
“One of the stories in the film comes from Jason Robards, who famously fought in the war, was in the Navy … I worked with him on Magnolia. And he told me the story of coming back. I don’t remember what boat he was on, but he was coming back, and V-J Day was announced, and they’d run out of booze. And they broke into the torpedoes and drank booze [i.e, fuel] out of there. And the way he tells it, he woke up the next morning on the mast of the ship, and an inch either way he would have fallen to his death. And that story just stuck with me as a great story … something to get into the film.” – Paul Thomas Anderson, NPR Interview, 2013
Lettuce Lake Conservation Park
We enjoyed a pleasant stroll along the 3,500-foot boardwalk at Lettuce Lake Conservation Park in Tampa over the weekend. Don’t miss the observation tower, which offers some great scenic views of the Hillsborough River. Highly recommended!
The Longest Journey

“The longest journey begins with a single step, not with a turn of the ignition key. That’s the best thing about walking, the journey itself. It doesn’t much matter whether you get where you’re going or not. You’ll get there anyway. Every good hike brings you eventually back home. Right where you started.” – Edward Abbey
Encyclopedia of North Carolina
Billed as “The first single-volume reference to the events, institutions and cultural forces that have defined the state,” the massive and highly informative Encyclopedia of North Carolina was edited by the late, great William S. Powell (1919-2015) and published in 2006. I was fortunate to make a small contribution on several topics in the Encyclopedia, including:
- American Indians – Part 1: Introduction
- Caves and Caverns
- Military Installations, Civil War
- Nags Head Woods Ecological Preserve
- Swannanoa Gap Tunnel
- Woodcarving
Dirtbag: The Legend of Fred Beckey (2017)

“Hailed as one of the most prolific and influential climbers of all time, Fred Beckey has become a cult hero in the outdoor world. Eschewing fame, sponsors and family life so his only obligation would be the next summit, this rebel athlete conquered more unclimbed peaks than anyone in history during his 80-year career, staying myopically focused on the mountains until age 94.”
The Magnificent Ambersons (1941)

“Once I stood where we’re standing now to say goodbye to a pretty girl. Only it was in the old station before this was built. We called it the depot. We knew we wouldn’t see each other again for almost a year. I thought I couldn’t live through it. She stood there crying – don’t even know where she lives now. Or if she is living. If she ever thinks of me she probably imagines I’m still dancing in the ballroom of the Amberson mansion. She probably thinks of the mansion as still beautiful. Still the finest house in town. Ah, life and money both behave like loose quicksilver in a nest of cracks. When they’re gone, you can’t tell where, or what the devil you did with them.”
Smyrna Dunes Park
With a 1.5-mile-long boardwalk that meanders over vast sand dunes and overlooks white-sand beaches, Smyrna Dunes Park in New Smyrna Beach is the perfect spot for a family outing! We spotted dozens of gopher tortoise burrows, but the weather was a little too chilly for the friendly critters to leave the confines of their homes. We will be back soon!
Bourlay Historic Nature Park

Nestled alongside scenic Lake Griffin in Leesburg, Bourlay Historic Nature Park features several short hiking trails, along with an old Florida cracker house (which serves as a visitor center), 1930’s Bourlay House and Barn (a private residence but one of the trails goes right by it), chickee hut, small fishing pier and kayak launch.
John Prine in Concert

Looking forward to the John Prine concert at the Bob Carr Theater in downtown Orlando tonight!












