I live in Cougar Town!

[Photo Bob]

If you notice the opening of the new show "Cougar Town" you will see the map of Florida scroll up. An elephant pops out of Sarasota (the circus wintered there many years ago). Then south of there is Cougar Town. This would be about where Venice is. I live a little south of there (in south Venice).

That's where the comparison ends. The show is not taped here.

If they wanted it to be a little closer to the reality of this part of Florida, the main character should be about thrity years older and the "young men" should be about my age (fifties). My son has experienced the cougar scene up in Tampa, but that is a different world (up there we are the old farts, down here we are the young kids).

It was a little disappointing in that while watching other shows wet in Florida we can usually recognize certain locations in the opeing credits or during the show that we have visited (like CSI Miami or Burn Notice).

[ElectricBarbarella]

Isn't CSI Miami actually filmed here, though? I remember a Vegas/Miami crossover episode and I thought I heard Miami was filmed here.

And you only live about an hour or so from me. I'm north, Ruskin proper to be exact.

[Photo Bob]

I know that parts of CSI Miami is filmed in Florida as I can recognize certain buildings and locations, but a lot of it is filmed in California. There are a lot of shots of Miami thrown into cut shots, but interior scenes and many outside shots are California (I can tell by the types of trees among other clues).

Burn Notice, as far as I know, is actually filmed in Miami and Pompano Beach.

I'm somewhat familiar with Ruskin (took some really nice pictures at a county park there last year).

[Squishy0405]

Dexter is mainly filmed "around" Miami, according to this website; some were actually in Long Beach (I assume CA).

I just recently moved from Clearwater, where I guess the Criss Angel "stunt" was the most recent thing. I used to live in Tampa as well, although I don't consider Rocky Point as Tampa...but it was cool to see my complex when I landed via plane

[ElectricBarbarella]

Are you talking about Simmons Park? Or Little Manatee River State Park? Both are very nice.

I could be confusing Burn Notice and CSI.. I didn't know that about BN...

[Photo Bob]

Yes, I am. Actually visited both in the same day. My wife was at a meeting in Sun City so I got to do some exploring.

Got some good pics at Little Manatee of a turtle eating a mushroom and some nice shots of a pelican trying to swallow a too big red fish (some fishermen tossed it to him and he had a heck of a time getting it down) at E.G. Simmons. Simmons was a nice surprise as I was just trying to kill some time and saw the sign for a county park.

[ElectricBarbarella]

Simmons is a really beautiful little park. I don't do beaches, but it's nice and secluded. I like the view of the power plant looming in the background too.

I'm going to go canoeing this winter and Little Manatee. My kids have been begging me to.

[AliBaba]

Somewhat OT, but there was a fairly witty column in the Washington Post Tuesday about use of the term "cougar". The main thrust of the article is that we need to stop using this stupid term. Now. I agree.

One of the lines from the article that I liked was "There's a corresponding name for single males who prefer to date younger females. They're called "men."

I remember the scandal (scandal, I tells ya) that an uncle of mine had married a woman four years his senior!!!

I would hope that we've sort of evolved past the point of feeling as though the woman has to be younger than the man.

So how about we use this word for women who date younger men: women.

That said, I do like Couteney Cox and wish her luck. Haven't seen the new show (when was it on?) but I loved Dirt and was sorry it was canceled.

AliBaba

[Photo Bob]

ElectricBarbarella,

Now I am jealous. My canoe is sitting in the backyard collecting weeds and serving as a roof for some varmint (probably a turtle). My wife doesn't like the water, so I don't get out that often. It looks like there should be some nice canoeing on the Little Manatee. Next time I'm up that way I hope to do the "preserve trail" (don't know if that's what it's called, but I know you need a permit).

AliBaba,

Actually you are on thread, I guess. We were wandering into "small world" territory.

I do agree with you that the term "cougar" is both odd and sexist. It actually makes more sense for older women to be with younger guys as far as longevity is concerned.

As I said my son has "dated" a couple older women. For a college guy it is a perfect fit. Few worries about a serious relationship and she has no problem with picking up the tab. Since he is still fairly young, he thinks it is inappropriate to date much younger girls (he had a friend dating a seventeen year old and he told him he was being disgusting).

Anyway, the show was pretty funny. It was totally unrealistic, but that doesn't bother me since it is a television show. There were a lot of sexual situations, but I think that is to be expected given the premise and it is on after "prime time". Plus it was more suggestive than graphic.

Photo "I hate to admit it, but I may watch it again" Bob

[ElectricBarbarella]

Yeah, you need permission to walk that trail because of all the endangered wildlife. There is one trail though, that is just as cool to walk, that you don't need a permit, and it takes you right to the river. It's one of the main ones as you enter the park.

And I LOATHE the water, but don't mind canoeing as long as my kids don't get brave and try to get themselves disinherited quickly

[Photo Bob]

I did the regular trail, but I like to go where most people don't. Myakka River State Park has a preserve where they only let a set number of people into per day (I think it's 20 or thirty). I was there for hours without ever seeing another person.

Just remember, the gators are more afraid of you than you are of them.

[Lgreywolf]

Originally Posted by AliBaba

Somewhat OT, but there was a fairly witty column in the Washington Post Tuesday about use of the term "cougar". The main thrust of the article is that we need to stop using this stupid term. Now. I agree.

Awesome article AliBaba, thanks! I've always wondered where the term "cougar" came from. Figures it was a high school kid, doesn't it?