Cloudy days for Sarasota’s sunshine

Well, I did it … I appeared again on the WEDU/PBS (Channel 3) political television program Florida This Week. Whew! I’m serious — it’s a major deal for me each time. I’ve only been on three times so far and of course, I’m trying to improve in both style and substance … but the girl has a long way to go.

Anyway, I griped about Sarasota government operating in the dark — as I’m wont to do. I think I say “the sun just isn’t shining in Sarasota government,” and um, I might say a little something about the local gov being “dysfunctional” at best. Um, yes, I know … I flunked “how to win friends and influence people” …

Try to ignore how I flubbed my answer on “the keys” — oh, good grief, I stumble around that answer like a fish out of water — key water that is.

Anyway, if you want to catch the show — just click here: MC on Florida This Week October 9. Look for the program that says October 10 (they got the date wrong there) and just hit play. You can fast forward to about 25:00 if you want to just hear me yakking about Sarasota.

Any comments, quips, queries, questions — post a blog comment here.

Big news story in Sarasota this week?

Hey — what do you think the burning issue is in Sarasota City/County this week? Sunshine shenanigans? The gazillion big-name locals who want to serve on the police advisory council? The fact that Abbott still hasn’t been kicked to the curb by Bartolotta (and why is that, do you think?)? Or is it the Martina Navratilova love triangle story (with money playing the third wheel). Or something else?

I’m looking for a “big story this week in Sarasota” hot topic for my Florida This Week television appearance tomorrow and thought my readers might want to weigh in … . So, if you have an idea or just want to give me food for thought — post something here by midnight tonight!

Yup– WEDU/PBS (Channel 3) has invited me back on to the political roundtable television show — Florida This Week. I’ll be taping the show up at the WEDU station tomorrow afternoon and then it airs on Friday night (October 9) at 8:30 p.m., and again on Sunday at 12:30 p.m.

The other guests panelists tomorrow night will be Scott Farrell, Host, The Farrell Files; Linda Saul-Sena (D), Tampa City Council; David Hurley (R) State Leadership Chairman, NFIB. And, um, me — cat-lover/cougar-debunker/writer-for-hire!

Treat yourself like you’re the cat’s meow … and the rest of the world will too

I admit it … I have three too many cats. But I adore them. They were all rescue cats — first Einstein, then Coco (so named after Coco Chanel), and most recently, Boomerang. (more…)

Roller Derby babes … hot … but not bothered by misconception

If you haven’t seen Drew Barrymore’s new film, Whip It — check it out at a cinema near you … or read my article about the Darlins’ — southwest Florida’s roller derby babes.
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Dream sequence: Whizzing past you in a blur of female testosterone – a bevy of hard-bodied babes, wearing mouth guards and helmets, some tatted up and tough, some in fishnets and form-fitting boy shorts, and tiny tanks or tees knotted high, showing bare midriffs and belly button metal. (more…)

Cougar myths … debunked!

This column appeared in print in Creative Loafing newspaper 10/7/09.

The topic of cougarsome cuties chasing cuddly cradle-dwellers is about as tasty an intellectual morsel as dining at the Olive Garden is a gastronomic one. Whether or not women d’un certain âge have sex with younger men is a topic as culturally passé as older men using little blue pills to make it through the night. It’s done; it happens. Why all this talk today about something so yesterday?

MC tries (tries being the operative word) to strike a cou-girrrrrl-icious pose.

Cogito ergo sum?

For most of my life, I’ve agreed with Descartes — I think, therefore I am.

But what about Emerson and his theory about what constitutes a “great soul”? Such a soul, Emerson concluded, is one that has the strength to live truly, madly, deeply, not someone who merely possesses the strength to think. (more…)

Last chance to vote in Best of Suncoast

In case you’re interested in voting for me in this year’s Creative Loafing Best of the Suncoast readers poll — you’ve only got a couple of days left. I think the deadline is Sunday night. Then, they announce the winners sometime in October. I’m eligible for Best Local Columnist and Best Local Blogger — but there are a lot of other cool categories to vote in. My vote for Best Waste of Taxpayer’s Dollars went to the City’s decision to keep Abbott on paid leave! I know, I know — I’m like a dog with a bone.

Any hoo — if you want to vote (and I’d sure appreciate it!) click here Best of the Suncoast.

Autumn sunset chez MC

Tonight, I took a break from a massive website project I’m working on and walked Boomerang. I was barely out the door, when I had to scoop him up and run back inside for my camera to capture this outstanding, beyond-beautiful and lovely autumn sky. As I snapped a few shots, something moving in the field below the view of my camera caught my eye. I stopped playing photog and peered into the dusky field and saw a hawk tearing something limb from limb. Again, I scooped Boomer up, ran inside, this time for my night-vision binoculars (seriously!) and ran back out to view him. I could see him clearly with the binocs — he (or she) was stunning. Much more massive than the Cooper’s Hawk I’ve seen here from time to time. A real barrel-type body. He was standing on the ground, and every minute or so would reach down to the earth and rip something with his beak and then I guess either chewed or swallowed. The whole time, he was watchful. Turning his head, this way and that. I’m sure he saw me, but I guess I was no threat. But then Boomer, who, to his credit had sat peacefully at my feet while I was captivated by the hawk, suddenly dashed up after a lizard or something in the grass. At that, the hawk lifted up in a flash and flew across the field. I got to watch him until he was out of sight. Honestly, I was grateful he had a good dinner; I tried not to think about what creature he was devouring — the law of the jungle, I guess. Or should I say, the law of my Walden.

September segue

All those years of living in New England have fixed my internal calendar to interpret September in only one way: the romance of fall.

I was born in the spring, but I’m a fall baby at heart. It’s the time of year I feel the best; a time of optimism and fresh starts. A time of anticipation for myriad seasonal festivities. A time for first kisses and getting a little crazy.

I’m so ready. Ready to stoke up a fire (I wish), cue up some Dinah Washington (schwa-ing!) and curl up on the couch with a book I should have read in college (okay, that’s not that crazy).

I’m ready to break out a sweater dress, throw on some sexy boots, and sidle up to a neighborhood bar for a little hot toddy and witty repartee (oh, geez, that’s what I want the most!).

But here in Sarasota, it’s still 90 degrees outside and we’ve still got almost two and a half months left to hurricane season, so how does one get in that September swing? Without the typical harbingers of fall – the changing colors of the leaves, the crisp air – how do Sarasotans make that switch in mood from full-on summer to please-come-on fall?

Um, as usual — my response to all times of change is to think of romance — dating – specifically first dates – I’m serious — a great, new first date is the best way to get in the fall mood.

If you can find a decent bar in this town that doesn’t have a ridiculously malapropos television turned on, a bar where the food is kickin and the martinis are icy cold … I can’t imagine a better way to kick off autumn that by cozying up to a bar or in a booth under the low lights; reveling in a first-date glow. With the crowds of season still a few weeks away, there must be plenty of places where September wining and dining would carry some major mojo.

Or, if you’re like me, after feasting all summer on the natural world’s works of arts – mesmerizing sunsets, for example, — you may find yourself longing for the sumptuousness of man-made art again. The Ringling Museum of Art, small and simple, is the perfect sorbet between seasons. Besides, a walkabout through the museum’s gorgeous interiors and courtyard will cleanse your palate of summer and ready you for the excesses of the so-called arts season.

I believe Ringling is having a special exhibition of Buddhist art through November; I’ll have to check it out to get my autumn on.

The dogma of dogs

I have a love/hate relationship with seeing a car go by with a dog poking its head or sometimes its whole upper body out of a car window. Head raised, ears flapping back, often a tongue hanging out flopping in the wind.

Photo courtesy of engnr_chik on Flickr (some rights reserved)

Feeling that deliciously heady sense of freedom that comes from going fast, feeling the wind on one’s face, knowing somebody else is at the wheel and you’re safe, knowing you’re hair will be a rat’s nest, maybe even having to spit the occasional bug out from in between you teeth when it’s all over … and still … loving every single second of it.

I gotta get me some of that doggie dogma.

*link for engnr_chik