On a Personal Note
In my home life I basically have little complaints and many things to give thanks for. The Lord has blessed me with generally good health, as well as blessing me with fourteen years of a wonderful marriage to my beloved Karen Cashon. I'm also blessed with two wonderful cats, Erin and Tezcat, live in a modest but homey 1920 Cracker house, and have two beautiful muscle cars adorning the backyard. I'm blessed with wonderful life-long friends (1971-1974) such as Denis Lebrun, Nolan, Greg Van Stavern, and with shorter-term (post 1974!) friends such as John and Beth Blechschmidt, Greg and Kathy Howe, Susan Hughes, Anita and Lisa Clardy and Brendan McWilliams. February 2002 saw the sad demise of Kitty Bitts, the Himalayan Rag Doll cat that Karen and I adopted from the Alachua County pound six months after we were married--she will be sorely missed! But 2002 also saw two great vacations. In late May and early June, Karen and I visited our dear friend Anita Clardy out in Ft. Collins, Colorado, and last month Karen and I had our eighth annual vacation in Gatlinburg, Tennessee with John and Beth Blechschmidt. My nephew Preston Pender and his wife Susanne were blessed with the birth of twins. My in-laws, Gina and Chris, adopted a baby girl named Comella, in honor of my wife's and Gina's great-grand mother. Lastly, it was taxing and I'm too old for this, but TREE, Inc. really had a real kick-booty planting at Interstate 4 and County Line Road this past November!

On A Professional Note
The largest frustration in my life is what my professional life has become. My workload has been growing exponentially for several years now with no light at the end of the tunnel. Florida is growing at a rate of 900 people a day--that's equal to one new city of Tampa a year. Our glorious Governor ("W"'s little conniving bastard brother "Jeb!" who I moronically voted for in 1998) decide in 2000, even before the non-existent recession, to reduce the State workforce by one-fourth; mind you, not reduce State SPENDING by one fourth, but just the amount of its employees. In addition, in his efforts to privatize the world, Jeb! has reduced the State work force to the same overworked, underpaid and pissed-off world found in the private sector--a sector which I bailed on ten years ago because it was so cut-throat and uncaring. The best people in State government have been jumping ship like sick puppies on a Carnival Cruise these past two years with no foreseeable end. There have been a few bright spots though-- I produced a document for the Department of Transportation that is being used as a model nationwide and even in Italy.

The State of the Nation
Outside of my professional life, I am extremely concerned and frustrated about where this Nation and the World is heading. I believe that both Bush brothers are running the most corrupt, constitutionally flawed, and dangerous administrations that this nation has ever seen. "W" is reduced to daily banging a war drum against Saddam "You Embarrassed my Daddy" Hussein- "W"-- either arbitrarily whack this clown and get it over with or shut up! I'm concerned that we have no idea where we stand in our alleged "War on Terror", and what the status on King Bastard himself, Osama Bin Laden. I'm concerned that daily the economy continues its slide into the abyss. Sadly, very few Americans at this juncture are critical of how these administrations are being run, or what they stand for--I believe much of this is out of fear of being labeled as "unpatriotic". I don't see anything good coming from either of these Black Gold Camelot Brothers as long as they're in office. To quote the great Ronald Reagan: "Ask yourself--are you better off now than you were four years ago?" Think real hard about all things considered--do you feel better about the nation's outlook now than you did in 1998? Nevertheless, I will pray for these two leaders and our country and this planet. I want Comella, my grand nephews and babies and children everywhere to live in peace and freedom

La Floridiana
What an incredible year! This makes up for my pissed-off view of professional life. "La Fla" has been a gargantuan effort, requiring a ton of what should be my relax time, but it provides me with a forum that is desperately needed in my life. It is my linkage to all things Florida and all things that I find enjoyable. It is an honor to contribute to a publication as well edited and graphically put together as Nolan Canova's Pop Culture Review. My top five favorite columns for 2002 were the following:

#1. "Interview With Denis Lebrun" (Issues #139 and #140, November 18-December 1): It was an exceptional honor to interview one of my best and life-long friends about his work on the comic strip "Blondie". Denis was (and IS!) truly a gem in his help with both Nolan and me on this two-part interview. The most enjoyable part of the interview was getting into the more technical and day-to-day aspects of the production of the strip.

#2. "Locally-Produced Movies" (Issue #101, February 25-March 3): I believe that this was groundbreaking as it set the stage for the publication's involvement with and endorsement of independent films produced in the Sunshine State. Through this we got to meet such indies greats as Gustavo Perez, Joel D. Wynkoop, Andy Lalino, Mark Nash and many others. Reviewing their works and talents has truly been enjoyable and rewarding

#3. "Prime Time and Syndicated T.V. Shows About, or Filmed in Florida" (Issues #98 and #99, February 4-17): Offered NCPCR fans a review of 60's Florida series such as "Surfside 6", "Flipper", "Gentle Ben", and "The Jackie Gleason Show", to the 80's "Miami Vice" and "Golden Girls", to the 90's "Thunder in Paradise" and "Silk Stalkings". Just when I wrote off any Florida-based shows on the horizon for the new millennium, along came "C.S.I. Miami" and "Good Morning Miami".

#4. "Will and Greg's Excellent Adventure in Miami" (Issue #136, October 28-November 3): Between Greg Van Stavern's photos, and Nolan's neon Art Deco lettering, I believe that this was the most visually stunning La Floridiana ever produced. Just like Miami, pure eye candy!

#5- Tie- "La Floridiana Goes West (on Vacation)" (Issues #115 -- 116, June 3-16 and "T.R.E.E. Inc.'s 20th Anniversary Planting" (Issue #138, November 11-17): Karen Cashon's photography in "La Floridiana Goes West (on Vacation) was absolutely outstanding. I cannot thank Karen enough for her help and support of Nolan and me on our NCPCR endeavors. I love you dearly my bogus Hawaiian wife! West of the Mississippi was truly a memorable and wonderful trip--many thanks again to Anita Clardy for her Rocky Mountains hospitality! I enjoyed the article about T.R.E.E.'s 20th anniversary planting as it gave me an opportunity to share with PCR readers one of the most major and enduring parts of my life, planting trees!

Most memorable "La Floridiana" Moments
Getting correspondence from luminaries such as writers Tim Dorsey, Dan Allison, and Ric Gatehouse, and photographer Clyde Butcher, as well as attending the wrap up party for "The Part" and "Time for Dessert" by Florida indies actor and producer Joel D. Wynkoop back in August (featured in Issue #129, September 9-15). My personal favorite "paranormal in Florida" article was "There's A Monster on the Beach (alternative title, "Here Comes Ol' Three Toes"), Issue #100, February 18-24, followed by the artist that haunts the Maitland Art Center in "The Spirit of the Artist Lives On-And On-And On", Issue #131, September 23-29. It's all been great and rewarding, and I'm looking forward to more "La Floridiana" opportunities and adventures in the future!

The New Year
Here's wishing Nolan, Mike, Matt, Deadguy, Terence, Drew, Patty, Rick Sousa, and all of our contributors, as well as all of our readers, a safe and Blessed Holiday and New Year!

Will and Karen and John and Beth's Tennessee Vacation Part Two--Snow for the Holidays!

Okay, so we probably won't be getting any snow in the Tampa Bay area for the Holidays this year--due to El Niño, we'll probably get a ton of rain though (gee, if it only got cold enough like it did in December 1983 or December 1989, it'd probably put our January 1977 dusting to shame)! So what I've arranged is to bring our valued NCPCR readers snow for the Holidays by sharing photos taken between Thursday December 3rd and Friday December 4th from the mountain chalet ("Wood's Child") in the Cobbly Knob Resort that we visited for our vacation three weeks ago. I'll let the photos and captions do most of the talking this week so I can squeeze room for a listing of all of the "La Floridiana's" that have appeared in 2002 (see below). To all of our "La Floridiana" readers: have a joyous and blessed Holiday Season and New Year!

Snow flurries began in earnest around 10:45 P.M. on Thursday December 3, 2002 at the Cobbly Knob Resort located north of Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Karen's Pontiac Firehawk, nicknamed "Pookah" is seen getting a dusting. This unretouched photo looks somewhat surrealistic because the camera's flash captured close snowflakes, making them look gigantic, and captured the vapors of my exhaling breath.		Friday morning on December 4th we had awaken to this sight. John and Beth's Chevy truck and Karen's "Pookah" pose in front of the chalet on that gray chilly morning. When the weather was not foggy, rainy, sleeting or snowing, clear brilliant days became star-studded incredible nights. I have never seen as many stars, either with the naked eye or with my binoculars. The Milky Way was truly brilliant in the clear night skies and dramatically defined the edges of the surrounding black forests and mountains.
A snow-coated forest floor is interrupted by the warmer stretch of asphalt known as Black Gum Ridge Road.		A snow-covered Eastern Hemlock tree growing next to the chalet is examined in this photograph. Both evergreen and leafless deciduous trees have their own incredible sense of structure, texture and beauty when covered in snow.
Can you spot the ghost dog? Our dear friends John and Beth Blechschmidt slipped and slided their way around Cobbly Knob on a freezing Friday morning when walking their two dogs Cheyenne (the gold Labrador Retriever) and Seneca (the black Labrador Retriever). Here they are seen taking a slight respite as we were all severely winded by the time we reached one of the summits of the Webb Mountain chain. If you look between Cheyenne (the gold dog) and Beth (the cute girl), there appears to be a third white dog. Is this just a photographic glitch, imagination, or the spirit of dog or wolf that inhabited these foot hills when the Cherokee people were the only humans present?

2002 La Floridiana Index

Below is a listing of all of this year's "La Floridiana" columns to give you an opportunity to look at any you may have missed! (Thank you, Will! These will also be appearing together with all the "La Flas" from 2001 in a new index on Crazed Fanboy, coming soon!--Nolan)

1. Issue #93 January 1-6, 2002: "The Paranormal in Florida Part 10-- The Florida Skunk Ape".
2. Issue #94 January 6-13, 2002: "Florida's Fabulous Gardens--Part 1". 1 additional Florida Folk Hero inducted.
3. Issue #95 January 14-20, 2002: "Florida's Fabulous Gardens--Part 2".
4. Issue #96 January 21-27, 2002: "The Paranormal in Florida Part 11--The Strange Case of Mary Reeser (sometimes the Sunshine State is too hot to handle)".
5. Issue #97 January 28-February 3, 2002: "Will's No-Miss Things To Do in the Sunshine State (Also known as "Ladies Hit Him In Head With Shoe If He Won't Go!)".
6. Issue #98 February 4-10, 2002: "Prime Time and Syndicated Television Shows about, or filmed in Florida--Part 1: Florida TV Series in the Sixties and The Seventies".
7. Issue #99 February 11-17, 2002: "Prime Time and Syndicated Television Shows about, or filmed in Florida--Part 2: The 1980's and the 1990's".
8. Issue #100 February 18-24, 2002: "The Paranormal in Florida Part 12--There's A Monster on the Beach (alternative title: "Here Comes OLE' Three Toes!")" and "Kitty Bitts Cashon-Moriaty: A True Feline Florida Folk Hero".
9. Issue #101 February 25-March 3, 2002: "Locally Produced Movies".
10. Issue #102 March 4-10, 2002: "Book review-- Florida Trivia (Revised Edition)".
11. Issue #103 March 11-17, 2002: "The Paranormal in Florida Part 13-The Odyssey of Flight 257".
12. Issue #104 March 18-24, 2002: "Will Takes A Walk in the Park".
13. Issue #105 March 25-31, 2002: "Snakes Alive! We Must Be in South Tampa!". 1 additional Florida Folk Hero inducted.
14. Issue #106 April 1-7, 2002: "Florida Indies Movies Reviews: "Scary Tales" and "Lector" ". 1 additional Florida Folk Hero inducted.
15. Issue #107 April 8-14, 2002: "Mob Rule-Tampa's Organized Crime Communities of the 1920's Part 1". 1 additional Florida Folk Hero inducted.
16. Issue #108 April 15-21, 2002: "Mob Rule-Tampa's Organized Crime Communities of the 1920's Part 2". 1 additional Florida Folk Hero inducted.
17. Issue #109 April 22-28, 2002: "Book review- The Mangrove Coast". 1 additional Florida Folk Hero inducted.
18. Issue #110 April 29-May 5, 2002: "One of the First Families of Florida-Canova". 1 additional Florida Folk Hero inducted.
19. Issue #111 May 6- May 12, 2002: "Florida's Amazing Architecture Installment #1: The Tropical Deco of Miami Beach--Part I"
20. Issue #112 May 13-19, 2002: "Miami Vice: The Movie!"
21. Issue #113 May 20-26, 2002: "Florida's Amazing Architecture Installment #1: The Tropical Deco of Miami Beach--Part II"
22. Issue #114 May 27-June 2, 2002: "La Floridiana on Vacation!"
23. Issue #115 June 3-9, 2002: "La Floridiana Goes West (on vacation!) Part I"
24. Issue #116 June 10-16, 2002: "La Floridiana Goes West (on vacation!) Part II"
25. Issue #117 June 17-23, 2002: "Where to Find Florida Indies Personalities in the WWW"
26. Issue #118 June 24-30, 2002: "Book Review-"Triggerfish Twist" - A Novel by Tim Dorsey
27. Issue #119 July 1-7, 2002: "Spotlight on the films of Florida actor Joel D. Wynkoop-"Dirty Cop No Donut"
28. Issue #120 July 8-14, 2002: "Florida Independent Movie Review--"Beware"
29. Issue #121 July 15-21, 2002: "The Hurricane: Florida Weather At Its Worst"
30. Issue #122 July 22-28, 2002: "Dr. Paul Bearer--Gone But Not Forgotten"
31. Issue #123 July 29-August 4, 2002: "Local and National Music Personalities and Bands from the Tampa Bay Area- 1960's to the 1980's"
32. Issue #124 August 5-11, 2002: "Notable Commercial Aircraft Crashes In, Bound For, or Bound From Florida"
33. Issue #125 August 12-18, 2002: "The Paranormal in Florida Part 14--Florida U.F.O. Update"
34. Issue #126 August 19-25, 2002: "Book Review- "Clyde Butcher--Florida Landscape"
35. Issue #127 August 26-September 1, 2002: "The Essential Gustavo Perez Collection"
36. Issue #128 September 2-8, 2002: "Book Review- "All the Little Birdies"
37. Issue #129 September 9-15, 2002: "Florida Independent Movie Review--"The Part" and "Time for Dessert"
38. Issue #130 September 16-22, 2002: "Book Review- Historic Landscapes of Florida"
39. Issue #131 September 23-29, 2002: "The Paranormal in Florida Part 15--The Spirit of the Artist lives On- and On- and On"
40. Issue #132 September 30- October 6, 2002: "The Paranormal in Florida Part 16--Where are the U.F.O.s?"
41. Issue #133 October 7-13, 2002: "The Paranormal in Florida Part 17--Haunted St. Augustine"
42. Issue #134 October 14-20, 2002: The Paranormal in Florida Part 18--"The Tampa Triangle Dead Zone" by Captain Bill Miller
43. Issue #135 October 21-27, 2002: The Paranormal in Florida Part 19-"Floridaland Ghosts" by Dylan Clearfield
44. Issue #136 October 28-November 3, 2002: "Will and Greg's Excellent Adventure in Miami"
45. Issue #137 November 4-10, 2002: "La Floridiana's Free Form Week"
46. Issue #138 November 11-17, 2002: "T.R.E.E. Inc.'s 20th Anniversary Tree Planting"
47. Issue #139 November 18-24, 2002: "Interview With Denis Lebrun-- Part One"
48. Issue #140 November 25-December 1, 2002: "Interview With Denis Lebrun- Part Two"
49. Issue #141 December 2-8, 2002: "A Modern History of Picnic Island Park-- Part One"
50. Issue #142 December 9-15, 2002: "A Modern History of Picnic Island Park-- Part Two"
51. Issue #143 December 16-22, 2002: "Karen and Will and John and Beth's Tennessee Vacation Part One--It's an Old Family Tradition"
52. Issue #144 December 23-29, 2002: "Karen and Will and John and Beth's Tennessee Vacation Part Two--Let it Snow"

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"La Floridiana" is ©2002 by William Moriaty.  Webpage design and all graphics herein (except where otherwise noted) are creations of Nolan B. Canova.  All contents of Nolan's Pop Culture Review are ©2002 by Nolan B. Canova.