The Crazy Life of a New Floridian & Ongoing TRs

[karajeboo]

Jeff has some crazy weeks at work, and he's having a lot of personnel issues that he has to handle. It seems that every night he comes home and tells me these stories that just make me laugh, and shake my head all at the same time. Just for the record I can also walk and chew gum at the same time. But that's neither here nor there.

He usually gets in late on Tuesday nights and I'm normally in bed by the time he walks in the door. So as we were sitting out on the porch on WEdnesday this week, sipping a glass of wine, well actually two glasses cause I usually let him have his own now.

Our conversation went something like this....
Jeff: OMG! You won't believe this!
Kara: I'm sure I will.
Jeff: So I'm driving home last night, right? Driving down 103rd St, right?
(now 103rd St is 3 lanes on each side of the median, so it's a main thoroughfare)
Kara: Uh huh.
Jeff: All of a sudden traffic is moving really slow and I'm like WTH? This is either an accident or a traffic stop checking for license and registration.
Kara: Do you know where your registration is?
Jeff: That's not the point because it wasn't a traffic stop, it was a....
Kara: Well DO you know where your registration is?
Jeff: Who cares, I'm trying to tell you what I saw!!!
Kara: So basically you have no idea where your registration is.
Jeff: No! Now let me finish!
Kara: (mutters under breath) Wish is HAD been a traffic stop....
Jeff: It was a freakin F14 being towed down the middle of the road!
Kara: Do what???
Jeff: Yes! What the heck is a fighter jet doing in the middle of the road?
Kara: OK, so wouldn't it have been easier to just FLY it wherever it was trying to go?
Jeff: EXACTLY!!!
Kara: How do you know it was an F14?
Jeff: I don't, but it was some sort of fighter jet.
Kara: So it was like the dull gray color?
Jeff: Yes, it was camouflaged, I almost didn't see it! Why are you badgering me like this?
Kara: I just want to get the story straight before I post it on the DISboards!
Jeff:

Yes folks, you read it correctly. An F-14 fighter jet being towed through town. It was probably being towed from an airstrip nearby over to the hangars at the Jacksonville Naval Air Station. But who would ever dream that they'd see a fighter jet in the middle of a road???

The cool thing about living here is we see the fighter jets in training missions all the time. The neatest one was several months ago. I heard them first and went outside to look up in the sky. I'm like, wow, they're really moving, when all of a sudden they kicked in their afterburners (or whatever makes them go super fast!!!) and it was like they went from standing still to the speed of sound - or however fast they go! I'm not much of a science person, but it was really neat to watch.

 

[askelton]

So as we were sitting out on the porch on WEdnesday this week, sipping a glass of wine, well actually two glasses cause I usually let him have his own now.

Good woman!

Our conversation went something like this....
Jeff: OMG! You won't believe this!
Kara: I'm sure I will.
Jeff: So I'm driving home last night, right? Driving down 103rd St, right?
(now 103rd St is 3 lanes on each side of the median, so it's a main thoroughfare)
Kara: Uh huh.
Jeff: All of a sudden traffic is moving really slow and I'm like WTH? This is either an accident or a traffic stop checking for license and registration.
Kara: Do you know where your registration is?
Jeff: That's not the point because it wasn't a traffic stop, it was a....
Kara: Well DO you know where your registration is?
Jeff: Who cares, I'm trying to tell you what I saw!!!
Kara: So basically you have no idea where your registration is.
Jeff: No! Now let me finish!
Kara: (mutters under breath) Wish is HAD been a traffic stop....
Jeff: It was a freakin F14 being towed down the middle of the road!
Kara: Do what???
Jeff: Yes! What the heck is a fighter jet doing in the middle of the road?
Kara: OK, so wouldn't it have been easier to just FLY it wherever it was trying to go?
Jeff: EXACTLY!!!
Kara: How do you know it was an F14?
Jeff: I don't, but it was some sort of fighter jet.
Kara: So it was like the dull gray color?

Jeff: Yes, it was camouflaged, I almost didn't see it! Why are you badgering me like this?
Kara: I just want to get the story straight before I post it on the DISboards!
Jeff:

The cool thing about living here is we see the fighter jets in training missions all the time. The neatest one was several months ago. I heard them first and went outside to look up in the sky. I'm like, wow, they're really moving, when all of a sudden they kicked in their afterburners (or whatever makes them go super fast!!!) and it was like they went from standing still to the speed of sound - or however fast they go! I'm not much of a science person, but it was really neat to watch.

That's pretty cool. In Memphis we lived near the naval base in Millington. One day we were there while there was practice for an air show. So we're standing looking at the sky like we had never seen an airplane before.

 

[CRdisMom]

when ever I need a pick me up I come over here. Thanks for the laughs!

 

[Lovin Life]

After watching the Olympics this summer, I'm sure she'll be begging to go back to gymnastics. That's what got her interested in the first place!

Here she is working on handstands at the beach....

We caught some of the opening ceremonies tonight. They were awesome. Great picture! I need to get caught up, just skimmed thru and saw your reply. Have fun getting Ally tomorrow! Drive safe!

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

Kara: Do what???

I forgot about that little expression!

You always crack me up!

Poor Jeff.

 

[karajeboo]

OK, since others have admitted it, I can admit it too -- I chuckled when I read the story about FIL and the garbage can!

Like I said, we still laugh at him about it.

That's pretty cool. In Memphis we lived near the naval base in Millington. One day we were there while there was practice for an air show. So we're standing looking at the sky like we had never seen an airplane before.

But it's really neat to see those fighters zooming so low, isn't it? Even in my house I can hear them and I'm such a geek that I run outside to see them!

when ever I need a pick me up I come over here. Thanks for the laughs!

Glad I'm good for something!

We caught some of the opening ceremonies tonight. They were awesome. Great picture! I need to get caught up, just skimmed thru and saw your reply. Have fun getting Ally tomorrow! Drive safe!

I think I already told you about my adventure picking up Ally, but I'll post more on "inlaw math" later! LOVE the Olympics!!!!

Kara: Do what???

I forgot about that little expression!

You always crack me up!

Poor Jeff.

"Poor Jeff?" DO WHAT????

OK, so my baby is back home as of about 3:30 on Saturday afternoon. We left at 7am to meet his parents "half way." This is where the trouble began - we let his parents do the thinking here!

On their way back to SC last week with Ally, we told them to find a good meeting spot halfway so we could meet them to make the Ally exchange later.

They came up with an exit that I new was much closer to them, but far be it from me to criticize my inlaws so I just went along with it.

Until we got a call from Jeff's parents at 9:30am asking where we were. They left at the same time, were already at the exit, and we were about 80 miles away!!! Now, that should be enough right there to tell you that this was not the halfway point, right?

Not for FIL - he thought we left late, which we didn't (okay, 7:06 so shoot me!). So they drove another 20 miles south and decided to JUST SIT THERE AND WAIT FOR US!!! So by now we're about 60 miles away, right?

C'mon, I know this is math but stay with me here!

So instead of them continuing to drive and meet us sooner, they decided to wait. So that's what they did. In thier minds I'm sure they thought they'd get home sooner this way. So they wasted 45 minutes to an hour OF OUR TIME and we continued to drive.

We set our odometer on the way back and we drove 220 miles of a 400 mile trip. That's 440 miles round trip. They drove 360 round trip. And that was AFTER they drove that extra 20 miles toward us. If we had met at their original "halfway" point, we would have driven 480 round trip to their 320!!!!

Jeff was so mad once we got home!!! But his parents were so stubborn, that they refuse to see the logic in this.

And then Ally was wired up in the car the whole way home! She talked, and talked and talked and talked and.... well, you get the idea. Jeff's forehead was beat red when we got home from doing the Homer "doh!" so many times!!!

And then, being the great parents we are, who love to torment our child, we told her to go clean her room as soon as she got home!!! She knew we were messing with her, but I swear, she's gonna need so much therapy! No point saving for college, maybe just start paying for her rubber room right now!

Oh, by the way, this really did start off as a PTR, and our trip is getting closer now so I probably will start in on some more details here soon!!!

 

[Camster0307]

Oh, by the way, this really did start off as a PTR, and our trip is getting closer now so I probably will start in on some more details here soon!!!

The heck with your vacation plans - I'm enjoying the details of your everyday life!

 

[CRdisMom]

I second Cammie's thought. The FL life is much more entertaining.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Kara, I'm finally caught up! I'm sorry, but I was laughing until I cried with the image of your FIL running down the hill with a trash can to dump it out already - then when the accident was described, I couldn't stop - I guess I should feel bad for him, but slapstick type accidents make me laugh in spite of myself!

I agree with Cammie and Laura - your life is so much fun!

All of your creatures remind me of Okinawa - you just live with them and forget it. I once went out to hang clothes on the clothes line - one of those "stand up" lizards came running out of the bushes - about 2 ft tall with a hood around his head all spread out - monkey lizard, I think. I screamed and ran for the house - he screamed and ran for the neighbor's yard!

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

All of your creatures remind me of Okinawa - you just live with them and forget it. I once went out to hang clothes on the clothes line - one of those "stand up" lizards came running out of the bushes - about 2 ft tall with a hood around his head all spread out - monkey lizard, I think. I screamed and ran for the house - he screamed and ran for the neighbor's yard!

Kara, I'm agreeing. Your day to day life is just too entertaining.

 

[karajeboo]

Kara, I'm finally caught up! I'm sorry, but I was laughing until I cried with the image of your FIL running down the hill with a trash can to dump it out already - then when the accident was described, I couldn't stop - I guess I should feel bad for him, but slapstick type accidents make me laugh in spite of myself!

I agree with Cammie and Laura - your life is so much fun!

All of your creatures remind me of Okinawa - you just live with them and forget it. I once went out to hang clothes on the clothes line - one of those "stand up" lizards came running out of the bushes - about 2 ft tall with a hood around his head all spread out - monkey lizard, I think. I screamed and ran for the house - he screamed and ran for the neighbor's yard!

Seriously???? A 2 foot lizard?? That sounds very Jurassic Park! I woke up this morning to a bunch of tree frogs plastered to the outside of our bedroom window. They're ugly enough from the top, but to see them from the underside, stuck to the window, is just nasty!

I second Cammie's thought. The FL life is much more entertaining.

So glad y'all can laugh at my life!!!! I have to laugh, too, or else I'd cry some days!

The heck with your vacation plans - I'm enjoying the details of your everyday life!

You mean like Bucky chasing a frog through the yard last night, and Ally screaming hysterically, "But Mommy he'll DIE if he eats it!"

Kara, I'm agreeing. Your day to day life is just too entertaining.

Yesterday Ally told mer one of her camp counselors stepped on a lizard and "squished her guts out of her butt." She then proceeded to tell me it was sad, all the while laughing and saying "Ewwwwww!" But it was Lucy that got squished - cause every female lizard is Lucy and every male lizard is Fred - those little suckers obviously get around!

Then we came home and found a little bitty baby lizard climbing up this palm tree we put inside the porch. About 2 inches long, head to tail. So that must be Lucy reincarnated or something!!!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Seriously???? A 2 foot lizard?? That sounds very Jurassic Park! I woke up this morning to a bunch of tree frogs plastered to the outside of our bedroom window. They're ugly enough from the top, but to see them from the underside, stuck to the window, is just nasty!



So glad y'all can laugh at my life!!!! I have to laugh, too, or else I'd cry some days!



You mean like Bucky chasing a frog through the yard last night, and Ally screaming hysterically, "But Mommy he'll DIE if he eats it!"



Yesterday Ally told mer one of her camp counselors stepped on a lizard and "squished her guts out of her butt." She then proceeded to tell me it was sad, all the while laughing and saying "Ewwwwww!" But it was Lucy that got squished - cause every female lizard is Lucy and every male lizard is Fred - those little suckers obviously get around!

Then we came home and found a little bitty baby lizard climbing up this palm tree we put inside the porch. About 2 inches long, head to tail. So that must be Lucy reincarnated or something!!!

EWWW, EWWW, YUKK AND EWWW!

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

Yesterday Ally told mer one of her camp counselors stepped on a lizard and "squished her guts out of her butt." :

Okay, that is just...

 

[podsnel]

Hi Kara!

Just started reading- looks like I've got a LOT of catching up to do!!! Congrats on your 10 year 11 month anniversary- that's the BIGGIE!!!! I believe the traditional gift is crystal shot glasses, but I could be wrong....

Looking forward to all your adventures!!!
Ellen

 

[karajeboo]

EWWW, EWWW, YUKK AND EWWW!

You can say that again!

Okay, that is just...

And again.....!

Hi Kara!

Just started reading- looks like I've got a LOT of catching up to do!!! Congrats on your 10 year 11 month anniversary- that's the BIGGIE!!!! I believe the traditional gift is crystal shot glasses, but I could be wrong....

Looking forward to all your adventures!!!
Ellen

Hey Ellen! I know it ain't HHI, but it's my life now! Crazy! At least on vacay, I can handle the creatures, but everyday? That's another story!!!

 

[JaxJags08]

Kara, I laughed when I saw your weather ticker! It seems like it's been raining everyday! My poor dog is outside getting soaked because we have people working on our house and he'll bug them to no end if I bring him in. He has shelter outside, but doesn't always use it! He's just standing at the door looking at me with his big puppy dog eyes!

 

[karajeboo]

Well, I've been looking at all the computer models of the "disturbances" in the Atlantic - I think that is weather nerd speak for "some nasty stuff that could become a hurricane!"

Have I told you what a complete weather geek I am? I have the local radar running all the time on my computer. I monitor storms like crazy! I LOVE weather! I used to root for ice storms back in SC, and blizzards up in Ohio. Love crazy weather.

Until now.

Cause, well, we are in the hurricane zone. Get in the zone. Hurricane Zone.

Yeah, not looking forward to that.

And there is a "disturbance" over the Leeward Islands. Don't worry, I don't have a clue where that is either! But it's somewhere between here and there, and could be heading HERE!

So I was researching hurricanes that have hit Jacksonville, and according to my research, Jax has never been directly hit, the closest being Hurricane Dora in 1964 which struck St Augustine, about 30 miles south. Am I right JaxJags08???

So I continued my research and found that Jacksonville comes within 30-40 miles of a direct hit about every 3 years on average. And the prediction for a direct hit or very near hit? 2009!

So just to be safe, I've got my hurricane box. You know what people pack - priceless photos, insurance documents, etc.

My box? Beer. Tequila. Margarita mix. Dog food. And juice boxes.

I think that's sufficient.

Of course I"m kidding! Who could outrun a hurricane without rum??? Duh!

So here's to watching the approaching storms. Cheers!

 

[karajeboo]

Kara, I laughed when I saw your weather ticker! It seems like it's been raining everyday! My poor dog is outside getting soaked because we have people working on our house and he'll bug them to no end if I bring him in. He has shelter outside, but doesn't always use it! He's just standing at the door looking at me with his big puppy dog eyes!

IT'S THE BIG ONE!!! Is this the hurricane???? Cause I need gas in my car, gotta find the hurricane evacuation route on my GPS - wait, I need to BUY a GPS for this season!!!

Seriously, as soon as they say, "possibility" of a hit anywhere near Jacksonville, even if it's 5 days away, I'm GONE!!!!

Your poor puppy dog! It's been really coming down today! But I know what you mean about bugging the workers! We're having a summer kitchen built (delayed of course because of the darn rain!) and Bucky is out there all the time bugging them!

 

[JaxJags08]

Yeah, I think you're right about the direct hits. We've been pretty lucky over the years with hurricanes. They usually hit south of us or are pulled up north to the Carolinas. It's made us FL "natives" kind of lazy with getting ready for hurricane season - I don't even have a hurricane box! The last bad season I remember was 2004 when several hurricanes or tropical storms passed through FL. We got some bad weather, but nothing more than tropical storm force here. It just resulted in some very inconvenient power outages for a few hours (or a couple of days if you lived in Ortega).

A friend of mine just moved to Houston about a month ago. She went to the grocery store looking for supplies, but all the water and bread were already sold out! So she bought beer, wine and applesauce! Luckily, they really didn't get anything but wind or she would have been in trouble!

I, too, have doppler running all the time! I thought I might want to go back to school and get a meteorology degree until I saw the classes they have to take! It's quite a lot of work for people that only accurately tell us what's happening at this very moment! I swear, you can't trust any extended forecast around here. Which site do you use that told you about the tropical disturbances? I like to check out NOAA when hurricanes get close. It gives probabilities for it hitting certain places. I'm a geek, I know!

 

[karajeboo]

Yeah, I think you're right about the direct hits. We've been pretty lucky over the years with hurricanes. They usually hit south of us or are pulled up north to the Carolinas. It's made us FL "natives" kind of lazy with getting ready for hurricane season - I don't even have a hurricane box! The last bad season I remember was 2004 when several hurricanes or tropical storms passed through FL. We got some bad weather, but nothing more than tropical storm force here. It just resulted in some very inconvenient power outages for a few hours (or a couple of days if you lived in Ortega).

A friend of mine just moved to Houston about a month ago. She went to the grocery store looking for supplies, but all the water and bread were already sold out! So she bought beer, wine and applesauce! Luckily, they really didn't get anything but wind or she would have been in trouble!

I, too, have doppler running all the time! I thought I might want to go back to school and get a meteorology degree until I saw the classes they have to take! It's quite a lot of work for people that only accurately tell us what's happening at this very moment! I swear, you can't trust any extended forecast around here. Which site do you use that told you about the tropical disturbances? I like to check out NOAA when hurricanes get close. It gives probabilities for it hitting certain places. I'm a geek, I know!

OK, we are obviously twins separated at birth! I, too, thought about getting my degree in meteorology, but it's too much science for me. I guess I just like all the pretty colors on the radar map!

I get on www.weatherunderground.com a lot. You can find a personal weather station near your home to get accurate temps and rainfall, etc. As for the "disturbances" Fox News is reporting not one, not two, but THREE that are out in the Atlantic right now, called it a treadmill effect. Oh, joy!