Jose Gasparilla pirate ship at anchor: Preparing to invade Tampa

The tall masted ship Jose Gaspar is standing by ready to transport the blood-thirsty and marauding pirates of the Krewe of Gasparilla as they invade the city of Tampa on Saturday. The ship is anchored off Bayshore Boulevard in Hillsborough Bay.

Porta Potties and Road Closings: Gasparilla takes over Bayshore Boulevard

Gluten Free and New York Pretzels: Bayshore Mansion Shares Gasparilla Parade View

Blue Garbage Bin and a Thing

What is this found object? It appears to be ready for the garbage truck to haul it away. Is it worth saving? And, if so, what would I do with it?

Boiled Peanuts and Kettle Corn: Yum!

NOTE Friends: I have been without Internet, television and telephone (via Verizon FIOS) since last Saturday morning. After TWO in-home visits by service reps - Brian Tackitt, a Fiber Network Field Technician - and our Peke did not bite him - is my new best friend), one brand new router (two days to deliver), 2 1/2 hours on my Blackberry cell with repair, I am BACK and could not be happier!!!!!! I feel like a big part of my life stopped at a fiber-optic cable buried in my front lawn. Past that cable that is supposedly connected (!) to my home, we had NO service.

Last Saturday was Tampa's Gasparilla Children's Parade and it was so much fun watching all the parade goers, vendors and vehicle traffic lost in the streets of South Tampa and Hyde Park.

This street vendor was on South Rome Avenue, about three blocks from Bayshore Boulevard, ground zero for Saturday's parade.

Bicycling, Sword-Slashing Pirate

The first of the Gasparilla parades takes place tomorrow; the children's parade and fireworks are the start of a week long festival of parties and celebrations culminating in the annual Gasparilla Invasion and Parade of the Pirates next Saturday. Homes in many of Tampa's neighborhoods are sporting all kinds of pirate-themed decorations including flags, banners and door wreaths. This unique metal yard art was spotted on the lawn of a home in Hyde Park.

Darkness settles in over Old Tampa Bay