Tom's Lensography

Currently my family and I live in Central Florida. We moved back to Florida about 4 years ago. My whole family works for a major community hospital in our home town. I am currently the President of our City Council (here the city council runs the city, not the mayor or staff), so some times it is like having two full time jobs.



My family and I love to do humanitarian aid work in Guatemala. I sit on the board for Latin America Christian Education Services, which oversees the operation of Escuela Integrada in Guatemala. We love to reach out and help people. The money we raise from Squidoo go's to help us help others.



If you would like to find out more about our work in Guatemala please drop us a line.

Hurricanes for 2008
Since moving back to Florida after being gone for 13 years the tropics have really been quit active. The first year back Florida got nailed 5 times in one season and then Katrina hit the upper gulf coast. This year has already been a very active year also, Ike just went through last night in Houston Texas. So as the tropic stay busy I will keep updating this lens.

Addicted to Coffee
Since I have a love for coffee especially imported coffee I have found it fasciating to do research on all of the various places where coffee is grown. I have also found it fascinating different types of natural flavors and the different styles of roasting. So check back often for updates.

Escuela Integrada
This is my charity lens. We are partners with this awsome work in Guatemala. I sit on the board for Latin American Christian Education Services which is the 501-3c which is the parent of this operation. Please check back often for update and newsletters coming from our partners.

The Great American Cooter Festival
I am the President of our City Council which runs our town. The Great American Cooter-fest is our annual big city festival that takes place in October of each year.
This festival is in Inverness Florida which is about an hour north of Orland and Tampa.

Life in Central America
Today there are many people from all over the world looking to move to Central America. There are several reasons and attractions to wanting to move to this part of the world. My wife and I are among this group of people that have this attraction. Each country in Central America have there own attraction to this group of individuals.

The Civil War Of Guatemala
Back in 1960 the government of Guatemala went to war with the insurgents of the country. This is what started the war that was never really talked about. The civil war lasted until the peace accords were signed 1996. Over 200,000 people were slaughtered and till this day they are still finding mass graves of bodies.

The Chicago Cubs
First this lens is dedicated to my lovely wife, daughter and now grandson. These three are the biggest Chicago Cubs fans that ever lived.
This lens is all about The Chicago Cubs. We will keep you inform on upcoming events, latest news, great merchandise, some history and the latest stats. So buckle your seat belt as we ride this roller coaster called The Chicago Cubs to the World Series.

Antigua Guatemala
This lens is about my wife's and my favorite place on earth. We are so drawn to the old colonial style architecture and the old cobble stone streets and the beautiful people with such warm personalities. This is our favorite corner of the world.

Boundary Waters Canoe Area
The Boundary Waters Canoe Area is located on the U.S.-Canadian border. Along with Voyageurs National Park to the west and the Canadian Quetico and La Verendrye Provincial Parks to the north. BWCA is a wilderness encompassing over 1 million acres of woodlands and waterways in the heart of Superior National Forest, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW)is the largest wilderness preserve east of the Rockies.

Split Rock Light House
plit Rock Lighthouse State Park sits along US HWY 61 just north of Silver Bay Minnesota on the North Shore of Lake Superior. The park offers several recreational opportunities for all visitors. If in northern Minnesota you must stop and visit this beautiful landmark.

Beer From The Midwest
I remember growing up with the great beer commericals and sign boards for some of the best beer in the country. A lot of people will disagree with me but there is no better beer than from the ice cold water of God's country in Wisconsin.

Facts about Alzheimer's disease
t is hard to believe but Alzheimer's was founded in 1906 by a German physician named Alois Alzheimer. Alzheimer's is a disease that attacks the brain and is fatal. Some 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease.
My father, his brother (my uncle) and there father all had Alzheimer's. My father was diagnosed with when he was 55 years old, we know he had the disease a few years earlier. His brother was diagnosed when he was about 65 years old and he showed signs of the disease about 3 years earlier.

Florida A Great Place To Live
Florida is a wonderful state to live in. Florida offers a great tax base, low cost of living, great weather, and an abundance of activities for both the young and old. Later on in this lens I will share more about the topics I listed above.

Angel Food Ministries
The first thing I think of when I hear Angel Food is my favorite desert Angel food cake with strawberry's. Of course that is not what this is. Angel Food Ministries is a non-profit, non-denominational organization dedicated to providing grocery relief and financial support to communities throughout the United States.

Wake Up America
For years we have been safe in America from any violence of war, until 9/11. Since 9/11 we have been the target by Islamic Jihad's. The United States is the primary target as Islamic Radicalism attempts to spread its worldwide dominance.

T-Bubba Bechtol
ames Terryl Bechtol was born and raised in a fishing village called Fontainbleau in the heart of Mississippi 's Cajun country. At 12, Bechtol started preaching at tent revivals up and down the Gulf Coast but later on he states; "I broke away from that once I got to High School and discovered Jack Daniels, and cheerleaders," he says.

Golfing in Florida
When people think of Florida one of the top things most people think about is "Golf". Florida has some of the best golf courses in the world. I have golfed in many states but when it comes down to it Florida is my first choice. Florida has over 1,460 golf courses within its shorelines. The cities with the most golf courses like Naples, Fort Myers, and Orlando. In Florida if you are in the pan handle or in the keys you can golf all 12 months of the year.

Joel Rosenberg
Joel C. Rosenberg is a New York Times best-selling author and a communications strategist. I just love his works. I am not a avid reader, but when it came to reading his works I could not put down the books.
Joel refers to himself as an "evangelical Christian from an Orthodox Jewish heritage. He has worked with some notable people both here in America and overseas. Some of these people are, Steve Forbes, Rush Limbaugh, and former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Joel serves as a political columnist for World and he has also had his work published by the Wall Street Journal, National Review, and Policy Review.

Caribou Coffee
Caribou Coffee is a specialty coffee retailer, the second largest in the United States after Starbucks. Caribou sells gourmet coffees, teas, and bakery goods in over 464 coffeehouses in 18 states.

Tres Leches
Tres Leches cake is popular in Latin America and gaining popularity in the US. The origins of the tres leches are disputed, and are usually attributed to Mexico or Ecuador, the two places where it appeared earliest. Mexico does, however, appear to have had recipes very similar to that of the tres leches, which probably led to the now famous dessert being created there, which then possibly migrated to Nicaragua.

Celebrity Chef Giada De Laurentiis
Giada De Laurentiiswas born Giada Pamela De Benedetti in Rome, Italy, the eldest child of actress Veronica De Laurentiis and her first husband, actor-producer Alex De Benedetti, who was a close associate of his wife's father, the film producer Dino De Laurentiis. Her parents were married in February 1970, just months before her birth. After their parents' divorce, De Laurentiis and her siblings moved to Southern California, where Giada and her siblings took their mother's surname.

Reusable Shopping Bags
Disposable plastic and paper bags are everywhere. The average American uses around 6 per week. It is simple math 6 times 300 million people in the US and you see how much waste is accumulated just with these 2 items. So next time when you go to the store try to remember to bring reusable bags.

Celebrity Chef Paula Deen
Paula Deen was born in Albany Georgia on January 19, 1947. By age 23 both her parents had passed away and her husband decided to move on. In 1986 she and her two sons moved to Savannah and she expanded her cooking into the catering business. Then in 1996 her business was a success with her wonderful southern style cooking she opened her own restaurant "The Lady and Sons". In 1997 Paula self published her first book "The Lady & Sons Savannah Country Cooking and The Lady & Sons Savannah Country Cooking 2" then in 1999 Paula was introduced to Gordon Elliott of the Food Network which opened up her television career.

Food superstar Guy Fieri
First guy is a chef, and a TV personality and the winner of the second season of "The Next Food Network Star". He is now co-owner of Johnny Garlic's California Pasta Grill in Windsor, Roseville, and Santa Rosa, California, as well as Tex Wasabi's in Sacramento and Santa Rosa California.
Guy grew up in Ferndale, California, and his ancestry is Italian and Irish. Guy and his wife live in northern California with there two sons.
Guy attended University of Nevada Las Vegas, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management. He began his career with Stouffers, managing their flagship restaurant in Long Beach, CA.

The Great Spanish Dish Ceviche
Ceviche is a form of citrus-marinated seafood appetizer, popular in mainly Latin American countries, such as South America, Guatemala, Mexico, and etc.
For the most part everybody has there own variation of this dish, but for the most part it is a citrus-based mixture, with lemons and limes being the most commonly used. In addition to adding flavor, the citric acid causes the proteins in the seafood to become denatured, which pickles or "cooks" the fish without heat. Traditional style ceviche was marinated up to 3 hours. Modern style ceviche usually has a very short marinating period. With the appropriate fish, it can marinate in the time it takes to mix the ingredients, serve, and carry the ceviche to the table.

Guy has been a three-term President of the Restaurant Association of the Redwood Empire, serves on the Board of Directors for the Educational Foundation of the California Restaurant Association and most recently was Grand Marshall for NASCAR in Sonoma, CA.

Swedish Pancakes
Swedish Pancakes (plattar) are some of the best pancakes I have ever eaten. I remember as a small child growing up in Rockford IL. in our Swedish part of the city eating Swede's as we called them.
Swede's are small (about 3 inches in diameter) delicately moist, rich pancake traditionally served with butter and lingonberries. Swedish pancakes (plattar) are classically made in a plett pan, which has 7 round, shallow indentations. Swedish pancakes are similar to the French crepes. Traditional Swedish variations can be somewhat exotic.

The Jewell Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles,
234 kilometres (145 mi) in length and as much as 80 kilometres (50 mi) in width situated in the Caribbean Sea. It is about 145 kilometres (90 mi) south of Cuba.
The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who officially uses the title "Queen of Jamaica" when she visits the country or performs duties overseas on Jamaica's behalf. Jamaica's current Constitution was drafted in 1962 by a bipartisan joint committee of the Jamaican legislature.

Spas International
My wife and I do a lot of traveling, and we receive a tremendous amount of literature from travel resorts and international day spa destinations. Day Spas have really been a boom in the fast few years and really have hit the international scene. We were visiting Antigua Guatemala last year and I purchased for my wife a day out with a lady friend to be pampered at a day spa. When I was searching for a Spa in Antigua I was so very surprised to find so many to choose from. Who would have imagined a 3rd world country having a day spa.

Jamaica Resorts
Jamaica is full of resorts. From family friendly resorts to adult only resorts. There are several big name resorts to choose from, Sandals, Hedonism, The Breezes, Grand Lido, Couples, Beaches, Starfish, Royal Plantation, etc.
These are just a few of many many resorts that Jamaica has to offer.

Monosodium Glutamate
Monosodium glutamate was introduced to the United States in 1947 as a flavor enhancer. in reading this lens you may not agree with me on my outlook of MSG. I have witnessed first hand the affects that MSG can cause. So please read on with an open mind and comment at the end in my guest book with your thoughts and concerns you may have about MSG.

Paula Deen Cookware
If you like coorware that is sturdy and durable you will love Paula Deens line of cookware. Sold in stores that handle high end quality of furnishings you can also purchase it here on this site.

Like her down-home style, Paula Deen's new cookware and cutlery has all the charm and no-nonsense quality that you'd expect from this laid back southern cook.

Florida Gators
The Florida Gators are the athletic teams that collectively represent the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. Lady Gators is an alternative often used for the women's teams. The sum of the program and its followers is referred to collectively as the Gator Nation.

All Gator athletic teams compete in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference, of which they are charter members, in NCAA Division I.

Anthony Bourdain No Reservations
Anthony Bourdain is not just an author, food critic, chef, or TV superstar, Anthony is all this wrapped in one. Anthony go's around the globe bringing you some of the best behind the scenes hot spots this world has to offer. You never know what you may see or hear from Anthony as he brings you not only nice beautiful spots like in most travel shows but he shows you how people really live. If you really want to learn the culture of a country you need to tune into Anthony Bourdain No Reservations.

Mobile Notary Signing Agent
A notary signing a agent is a person that is contacted by a lending institution or a 3rd party company handling the documents for a lending institution. The notary after being contacted receives the documents either by email or logging onto the lenders site or through a courier. The notary then travels to the clients home or business saving the client a trip a closing company and making it easier for the client if they happen to work. The notary sits with the client and go's through the documents and (not giving any legal or professional advie) have the documents signed and notarized and sent back to the lender.

Disney World Pin Collecting
Disney World Pin Collecting is a huge industry. As a former employee of Disney let me tell you that collecting and swapping of Disney pins is a huge craze.
Walt Disney World Resort releases more than 350 new pins per year including 10 to 12 limited edition pins, 10 to 12 core pins and 5 to 10 special event pins per month.

Disney pin trading, swapping and collecting is just not for the kids, when I worked for Disney I got approached by more adults than children. I personally think that the adults are more into this craze than the children.

"Pin collecting has become a phenomenon", explains Joan Ryan, Senior Vice President of Attractions Merchandise."

Yatching In Florida
To go yachting you need water and what better state in the USA than Florida. With Florida surrounded by water with the gulf on one side of the state and the Atlantic on the east side of the state, and with perfect weather except a passing hurricane what more would a yacht owner dream of.

From the pan handle of Florida to the tip of the Key West and then back up the east coast to Jacksonville the shorelines are dotted with boat marina's and yacht sale centers. So if your in the market to purchase, park, relax, vacation, or even get married on a yacht Florida should be your destination.

Espresso Coffee
Espresso is a concentrated coffee beverage brewed by forcing very hot water under high pressure through coffee that has been ground to a consistency between extremely fine and powder.
Espresso was developed in Milan, Italy in the early 20th century, but up until the mid-1940s it was a beverage produced solely with steam pressure. As a result of the high-pressure brewing process, all of the flavors and chemicals in a typical cup of coffee are concentrated. For this reason, espresso lends itself to becoming the base for other drinks, such as lattes, cappuccini, macchiato and mochas.

The Great Chicken Bus
A chicken bus is a english turm for a colorful modified and decorated US school bus and transit bus that transports goods and people around Guatemala and Central America. The word "chicken" refers to the fact that Guatemalans regularly transport live animals on such buses, a practice that tourists from other countries might find remarkable. The buses are also commonly used in Central America.

Christopher Lowell
Christopher Lowell (born Richard Lowell Madden November 6, 1955), is an interior decorator and television personality.
Interior decorator Christopher Lowell is famous for his television shows, "It's Christopher Lowell!," "Interior Motives" and the "Christopher Lowell Show," even winning a Daytime Emmy for the latter program. But he's also appeared on "The Hollywood Squares" and he's a national brand, with a line of office products at Office Depot and partnerships with Jo-Ann Stores and 3 Day Blinds. Lowell also has written several best-selling books and designed a hotel in Manhattan Beach, Calif. What hasn't he done?

Italian Coffee
Coffee in Italian is Caff'e, and may indicate either the Italian way of preparing this beverage at home or espresso, which is prepared instead with electrical steam machines. Notably, a coffee house in Italy is generally termed a bar, and only in some cases a caff'e, as opposed to most other parts of the world, where a coffee house is termed a caf'e.

Sushi Lover
Sushi is the most famous Japanese dish outside of Japan, It has been widely accepted in westernized cultures and is loved by a diverse range of people. There are different types of sushi, however, the main ingredients are vinegar rice, seaweed and raw, blanched or slightly cooked fish. We will be taking a look at theses different types of sushi, the history of sushi and some different recipes that you personally can make in your own kitchen in this lens. Sit back and enjoy.

Escuela Integrada
Escuela Integrada de Niños Trabajadores is a Guatemalan educational institution that is dedicated to providing access to education for children and young people that are economically disadvantaged and/or are required to work to support their families.
We are in our seventh year of operation in our current form. We have three (3) schools that we are managing. The first two schools or main project headquarters is located in Antigua, Sacatepequez.
The third satellite school is located in Chuchuca, Chimaltenango.

Legal Zoom
LegalZoom is an online legal service that was started by some of the countrys top attorneys. LegalZoom.com was started by attorneys who recognized the need for simple answers to simple questions through an inexpensive forum. They have a team of legal experts, retired judges, and law school professors who work with you and answer your questions. You can rely on the fact that their legal forms are accurate and dependable. They want to offer you customer service and satisfaction that is second to none and they work to provide you with quality efforts.

Chicharrones
Chicharonne is a popular dish in Latin America. Chicharrones are mostly made of pork and sometimes of chicken. The pork is cut into chunks and seasoned then deep fried into what north americans pork skins or pork rinds. In Latin America you can find chicharrones sold by vendors in markets, along streets and at fairs. Chicharrones at consumed as a snack item or an appetizer.

Sashimi
Sashimi is a Japanese delicacy primarily consisting of very fresh raw seafood, sliced into thin pieces about 1.inch wide by 1.5 inch long by 0.25inch thick,

The word sashimi means "pierced body". The word sashimi has been integrated to the English language and is often used to refer to other uncooked fish preparations besides the traditional Japanese dish subject of this article.

Espresso
Espresso is a concentrated coffee beverage brewed by forcing very hot water under high pressure through coffee that has been ground to a consistency between extremely fine and powder.
Espresso was developed in Milan, Italy in the early 20th century, but up until the mid-1940s it was a beverage produced solely with steam pressure. As a result of the high-pressure brewing process, all of the flavors and chemicals in a typical cup of coffee are concentrated. For this reason, espresso lends itself to becoming the base for other drinks, such as lattes, cappuccini, macchiato and mochas.

Bobby Flay
Bobby Flair born and raised in New York City. Bobby is the famous chef and grilling guru for the Food Network Chanel. Bobby has been married three times and is currently married to Stephanie March. The two married on February 20 2005, four years after their first date.
Bobby was born October 9, 1964 in New York and is the fourth generation Irish American. Bobby dropped out of school when he was 17 and took a job in a pizza parlor and Baskin Robbins. From that point on he continued to grow in the food industry and now he is owner and executive chef of six restaurants.
We will be taking a closer look at Bobby Flays rise to success further in this lens.

So why the name bwcabound,

First bwca stands for "Boundary Waters Canoe Area" I fell in love the with boundary waters on my first trip up to this remote part of the country. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW)is the largest wilderness preserve east of the Rockies. If you are the type of person that just needs to get away from todays fast paste lifestyle you need to check out the BWCA.
The bound part is for always in my mind I am en route to this paradise, or one that can offer the solitude I am looking for.