Let's Blog Off I've Got the Music in Me!

Every two weeks Bloggers unite for a day to write about a communal topic. This week LetsBlogOff asks the question what song gets stuck in your head? 


For me it seems every song is stuck in my head.  I can’t remember a time when I didn’t listen to music. I still have my parent’s album Herb Albert’s Tijuana Brass Whipped Cream and Other Delights. 

Thankfully I have a brother 8 years older than me so I grew up listening to great music.  Motown was just getting started; The Rolling Stones, The Beatles and The Who were all the rage!  There is an embarrassing video of me (that has since been converted to DVD thanks to my brother) that has me doing the pony to Mony Mony the 1968 single by Tommy James & the Shondells, I was around 7 years of age.  No you will never see it.

I was a dedicated viewer of The Monkees   R.I.P. Davy Jones my first crush. 

and The Partridge Family. 

I sang (badly) and danced around the house all the time.  I was a huge fan of The Jackson 5 and only mildly into The Osmond’s.   Soul Train, American Bandstand and MTV were other huge parts of my life growing up.  Thinking back I must have driven my mother nuts.

I graduated from high school in 1980 and it was a fight between Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin

and Disco

Good sense won over and my class song was Stairway to Heaven!  But I did learn how to Hustle!

Nice to know a new generation is also learning it!

Thankfully I was introduced to show tunes and musicals by two roommates.  We played darts to

The Music Man

 Jesus Christ Superstar

My music tastes now range from all the above to gospel like Blind Boys of Alabama

Lady Gaga

Joss Stone

I even like some hip hop and rap.  Just some though. 

Going back to the original question of LetsBlogOff what song can get stuck in my head? It’s a Small World is the worst for me!   I am not including a link because you don’t need to hear it ;)

Please follow the links to my fellow participants posts on what songs are stuck in their head!

The Smell of Memories

Every two weeks Bloggers unite for a day to write about a communal topic. This week LetsBlogOff asks the question what smell takes you back?

If the wind is just right there are days, when walking the streets of Tampa, I get a whiff of ocean air.  My mind immediately pulls up memories of weekends, while in high schoo,l spent at the beach in Lake Worth with my friends playing football, frisbee and checking out the cute guys.  Fun times, simpler times. 

Someone in my neighborhood must walk frequently past my house while smoking.  While I never see them I will be in my house, smell the cigarette smoke and immediately think my mom must be near.  Not the most pleasant smell but my mom smoked and that is what I remember.   Sometimes it makes me cry and other times smile.  I always remember having to clean out the ashtrays.  Yuck!

I live in the Sunshine State and oranges are big business.  I have a tree in my backyard.  The orange blossom smell is delightful however there is another orange smell that immediately makes me gag.  When I was a kid I refused to swallow pills so I was a challenge to the doctor & my mother whenever I was sick.  One time the doctor gave my mother a medicine in liquid form - orange tasting.  It ended up on my mother's shoes most times.  I was walking through a mall one time and that exact smell came over me and it took everything in my power not to vomit right then and there!

Cinnamon - ah a lovely smell!  My mom baked and I was always given a small amount of dough to make whatever I wanted with.  No matter what I made - gingerbread man, a star cookie, a roadrunner (loved the cartoon) I had to put cinnamon on top.  

What smell today will make a memory tomorrow?

Please check out my fellow participants of Lets Blog Off and read what smell means to them!

A Letter to Tampa's City Council

February 11, 2012

Dear Council,

As a salesperson in the building industry my job is to provide great service and product to my customers at the best price.  This typically means that I send out request for quotations to at least three and sometimes four different vendors. 

I understand the council is considering a multiyear rate plan increase of the residential garbage rates without providing the most basic provisions of customer service – getting pricing from multi contractors in order to procure the best price.  As a resident of The City of Tampa I am your customer and I expect you to provide the same excellent customer service that I provide to my customers.

The county trash rates are significantly less than the rates of Tampa which makes no sense to me.  It doesn’t seem that the new blue cans and new garbage trucks have saved the residents of Tampa any monies if the solid waste department is running in such dire financial burdens.  

Many of the residents of Tampa in one way or another is connected with the building industry and the downturn in economy has been difficult to say the least.  It might not seem like an additional $10.00 a month would put a financial burden on the residents but speaking for myself – that $120.00 add per year - does. My salary barely covers the basics provisions of food, gas, taxes etc.  I haven’t eaten out at a restaurant in years – not months – years.  I am grateful I have a job in order to keep my home.  I am grateful I chose to cut back on all extras in order to be able to keep my home.   The City should be doing more for its citizens to make sure my home and others are not added to the many vacant homes that are dotting our streets.

I am asking you to please deny the Solid Wastes Department request to increase their rates and instead cut back on extras as the citizens of Tampa have done in order to live within their means. 

Thank you.

Ginny Powell

Lead Brick Wall

Lead Brick Wall with Steel Retaining Structure

On occasion a new piece of equipment requires a linear accelerator room's protection requirements to increase.  The addition of lead, with proper structural supports, minimizes the loss of floor space that would be encountered with the use of concrete.  The lead brick is tongue and groove and placed like cement block to offset seams.  Every few rows steel strapping is attached to lead brick and concrete wall to increase support.  Installs can range from 10,000 - 80,000 lbs. of lead brick.  Typically in a linear accelerator vault floor the thickness is ready to accommodate these weights.  Other installations require extra floor thickness to accommodate the extra weight.  Many times the ceilings of these rooms require a thickness upwards of 6-8" as well. Crews of 4-6 people can typically install these weights in 24-36 hours.  Installations have been performed by the a-fabco crew all over the United States & Canada. 

A Saturday in Florida

Meet Frasier Crane

Frasier and Roz

New ban on Cell Phones for Commercial Drivers

In November U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced a new rule "specifically prohibiting interstate truck and bus drivers from using hand-held cell phones while operating their vehicles".  I have not seen any press or announcements about this new rule but it affects many companies including a-fabco.  


The rule goes on to state: "The final rule prohibits commercial drivers from using a hand-held mobile telephone while operating a commercial truck or bus. Drivers who violate the restriction will face federal civil penalties of up to $2,750 for each offense and disqualification from operating a commercial motor vehicle for multiple offenses. Additionally, states will suspend a driver's commercial driver's license (CDL) after two or more serious traffic violations. Commercial truck and bus companies that allow their drivers to use hand-held cell phones while driving will face a maximum penalty of $11,000. Approximately four million commercial drivers would be affected by this final rule."


While I agree with the ban it will definitely affect our deliveries.  It will require us to always have two people on deliveries at all times.  Most of our customers request a 30 or 60 minutes heads up before delivering to their jobsite and if we only schedule the driver with no helper that will mean he has to pull over every time he makes that phone call.

I am curious if anyone else heard about this change?  If so are you making any changes to your current delivery policy?

It is Invasion Weekend!

I moved to Tampa, in January, 16 years ago.  Imagine my surprise when after just a few weeks of living here I was told we were going to be invaded by Pirates!  And quite the invasion it was...and is.  Pirates seem like a bizarre source of celebration, at least to me, yet for Tampa it works.

www.destination360

Gasparilla started in 1904 when a group of Tampa businessmen dressed up as pirates (left over from Mardi Gras) and rode through the City on horseback to celebrate May Day. They named themselves the Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla after the famed pirate Jose' Gaspar.  It was so well received that next year "all of Tampa's 60 cars" participated.

This year Tampa celebrates Gasparilla with parades, a pageant, running (from the pirates I would assume) & truly one of the best Art Shows I have ever attended.

     2012 Events

www.sptimes.com

•  SAT., JAN. 21: Gasparilla Extravaganza
  3:30 p.m.: Children's Parade
  7 p.m.: “Piratechnic” Extravaganza
  7:30 p.m.: Fireworks
• SAT., JAN. 28: Gasparilla Pirate Festival
  10 a.m.: Gasparilla Invasion Brunch
  11:30 a.m.: Gasparilla Invasion
  2 p.m.: Parade Of Pirates
• FEB. 18-19: Gasparilla Pageant
• MARCH 3-4: Gasparilla Distance Classic
• MARCH 3-4: Gasparilla Festival Of The Arts
• MARCH 29-APRIL 1: Gasparilla Film Festival

Official Gasparilla Site

Though it seems to be all about beads, parties and parades there is a serious side to the more than 50 Krewe's who participate each year.   Each Krewe has a mission and the majority of those missions are about helping others.  In 2004 Ye Notorious Krewe of the Peg Leg Pirate was created and their mission is to "assist amputees, their families and organizations that work with amputees".  I hadn't realized we had so many soft hearted pirates in Tampa but we do.

If you are in town this weekend or any of the dates listed above I would highly recommend donning an eye patch and joining in the fun and frolic.