Been trying to get a haircut since November. Finally done today. To the right is the gumball machine at the barbers shop.

Got the car to the place to fix it. That lead me to a rent-a-car place. Above is the biker jacket draped over a chair of the Enterprise employee who frequents Bike Week each year.

Another excellent Ken Culotta gag! Another so-so drawing of George W. I’ve never felt I got the hang of drawing him.

My fathers only request for his birthday was to go bowling and get a bite at Steak ‘N Shake. So off we went to Winter Park Bowl where we met old friend James Saunders. Bowling started off well with my father bowling strikes and spares. Then an employee at the alley asked if we owned a station wagon. I said I did. He then apologized for hitting it with his truck. It was a mess. Glass everywhere. see the photo below. The fellow had front end parked and backed out very quickly and into my car. He was very nice about it. Above is a sketch of the police officer working on the situation in his car.

Later we did make it to Steak ‘N Shake. We just kept an eye on the car with a missing window and a door that wouldn’t lock.

I made the trip to the northern part of Okeechobee County to pick up Sandra, who’d been backpacking with friends for the past four days across the vast southern prairies of south Florida. I picked her up at the Fort Basinger trailhead where the sketch above was drawn.

We drove into the city of Okeechobee and got a New Years dinner at the excellent Lightsey’s restaurant. Above is a sketch of the fish that floated around and watched us from the tank beside our table. Below is the head of the wild hog posted on the wall above dinner crowd.

Another three finished. I’m working on a project set in mostly California. To get better in the mood, I selected three set in the state. Unfortunately, all three were not the best reading I’ve done lately.

We had my father up at our house for Christmas. I drove him home today and took the long way. We went through Downtown Leesburg, Tavares, Mount Dora and into Orlando. We stopped at one of my favorite spots, Beefy King, for lunch. To the right is a sketch of the cup holding a yummy orange creme milkshake.

We made our way to the Webber Center at Central Florida Community Center in Ocala for the annual set up of the Ocala Model Railroad Historic Preservation Society. Click here to learn more.

Click here for photos at Genuine Florida.

 One of the best things about Christmas are the cards I get drawn by friends. Here is a collage of some of the cards to the left.

Sandra and I made a holiday visit to our dear friend, Lucile Fair. We had a great time with her. She told us a story of she and her Grandfather shopping at the Geurnsey store on West Church Street in Orlando and how he taught her what a ten-penny nail was. As I listened it occurred to me that here was Lucile, soon to be 101 years old in one month and two days, speaking of her Grandfather who was alive during the Civil War. Sandra and I later marveled at being able to touch so far in the past with such ease.

We went from there to pick up my father and head back to Ocala. Along the way we stopped at Venetian Gardens and wandered through their wonderful light display. Above is a sketch of a different kind of light at the park near a cypress lined lake. Below is Sandra and my father at the “North Pole”. To see more Christmas lights from Leesburg, click here to see them at ‘Genuine Florida’.

I got together with some buddies at Tony Romas in South Orange County. Ken Culotta, Robert Baurle, Marsha Eaton, Marsh Moreno and Greg Gray all got together. I’m sorry I didn’t get a photo. Marsh did do this drawing in my sketchbook of a new endeavor of his – Theatre work. He’s been rehearsing for a small stage show travelling Central Florida.

Below is a sketch of bells Robert Baurle was handing to everyone.