2011's Disappearing Act

The dancing cloud

For too short a time, a cloud danced over Ocala...then it skittered away...

The Black Horse - downtown Ocala

The above photo by Lois Anne.

I'm quite surprised that the "decorations" on this horse have not been "appropriated" by local vandals. Hopefully, the bad guys will leave this beautiful horse alone.

Amateur photographer

We were walking toward another of the new "Horse Fever" horses in the downtown Ocala area, when we spotted an "amateur" photographer taking the equine's picture. So, naturally, I took a picture of her taking a picture. What else could I do? The horse is one of the most attractive of the new horses, and we'll be showing some close-ups of it and its decorations soon.

Ferris Wheel - Closed for business

This is the 2nd year a ferris wheel has been installed in downtown Ocala for the holidays. On a gray, rather gloomy day, we stopped to get a closer look. But, alas, it was not open for business. And except for one mother with three disappointed little kids, no one else was around. The ferris wheel operates only on the weekends, so far as we can tell.

Mall train

We don't have adequate public transportation in the city of Ocala. But we do have a train that runs around the mall. You can ride it for $3.00. I've seen a few kids in it, and I saw Santa getting a ride, but sometimes it's completely empty. It's not really dangerous, but be careful to look both ways when you exit one of the mall stores!

The Christmas tree at the Heathbrook Outdoor Mall

And we wish all a wonderful holiday celebration!

Merry Christmas from Ocala!

Quarter Horse - downtown square

This is one of the new "Horse Fever" horses in Ocala and is literally a "quarter" horse. Attached in various places on this horse are quarters...plastic quarters. Unfortunately, persons unknown have pried many of them off leaving the poor horse with numerous scars. We'll show close-up photos of the horse in the near future.

Photo by Lois Anne.

The Three Trees - downtown Ocala

A Sunday afternoon at Barnes & Noble Bookstore

No Parking at Anytime!

The "Boston" Red Sox?

Almost identical twins

Christmas card shopping

Do you still send out cards via "snail mail"? Are your cards all done?

Fat Kats - downtown Ocala

I wonder what goes on behind closed doors ... hmmm ...

Santa at Ocala's Paddock Mall...

...gives his assistant instructions regarding unruly kids. And unruly adults. Both,
actually.

Here's where you can buy an "rger."

One of the new "Horse Fever" horses...

...at On Top Of The World in southwest Ocala.

Don't fence me in...

...in downtown Ocala!

The Canopy Oaks Shopping Center...

...on a December evening...

University of Florida Christmas Tree...

...spotted in the office of Dr. James M. Duke, surgeon extraordinaire!

Letters to Santa go here...

If you "believe," as most everyone said they did, y'all better send off your letter to Santa asap. The big day is not far away!

Macy's "Believe Meter"

Do you believe in Santa Claus?

Hello gorgeous?

Gorgeous is located in downtown Ocala.

A Horse Fever Horse...

...one of about 80 Horse Fever horses residing here and there in and about the city of Ocala...

A Caffeine High - downtown Ocala

A Sunny Week

May the light of the sun, reflected in the delicate petals of these sunflowers, light your path throughout the coming week.

Bakery at Panera Bread...

...a place it behooves me to stay away from!

All sales come to him who waits...

Yes, Virginia, there is a ....

This one's for V in Memphis!

Sculpture at College of Central Florida

And I have no idea what it represents. Maybe the fact that the world is awry?

Changing light bulbs can get you high

Veteran's Memorial Park

The Veteran's Memorial Park was established to honor those men and women who served our country in the armed forces. Standing in close proximity to the park is a very nice statue of the lady, Liberty.

Due to the fact that in the near future, our attention and energies will be focused on celebrating a seasonal holiday, we'll not be blogging or commenting in our usual timely manner. We wish all of our friends a splendid week and to those who celebrate The Day of the Turkey, we wish a very Happy Thanksgiving!

This sweet 3-wheeler can be yours...

...for only $6,500. At the Marion Flea Market.

Webster University

Webster University recently moved into new digs on the second floor of a building on Market Street at the Heathbrook Outdoor Mall. Webster is a private, nonprofit, accredited school with over 100 campuses worldwide which instructs some 22,000 students. It's home campus is located in Webster Grove, Missouri.

You can learn all about Webster here.

Stoplight and Skylight

Ritter's Beer Garden - downtown Ocala

Making new friends

Lowell, Florida...

...is located just north of Ocala and is a very, very small community noted primarily for the fact it is the home of the women's prison.

The nicest sign in town!

Pawn shop - downtown Ocala...

...at the Intersection of Highway 441 and State Road 40. Perhaps in its most recent incarnation it may have been some kind of fast food joing. But years ago, it was likely one of many gas stations that dotted Highway 441 as it wound its way through Florida. Most of them offered "full service," a concept that is unknown today. That is, someone pumped your gas, checked your oil and the air in your tires and washed your windshield. All that at no extra cost.

Sam's Club

Sam's Club is a Walmart project, a warehouse store where you can, if you're careful, get some good deals. One of the problems is that many items are available only in bulk. Who needs toilet paper enough to equip an army? Not only so, but they charge you for the privilege of shopping there! Is that a great deal, or what?

Art is in the eye of the beholder

Proud to be a U.S. Marine on Veteran's Day, Nov. 11, 2011

On this Armistice/Veteran's Day, amidst cynicism and despair, we cling desperately to the hope there will come a time when humans no longer feel the need to kill each other - for whatever reason.

But killing for god and country remains a staple of our common lives. Thus, we offer our thanks and appreciation to those men and women who were and are willing to stand and fight the tyrants of whatever stripe who would churn the earth into a scorched and bloody planetary mess in order to achieve religious and/or political domination.