The Crazy Life of a New Floridian & Ongoing TRs

[Stasieki]

We just moved from Jax to Nashville, but still have a condo one block from the beach in Jax Beach. I am nervous b/c when those 4 hit back to back, we got lots of leaky windows. It is vacant right now so am contacting some friends to maybe check it out after it passes. I remember being out of power for 4 days, but it wasn't too bad - just really HOT. Praying Fay will just disappear in the Atlantic and sending pixie dust your way.

 

[karajeboo]

We just moved from Jax to Nashville, but still have a condo one block from the beach in Jax Beach. I am nervous b/c when those 4 hit back to back, we got lots of leaky windows. It is vacant right now so am contacting some friends to maybe check it out after it passes. I remember being out of power for 4 days, but it wasn't too bad - just really HOT. Praying Fay will just disappear in the Atlantic and sending pixie dust your way.

Check this out.... http://www.firstcoastnews.com/ Looks like the Beaches are breathing a sigh of relief right now.

Still awaiting news on Clay County schools tomorrow. Most all counties have cancelled school, including Nassau which is the northernmost county in the Jacksonville area. St Johns has cancelled school for the rest of the week. I'm beginning to get very frustrated with our county. I think at this point it is better to be safe than sorry, especially since Fay has been so unpredictable.

Hopefully all will be well with your place on the beach!!!

 

[Stasieki]

Thank you for the link... that is great news for us. I can't believe Clay Co hasn't closed school. That is crazy. If anything, there will be flooding so the kids should be at home so they don't get stuck at school.

 

[karajeboo]

Stacieki - how did you condo hold up on the beach??? The live reports out on the street looked a lot worse than it felt here. We have a very heavily wooded back yard and everything was fine there. Just some big gusts and lots of rain squalls. I think we've gotten between 4-5" of rain around here.

Schools are out again today, which is probably smart, but really our afternoon t-storms are SO much more severe than what we've gotten from Fay.

All I know is.....

I made it through my first Tropical Storm!!!

I guess that's kind of a right of passage in FL, huh?

Luckily I joined the Disney movie club a few weeks ago, so I had a stash of 6 movies to bring out for surprises, or prizes, whatever the case. Before Ally went to SC to visit her grandparents, I gave her two movies to take with her. So WEdnesday night I pulled out "Chronicles of Narnia" for her hurricane day. Today I think I'll give her Underdog.

Then I still have 2 more to save for good grades or something special.

Well, we're down to about a month before our trip, so I might actually start posting some plans next week! Still waiting to hear if my parents are coming in from Ohio to stay with Ally while we're gone, or if she'll stay with friends and neighbors. I'm kind of rooting for my parents NOT to come until October, because Sept is such a rainy month and they complain enough as it is.... if ya know what I mean!

Hope everyone weathered the storm okay, and you're starting to dry out some. Can you believe that there were alligators and snakes - and even an EEL!!! - swimming down suburban streets in Melbourne???

 

[Stasieki]

I am still trying to find out. I have heard 1st and 2nd St are closed due to flooding and our condo is in between 2nd and 3rd, but I am sure it is fine since we are on the 2nd floor. The funny thing is we have been trying to rent it for 5 months. A couple looked at it Wed night during the tropical strom and want to move in TODAY. I know usually when it rains a lot the parking lot is flooded so I hope they don't see that and decide against it. I left a message with our mgt company to try to go in it and make sure no rain got it before they see it again. Keeping my fingers crossed.

So glad you guys made it through OK. I know how scary it is the first one. You are a pro now. My old neighbor told me two trees in my old backyard (off of Racetrac Rd) are about to snap.

I so miss being 2 hours from Disney!!!!!! Have fun on your trip coming up.

 

[jmskinner]

Ok, I just spent the last hour or so reading your PTR! I am also a new Floridian, can I say that since I can't get a FL drivers license w/o my birth certificate (I am very angry with the state democracy at the moment). I should have been unpacking, working on the house etc., but just got caught up in your report. We moved into our new home 7/21. We are in the Tampa area, so loved your pics from Clearwater. We haven't made it to the beaches yet. Thought I'd wait for most tourists to leave the area.

I have just loved your report. So many similarities. I love watching the weather also. I open the blinds to our patio everyday to watch for the rain.

Glad you made it through Fay ok. We are just now getting rain from it. Everyone has called to see if we are ok. I just want to ask them if they have a clue where Tampa is and if they have even looked at a weather map to notice we didn't get any of it.

We are also having to get use to all the bugs. Haven't seen a snake yet? Our backyard also backs up to a conservation lot, but we did put up a fence. Not that it would stop a snake. Loved the conversation with Jeff about the snake. Oh, and how you left the bodies under the stroller and the shoe. I left a dead spider (may have been one of those banana spiders) by the ottoman because it freaked me out so bad, I didn't want to touch it. Do you have those big grasshopper looking things? I have never seen anything like them before we moved here.

We lived in Sumter, SC for awhile. Actually, we were there when Floyd was suppose to hit.

One last thing. Thanks for the info on free dining and annual passes. I will have to remember that for next year. Yes, we got AP's, but not the Florida ones yet. We came out house hunting in June, with a week at WDW afterwards and upgraded our MYW passes to AP's. I can get a refund for the Florida resident once I get my drivers license.

Looking forward to more!

 

[karajeboo]

I am still trying to find out. I have heard 1st and 2nd St are closed due to flooding and our condo is in between 2nd and 3rd, but I am sure it is fine since we are on the 2nd floor. The funny thing is we have been trying to rent it for 5 months. A couple looked at it Wed night during the tropical strom and want to move in TODAY. I know usually when it rains a lot the parking lot is flooded so I hope they don't see that and decide against it. I left a message with our mgt company to try to go in it and make sure no rain got it before they see it again. Keeping my fingers crossed.

So glad you guys made it through OK. I know how scary it is the first one. You are a pro now. My old neighbor told me two trees in my old backyard (off of Racetrac Rd) are about to snap.

I so miss being 2 hours from Disney!!!!!! Have fun on your trip coming up.

Good luck with the rental!!! Hope everything is okay with your condo! Do you do long term rentals or vacation rentals?

Ok, I just spent the last hour or so reading your PTR! I am also a new Floridian, can I say that since I can't get a FL drivers license w/o my birth certificate (I am very angry with the state democracy at the moment). I should have been unpacking, working on the house etc., but just got caught up in your report. We moved into our new home 7/21. We are in the Tampa area, so loved your pics from Clearwater. We haven't made it to the beaches yet. Thought I'd wait for most tourists to leave the area.

I have just loved your report. So many similarities. I love watching the weather also. I open the blinds to our patio everyday to watch for the rain.

Glad you made it through Fay ok. We are just now getting rain from it. Everyone has called to see if we are ok. I just want to ask them if they have a clue where Tampa is and if they have even looked at a weather map to notice we didn't get any of it.

We are also having to get use to all the bugs. Haven't seen a snake yet? Our backyard also backs up to a conservation lot, but we did put up a fence. Not that it would stop a snake. Loved the conversation with Jeff about the snake. Oh, and how you left the bodies under the stroller and the shoe. I left a dead spider (may have been one of those banana spiders) by the ottoman because it freaked me out so bad, I didn't want to touch it. Do you have those big grasshopper looking things? I have never seen anything like them before we moved here.

We lived in Sumter, SC for awhile. Actually, we were there when Floyd was suppose to hit.

One last thing. Thanks for the info on free dining and annual passes. I will have to remember that for next year. Yes, we got AP's, but not the Florida ones yet. We came out house hunting in June, with a week at WDW afterwards and upgraded our MYW passes to AP's. I can get a refund for the Florida resident once I get my drivers license.

Looking forward to more!

Congrats on the move! I don't remember taking my birth cert to get my FL d/l but I thought I just turned in my SC license?

There is so much here that is new to me - I never dreamed I'd one day live in Florida. But it's kinda growing on me. Ssshhhh! Don't let people know that or my report won't be as entertaining!

It's still hard to get used to things though, especially the "critters," since I've always been scared of bugs anyway.

Hope you get settled soon, and thanks for reading!

 

[DisneyJen]

Glad to hear that all of our Floridians (old and new) weathered the storm!

We had a beautiful evening in Charlotte last night for the Kenny Chesney concert. Bit windy driving the 70 miles back to the house this morning. We are seeing some clouds today and a very light wind (10 to 15 mph) that the weather folks are attributing to Fay

 

[jmskinner]

Good luck with the rental!!! Hope everything is okay with your condo! Do you do long term rentals or vacation rentals?



Congrats on the move! I don't remember taking my birth cert to get my FL d/l but I thought I just turned in my SC license?

There is so much here that is new to me - I never dreamed I'd one day live in Florida. But it's kinda growing on me. Ssshhhh! Don't let people know that or my report won't be as entertaining!

It's still hard to get used to things though, especially the "critters," since I've always been scared of bugs anyway.

Hope you get settled soon, and thanks for reading!

They probably accept SC, they don't accept TX. That is what I am so irritated about. Nor do they accept a military ID. Guess they figure the military just hands those out to anyone that asks.

Looking forward to more of your PTR and getting use to the FL wildlife. I love the Cranes and Ibis. People probably think I am nuts because I just watch them whenever I see them.

Oh, and I think we have several of the Palm Trees that you like. I didn't know they were that expensive. I'll have to tell my DH. They were part of the package with our new house.

One more thing, coming from Texas, I say Ya'll a lot, also "fixin'". One of the nurses I use to work with in Maryland would come up to me out of the blue and tell me, "hey, say that TX word". I would say "fixin'" and she would just laugh and walk away.

 

[karajeboo]

One more thing, coming from Texas, I say Ya'll a lot, also "fixin'". One of the nurses I use to work with in Maryland would come up to me out of the blue and tell me, "hey, say that TX word". I would say "fixin'" and she would just laugh and walk away.

I never picked up "fixin" while in SC, but I just love "y'all!" It encompasses so much! Singular or plural - how many other words work like that?

It's funny though - I'm already seeing Ally lose her sweet little southern accent. Her best friend had such a thick accent and it's sooooo cute in little kids, that Ally's would thicken up whenever they were together. I kinda hate to see her lose it.

But Jacksonville still has a southern flavor to it, so there are plenty of accents here, too. But I still have yet to meet anyone who is really from Jacksonville!

 

[karajeboo]

Glad to hear that all of our Floridians (old and new) weathered the storm!

We had a beautiful evening in Charlotte last night for the Kenny Chesney concert. Bit windy driving the 70 miles back to the house this morning. We are seeing some clouds today and a very light wind (10 to 15 mph) that the weather folks are attributing to Fay

Thanx, Jen! Glad you had a good time at the concert. Believe it or not, you probably are getting some winds from Fay! I see that Savannah is getting hit pretty hard with tornadoes and winds right now.

We're under a tornado watch through the day today, and Jeff just came home from work about 30 minutes north of us - he said it is HORRIBLE up there, exactly how he pictured a tropical storm to be. He saw branches flying around, and had to drive up I-295 with his hazards on. He finally got out of there and said we may be getting the same as the backside of the storm comes through later today. So I guess we're not out of this yet.

 

[DisneyJen]

Sending more your way Kara.

Sounds like the backside of the storm (sort of like the backside of water on the Jungle Cruise) is still wreaking havoc for you Floridians

How is Bucky (that is your dog's name right?) holding up? Our four-legged girls hate to get their hair wet ... even though they are golden retrievers

 

[karajeboo]

Sending more your way Kara.

Sounds like the backside of the storm (sort of like the backside of water on the Jungle Cruise) is still wreaking havoc for you Floridians

How is Bucky (that is your dog's name right?) holding up? Our four-legged girls hate to get their hair wet ... even though they are golden retrievers

Yes, nasty tornado warnings today!!! And there are a lot of bands still to hit us. We've gotten 3" of rain already today. Yuck!

Bucky just got his new Buckeye collar in the mail today - he's ready for football season!!! But I digress. Yes, he is a big chicken dog and doesn't like wind or thunder. But rain he loves. And I love how my house smells when he comes in from the rain!

 

[DisneyJen]

Yes, nasty tornado warnings today!!! And there are a lot of bands still to hit us. We've gotten 3" of rain already today. Yuck!

Bucky just got his new Buckeye collar in the mail today - he's ready for football season!!! But I digress. Yes, he is a big chicken dog and doesn't like wind or thunder. But rain he loves. And I love how my house smells when he comes in from the rain!

Don't you just love that wonderful scent I think it should be bottled and sold as a new cologne ... Pucci

Glad Bucky is ready for the start of the season. Our girls are too!

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

Thanx, Jen! Glad you had a good time at the concert. Believe it or not, you probably are getting some winds from Fay! I see that Savannah is getting hit pretty hard with tornadoes and winds right now.

We're under a tornado watch through the day today, and Jeff just came home from work about 30 minutes north of us - he said it is HORRIBLE up there, exactly how he pictured a tropical storm to be. He saw branches flying around, and had to drive up I-295 with his hazards on. He finally got out of there and said we may be getting the same as the backside of the storm comes through later today. So I guess we're not out of this yet.

I hope the tornado stuff stops. My goodness, sounds like you guys were just lucky at your house. Glad Jeff made it home safe!!!

As for accents... Ricky has one - very southern. No latin whatsoever - just southern. It's so funny to hear people talk to him on the phone and then they ask his name and are like...

But rain he loves. And I love how my house smells when he comes in from the rain!

Oh, I still remember that smell. Does he love to "dry off" on your rugs too? Mine use to LOVE to do that

 

[askelton]

It's funny though - I'm already seeing Ally lose her sweet little southern accent. Her best friend had such a thick accent and it's sooooo cute in little kids, that Ally's would thicken up whenever they were together. I kinda hate to see her lose it.

DH grew up in northern MS and doesn't have a southern accent until he gets on the phone with someone from there. I can definitely tell who he's talking to!

I'm glad you weathered the storm ok. Except for letting water out of the pool at least once, sometimes twice, a day, we're good too. My BIL gets his MBA in the morning and we're meeting some other DISsers tomorrow evening so I wish the rain would go away! At least for a few hours.

 

[jmskinner]

DH grew up in northern MS and doesn't have a southern accent until he gets on the phone with someone from there. I can definitely tell who he's talking to!

My DH does this, but it is with people with Northern accents. He is from NC, and that southern just starts coming out and he doesn't even realize it.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Kara, I'm glad to hear you didn't drown our blow away! Watch out for that backside!

 

[karajeboo]

If I weren't such a lady, I'd call Miss Fay some nasty names right about now!!!! I'm so sick of the rain!!!!

 

[missj1975]

I started reading your trip report this afternoon at work and just now finished all 14 pages. I love reading your stories about life in Florida. You are a very entertaining writer. Thanks for sharing and can't wait for more. ~Jenny