Farewell Robert

To live in hearts we leave behind
Is not to die.
~Thomas Campbell, "Hallowed Ground"


I received some terrible news this morning.  Dr. Ray called me from Albany to let me know that Robert Jaquay had died on September 21.  He read to me from the obituary in the local media.  In seeing the news, he knew that it was the Robert that I had spoken to him about many times in our phone conversations.  Robert was the leader of our book club.  To quote from O&A on Facebook:

Robert was passionate about books, theatre, opera and all the arts.  He joyfully provided us with theatre and performance reviews and was the thought provoking leader of our Book Club.  Our condolences go out to all those he touched and especially to his partner of 42 years Bill Leone.


Robert and I met through social activities with the Outings & Adventures group here in the Tampa Bay area.  I was surprised to learn that Robert was the Director of the William K. Sanford Town Library in Loudonville, NY for 29 years before retiring and moving to Florida.  I lived the first third of my life in the same town (Colonie).  This 'connection' led to us becoming instant friends.

I will miss him at our monthly dinners and book discussions.  I will always think of him when I attend a performance at the American Stage Theater in St. Pete.  Although our journeys only intersected for a very short time, I consider myself fortunate and richer for having had him as a friend.

Farewell Robert . . . I will miss you . . .

Full Moon Dude Ranch with Outings&Adventures

On Friday night, I guess you could say I was able to check off an item on my Bucket List. Except, I don't have a bucket list!  I participated in the Outings & Adventures Full Moon Dude Ranch activity.

We arrived at the non-profit Horsepower for Kids early so got to take some preview pictures.  Here Robert is putting up one of the Outings & Adventures banners.

Pete/Rusty and Joe/Slim before becoming bow legged.

A bevy of beauty . . . 

I couldn't get a feather . . . 

A 'zorse';  half horse and half zebra.

Prior to our BBQ dinner.  

My plate . . . that's a baked sweet potato wrapped up there . . . 

Making s'mores.  Yumm!

Pete sets his marshmallows on fire . . . 

Why do we look drunk here?  And no alcohol before riding!

 Our table:  Tony, Gabby, Steve, Robert.

 Moon over the pond behind the petting zoo area.

 Caught these butt heads there.

 On the hayride.

More hayride.

The monkey on Monkey's back.  I look like a wall-eyed salmon!

On the trail along the top of Tampa Bay.  Looking out over the Bay from the mud beach:  the almost full moon, Courtney Campbell Causeway.
A most beautiful night to be out there!

 Pete adding "bowed" to his legs.

Thanks to Robert for a GREAT activity!  Let's do it again!!!

O&A Book Club Meeting in Ybor City

Several months back I joined the book club within the Outings & Adventures organization.  This month we met at Streetcar Charlie's in Ybor City.  The selection for this month is The Farewell Symphony by Edmund White.  Fascinating read.  Once I got into the rhythm, it was difficult to put it down.  I've still got just over a hundred pages to read to finish it.  Going to read some of his other works too.  This is my favorite of all the books I've read since joining the club.
I took this picture as I was walking over to Streetcar Charlie's.  Full moon tomorrow night.

December Meeting O & A Book Club

I joined the monthly Outings & Adventures book club a few months back.  The men and women each have their own selections and meetings.  This month, because of the holiday, the selection and the meetings were combined.  The meetings are a combination dinner and discussion held at various places.  Each month alternates between a Tampa location and a Saint Petersburg location.  This month's was at the Vinoy at Marchand's.  We had a three course dinner and it was YUMMY!!!
Robert heads the men's book club. He was the director of The Colonie Town Library for almost 30 years.  Colonie is the town where I grew up!  Small world!

Primi Urban Cafe, Irma Vamp and QueensHead

Saturday night was another O&A Outing.  Pete, Joe, Steve and I first went to Primi Urban Cafe for dinner.  It was superb! Didn't take any pictures of our main courses, but did get a picture of my dessert . . .  crème brûlée!

It was yummy.  Can you tell?

After dinner we walked over to the American Stage Theatre a couple blocks away.  The show was funny, 2 actors playing a dozen roles with a lot of quick wardrobe changes.  Afterwards we met in a private area and had sweets from City Street Sweets in Tampa.  Plus we each got to take a huge candy apple home!

I had all I could do to not take a bite out of it when I snapped this picture!

And afterwards we met up with Alan and Phil at the Queens Head Eurobar and Restaurant  It turned out to be a beautiful night with a full moon.  We lounged on one of the outdoor 'beds' and chatted while having a glass of wine while the dj kept playing the tunes and the fire boy kept twirling those balls of fire.
  

Kayak Attack

On Wednesday night I went to the Outings & Adventures Sunset / Full Moon Kayaking.  More pictures and a descriptive narrative are posted here.  

The weather appeared threatening, but held off for us until we were all back at Sweetwater Kayaks.

The first and last time I ever was in a kayak was back in the early 70s on Glimmerglass Lake in NY.  My friend Gary went once before, ages ago.  We decided to do the tandem and save us both embarrassment!  

There were about 30 of us in the group.  We were out on the water for about an hour and a half, then gathered at the Banana Boat for pizza.  Definitely worth a repeat performance!

Hard Hat Tour of the new Dali Museum

On Sunday I went on a hard hat preview tour of the new Dali Museum in downtown St. Petersburg.  The museum itself is a work of surreal art!  So many people had registered for the tour with the Outings & Adventures group, (click here for description and pictures) that we were split over 3 tour groups.

I was on the first tour, at 11:00 am.  We started off with a fruit smoothie and panini from Tropical Smoothie. This shot is from the back, or west side.

My tour group. 


Here . . . let me zoom in . . . 

Too butch???

This is a shot that I think Robert may have taken earlier when he previewed the museum when setting up the tour.  No photography was allowed on the tour.  (I didn't think to ask if we could do sound recording.  I guess that wouldn't have had the same effect though.)  :-)

After the tour I went across the street on the east side, to take some pictures from the road leading to the Albert Whitted Airport.

In this shot, you can see the Mahaffey Theatre to the right of the Dali.  The area in between is being developed into a plaza.  Although not the same, the view from the Dali reminded me of the Lincoln Center plaza.  I think the glass facade and the columns on the Mahaffey and the new columns and roof on the east side of the parking garage in the middle seemed to bring the image of Lincoln Center to my mind.

This view extends further to the north, with the Mahaffey Theatre on the left and several of the condos in downtown St Pete on the right.

I enjoyed watching this sailboat on the left in the picture.  It was sailing around in the South Yacht Basin between Demens Landing (where I saw Hair last spring ) and the airport.

I like this shot with the Al Lang Stadium as a backdrop.  

A wider shot 

And the Vinoy, way in the distance in the center to the right of that tall palm.

Barbara and Robert with this guy who sorta has that Dali look.  And I mean Salvador, not Parton.