If you didn't live here in Florida, you'd probably think that it's not easy being a Red Sox fan. Tampa Bay Rays and Yankee fans are everywhere you go, or so it seems. Yankees and Rays, and, believe it or not, even some Florida Marlins gear, dots the Florida landscape.

But, hey, guess what? The hat you see the most down here is the big "B" we all love so much. That's right; Boston Red Sox caps and shirts seem to be omnipresent, especially since the beginning of the playoffs. Every time I venture forth I run into someone wearing a Sox cap or t-shirt; it's always enough for me to start a friendly conversation. I never let the opportunity to chat up the Sox (or even the Pats or Bruins) with somebody from New England, or anywhere else, for that matter.

Yesterday I was out and went into a restaurant wearing a Red Sox polo shirt my sister had given me a few years ago; it's definitely my favorite! A young girl, maybe 16, at the counter loudly proclaimed "hey go Red Sox!" Thinking she must have just moved here from the Boston area, I asked her where she was from. "Oh, I'm from Palm Bay, right down the road," she claimed. Pushing it a little harder I asked if she was originally from New England.

"No, I was born in Miami. But my Dad is from somewhere up there, and all I know is that I've grown up following the Red Sox. It's his favorite team". Well, there it was; the link. She probably has no idea whatsoever that she's a member of a special sisterhood/brotherhood of Red Sox fans throughout this country and the world. A group that's called Red Sox Nation, a group of people who love and follow the Sox no matter what, and no matter where they go.

Red Sox Nation is very alive and well in Florida. There are thousands of us scattered across this state, and today we're as proud and excited about our team as anybody in Boston or across New England. The World Series that was wrapped up last night was an incredible thrill ride for all of us; a ride that many of us got on in March at Spring Training, and we rode that wave through the entire season. What a trip!

The 2013 Boston Red Sox deserve a tremendous amount of respect for what they accomplished this year; they were undoubtedly the best team in baseball. They led the AL East at the end of every month from April to September, and finished tied for the best record in the Major Leagues with St. Louis, the great team that they defeated last night.

I tip my cap with the big "B" on it to the Boston Red Sox, and I'm sure that I speak for all of us here in Florida's Red Sox Nation when I say "Can't wait til next year!"

Mark T. Bradbury lives on the central east coast of Florida after growing up in Massachusetts. Now, after nearly twenty years, he considers Florida his home ground, but his New England roots are still very much alive. He works in the publishing business and also writes; he's the author of an eBook called "Serpent's Curse," an action-adventure set in Florida and Mexico. To purchase his book go to:

          http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G9I8MEI
          https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/serpents-curse/id727826815?mt=11
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/serpents-curse-mark-t-bradbury/1117054863?ean=2940148783268
       

Big Fish/Little Pond

If you hold on tight and close your eyes, technology can take you to places you've never been before. Like right into the 21st century, as scary as that may seem! I amaze myself on a regular basis by how much technology I've assimilated into my daily routine; I do things that I didn't see myself doing just last week, or even yesterday, and I remind myself that I'm still capable of grasping concepts I was afraid to take on not so long ago.

For many of us over 50, and particularly more so for those of us over 60, technology is something we tell our friends about. It's not always a personal experience. I hear friends talk about how their grandkids have been using computers and tablets, even iPads, as early as 3 years old (some even sooner). They wouldn't touch an iPad on their life, because, well, it's just too advanced for them. Huh?

It's called "Fear of the Unknown," and we all are sometimes too quick to embrace the excuse. But you know what? It's no different than jumping in the pool that first time many years ago; you just have to learn to swim and you're fine forever. So, I encourage you all to take the leap into the "ePool;" it's deep, and sometimes dark, but it's worth the effort.

I sat with a client yesterday who was in his 50's. He asked what was new, and I told him about my new eBook, Serpent's Curse, which is now up for sale on BarnesandNoble.com (check it out at :http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/serpents-curse-mark-t-bradbury/1117054863?ean=2940148783268). When I told him it was an eBook, he told me he didn't have a tablet or iPad to read it, but that he'd be happy to pass the info on to his Mother and the rest of his family, since they all read eBooks. He went on to tell me about a family event he attended the weekend before where everybody there, his Mother, sister, brothers, kids, etc., were all using iPads throughout the weekend. He was embarrassed to admit that he has a dose of "Fear of the Unknown," and hasn't purchased an iPad because of it.

I laughed, and gave him my own rendition. Two months ago, I signed a 2 year contract for satellite service with DishTV. Prior to that, I had been happy to live out my years without an iPad or tablet, computer watch or glasses, and all the rest of the products bombarding us every day. But Dish had a special offer; if you agreed to pay the regular monthly price for the first year, they'd give you a brand new iPad2. I went for the deal, since my work with Little Pond Publishing, a digital eBook publisher, required the use of a tablet to demonstrate how eBooks work.

My iPad has now become part of my personal and business life, more so, it seems, every day. I read my book on it and totally enjoyed the ease of operation. Online Skype conference calls, checking emails, texting and watching live TV (thanks to the Dish technology) are all now common occurrences. I love it!

So, don't make your 80 year old mother make you look bad, Boomers! Toughen up and take the leap; you can do it.

Big Fish/Little Pond

Hi, I just got back from Lake Charles, LA, where I spent several days at the Southeast Outdoor Press Association's (SEOPA) annual conference. It was my first opportunity to attend a writers and communicators event, and I have to say that it was a great time. The members of SEOPA are some of the friendliest people I've ever worked with; they truly are a fraternity/sorority of like-minded individuals, and they like to have fun! Great food, music and Cajun hospitality were in abundance, and were much appreciated by all of us present.

I had the chance to attend several great seminars on media happenings and publishing, both print and digital. What I discovered is that most of the writers attending have something they'd like to publish, and need some assistance getting started with digital eBooks. My company, Little Pond Publishing, offers so many options for authors that it seems like we are a great fit for many of the people we met with throughout the week. Building long lasting relationships with the members of SEOPA is something we look forward to doing soon.

On a more personal note, my new book, Serpent's Curse, should be up for sale on the biggest online bookstores, Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and iTunes.com very soon, hopefully by the end of next week. I'm getting more excited about this happening with each passing day. I hope you'll check it out when it becomes available; everybody needs to have the hair on their arms stand up a little once in a while!

If you do get to read it, please let me know what you think; I've got a sequel beginning to take shape in the darker corners of my mind.

Happy Halloween and see you next time!