Susan Gott’s glass studio and workshop, Phoenix Studio and Gott Glass Gallery, is in the neighborhood, and Anitra and I had been meaning to do one of the workshops there for some time. We got around to it in January 2023, but I never got around to posting the photos until now:
A photo of me and Anitra from January 2023. Behind us is University of Tampa’s Henry B. Plant Museum (a.k.a. Plant Hall) and one of its distinctive minarets. Before Plant Hall became part of the University, it opened as the Tampa Bay Hotel in 1891, a 500-room resort and one of the first buildings to feature electricity and an elevator.
Here’s a photo from the Auth0 by Okta company offsite in Cancun back in March.
I need to break out the electroluminescent wire glasses more often.
It would’ve been the band’s last official gig of 2023 for Tom Hood and the Tropical Sons — which includes yours truly on accordion and keyboards — but the venue, Jollimon’s Island, while covered with a roof, is pretty much an outdoor one, and it’s just going to be too cold tonight.
Under warmer circumstances, we’re the house band at JolliMon’s Tuesday “Raw Talent Nights,” where the stage is open to musicians who want to join in on the open mic fun. If you’re in the Clearwater area, come on down (temperature permitting) and enjoy some great live music!
On the second full day of Okta’s annual conference, Oktane, there was an area marked with this very promising sign…
…and not far behind that sign was this little corral, which had about eight or ten puppies:
An organization named PuppyLove, which bills itself as “The Ultimate Puppy Experience,” provided said puppies.
Here’s how PuppyLove describes itself:
At Puppy Love, we strive to boost mental health and connections among corporate teams while also benefiting adoptable puppies in the process. With corporate wellness sitting top of mind throughout the country, it can be difficult to determine which types of events will most benefit your team. Puppy Love provides a fun, safe, stress-relieving outlet for professionals to kick back and enjoy the company of adorable puppies!
They also say:
Spending time with animals has been shown to enhance productivity, reduce stress, promote interpersonal connection, foster self-expression and so much more.
I did without a lunch break to spend time with all the puppies, making sure to pet every one.
PuppyLove have set themselves up at a number of conferences, listed here, and it appears that they were as big a hit as they were at Oktane.
I’ll close this article with my favorite photos from the set I took in the puppy zone. They’re of the puppy who liked me the most:
More conferences should have this sort of thing!
After a summer hiatus, Tom Hood and the Tropical Sons (of which I am a member) are playing gigs again — this time on the third Tuesday of the month at Jollimons Island in Clearwater from 6 to 9 p.m.
We’re part of their Tuesday “Raw Talent Nights,” where the stage is open to musicians who want to join in on the open mic fun.
If you’re down Clearwater way, join us, whether you want to hop onstage and play, or sit back and enjoy the music!
This Tuesday, September 19th at JolliMons Island in Clearwater, I’ll be onstage with the accordion and playing with Tom Hood and the Tropical Sons. Come on down and enjoy some good food, drink, and live music!
