Sunshine State Update

It's been a while since the last post. I'm sure everyone's been on pins and needles because of this. Okay, maybe not so much. Since the last post I've had the pleasure of digging myself further into debt by getting a new A/C system installed in the old abode. Absolutely necessary for Mickey Mouse land south. Don't know how those settlers way back when did it. I'd be on the first wagon outta this place back then when a) the first hurricane/tropical storm hit, and/or b) it was 95 in April.

If you haven't been watching the news or the fifteen thousand weather reports on The Weather Channel, you will be happy to know that Ernesto turned out to be a bluff. Not that I'm complaining. I've become rather cynical when it comes to tropical weather. I know that while we didn't have it as bad as the people up on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi and New Orleans by a long shot, I have to say that no power for over a week sucks! See the previous paragraph for illustration of such suckiness. Not only that but we have a well which for you cityfolk means that with no power, there is no water. Yep, no flushing toilets, no showers, ultra stinkiness. So even if I could live without the TV, DVD, Computer, DSL, and (God forbid) A/C, we still have the no water factor going on. When Charley came through, no power for five days. When Wilma came through, no power for eight days. You see where I'm going with this? So when Ernesto was predicted to roll right up our alley, I was praying to the electricity gods with all my might. My co-workers were all, "I want it to hit us head on so we don't have to work". I replied, "I have no problem coming to work as long as I have electricty!" Anyway, just some rain and a bunch of hoopla that wasn't really needed. Publix out of water and gas stations out of gas. Go figure. We have survived.

Mice on a Bus!

I am a big movie watcher. Love movies. Love to laugh and cry and critique movies. I like Samuel L. Jackson, but I have to wonder about the quality of a movie called "Snakes on a Plane". While I realize this a most apt name for the movie as it is about, say it ain't so, snakes on a plane, the title makes it sound so cheesy. Maybe this is on purpose. Maybe it is a very cheesy movie. After "Pulp Fiction", "xXx" and "Shaft", I would expect Mr. Jackson to lend some credence to a movie. Of course this is the man who also starred in "Deep Blue Sea".

On a more serious note, I did see "World Trade Center" the Tuesday before it hit mainstream theaters. Needless to say, I went through a bunch of tissues and napkins. I liked the fact that though it was an Oliver Stone movie, it was not all about politics, conspiracy theory, etc. It was people helping people. I might feel differently if I knew someone personally that was involved, but I thought it was very moving and may help show that 9/11 wasn't just about death and destruction. It was about the best inside of men coming to the surface and helping complete strangers in the worst of times.

Freedom!!!!

Ah, I've always loved the smell of crayons and Elmer's glue in the morning. The kids head back to school and I have time to reflect on how short their summer vacation really was. When I was a kid, all those years ago, I remember getting approximately three months off between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The kids down here now only get just over two months. While I would be totally bummed if I were a school-age kid to only have two months off (the horror), as an adult I have to say that it's not too bad to have the kids back on the bus in two months.

Now it's back to the grind of homework, parent-teacher conferences, and, dare I say it, fundraisers. As Bill Engvall once said, they turn them into little Amway kids. They'll sell anything. I have bought the usual magazine subscriptions, wrapping paper, candy more expensive than Godiva, but was thrown off by the fundraiser to sell Coke. Yep, good ol' Coca-cola that you can get at your local grocery, megamart or convenience store. They sold cases of 20 oz. Coke bottles. While I have to say it was different, I can't imagine wanting to haul around cases of Coke to distribute to the neighborhood. Though I feel dutybound to buy this stuff from my kids, don't want them to be ostracized by being the only kid in class not to get some cheap dollar store prize for selling five bazillion boxes of cookies, I'm going broke. Give us a break.

Welcome to Florida!

Just found out that I may need to replace the ol' A/C unit on the house. And since it's only like 500 degrees outside with 900% humidity, I can't really put it off. Woohoo. Should cost roughly the same amount as a new Kia. Financial freedom is not in my immediate forecast. I'm sorely tempted to try those "work at home" schemes. You've heard of these right? Make money in your free time. "I made $5,000 a month just working part time." While it sounds too good to be true, it can't be bad right? Somebody slap me now!

I can't drive...55!

Okay, I live in the retirement capital of the world. Knowing this, there are drivers transplanted from all over this great country of ours to the beautiful Sunshine State, I should be prepared to see different driving styles on our roads. Unfortunately, not all of these states seem to have the same requirements for earning a driver's license. I know this because apparently in the state of Iowa (according to the plate on the land yacht responsible) it is perfectly okay to make a left hand turn from the right hand turn lane, four lanes over. Allowed in the state of Indiana (plate on the shiny Lexus responsible), if you miss your turn, stop traffic in your lane on US 41 and wait with your blinker on for a break to cross the three lanes to make said turn. But wait, it gets better!

I actually spoke with a sheriff's deputy who said that he stopped an older lady in her Mercedes who had run a stop sign. She, of course, gave him attitude saying that they did that all the time in her home state (state unknown at this time, my guess is New Jersey). He wrote her a ticket and let her go. She proceeded to run the next stop sign less than a quarter mile away in front of the same deputy. He said he didn't write her a ticket but stopped her and said, "You definitely have a problem."

I won't lie and say that I'm a perfect driver, but in this area you either have to drive 20 mph or 80 mph on a stretch of road with posted 45 mph speed limit, dodging dump trucks and little old ladies, who can barely see over the steering wheel. And we wonder why road rage is an issue.

Back to the grind

August is now here with the start of school and, more importantly, football season. Sweaty, big men are now working in the sun and blistering heat at training camps around the country. I personally enjoy air-conditioned comfort, but if I was getting paid six- and seven-figure salaries, I would be out there sweating with the big boys easy. I wonder if the waterboy gets paid well. Probably better than me, though there should be some kind of hazardous duty pay for having to put up with the funk that must permeate their locker rooms. Eww.