Mob at the Mall

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Call time for Flash Mob participants was at 12 noon on Saturday January 29th. The Flash Mob itself was scheduled to start at 2 pm.Terry and I arrived at the mall at noon and entered through Bloomingdale’s. The first thing I saw was a bright pink short on a mannequin that said,”Mall Princess”. Before we got to the central Grand Court, Terry insisted I meet the sales women at Cole Haan. Terry is on a first name basis with the sales staff and they started talking about hair styling. I was in agony wanting to start my sketch. After leaving the store Terry met a Facebook friend and she joked about how difficult it is to get me to the mall. The woman pointed out that her boyfriend loved shopping for her at the mall. Groan…

Finally I got to the spot where I wanted to set up and sketch. It was now roped off for the video camera crews. A mall security guard named Tom was watching the roped off area and I explained that I planned to sketch. He was fine with that, and he let me duck under. Having already sketched the Flash Mob rehearsal from this angle, I decided to do a sketch on the digital tablet. I am still adjusting to sketching on glass, but one feature I like is the ability to keep enlarging the canvas. I kept enlarging the canvas to take in more of the mall architecture.

About 5 times people approached me and asked if I was Thor. I had shared my last sketch on the Flash Mob event page and the volunteer dancers really seemed to appreciate what I was doing. The entire hour leading up to the performance, people gathered around the circular staging area waiting for something to happen. In this age of social networking, word had spread fast. In videos I had seen of Flash mobs in other cities, it seemed like people were caught off guard, the flash mob seeming to happen spontaneously. Here in Orlando that element of surprise was lost. I had only moments to sketch the actual performance. When the performers melted back into the crowd, I kept working trying to capture the energy unleashed.

Flash Mob!

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Terry decided to join me on a trip to the Mall at Millenia to experience and dance along with the Flash Mob. When we arrived after having a nice dinner at Crave, she insisted on walking from the parking lot, through Needless Markup. The Fresh mob was going to happen in the heart of the mall, a circular central area known as the Grand Court. I circled around on the upper level till I decided on this spot as the best vantage point to sketch from. My instinct was correct since the performance was staged facing in this direction. I started sketching the space and people wandering the sidelines, while Terry wandered off to shop.

When everybody assembled, Linda Elchak, the choreographer, stood on one of the cushioned couches and she shouted for everyone to find their personal space. My own personal space got a bit crowded when a couple set up chairs right beside me and then ignored what was gong on and yacked the whole time. Luckily once the music was fired up their conversation was drowned out. In the center of the court an acapella singing group began to perform. Then from the sidelines a crowd of people filled the circular space. The music shouted out, “I can see clearly now, the rain is gone.” I spotted Terry. She had joined the crowd and was picking on the dance moves fast.

Everyone raised their hands in the at and shouted out. “I had the time of my life!”People were jumping in place doing jumping jacks and executing a wave from east to west. The entire court was set up like a giant compass and people in separate quadrants often had their own moves to work on. After the performance was over, Linda shouted down to a young woman who had given a particularly expressive and emotional performance. “You! Can I talk to you after?” Who knows, perhaps a star was discovered.

The Flash Mob is happening today at 2pm in the Mall at Millenia. I plan to just enjoy the experience and leave the video cameras to document this high energy historic event. Come on out! You’ll have the time of your life!

De La Vega Restaurante Y Galeria

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Terry and I took a day trip up to De Leon Springs. On the drive home we stopped in downtown Deland which is one of the few places in Central Florida which still has an old town feel. Christmas lights decorated all the store front windows. The old City Hall had a wonderfully designed dome and the bells were ringing announcing the hour as we waked down the main street. I was surprised to see several portraits by Tracy Burke a talented Orlando artist in a quaint ice cream shop in the corner. We stopped in front of the Del La Vega restaurant (128.North Woodland Boulevard, Deland) and read the menu. We expected a Spanish menu but instead found a Mexican menu. It was ladies night with women offered buy one get one free margaritas and sangrias. Buy the time we placed our order the place had filled up to capacity.

Some guy was shooting video with a tiny hand held video camera. Terry waved. We were half finished with dinner when the musical performer for the night got up on stage. His name was Michael Petrovich and he played acoustic guitar with some sort of synthesizer as accompaniment. The music consisted of covers of popular music like Time After Time and Stairway too Heaven. The young woman in the brown leather jacket recorded his whole performance on her iPhone. I sketched in the musician at the very last moment having left a space open where I assumed he would eventually perform. There was a football game playing silently on the big screen TV above his head but I didn’t sketch in the players since the game didn’t interest me.

Terry and I ordered appetizers but they never arrived. The waitress apologized later and offered the appetizers for free. Terry said, “I don’t mind if they make a mistake as long as they make an effort to fix it.” The food was fabulous. With delicious artfully arranged portions on the plate. This was classic Mexican food not the sloppy Tex Mex we are used to being served in fast food joints. The appetizers were small light disks of fried dough with black beans and tomato salsa. This place was a real find and I wouldn’t mind making the drive back north to eat there again.

Christmas Day

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As we went to bed the night before Christmas, Terry stood at the foot of our bed as I crawled under the covers and fluffed my pillow. I curled up on my side and she was still standing there staring and smiling . “What?” I asked. “Is there something on my face. I slapped my forehead 3 Stooges style and wiped. She just kept smiling like a little girl. It looked like she might burst. She couldn’t stand it any longer, she said, “Look under your pillow.” There was a small flat present there. It was after midnight so officially it was Christmas day. I sat up and unwrapped it. She had given me a “Toy Story 3” DVD. The next day we both watched the movie as our Christmas dinner cooked. I had seen the movie in the theater so I knew what I was in for. Even so, I got all choked up at the end when the story ‘s theme became clear… be there for someone, no matter what. Odd that some computer generated toys should open my heart to life’s lessons of commitment and unquestioning love. That caring selflessly about someone else’s happiness is more important than worrying about if they care about you and you are never abandoned if you have friends.

Other presents consisted of a fog free shower mirror for shaving and a warm silk sweater. I gave Terry a nice silver bracelet and a beautiful pink and purple hairpiece from a local artisan named Karie Brown. Terry wore the hairpiece and bracelet all day. Basting the turkey took all day as well. We thawed the turkey in a plastic chlorine bucket outside. Every 15 minutes the water had to be dumped out and new water added with a hose. I planned to relax and I sat outside near the bucket all morning. I simply watched the clouds roll by. There were no plans to sketch any cultural events. I could spent the whole day relaxing with Terry.

When she began preparations for our private Thanksgiving style dinner, I couldn’t resist the urge to sketch anymore. I caught her as she pealed and cut the onions causing her eyes to burn with tears. Zorro our pet cockatoo supervised her every move and he eyed me with curiosity as I sketched him. I set the dining room table with our fine china and silverware. I was watching “Christmas Story” when the turkey came out of the oven at about 7pm and I began carving it up. The stuffing tasted amazing and I kept stealing tastes as we bought out all the dishes. By the end of our meal we were both stuffed and close to comatose. “It seems to me some fine things have been laid upon your table, but you only want the things you can’t have…” Once again Desperado was ringing in my head. I believe we both felt grateful and happy to spend a whole day together. For once I wasn’t running around seeking out others who love their life and work. I had time to appreciate what I had at home.

The next morning was cold and windy but I had to go for my 3 mile run to get my blood pumping, feeling bloated from yesterday’s feast. I wore a sweatshirt and baggy yoga pants to stay warm. I passed a young boy learning to ride an 8 foot high unicycle which he must have gotten for Christmas. He never fell but the winds kept pushing him around precariously. The entire run out the wind was in my face stinging my lungs. How is it then that the wind was in my face on the entire run back? I passed another runner going the other way in nothing but a tee shirt and shorts. We nodded to one another. I actually saw my breath. I began to loose my will to run in the last quarter mile or so, but then I ran across pine needles which cushioned my steps. It was like a golden sienna carpet laid down for me. I imagined myself as a steam engine and in my mind I stoked the fire so it would burn brighter. For the first time I realized the street I start and stop my run at is called Windjammer Lane. I sprinted towards it knowing full well the only race I had to win was in my head.

Manatee Viewing Center

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Driving North from Port Charlotte on I-75, Terry and I needed a break and some gas. A sign on the off ramp announced a Manatee Viewing Area (6990 Dickman Road) and we decided to explore a bit. The viewing center is near Apollo Beach. Our destination was visible from miles away. We drove straight toward these billowing industrial smoke stacks.We pulled into a fenced in industrial parking lot. Zorro our pet cockatoo was in his travel cage in the back seat, so we decided to go one at a time to the viewing platform. Terry went first. Zorro and I patiently waited in the car. I noticed a “no pets” sign posted next to the gift shop. When she got back, Terry told me I had to do a sketch. She wanted to read a book while sitting on some picnic benches she had found. I carried Zorro’s cage to the picnic table. People kept asking questions about Zorro when Terry wandered off to use the bathroom. “How old is he?” “13.” “Does he talk?” “Yes, he says I love you and hello.” When Terry got back I quickly walked out to the viewing platform.

I didn’t see any Manatees in the murky green water but they were there. Manatees congregate here because the coal burning Big Bend Power Station pumps out warm water, which was used to cool unit 4, into the discharge canal that leads out to Tampa Bay. Manatees gather here when Tampa Bay’s water Temperature drops below 68 degrees. On January 15th and 16th the viewing center will be celebrating its 25th anniversary. Terry called me on my cell phone just as I was starting the sketch. She was being asked by a volunteer security guard to remove Zorro from the property. I had to lug his heavy cage back to the parking lot.

I made my way back to the viewing platform and got to work. A muffled recorded announcer kept repeating facts and figures over a loudspeaker. I couldn’t make out a word of it. I was halfway into the sketch when a female volunteer approached me. She asked what I was doing. My stomach tensed. Something about how she asked the question made me suspicious. I told her I was sketching. She told me that no pictures are allowed to be taken of the power plant for reasons of National Security. She told me there was a security officer at the power plant who kept an eye out for anyone taking pictures. I kept sketching the whole time she was talking. It turned out she was an artist herself. She asked me if I planned to exhibit my sketch. I decided to tell a white lie saying no one would ever see it. She tried to convince me to sketch the mangroves or drive a couple of miles down the road to sketch Apollo Beach. She didn’t stop me from sketching however. When she left she simply reminded me that pictures weren’t allowed. As I sketched I started to wonder if there was someone on the power plant with a sniper rifle and high powered scope watching my every move. I sketched faster. My experience has been, that after a warning, another person would invariably boot me from the property. Sure enough as I was throwing down watercolor washes, a volunteer in a wheel chair approached me. He asked, “What are you doing?” I sighed and replied, “Sketching.” He went on to tell me that one of the volunteers was an artist. I pointed out that I had already met her. He reminded me that no pictures were allowed, then he rolled away, happy. A female tourist asked to see the sketch and after complimenting me she pointed at the power station and said, “Pollution.”

I never did spot a manatee though I did see ripples in the water where the snouts would break the water line for a breath. I dropped the sketchbook off in the car before searching out a bathroom. I didn’t want to give any volunteers an opportunity to confiscate the sketch. Terry and I were happy to drive away. I should point out that I rerouted some of the pipes and I moved the position of one of the scrubbers to confuse any terrorists who might be using my sketch to hatch any devious plots.

Macabre Vignettes #3/ Snow

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I got up in the middle of the night I woke and walked blindly to the bathroom, my bare feet slapping on the cold tiles. Not wanting to blind myself I didn’t bother turning on the light. Seated inside I stared at my wife’s white bathrobe hanging from a hook on the door. As I looked, half awake, I saw a dark form move in the crevice of the sleeve. A large dark spider slowly crawled out. Part of me wanted to pull the robe from the hook and stomp on it, but I was transfixed, the two or three inch spider was only a foot from my face. As I focused my eyes I saw a strange cylindrical web resembling a CD storage case, which ran up the sleeve. It had a strange consistency like it was made of small compartmentalized soap bubbles. The spider crawled around the outer edge and when it got to the top, the web collapsed in on itself and the spider moved around inside. I began to question what I was seeing, so I finally flipped on the light. The robe flashed a bright white and I had to close my eyes. There was nothing there, no web, no spider. Yet, it had been so real! I turned off the light and as my eyes adjusted to the dark again, I saw movement in the shadows a second time. The spider was even more tentative, but soon it was out again moving swiftly over its diaphanous web. It seemed to know I was watching . I didn’t bother switching on the light this time, I simply accepted this strange macabre waking dream. I returned to bed unable to sleep…

At Urban ReThink (625 East Central Boulevard), I crouched on the upper floor looking at the beautiful and grotesque sculptural puppet parts for Macabre Vignettes #3 / Snow. A soft babies head had its eyes sewn shut, a black bird perched menacingly inside a wooden box full of found mechanical objects. Below me Tamara Marke Lars, her husband and a third helper are struggling to hang a large birdlike puppet from a taught fly line. Tamara asks me if the line looks level from where I stand but I am indecisive. The space for now is disorganized, full of the bits and pieces that when assembled, will bring her unique vision to life. She is a master of the macabre and this unique show will most certainly fall outside any of your typical pedestrian Christmas offerings.
Tamara’s sister, Leah Marke, was in charge of bringing the six or so Voci dancers up to speed on how they will be staged as they interact with the giant puppets. She was a whirlwind, constantly on the move coaching and inspiring her fellow dancers. She spoke on her cell phone trying to help a dancer that was lost. Her eyelids glittered as she was giving turn by turn directions to the rehearsal. Afterward, she picked up two huge chicken feet and shouted out, “Look here, I gots me some darn big chicken feet.” Her affected southern accent caused me to laugh out loud. Turning to me, she finished with, “And you can quote me on that!” One of the dancers kept laughing with childish delight whenever Tamara would move a puppet she was working on. I shared her delight as I struggled to record the creative genius amongst the chaos. Tamara picked up the sickly looking blue child puppet from the rocking chair. In her warm, full arms the limp puppet looked like a frail cold Pieta.

I saw the Voci dancers rehearsing a dance that involved them wrapping themselves in fabric that hung from the ceiling. It took three puppeteers to move the large blue puppet. When they started grunting and playing boisterously the giant began to come alive. This show promises to be a surreal experience and I for one will not miss it.

Admission to Macabre Vignettes #3 is $20 cash at the door, at Urban ReThink which used to be the Urban Think bookstore.
Show times are:
December 10 at 8pm
December 11 at 8pm and 10pm
December 12 at 2pm and 8pm
*Doors open 30 mins prior to curtain

Land Sales Office

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My sister Pat Boehme took Terry and I to a Punta Gorda Historic Park. Terry wanted to go here because she learned that there was a large Eagles nest in one of the tall pine trees. I saw the huge eagles nest but there were no eagles inside. So, while Pat and Terry sat in lawn chairs waiting for the eagle to return, I wandered off and did this sketch of the Trabue Land Sales office which was built in 1886. This is the oldest building in Punta Gorda. The small tin roofed building now houses a gift shop with photography and jewelry for sale. The woman who cares for the shop is a member of the Audubon Society so she was aware of the eagles comings and goings.

When I finished my sketch, I wandered back over to where Terry and Pat were watching the nest. Pat’s son David was there now. Terry suggested that Pat, David and I make a sandwich run while she continued her vigil. We took Pat’s car to Publix to get Deli sandwiches. When we got back Terry was still seated, calmly watching the nest. Right after the first bite of my sandwich I saw an eagle fly over my head. I shouted and pointed, being less than subtle as a bird watcher. Terry had borrowed some binoculars from the gift shop and she watched the eagle land on the nest and rip into the fish he had in his talons. I wondered if he was thankful for his meal. I’m not sure I had felt humblingly thankful of my Moose Lodge meal. The eagle jumped out onto a branch and paused for a moment eying the small group of people picnicking under his tree. Then he spread his immense wings and gracefully took flight. He disappeared over a distant band of pine trees, gone as quickly as he had appeared.

Terry wanted to see him again. As she settled back into her lawn chair, I agreed with Pat that rain looked imminent. We dropped David off at his trailer and then went back to Pat’s home. On the drive back it did start to rain. Terry did not return to Pat’s home for many hours. She took shelter in the gift shop when it poured out. She had a long talk with the proprietress who was also a member of Audubon. Terry never saw the eagle again that day but she got advice on where she could see some wild Parrots so she followed that tip to another bay front park. She ended up seeing 7 wild parrots in some palm trees.

Punta Gorda Railroad Station

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After our Thanksgiving dinner, Pat drove us to Punta Gorda to see the sights. Our first stop was this Historic Punta Gorda Railroad station. The rear of the station is devoted to an antiques shop and the waiting areas up front house a Railroad museum. Terry and Pat shopped while I sketched. What caught my eye imediately were the separated “Whites” and “Colored” entrances to the station. An antiques dealer was telling Terry that in the 1970’s his school was one of the first in the area to allow full integration. When the building was restored, these signs were kept in place to remind museum goers of this regions recent history of segregation.

The building was first erected in 1928. The main purpose of the railway was to ship fish to Northern markets. It also functioned as a passenger train. This is the only station remaining built by the Atlantic Coast line that features the Spanish Mission style which would make more sense in California. In 1971 the depot was closed. In 1998 volunteers began to restore the building. In August of 2004 the building was badly damaged by hurricane Charlie, but it was once again restored. The depot is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

When my sketch was done, I went back to the antique shop to find Terry and Pat. Terry had been on a shopping spree. She had bought some antique plates, an Emerald colored ring for Pat and oddly a German Concertina or accordion. Now I can honestly say, momma’s got a squeeze box.

Thanksgiving at the Moose Lodge

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Terry and I drove south to Port Charlotte to have Thanksgiving with my sister Pat Boehme and Mike Napalitano. Rather than spend all day cooking, Mike bought tickets to have dinner at the Moose Lodge. We drove to Moose Lodge 2121. Above the entry “LOOM” was printed which stands for the Loyal Order Of the Moose. Mike explained that there is a hierarchy of these Lodges. Lowest in the pecking order are the Order of the Eagles. Apparently if you are an Eagle, you are slumming it. Next up the totem is the Order of the Moose which is middle class in nature. He said, “If you are an Elk, well you are a snob.” We got a table and a volunteer waitress quickly took our tickets. I believe the tickets cost $7. Only a Moose member could pay for drinks so Mike ordered us each a soda from the bar. As soon as I got back with Mike from the bar, the food arrived. Each plate had heaping portions of traditional Thanksgiving Turkey, stuffing, string beans, mashed potatoes, and sweet potatoes. The food was delicious although the meat was a bit too salty. The advantage to having dinner at the Lodge was that there was no temptation to have seconds. The amount of food was just enough. A waiter stopped by our table to pick up the plates saying, “Well you kids certainly cleaned your plates. When you get to be my age, everyone is a kid.”

In a corner of the room there were Moose antlers above a Coke machine. A small stuffed bird was perched on the antlers. There were several large bingo boards on the walls. You could tell they took bingo very seriously here. I think Terry and I were the youngest people in the room which was kind of refreshing. For desert we all had pumpkin pie and Terry ordered apple pie. When we finished I asked to be left behind to finish a sketch. An old couple sat down right in front of me and they anchored my sketch. They waited for the longest time for their food. I turns out their tickets had been put in the wrong pile and the waitress thought they had already been served. Their misfortune was my blessing since they modeled for me much longer than they otherwise would have.

I called my sister so she could pick me up once my sketch was finished. I sat on a bench in front of the Lodge waiting for her. Many people leaving the Lodge needed canes. One woman said, “Too much food in 24 hours, I am glad they had a take out box.”

EDC BBQ

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The Economic Development Corporation has its offices at 301 East Pine Street which is the same building that Broadway Across America has it’s offices. The ground floor lobby was packed and I walked past every one out the back doors where Pine street had been blocked off for the event. I walked around searching for Terry, who had invited me. I was distinctly under dressed in my blue jeans and polo shirt. I was in a crowd of black suits. I decided this bull was a good focal point so I texted Terry and let her know I would be sketching the bull. I had just started the sketch when a police officer approached me from behind. He said, “Are you an invited guest?” I told him, “Yes.” The then told me, “You will have to go back to the lobby where they will check your name off the list and give you a wrist band.” Just then Terry walked up and explained that I was with her. She offered to get the wrist band while I continued to work.

I was introduced to several people who said they would like to help me get more exposure for the work I am doing. When I was introduced to one member of the EDC she knew me since I had sketched a flash mob event at Lake Eola and she had been there. Such a small world. We laughed about the insane events of that day. When I finally got a pulled pork sandwich everyone else had already eaten so there was no wait. All of the BBQ joints in town were here and it was a great opportunity to taste and compare. Suddenly it began to pour. Everyone huddled under the huge tent and the din of conversations grew loud. I was ready to try a second sandwich when I realized all the food tents were isolated away from the big tent. I would have to make a run for it. I decided it wasn’t worth getting soaked to get another bite to eat. Cupcakes on the other hand were in the main tent so I tried a couple.

A colleague of Terry’s sat at our table and the two of them counted business cards. They talked about business and its inherent back stabbing. Then the rain died down to a drizzle. He offered us a ride back to Terry’s car. Terry and I drove off to a surprise birthday party at Redlight Redlight.