FLORIDA TOUR 2006       (scroll down to see complete page)
Day  1 (Wed, Feb 8)
Left Madison at 7:00 am, where it was sunny but very cold, wearing  a heavy sweater, leather coat and wondering how long it would be until I could put the top down on the car.I was surprised by snow in southern Illinois, then rain mixed with snow in Kentucky and freezing rain as I approached Nashville. After drudging through the Nashville metro area in heavy evening traffic with wipers going I stopped for the night in Murphreesboro, TN after 12 hours of Interstate delight. Not easy to sleep; excited about Hampton Inn's complimentary breakfast... and reaching Jacksonville tomorrow. Thought about what one of the speakers at Coretta Scott King's funeral said the other day, "The past is history, the future a mystery. Today is a gift." I feel that good things will come of this trip. It's cold in Tennessee. But, it's a damp cold.

Day 2 (Thu, Feb 9)
I had decided to leave the ice scraper in Madison, but could have used it this morning. The damp coldness of the preceding day camped out overnight on my windshield. It was 29 degrees when I left Murphreesboro, but the sky was mostly blue and I got a great view of Lookout Mountain as I cleared Chattanooga. I recalled visiting the summit  as a kid and trying to figure out if you really could see seven states.  Stopped in McDonough, GA just south of Atlanta and participated in the Opening Day of a brand new Chic-fil-A restaurant operated by Cindy Wilson (we're pictured at left balancing a large chicken sandwich between our heads.)  I gave her a copy of my book and she gave me "It's Easier to Succeed Than to Fail" by S. Truett Cathy,  founder of Chic-fil-A. Reached Jacksonville around 8 pm. Got a nice view of Jax skyline as I crossed the river.

More Day 3
Following a tour of the Proton Therapy Institute I was interviewed by Joy Batteh-Freiha, Editor of "H" Magazine, a monthly health publication of The Florida Times-Union  (picture at left).After lunch with Gerry Troy at the cite's oldest soul food restaurant, in the historic Springfield district, I visited Cox Broadcasting and recorded a 30 minute interview with Sam Jordan of WKOV radio to air on three Jacksonville radio stations, prior to the Barnes & Noble booksigning. Restaurants were packed with the usual Friday night crowd, so I opted for carry-out chicken from Winn-Dixie, in my room at Amerisuites. It was nice to relax and watch  local TV without any Menard's commercials.

Day 4 (Sat, Feb 11)
Today Jacksonville endured Wisconsin-like weather. Cold and rainy, a good day to stay inside. I decided to rest and lay low except for a brief trip the the Barnes & Noble store to prep for the signing the next day. I watched Wisconsin beat Penn State in basketball, then the movie Independence Day on TV. During one of the jet plane scenes a couple of real jets zoomed past my draped hotel window creating an eery stereo effect. The sun didn't shine, the rain had a chill to it and the traffic was irritable the short time I strayed from the television. I received an email from a man in Arkansas asking questions about proton treatment. He'd found me through my book and website. A woman in Wisconsin I'd never talked to before called to ask questions about Loma Linda for a friend. Today was a gift.

Day 6 (Mon, Feb 13)
Frigid February continues in Florida, it was 28 degrees this morning in Jacksonville. I stopped at Barnes & Noble on the way out of Jax to say hi to Whitney Stuart, the Community Relations Manager (pictured at left), who was not able to attend the signing on Sunday. I was supposed to be on the Al Brennan Show on WFOY this afternoon, but was bumped. They told me Governor Bush (not pictured at left) was going to be on (but he wasn't). I was invited to drive back to St. Augustine from Gainesville on Thursday  and be on the show. Since that would add up to about 200 miles of backtracking, I declined. Besides, while listening to the station, I had the eery feeling that I was the only one listening. Like many things in St. Augustine the station is of a different century.

Day 7 (Tue, Feb 14)
It's chronicled in Chapter One of "Don't Fear the Big Dogs" - a memorable moment which took place over fifty years ago. My family was on vacation somewhere in New England, and my mother snapped a picture of me (then 9 years old) with my arm around a big Great Dane whom I'd never seen before. Many years later, that photo inspired the title of my book.  On this Valentine's Day 2006, I stopped to enjoy an unseasonably chilly oceanfront moment at St. Augustine Beach. That's where I met Sam, an eleven year old retired Greyhound owned by Ray Marks.  Ray snapped this picture, as my new friend Sam helped me re-live that golden moment from so long ago.   

Day 8 (Wed, Feb 15)
As I pulled into the parking lot of Butler Plaza West in Gainesville this afternoon I was able to put the top down on the Bookmobile for the first time. A short time later after checking into my hotel, I saw on the weather channel that Madison is going to receive about nine inches of snow. I knew Tori Lou must be elated that great snowboarding is coming up. But, while I miss her dearly, the predicted 80s for tomorrow here in Florida sounds pretty good.   

More Day 8
Before leaving St. Augustine this morning I did a telephone interview with Bob Rose on 97.3 The Sky. Bob had reviewed the book and did a great job. The new proton facility in Jax is of interest locally, because Shands Hospital has its main center here in Gainesville. Thanks to T.J. Hart, Program Director for setting up the interview. Pictured at left with yours truly is Joy Merrill the Community Relations Manager for the Barnes & Noble bookstore in Gainesville. Joy is a big fan of the book and I'm thankful to her for featuring it so predominantly in her store.

Day 9 (Thu, Feb 16)
Today I drove from Gainesville to Orlando while receiving cell phone reports of heavy snow accompanied by school closings in Madison. Finally, the weather disparity snowbirds live for. Today was mainly a day of relocation. Pack up, load bags in car, follow MapQuests, unload, unpack in new hotel room that's much like the last one. At left is a rare photographic depiction of this city - an actual picture of Orlando which does not include a mouse or duck.

Day 10 (Fri, Feb 17)
This was the busiest non-travel day yet. This morning I recorded a telephone interview with Jenny Smith for playback Sunday morning on three Naples/Ft.Myers area stations. Then I visited the studios of WKMG-TV in Orlando where we recorded an interview with Mike Holfeld for airing next week on WKMG and WJXT-TV, Jacksonville.  Pictured at left, Mike and I - just before getting on the Local-6 helicopter to fly to Barnes & Noble. (That's not exactly correct, actually he went back in the station and I drove to the bookstore. It was a security thing.The President was in town today.) 

Day 11 (Sat, Feb 18)
Power lines supported by a huge tower, shaped like Mickey's ears. I thought I'd seen most everything in the way of power lines. This as I passed through the ionosphere of the planet known as Disney. Arriving in Sarasota I was greeted by John Butterfield, fellow alumnus of Loma Linda who lives in a 19-story waterfront condo complex (pictured at left). John accompanied me to the Sarasota Barnes & Noble book signing in the afternoon and then gave me a tour of the Ringling School of Art & Design. That evening I drove to Brandon and could not find a hotel because of the Daytona 500 crowd filling all the rooms within 100 miles. I spent the night chatting with truck drivers at the Flying-Z Truckstop. Quite a day of contrasts.

Day 12 (Sun, Feb 19)
The book signing at Barnes & Noble in Brandon was the first I'd done having had no sleep the night before. I was kept awake by B&N's complimentary capuccino and the large number of people who came to the store. "Don't Fear the Book Dogs" found its way into the hands of some people who will benefit from the information about proton treatment. Worth waiting up for! I propped my eyelids open and drove back to Sarasota to again avail myself of the hospitality of John Butterfield. From his 17th floor balcony (see photo at left) there's a great view of the John Ringling Causeway connecting to Longboat Key.

Day 13 (Mon, Feb 20)
On the beach in Sarasota. Presidents Day, 2006. In honor of my old schoolmate, Abraham Lincoln, I declared this a day of rest and relaxation. Picture at left was taken on Lido Beach with Longboat Key in the background. Thanks to fellow Loma Linda alumnus, John Butterfield for his five-star hospitality.

Day 14  (Tue, Feb 21)
It was another beautiful day in Florida as we reached the southernmost point of our tour and enjoyed the most successful Barnes & Noble event so far. Pictured at left; B&N Assistant Community Relations Manager, Terry O'Connell who was awarded the Big Dog Golden Mike award for the best in-store book signing announcements so far on the tour; yours truly and Dr. Mark Moskowitz, long-time friend and noted oncologist with Florida Cancer Specialists. 

Days 15 & 16 (Wed-Thu, Feb 22-23)
EXCLUSIVE! Secret Life of Oncologist Revealed! These two days I spent resting and catching up on some computer work at the home of Mark and Bonnie Moskowitz in Naples. While my gracious hosts were away, I snapped a photo of Dr. Mark's den (at left) which reveals his secret life as an aspiring disc jockey! He records simulated programs featuring music by Toto and sends them to stations hoping to land a lucrative part-time announcing position to augment his career as a medical oncologist!  Some time ago one station did respond and he landed a weekend shift but resigned because he didn't like the music. He persists in his quest explaining, "Saving lives is one thing, but brightening someone's day with snappy banter is what it's all about."  (preceding was a loose characterization, based on a true story) 

Day 17 (Fri, Feb 24)
Another day of computer work in the makeshift workspace provided by the Moskowitzes (photo at left). I did some graphic design work for clients in California and New Jersey... all from the solid surface countertops of this marvelous Naples home. It's great to be able to "take your work with you". Later in the day, Mark and I drove from Naples to Fort Meyers, enduring the lengendary Friday night bumper to bumper traffic experienced by residents and visitors to that part of Florida for centuries.  In Fort Meyers, we had a good turnout at Barnes & Noble and were delighted to meet Jenny Smith from WJPT who had enthusiastically promoted our event in the week preceding.

Day 18 (Sat, Feb 25)
Saturday morning I departed Naples for the drive to St. Pete and crossed the Sunshine Skyway in sunshine with the top down and enjoyed the marvelous view. Last week I made that crossing at night and the view was nonexistent. In St. Petersburg I was reunited with a longtime friend, Rich Allison, who provided adequate accomodations and hosted a reception following the book signing at Haslam's - Florida's Largest Independent Bookstore. Thanks to Jack Harris of WFLA for having me on his show the day before. Several of his listeners who'd recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer showed up to learn more about proton treatment. That alone made this event a success.