The photos at left were taken over the weekend during our day-trip to the Sponge Docks in Tarpon Springs. (Click images for larger pop-up versions.)

Well for the second time in almost as many weeks, Floridians are finding themselves bracing for potential hurricane preparations in the face of yet another category four storm. It was predicted to be an active tropical season this year, and so far that guesstimate has failed to disappoint. Right now Frances is churning toward the Bahamas, on a path that should make landfall somewhere on the eastern coast of the peninsula. On its current track, which is obviously subject to change, our area could get hit with the remnants of a then-category one or two storm. Frances is massive in size compared to Charley, and is expected to stall out after going ashore, rather than speeding across Florida like the last storm. This is not a hurricane I want to invite in for tea and a nice game of Scrabble, that's for sure! Although I am somewhat under the impression that anything with France in its name will ultimately surrender...

Last but certainly not least, it appears our son has said his first word — and it's "mama". He's been saying it for a couple of weeks now, but when my mother-in-law tried to convince me it was more than just mere baby babble last week, I somewhat blew her off. Then we took him to the pediatrician's for a check-up last Friday and he called out "mama" to get my attention. The doctor said, "Look at that! He's already saying his first word and he's not even seven months old yet!" When I confessed that all this time I had assumed it was just babble that sounded like the real-thing because of his age, the doctor told me there was no way that was just baby talk because he looked straight at me and said it clear as day, as a direct-request. Yep, I'm proud! Now we're working hard on "dada" for equal time. And of course the lyrics to "Boomer Sooner" before bowl season rolls around...

UPDATE: I have four no more new Gmail invites if anyone wants 'em. Just fill out the comments form, mkay?