The Wandering Disciple

The John F Kennedy Tea Rose is a regal rose fitting of the beloved president. Featuring a double bloom and a fruity fragrance, the rose brings the feeling of hope and peace to any garden. The John F Kennedy Rose was introduced in 1965 by German born Eugene Boerner who crossed a White Queen rose and an unknown seedling to create the now popular JFK Rose. (Photo: October 30, 2020)

  A monarch caterpillar chomps on the leaves of a milkweed plant as part of the cycle from egg to butterfly.  The life cycle of a monarch butterfly features four stages.  The first stage is the egg stage in which an adult butterfly lays eggs on a milkweed plant.  Four days after the eggs are laid, they hatch and begin stage two, the larva stage.  During this stage the colorful caterpillar seen here eats the host plant and grows for about two weeks before transitioning into stage three.  Stage three is the pupa or chrysalis stage and that is where the magic happens.  The caterpillar surrounds itself in a silky chrysalis and behind the veil, a complete metamorphism from caterpillar begins.  In about ten days, the beautiful monarch butterfly emerges and completes the cycle.  (Photo: October 30, 2020)

Step inside Journey Into Imagination and join Figment on a playful adventure through the senses and see how a little imagination can spark a dream. Located inside the Imagination Pavilion, Journey to Imagination follows the playful antics of Figment as he shows you the power of imagination. Join Figment on a tour of the Imagination Institute before Figment turns the world upside down. The playful purple dragon even makes an appearance during the annual Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival. (Photo: April 7, 2018)

A Malayan Tapir catches a nap at ZooTampa. The only species of tapir native to Asia, the Malayan Tapir is the largest of four main tapir species. While not totally nocturnal, the tapirs are more active at night foraging for leaves on the forest floor. ZooTampa is home to a family of Malayan Tapir. (Photo: March 31, 2018)

Hold on to you hats and glasses cause this here is the wildest ride in the wilderness.  For over forty years, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Walt Disney World has been taking its riders on a wild ride through the mysterious mountains of a Southwestern mining town.  The town was abandoned following a flash flood and till this very day these trails run wild through the mountains without an engineer or a crew.  (Photo: March 4, 2018)

The collection is off to a quick start with the first round of patches arriving in the mail. Thanks to the help of a fellow fire marshal, my collection got off to a good start as his package arrived with a few new additions to the collection along with a letter explaining the importance of each patch. It was a pretty cool way to start to the collection. Here is a look at the patches acquired this week. Aeromed (FL)  Alachua County (FL) Fire Rescue   Bowling Green (FL) Fire Department  Florida State Firefighter’s Association  Hardee County (FL) Fire Rescue  Polk County (FL) Fire Rescue  Click on the patch above to view the entire Public Safety Patch Collection .

Orioles infielder Tim Beckham runs out of the box after a hit and run play during a Spring Training game in 2018. Originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays as the first overall pick of the 2008 draft, Beckham has spent his career split between the Rays, Orioles and Seattle Mariners. He became a free agent at the conclusion of the 2019 season. (Photo: February 28, 2018)

Joe Cox of the Florida Everblades sets up a breakaway during a 2018 East Coast Hockey League game against the Jacksonville Icemen. The Everblades are minor league hockey team in the South Division of the ECHL and have player development contracts with the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL and the Nashville Predators of the NHL. They play at the Hertz Arena in Estero, Florida. The Everblades have won 1 Kelly Cup, 4 conference championships and 7 division championships in their 22 year franchise history. (Photo: February 24, 2020)

Good luck to the Tampa Bay Rays as they continue their quest for the World Series Title tonight in Game One of the World Series.  The American League champs take on the Los Angeles Dodgers in a best of seven series at Globe Life Field, a neutral site due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  This is the second time in franchise history that the Rays have made it all the way to the World Series.  (Photo: September 30, 2017)

The skies over Florida produces some of the most stunning sunsets in the world.  This is just one of the beautiful skies as the sun sets over the Gulf of Mexico at Manasota Beach on a December evening.  No too sunsets are alike and just because it may be cloudy, doesn't mean the sky with disappoint.  (Photo: December 17, 2018)

The official state car of the President, The Beast, is a highly modified limousine used to transport the President of the United States.  Featuring the seal from Cadillac, The Beast is built on the truck chassis of a GMC TopKick.  The defense capabilities of The Beast are classified but there have been many stories published about some of them including armor, sealed air environment, run flat tires, night-vision and much more.  The Beast is operated by the US Secret Service and is only available for use by the President.  Once one of the limos are decommissioned, they Secret Services oversees the destruction of the vehicle to ensure the defense capabilities remain classified.  (Photo: October 16, 2020)

There are many traditions in public safety.  Much of the profession is driven by tradition.  One of these traditions past down from generation to generation is patch collecting.  On the walls of firehouses and police stations throughout the country you will find walls of patches from across the globe.  Even Disney got on board with their collection inside the Main Street Fire House at Walt Disney World.   This has been something I have always wanted to do and as I sit in my office and stare at the four empty white walls each and every day, I figured there is no better time than now to start.  But I am combining this new collection with my love of photography to bring you an digital patch wall as well.  As I collect new patches, I will post them on the wall and include a little bio of the department here on the site. I hope you enjoy this new endeavor as much as I do.  I already have a few in the collection and here's to many many more.  ...

When most people think of Air Force One, they immediately picture the VC-25, a military executive transport variant of the iconic Boeing 747.  But the Air Force One handle is the call sign of any Air Force aircraft carrying the President of the United States.  Depending on the mission, alternative aircraft may be needed to transport the President.  On this visit to Fort Myers, President Trump flew in the C-32, a military variant of the Boeing 757, due to aircraft limitations at other stops along this leg of his campaign.  (Photo: October 16, 2020)

     A US Air Force Globemaster III approaches Southwest Florida International Airport providing support in advance of a visit by President Donald Trump.  The C-17 is one of the Air Force's heavy lifters, providing logistical support to the mission of the armed forces across the globe.  Built by Boeing, the C-17 entered service in 1995 with 222 units in service with the US Air Force's Air Mobility Command.  (Photo: October 15, 2020)

A presidential helicopter is unloaded off a military transport plane in advance of a VIP movement in Florida.  The VH-3 Sea King, more commonly known as Marine One when the president is aboard, is the work horse of presidential airlift group.  Operated by the Marine Corps MX-1 squadron, the Sea King is responsible for operating and maintaining the fleet of helicopters used to support the mission.  In order to support this mission, the helicopter is disassembled to fit in the back of an Air Force cargo plane like the C-17 pictured here.  Once it arrives at the destination, it has to be reassembled by the crew of HMX-1 and made operational in advance of the arrival of the president or other VIP being transported by the crew.  (Photo: October 14, 2020)

The swamp buggy at Billie Swamp Safari is just one of the ways you can get deep into the swamps of South Florida.  Located on the Big Cypress Indian Reservation, the attraction operated by the Seminole nation shows what life is like when you get off the roads and deep into the swamp.  They offer airboat and swamp buggy rides to take you into the swamp to see the wildlife that live in the swamp while learning about the Seminole life in the swamp.  (Photo: February 24, 2018)

Situated along Biscayne Bay in downtown Miami, American Airlines Arena is home to the 2020 Eastern Conference Champions, the Miami Heat.  Opened in 1999, the art deco inspired arena is the home of the Heat as well as a popular concert venue.  It is sponsored by American Airlines, who is the primary airline servicing nearby Miami International Airport.  It is one of two NBA arenas sponsored by the airline.  The $213 Million dollar arena can host 19,600 spectators for a basketball game and a little more that 21,000 for a concert depending on configuration.  (Photo: February 16, 2018)

 A male siamang calls out during the morning hours at Zoo Miami.  The siamang is a gibbon found in the forests of Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.  Making their homes high in the canopy, the siamang is known by its loud vocalizations.  The male will inflate its throat sack to make the loud call and will often shake branches and swing from trees while calling.  This is a defense response used by the Siamang to defend their territory.  (Photo: February 16, 2018)

A pair of Bornean Orangutans play around and share some brotherly love at ZooTampa.  The zoo is home to three juvenile orangutans.  The Bornean Orangutan is one of three orangutans species found in the continent of Asia and live on the island of Borneo.  Orangutans are closely linked to humans and share 97% of their DNA with humans.  (Photo: February 10, 2018)

  Going nose to nose with the massive Queen of the Skies.  Depending on the variant, the iconic Boeing 747 has a tail height of 63-65 feet, making it taller than an average six story building.  Its amazing that something that size can fly through the skies, but the four massive engines gives it the lift to soar through the skies.  This Boeing 747 is a freighter used by Western Global Airlines, a cargo operation in Southwest Florida.  (Photo: October 9, 2020)

The Sunshine Skyway bridge is an icon of the Tampa Bay region.  Spanning the mouth of Tampa Bay and connecting the mainland of Manatee County with the peninsula of Pinellas County, the bridge is more than just a landmark.  It provides commuters with a direct route route across the bay without having to circumnavigate the expansive bay.  There have actually been two bridges at this site.  The original bridge suffered a fatal collapse as a result of being hit by a barge in 1980 during bad weather.  The surviving portions of this bridge service as a fishing pier operated by the Florida State Parks.  The current bridge opened in in 1987 and services almost 60,000 cars a day.  (Photo: February 10, 2018)

Florida Everblades goalie Callum Booth makes a great save on a scoring opportunity by the Greenville Swamp Rabbits during a 2018 East Coast Hockey League game.  The ECHL is one of two minor league hockey leagues that have player development contracts with the NHL.  Players develop their skills on teams like the Everblades in hopes of one day getting their chance in the NHL.  (Photo: February 3, 2018)

 A wild orange grows along a hiking trail at Oscar Scherer State Park in Osprey, Florida.  The orange we consume on a regular basis, also known as a sweet orange, is not a wild fruit.  It is actually a hybrid between a mandarin and a pomelo.  It created a sweet orange which was introduced to Florida by Spanish settlers in 1565 when Pedro Menendez de Aviles settled St Augustine.  Today much of the Florida oranges are used to create orange juice sold worldwide.  (Photo: January 20, 2018)

A Florida Black Bear hangs out in shelter of its enclosure at ZooTampa.  The Florida Black Bear is a subspecies of the American Black Bear and can be found throughout most of Florida and southern portions of Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi.  This solitary animal has some of the best senses in the animal kingdom with good vision, acute hearing and excellent sense of smell.  The black bear is one of the many native Florida animals that can be seen on the zoo's Florida Boardwalk.  (Photo: January 6, 2018)

 A wood stork comes in for a landing along the Myakka River in eastern Sarasota County.  Found in tropical and subtropical regions of North and South America and the Caribbean, the wood stork is a large wading bird. The wood stork forages by touch so it can be found along shallow waters looking for food.   The Myakka River State Park is rich in wildlife and on any given day you can see wood storks and much more wildlife along the banks of the river.  (Photo: January 13, 2018)

On the first Sunday of October, we pause to remember the brave men and woman of the fire service who lost their lives in the line of duty.  Designated by Congress in 1990, National Fallen Firefighter Memorial Day is a way to remember our fallen brothers and sisters who have paid the ultimate price while saving lives and protecting property. This past year 103 firefighter answered their final call and will forever be memorialized at the National Memorial on the grounds of the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland.  (Photo: October 22, 2017)

Pro Football Hall of Famer Jason Taylor calls out some strategy in the huddle during a 2017 Florida high school football playoff game.  After a fourteen year NFL career, the Dolphins defensive end has taken to the sidelines of St Thomas Aquinas, a powerhouse high school football team in Fort Lauderdale where he joined fellow Dolphin teammate Sam Madison on the coaching staff of the Raiders.  (Photo: December 1, 2017)

In the early days of Louisiana, one could become a pharmacist with little to no training or experience.  With just a six month apprenticeship, you could begin compounding and issuing you own medicinal blends with little guidance.  In 1804, Governor Claiborne enacted a law creating standards and licensing for pharmacists and Louis Dufilho became the first to past the exam and open a pharmacy in Louisiana.  To showcase the history of pharmacy medicine in Louisiana, the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum was opened in the French Quarter.  Here you can walk through a historic pharmacy and see how the pharmacists worked and lived.  (Photo: November 22, 2017)  

In government October 1st usually signifies the start of a new fiscal year.  New budgets, laws and programs begin when the fiscal year begins and in the City of Venice, Florida this means the start of emergency medical services.  Until today, the Sarasota County Fire Department provided EMS coverage to the citizens of Venice. However from today forward, the Venice Fire Department will be providing coverage for the city.  (Photo: September 18, 2020)