You Can Not Make this Up

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60 Year Love Story.
    Our Mom & Dad Bias were married on November 1, 1953. Together they raised 3 great kids and faced many life challenges together. Our Mom passed away 13 years ago in 1999. Dad continued on. Us kids would tease Dad he needed a new girl friend. He would say, “No your Mom is the only girl friend I will ever have.”
     Dad passed away on Oct 30, 2013. It was just 2 days before what would have been their 60th wedding anniversary. At the funeral home the director gave us Dad’s wallet. There in the wallet was their wedding photo. For everyday, for 60 years, Dad carried this photo. The photo might have been crinkled torn and old but it made us all smile. Dad is now back together with his only girl friend.

Out & About: The Chattaway Restaurant in St. Pete

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On the corner of 4th St. South and 22nd Ave South is the 90 year old St. Pete  traditional restaurant, The Chattaway. There  slogan is “Serving Great Food in St. Pete for over 90 years.”
It was very common when we were at the Suncoast Resort to pop over and order one of their famous large “Original” Chattaburgers, 1/2 lb of great tasting hamburger. It was about a 1 mile away. A lot of times we had to stand in line and wait. That often happens even today.  The snowbirds haven’t returned back quite yet so go on over and give it try.  And that has been 15 years ago. We had stumbled on to the restaurant many years before that. The chicken or shrimp baskets and burgers have won numerous area food awards.
The very pink eclectic bathtubs filled with shrubbery and flowers surround the old preserved grocery store in an outdoor garden feel and to enter the hid away dining room is a 3:00 English take back. One great benefit to this boutique eatery is that it has plenty of parking.
“Most Americans come here and drink tea at noon, but the true English still have there traditional tea at 3:00 pm with a few sweets.” said owner, Ms Dottie in giving me a tour of the infamous inside high British decor’ed Tea Room. The dainty laced window room set with very low doorways to enter with colorful Queen majesty China dishes and knick knacks hung on the walls all around British adorned room. It is quite the site.
Other great items are on the food fare menu. Many salads and a variety of appetizers and soups prepared daily. Every day they have a sandwich special. A large choice of draft & imported beer, wines and beverages to enjoy the outdoors patio and enjoy watching the Choy fish in the ponds.
This is a very close eatery get a way that you will return to over and over again. www.thechattaway.com

Dishing with Mark & Carrie 3-20-13

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WELCOME New Dishing with Mark & Carrie Sponsor
“A List Steaks and Stuff”
A Special shout out to
Ybor City Stogie
 
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter”….. Martin Luther King Jr

Guavaewwn 2013
GaYBOR/Ybor City was paccked this year for Guavaween!!!  many placed reported record breaking nights!  the very best discrition comes form our favorite Police officers sean Mahabir. Here is what he posted on the Ybor Watch https://www.facebook.com/yborcitybusinesswatch?fref=ts
NO major incidents last night for Halloween in Ybor City! The crowd was well behaved and enjoyed 7th Ave. Cheers to my brothers in blue for maintaining order!!

Week 4: The Tampa Citizen Police Academy

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Week 4: The Tampa Citizen Police Academy 
The Mark & Carrie Experience
SWAT Team, Bomb Squad, Marine Unit
    It was another interesting and exciting week at the academy. Mr Vegas law class also joined us.  Major Keith O’Conner started of this weeks class. He is in charge  of the special ops. This includes 12 + special units, squads & teams. The 4 main ones are SWAT, Hostage, Bomb & Marine Divers.
    Sergeant Richard Mills is in charge of the SWAT Team.  This is the very top 2% of the police force and is very hard to get into. All the members are volunteers who also work full time positions with the police. These volunteers are on call an impressive 24/7. The best discriptions is “They are the Cop, that Cops call when then need Help!!” The SWAT team did demonstration for us. A police chase cars with a hostatage take over. It all ended up with officers jumping of the top of building and rescuting the hostage. WOW
    The Tampa Bomb Squad is one of the very best in the country. They train with the FBI and Army. Each officer goes thru a 6 week class costing $120,000 each.  The squad cover 6 counties and has 250-270 calls per year. The bomb suits cost $19,500 and can only be worn for 30 minutes due to the heat. The Robotscost an average of $160,000 each.  We then watched a video rates “FOUO” For Official Use only. WOW did we feel special. After the film it was out side to see 4 bomb explosions!!! The truck was way cool too. Tampa is one of only 4 in the USA to have a bomb container.
    The rain started as the Marine Unit pulled up with one of their boast. There are 6 full time officers  who maintain & operate the Tampa fleat of 6 boast.  These boats are left in position thrupught Tampa Bay. they work together with the US Coast Guard, Tampa Fire and Stets of FL. beside regular operations they also escote cruise ships and chemmical ships in the harbor.
Next week is “Use of Force” Street Tactics, Simulations, Shoot don’t Shoot & traffic Stops.  Until then signing off…  Mark & Carrie
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