singing with the JGLB in Ybor City. The band moved to Castillo’s (gone) and re-acquired Ray Blade (again). With the new lineup, the JGLB has played concerts all over the bay area to great acclaim, and currently makes most of its noise at the Blue Shark.

Tommy’s life became more fulfilling (not to mention busier) when his daughter was born just after the turn of the century (aka Y2K). Since that day, the little girl’s eyes, words and heart have turned him into a pile of mush. She’s a smart KinderKid, with a passion for drawing, and a disdain of any type of meat, except hotdogs. Tommy became even mushier when he met Wifey.

The other great day of Tommy’s life was March 1, 2003. Originally scheduled at Café Creole (closed the month before!), there was a great celebration at the Columbia Restaurant, which included vows for Tommy and the KinderKid to unite with Wifey and TheTeenager. Hundreds of friends and family joined the celebration, and a good time was had by all in Ybor City that weekend. And the good times continue to roll right along.

Now is a great time for a recap, huh?

A Florida native raised in the Northeast. Studied electricity, but works in accounting. Retired in 1997, and got a job afterwards. Had a child, then got married. Lives in the suburbs, and claims to be a part of the city. Obviously, the dude is whack.

Tommy began writing Sticks of Fire on February 6, 2004 on Blogspot. After getting a small following, he upgraded to his own digs right here at sticksoffire.com. Constantly revamping the website, and adding a great cadre of writers, Sticks of Fire has now become the one place young adults in Tampa Bay come for the local information that matters.

Contact Tommy