Just so you don’t forget that lady who got you thinkin’ about morning trains more than 25 years ago, I thought I’d let you know Sheena is spinning into 48 today.

She’s still out there performing concerts. Sandra and I saw her in Las Vegas three years ago and the concert was terrific!

Would you believe the lovable cranky Jack Klugman shares Sheena’s birthday. Jack Klugman is 85 today.

Another recent birthday event was James Garner’s 80th April 7th.

I was at the Orlando Remembered meeting this morning. Here’s Santa Lucile Fair and her jolly elf, Jack Kazanzas.

My next stop was at Jim’s Barber Shop to have him fashion me one of his outstanding hair cuts.
	Next it was on to Orlando’s Veterans Administration nursing care facility to draw some of our mighty soldiers.Here’s Richard’s drawing. He’s 99 and once owned Longwood Nursery.

Working on the annual Christmas card. Here’s a small pencil sample of the pencils.

From Sanford we swung over to one of the biggest arts and crafts show in the Southeast, ‘Fiesta in the Park’ in Orlando at Lake Eola. I helped with the mad rush of artisans turning in cash and checking out. I had to put on my mathematical hat and make sure I put the right envelopes and cash in the right places. Sandra parked the car and made her way to where I was and did her best stay out of the way as the show was closing all around her.

Nell Atkins is the leader and primary organizer of the entire event and has been for many, many years. She is incredible. No bureaucratic nightmares. No stifling egos. She handles this gigantic effort with grace and sure-sightedness. Way too many events are handled more and more by the immature control freak mentality. Especially by younger folks. Event organizers would do themselves well by observing Nell’s ability to pulloff a world-class event.

Nell brought out the piece that got the Best-Of-Show Award. The title is ‘Gnome Home’. It’s made of camphor and has an unbelievable amount of drawers carved into it. One drawer opens to 4 that opens to 2 that… Well, you get the idea. Gary Smith, of Melbourne, is the sculptor. He said it took him FOUR YEARS to carve. That’s patience. IF I don’t get a piece of art finished in 15 MINUTES I get antsy! The drawing above is of the ‘Gnome Home’.

Well our intent was to see Rock City. A continuous rainstorm washed those plans out. This is a drawing I did from the gift shop.

I was at the Citrus Club for a gathering. I took a peek outside and thought I’d sketch my old haunt of Orlando City Hall. Now snug between other structures here City Hall peeks beteen.

Being such a big fan of The Rat Pack, I’m very sorry to read of the death of Joey Bishop. Bishop was the last of the Pack living. I remember him oh so well guest-hosting The Tonight Show and his many appearance on television. After reading of his death I broke open a DVD set of his early ’60s TV show and played them as I worked.

The art is part of this weeks ‘It Takes A Village’ from the Glenn Beck site.

By the way, I’ve been couped up working on a very large project that I fianlly finished yesterday. It’s been quite a haul getting it done. But it is done. I can’t write much more about it. If and when I can, I will.

Today begins multi-weeks on the road for one reason or the other, so this blog should get more active beyond the books I’ve been reading.

 A quartet came to the James A. Haley V.A. Hospital in Tampa. Cartoonist, Tom Armstrong, his wife, Glenda, mayself and my brother, Jeff, all came to bring a bit of cheer to our greatest American heroes. Tom, who draws the comic strip Marvin, and I were guided though the many cooridors by the V.A.’s Steve Wilson, who is very good at keeping the area he’s in very bright with his sense of humor.

We saw many service folks and their families. Tom drew Marvin and characters along with a hilarious Elvis for a ’50s music fan. I drew caricatures. We had a great time.

The photo is of Tom, V.A. volunteer, Helen, and myself and the drawings she received. Helen is about to celebrate 35,000 hours of volunteerism. That’s over 21 years of work. Wow! I urged her to make it to 100,000 hours!