Thoughts on an Airport from an Airplane

Can I just say a couple of things about airports? Some people dread the idea of the whole experience of an airport: lines for security, hours of waiting, giant terminals to navigate, extreme pricing on the most basic of necessities. But I enjoy my adventures to the airport. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I start my day in one place and end it somewhere completely different, but I really look forward to it.

I am not a patient person by any means. Anyone who knows me can vouch to that. But for some reason, I stay completely calm and relaxed at an airport, even waiting in the most ridiculous lines. I in fact enjoy arriving early for my flight, just so I can browse the terminals and read a book at my gate. I find that airport bookstores are so fascinating. I always find at least five books I would buy instantly if I had somewhere to store them for the flight. I guess it is because they only have a small space to work with and it is prime real estate so they have to have the most interesting of books, but I still can’t resist the gander. Speaking of books, I get the best reading done in airports and on airplanes. It is probably because I can’t feel guilty that I am just sitting around reading because, really, what else could I be doing at the time?

And I know most people don’t feel this way, but I really enjoy traveling alone. Don’t get me wrong, I love having right company with me, but traveling alone is some people’s worst nightmare. I find it relaxing. People watching is fantastic at the airport because you get some of the craziest people. I just today saw the worst sweater dress ever made!  You see businessmen and military men, you see families and college kids. And then you see sweater dresses…

But if you are friendly, people are generally friendly back. I am always talking to strangers at the airport. I’ve even met someone at the airport and became pen pals half way around the world! I had a man say to me today at the airport that I was too pretty to carry my own luggage, however, he did not offer to then carry my luggage for me for the remainder of my trip…

But thinking back to the beginning, I think my favorite part of the airport is that you end up somewhere else. I like seeing and experiencing new things that the airport is the best at facilitating that. I suppose it is less enjoyable when I am not really going anywhere.

Visiting “Home”

My first visit “home”… it is hard to put into words. I’m sure everyone who has moved away has experienced it. I’ve mentioned before how quickly the time has flown by and so when I rolled into Lake Zurich, it felt like I hadn’t been away at all. Everything was mostly right where I left it. Everything was as familiar as it had always been. But yet, it felt different. Even when I went away to school, when I came home, it was home. When I walked in the front door of my parents’ house, it all felt slightly off. The cat came around the corner and he looked like a different cat (honestly, he looked like the cat that came and ATE the old cat). My old room had none of my stuff anymore. But the weirdest feeling of all was the fact that it just didn’t feel like “home”. At one point I even said that I couldn’t wait to go home and sleep in my own bed.

Don’t get me wrong; I loved seeing my family and friends. Catching up on old times and goofing off with my siblings, those are things that I really do miss. I hate that I won’t be around when my very first niece is born. I hate that I can’t be home for holidays and get together randomly with the family. But this trip has confirmed for me, without a doubt, that this move was the right thing to do and it was the right time to do it. It was time for an adventure!

My first Turkey Day

Now, before I go any further, this was not Thanksgiving. This was me wanting to try to make a turkey. I was not going to be home for Thanksgiving and I even had to work, so I have decided to sweep Thanksgiving under the rug.


With that being said, I decided I wanted to make a turkey. Making a turkey is a HUGE undertaking and if not planned properly, can be a total disaster!!! I had never even made a whole chicken before, but as I was wandering through Wal-mart doing some grocery shopping, I decided I wanted to give it a shot. I figured it was my only chance at having some homemade turkey. The smallest turkey I could find was a whooping 15 lbs, which meant not only was there was going to be a turkey, but there were going to be guests as well since I surely couldn't eat all 15 lbs by myself.

As I invited people, I was asked "well, aren't you going to be make this and that as well?!?" All of a sudden I was making a feast! It took me three trips to the store and one last minute "wait, we need a meat thermometer to know when it is done?" trip before I had all my supplies for my NOT Thanksgiving meal.

Prepping the turkey was not the most pleasant of experiences. The wrapper of the 'bird' said to take out the gravy pack, neck, and giblets. I found the gravy pack and what I could only assume was the neck, but no giblets to be found. I eventually had to call my mom because I was just plain out of ideas of where to look. A word to anyone who has not prepped a turkey, they shove stuff in both ends!
Once that was straightened out I was off and running! I put the turkey in the oven at about 9:45am and got to prepping all the other things I was now responsible to make. After the experience, I would say that its not the making the turkey that is hard, it is the timing of all the other stuff that you are making. Everything has it's varying times, and you have to account for the fact that you only have one oven in your house. And for the record, craving the turkey is just as nasty as prepping it!

Overall, it was fun. I had about seven people over throughout the day and everyone enjoyed the food. Apparently I am able to cook a turkey. It wasn't what Thanksgiving at home would have been, but it was a fair substitute. I'm just pleased that I didn't botch my first turkey day!!!

Run as fast as you can...

A couple of years ago, Give Kids The World started having an annual 5K run to help fundraise for the village. As soon as I heard about it, I knew I wanted to be involved since it was my first year here and I miss event planning. Plus, supposedly I am a "runner". As soon as I saw that the Gingerbread Run site was launched, I let the proper people know I wanted to help out and I joined the committee.

The whole committee experience is not worth talking about because nothing really exciting happened. I did learn a couple of things and it was worth my time because it was all for a good cause. But I did get acknowledged at the race, so that helped too.

Yesterday was the race. Now, I still stand by the school of thought that running is not fun but this race was a blast!!! What made the whole experience so exciting was the fact that there were SO many familiar faces. Well, first and most impressive was the fact that Heather heard about the race and just bought a plane ticket out here to run. She decided she wanted to visit and what better reason than to come out here and support a great cause. But even beyond her, there were my coworkers, my superiors, and even volunteers who I knew. Throughout the whole course, I had people cheering me on, cheering me through the village that I am so familiar with. It really makes a difference. 

Even the post-race party was a lot of fun. I loved that there were lots of characters there. I had a chance to get a picture with Mayor Clayton and Miss Merry, and even got a picture with the star of the race, Murphy the Gingerbread Man. Best of all, they gave me a gingerbread cookie at the finish line! I know, those aren’t the important things, those aren’t the “take away” from the race. The number one goal of the race was to raise money, and I did my part. But the “Fun”, that is important too. That is what gets people to come back year after year. That is what makes the event grow. And with growth, with more people, there is more money!

Overall, I am glad I was involved. It was really one of my favorite races I have done so far. And, next year I plan on running as fast as I can, I have to catch that Gingerbread Man!!!

We got a kitten!

In Florida, there are a lot of feral cats (that means stray cats... I'm not sure why there are two different names for them). Where there are a lot of feral cats, there are a lot of feral kittens. Now Florida is not really a safe place for kittens. First the extreme heat, then it gets rather cold at night once fall arrives. Kittens can't keep their temperature regulated. And, do I even have to mention the threat of getting eaten by alligators? I don't have any statistics on this, but I am sure that it is a thing.

We saw a cat wandering around at work and that's when I really started to consider the possibilities. Maybe we could get a cat. I floated the idea to my roommate and she didn't say no...

A co-worker found him one of the first crisp mornings we had. He came into a security hut to try to warm up. He had a big abrasion on his right shoulder and he only weighed about 2 lbs. One thing lead to another and now we have a Terror Kitty running around our house. Of course he is super cute... and I'm glad we have him, but I forgot how excited kittens always are and how clingy. He's a curious little thing and now there is an extra mouth to feed.

A kitten is really a long term commitment, but I think I am ok with it. I even find myself feeling slightly guilty when I am not home all day because I know he gets lonely... he is a people cat. But it is what it is now because WE GOT A KITTEN!!!

Andrew Visits!!!

I probably wouldn't have gone through with this whole move without Andrew. The morning that I packed up my car, waved to Chicago, and hugged my mom goodbye, he is the one who made it possible for me to get into the driver seat and actually pull away. Even though he couldn't come all the way to Florida with me, knowing that I had him to start the adventure made the whole experience more exciting. Even after arriving here, he has been my constant, the person that I rely on, the person I confide in. Without him, I would have probably packed my car up and headed back north. So, when we started to plan his visit here, I was more excited than I could ever put in words. I counted down the days until his arrival.

There were so many things that I wanted him to experiences, things that I wanted us to experience together. So, I started making a list, including a couple of volunteer shifts at the village so he could see what I did on a day to day basis. And even though Andrew insisted on "playing it by ear", I began to schedule out the week... I can't help it! 

We had a fantastic time while he was here. We went to the beach, the lakefront, we went out for the best tacos I ever had, and even went to Disney World! He came to the village to volunteer, and we went to this pirate dinner adventure... there was a pirate ship stage in the middle of the theatre!  It was probably the best week that I have had since I moved to Florida. 

Even when I got crabby or short, he stayed positive and we had a great time because of it. I am so grateful for the week we had together and the memories from the trip. Now, it is time to start planning his next trip here for New Years, I am already counting the days... 64 more days until Andrew Visits!!!

It's fall?

I'm having a hard time believing that this is fall. The four months I have been here have flown by so quickly that I hardly realized time passed at all. And since most days it is still in the 80s, how can I NOT think that it is still summer? Not that I am complaining, summer is my favorite time of year so I am definitely on board with the endless summer. But slowly I am noticing signs of fall around me. The "Halloween USA" stores and such have been popping up in abandoned store fronts. Wal-Mart has really starting pushing the giant bags of candy... I feel like every year, the variety of options continues to grow! Halloween hasn't really phased me this year. I was seriously considering just skipping it all together, no big thing. I usually really like to dress up and such, but I'm just not in the Halloween mood yet...

The other day I noticed some pictures that my siblings posted. The three of them all went apple picking together and were enjoying some delicious apples straight off the tree. They don't grow apples in Florida, so I am still paying it seems about a dollar an apple here, and definitely not enjoying it right off the tree. But the outrageous price of apples isn't what made me slightly sad. I suppose the fall is bittersweet. Halloween, apple picking, crunchy leaves, all great things about fall back home. Things that I will not experience here. But right after fall, winter comes and punches you in the face. So, I will skip apple picking, and crunchy leaves, and Fright Fest this year. This is what made me slightly sad... well the price of apples also is factoring in a little. 


Although it is sad, I am not upset by it. I have replaced these activities with other ones that I could not do before. For instance, I was just at the beach two weeks ago, it was already in the 50s back home, but the water was perfect here. I have also been going to Disney World, definitely not something that Illinois can offer any time of year. I will even be going to Mickey's Not So Scary! I'm not worried about missing the fall weather, because the way I understand it, Florida's winter weather is kind of like Illinois' fall weather. 


Anyways, I suppose fall is here, even though it doesn't feel like it yet. The moral of this story.... SEND APPLES!!!

I Lost my cookies...

I haven't talked much about the village in my blog. Great things are happening there every day and I wouldn't even know where to begin writing about it so I'll just talk about my volunteering experience. I try to volunteer whenever I can. With working nights full time there, it is hard to get in to volunteer more than once a week, but I do what I can.


I really enjoy my time when I am volunteering. Warning, I am going to sound like a terrible person in the next sentence. I never really was the kind of person who would volunteer. I didn't see how people could enjoy it. But volunteering at the Village is a lot of fun.


Slowly, I have been volunteering my way around the village. With being there 5 nights a week for work, it is hard finding time to get in there to work for free. But, there have been a couple of specific things that I really wanted to do, so I made it happen.


One of my MUST DO's was the Ice Cream Palace. There are not many things I am more passionate about than Ice Cream! Alright, that is an exaggeration, but it is one of the special things about the village and I wanted a chance to experience it with the families. It was really a treat because the day I was over there just happened to be the day that my favorite family came in (yes, I have a favorite! I haven't been so touched by another family before or since their visit. When I pass the villa they stayed in, I still call it "Alex's castle"). It was really fun. 


Another was the Pirate and Princess party. To be honest, I am really more of a pirate than a princess, but when they gave me a princess dress to wear, I really warmed up to the idea of being a princess. There was also the La Ti Da Spa, Breakfast cart, and the Horse and Pony rides. All a blast actually, even though it meant getting up early! It's funny, because when I go to the village for work, it does feel like work, but when I volunteer, not so much! It's weird how that happens...



One of my favorite volunteer stories (of course there are many more to come since I really just started volunteering a couple of months ago), was when I was on the Cookie Cart. That was another shift I kept talking about doing so when I had a free evening to do it, I jumped on it and talked about it all week. It was a lot harder than I thought it would be!!! Let me explain the Cookie cart, really, it is what is sounds like. A golf cart that plays cookie songs while you drive around and pass out cookies. You really have to push the cookies sometimes, you would think that people would really jump at the idea of free cookies... not always! Well anyways, I was making my rounds and a family stopped me, I hopped off the cart and walked around the back and stared in shock... my basket of cookies was missing! Apparently they fell off the back and I had not idea. I guess this had never happened to anyone before, I'm not sure HOW that hasn't happened before, but that's what they told me. To this day, I believe I am the only volunteer who has lost my cookies...

Kissimmee Lakefront

The other day in my wanderings, I happened upon the Kissimmee Lakefront. So, when I think of the lakefront, I think of Lake Michigan in downtown Chicago. The picturesque skyline in the background. Miles and miles of paths along the lake to enjoy the breeze and the sights. Thinking back, the lakefront is probably my favorite thing about Chicago. I've heard people talking about the Kissimmee lakefront, that is where people go for the fireworks on Forth of July and there are different "goings on" there as well. So, when I saw a sign pointing "this way" to the lakefront, I quickly redirected my trip in that direction...


The lakefronts here are NOTHING like Chicago. First of all, I wouldn't even call that a lake, it looked more like a swamp. There wasn't even a breeze coming off of the lake. I was slightly disappointed but I figured I'd hang around anyways and take in the sights. If I had never known the lakefront back home, I'm sure this would be just fine of an option. There was a little lighthouse and the end of this quasi-pier. There was a park with some swings and even an old train caboose transformed into a soda and ice cream shop. It was kind of cute once I threw out my preconceived ideas of what a lakefront was.

As I sat leaning against the lighthouse, I thought back to Chicago. I thought about some of really good times I had by the lake. A first date, my first race and many since, wanderings with siblings and friends. And for the first time, I actually missed the place, not just the people. Now, don't get me wrong, I quickly remembered the feeling you get when snow slips into the top of your boot and you have soggy cold socks all day. I don't miss it enough to pack it all up and move back by any means! Right now, the ocean front is about as far of a drive from my place as the lakefront was from my suburban home in Illinois. And, I definitely pick the ocean. I've actually visited the lakefront since the first visit and it has kind of grown on me.... but that may just be because of my never ending quest to chase alligators!!!

First Visitor!!!

My mom came to visit! She was my first official visitor! Of course, with my moving all over Florida in the span of 2 and half months, my official home wasn't ready for visitors. We just had a couple of big piles of boxes and I had a lamp. The rest of my things were located in numerous other locations to include, Davenport, Clermont, and the trunk of my car.


It was really nice to have my mom visit. We went out for lunch at a BBQ place, got fro yo from my favorite place, and did a little shopping. Checked into our hotel and then went swimming. It felt like a full out vacation! The next day we went to Disney World. It was so different from when we used to go to Disney as kids. We would get up at the crack of dawn and drive to Orlando (we usually stayed out by the gulf) so we could get there when it opened. We would trudge around all day, all six of us, trying to get everything done in one day, no matter what the weather was like. Then, when the parks closed, and only when ALL of them were closed, would we climb back into the car and make the hour or so drive back. Not that I am complaining, it was ALWAYS a blast when we were kids and I wouldn't have traded it. It was Disney World for goodness sake!!!

But this trip we woke up casually, got there when we got there and kind of just milled around. It was relaxed and fun. We actually even left the parks before dinner and went to our favorite (we haven't been to many) Disney restuarant, Kona Cafe at the Polynesian. They bring this GIANT loaf of this hybrid bread. It's like the love child of Hawaiian bread and sourdough. And they top it off with Mac nut butter. Yum! We were back in our hotel room in pjs by 9:30.


I'm not going to lie, I was very surprised when the next day it was so hard to say goodbye. It reminded me of my first day of college when I was afraid to face the unknown alone. Except, I had already done it. I have been living here for 3 months and hadn't really thought twice about it. It's weird how certain situations can revert you back to being a kid. Disney World with my mom was one of them. It was a big day for me. That was also the day that I bought my big kid mattress (yes, before then I was still sleeping on a TWIN!!!!) Now, I have a giant mattress that will NEVER fit into my car. It made being here a more permanent thing. I can't just pack my car anymore and go home. Not that it was the plan or anything, but it was comforting to know in the back of my mind I could always just pack it up and head back. That's not so much the option anymore and it stressed me out that day. So, I cried when I had to say goodbye to my mom, I'm not going to dance around it. Judge me if you'd like! I'm glad to have had my first visitor, I'm ready for some more. Come on down!!!

GATORLAND

Every time I drive/walk/run or even see a body of water (any body of water, including the drain ditches on the sides of the road) I scan for alligators. About two weeks after moving here, we went for an outing to the mall. As we were passing one of the retention ponds in the parking lot, Bill pointed out a six-foot gator skimming along the surface. I didn’t realize that they could be at the mall too! Since that day, I always look, hoping to see one. Maybe I haven’t trained my eyes to see them well, but I have yet to spot my own gator.

Well, I got tired of waiting and took matters into my own hands. At the Village we have tickets for a little place called Gatorland. Every day I passed the sign going to work and I pretty much decided instantly that I had to make a day of it. Our fabulous intern was sporting a Gatorland mug one day and I knew I could recruit her as my partner in crime.

We arrived right as it opened (me scoring the Florida resident discount, by the way). I quickly scanned the show schedule and planned out our visit. I mean, not to sound like a giant dork, but it was everything I could have dreamed of. After taking a gander at the pond of big gators, we made our way to the first show of the day, Close Encounters. I got picked to take secret box. I acted coy but inside I was jumping for joy, be an alligator, be an alligator. Friends, I must add a side note in here, I have interacted with alligators quite a bit in the past, so I myself am not sure why this is such a thing for me. Well, they ended up taking my box back because apparently it had a rattlesnake in there. BUT, at the end of the show, they had me come up and be one of the people that got to hold the giant snake. He asked me heads or tails… I picked heads!

 

We continued our way down the list of shows and of course visited the giftshop. We made our rounds throughout the land of gators and even came across a rather wide croc that I could sympathize with. All in all, it was a pretty “country” excursion. I really liked it! But, it still is not the same as seeing one in real life out in the open. Without a fence between us or its mouth taped. So, I will continue to scan the water, hoping to find my Florida gator

Lions and Tigers and Bears...

The critters are so different here. I say critters because that is what they are! In Illinois we didn’t have critters, we had squirrels and pigeons. For starters, in Florida there are those little lizard things EVERYWHERE. I will see five of them on my trip from my car to my front door. Then there are those bugs that people aren’t really sure if they are some random insect that looks like a roach or if they are indeed cockroaches… then, working from smallest to largest (yes, the bugs are BIGGER than the lizards), we have the snakes. I’ve only seen a handful of them and they are usually just slithering across the sidewalk, but I think the only time I ever saw a snake in Illinois was in a reptile store. I’ve only seen the “friendly” snakes so far, but I’ve been told that grumpy snakes do slither across the sidewalk as well sometimes… eek!

 

Have you ever seen an armadillo? You know, like Arthur from the kid’s tv show on PBS. Yes, apparently that is a real animal, and that show was based in Florida. I’m not sure what I expected them to look like in real life, but that wasn’t it. The proportions were off or something. One day, I just came across three of them digging around in the rose garden at the village. They were just inches away from one of the busiest sidewalks and roads in the village. It didn’t bother them any, they just kept on digging like it was no big thing. One thing is for sure, they look like they can roll right up into a perfect ball.

The cranes are all sorts of crazy here. Well, there are those tall white ones that are really pretty, you usually see them on postcards. I’ve never really seen one up close yet because they always seem to be on the opposite side of the pond, no matter which side of the pond I am on. But then there are these other cranes. They are just slightly larger than the white ones and they are a brownish gray. These, I have seen up close and they are hostile! Someone forgot to tell them that they are birds and not bulldogs. When I was jogging was day I came up to a pack of four of them chomping on some grass along the sidewalk. I figured I would just jog on by and we would go our separate ways. Well apparently they are not fans of sharing the road. It didn’t chase me or anything, but he kept a very stern eye on my the whole time. And as I approached he took one step towards me and he somehow scared me into running the long way around with his stare alone. And then for some reason, all the way home I kept looking over my shoulder. I felt like I stumbled into a drug deal and now I had to wonder if they were after me because I knew too much.

And of course there are the alligators. Of all the critters, these are the ones that I am most excited about. Everyone tells stories that you can’t go into the lakes because you’ll get eaten by the gators. Or that you’ll see one here or there. Well, since arriving, I have only seen one, and I didn’t even notice it on my own. But the search continues…

Alas, I have not actually seen any lions, tigers, and or bears.

“If not me, then who…”

This morning I got up and ran the 9/11 Heroes Run. I haven’t ran a race since April and getting up early sounded like a terrible plan late last night when I couldn’t fall asleep. But I am so glad that I did.

Now, the running part wasn’t any more enjoyable than normal, I still run strictly get to the finish. But knowing I had to get back in the saddle, I went searching for my first Florida race. When I came across the Travis Manion Foundation and the 9/11 Heroes Run it really caught my eye. Travis Manion was a marine that served in Iraq. After being killed in action, Manion’s family started a foundation to provide support to other Fallen Heroes and their families.

The atmosphere this morning is hard to describe. It was patriotic but not overboard.  It was all-American. It was a different way of showing support and pride for your country besides shooting off some bottle rockets. My absolute favorite moment of the whole day was while a local girl belted out the Star Spangled Banner, an old veteran stood in front of the color guard saluting the American flag. I literally had to look away as the tears swelled up in my eyes. I’m not sure why it tugs on my heartstrings so much but every time I just can’t help but get emotional.

To be honest, I’ve never really done anything to honor 9/11 in the past. I know that makes me un-American or something, but I just never really thought to. I understand how tragic it was, and that is really changed the world as we knew it. I understand the thousands of lives lost and the hundreds of thousands more affected by it. But I never was really tied to it before.

Now, just because I ran some silly 5K race today doesn’t mean that I automatically know what so many people had to go through. Or that all of a sudden the events that took place 10 years ago are going to send me in a spiral of depression or anything. But I think it made me realize that it doesn’t have to be about being sad today. It is about embracing being American and just being so grateful that there are people out there who are willing to sacrifice their lives, willing to go thousands of miles away from everyone they love, willing to run into a falling building when everyone else is running out, just so I don’t have to. Not like “I” me… but like the every day Joe who can eat their pop tarts in peace on their couch in their underwear while watching American Idol. It’s because of people like Travis Manion and the 6000 other people who have lost their lives. People like Manion who said “If not me, then who…”

P.S. I didn’t mean to make this a quasi-political rant. Don’t judge me that I blogged about something cliché today!

Three months... has gone SO fast!!!

Today marks my three month anniversary of moving to Florida. I'd like to start by apologizing for my lack of blogging. I have been experiencing all sorts of fun Florida things and have not updated the masses via this blog (I know there are masses... just go with it).

I've lived in three different locations, visited Disney World numerous times (I have a Florida Residence Annual Pass), saw gators at Gatorland, and  went the beach. Found a job, made friends, even found a roommate. I can make it to a handful of places without the GPS, and even was able to give a guy directions in a Starbucks parking lot one day. Plus, I survived my first hurricane scare (ok, so Irene blew right by us **pun intended** Fine, I won't count that!).


The truth is, I feel like I have been here all along. It really amazes me how comfortable I am here. Sometimes, I forget that I've moved at all. I will look out the window and realize there are palm trees out there. That's right, I'm in Florida... that's new... Just today, I was walking through Hollywood Studios and glanced at a spot that I had taken a picture at on a previous trip. I remembered standing there and thinking I don't want to go back to Illinois, can I just stay? At that time, I said I wanted to move, but I didn't know I was actually going to do it! Don't get me wrong, there have been some bumps in the road, a couple of not so ideal situations. But overall, I am very happy with my decision to move. It has been just what I needed.


The big project now is getting settled into my permanent place. Officially unpacking and getting some furniture. I can not longer fit all of my things into my car and I have a lease for a year, so this Florida thing is happening for at least that long at this point. I'm sure it is just going to fly by anyways. Three months... has gone SO fast!!!

Only buy top quality keychains!!!

I'm usually pretty good about holding onto things. Even when I misplace something, I always eventually remember where I put it and it all works out... things have apparently changed. 


Yesterday, the keychain with my house key on it broke while running through the rain in a parking lot. After searching every inch of where I was yesterday and only finding the stupid keychain itself minus the more important key, my best guess of the location of said key is down a drain and sadly working it's way through the pipes under the state of Florida. This was a devastating realization for me. First, anger swept over me... I never lose things, why does it have to be something so important? Then, self pity. Yes, I am putting this out there for all the world to see. I sobbed , like really really. The kind of crying that only slows because you are about to run out of air and pass out. It wasn't my proudest moment, sitting alone in a parking lot throwing my things about the car and crying. 


Of course, that isn't even the worst of it. This morning when I woke up I had to swallow my pride and let the landlord know. The response was pretty much as bad as I dreaded. I literally received a text message from a grown woman that read "Oh wow." Followed by "that key is not able to be duplicated". I think she is partially peeved because I told her I would like to move out. I know I am not her favorite little lessee right now, which I suppose is understandable. So... the short version of the story is I have to pay $35 for a replacement key (which is a half of day's work, by the way) and it will take a couple of days to get. 


I am locked out of my own home for at least the next two days, in a state where I am at least 1000 miles from my closest family members. I know I won't be sleeping in my car or anything, I have had some people already offer to help out and I know my roommates will accommodate as much as they can. But still, it has been one of those weeks that you kind of wish you can head back to your twin size bed in your parents' house and hide for a while. I guess being an adult means making decisions and bailing yourself out when you make the wrong ones...


It's not the end of the world by any means. I think the lesson to be learned from this WHOLE experience is to only buy top quality keychains!!!

There's a pool in the yard!!!

Cut me some slack, I said I wasn't a blogger. So, blogging sometimes doesn't take top priority! It has been a busy past couple of weeks and haven't had much of a chance to sit down and put my thoughts on paper, so to speak. 

I packed up ALL of my things (can still fit it all in one car load) and moved to a new location. 5 bedroom house with 4 roommates. Furnished, all utilities included and... There's a pool in the yard!!! In fact, I took a "pool day" yesterday.

I think when I left Illinois, I didn't realize the importance of a home base. Through the whole plan without a plan, that was never really one of my top concerns. It was finding a job, it was finding friends, it was setting up a life in Florida. I knew I needed a place to live, but I thought it was just that, a place to live. 

So now, I have a home base, a place to hang my hat, but not sure I am ready to settle in yet. Location, location, location. That is the most important thing to consider when finding a place. Hmm, I have some thinking to do... Luckily, floating in a pool is the best place to think. Oh, did I mention, There's a pool in the yard!!!

3 Words: Chocolate Animal Crackers

3 words: Chocolate Animal Crackers. I have been obsessed with Chocolate Animal Crackers lately. I am not sure what is so fantastic about them but I can not resist them. I have been averaging about a bag a week since I've gotten to Florida. And when I say "bag", I mean those giant bags that Wal-Mart sells for a buck 98. You know the ones, you just can't beat that price! 16 crackers a serving, 26 servings a bag, 6 weeks... I've consumed an estimate of 2500 chocolate animal crackers since my southern bound journey began.

It used to be the original that I couldn't get enough of, but since I have been introduced to the chocolate, the original can not quench the animal cracker cravings. That is what they are, you know... Craving! I don't think it is a coincidence that the word CRACK is in the name.

Not that blogging about animal crackers is very exciting, but I am hoping that with my shame out in the open, maybe I can contain myself. This is my own version of AA, Animal crackers Anonymous. "My name is Jessi and I have a problem." I've decided that I will only allow myself to buy one bag a month. If you do that math, that is still about a serving every day, but I just can't quit the stuff cold turkey...

I'm going to Disney World

I mean, you kind of HAVE to go to Disney World. I live closer to Disney World now than I lived to Six Flags when I worked there. Naturally, I decided that "going to Disney World" will be one of my new pass times. Plus, I figure with all my friends and family visiting basically everyone would want to go when they come. Might as well save myself some time and money and just buy a pass.

So, I went there the other day to get myself all squared away. I was worried that they would give me a hard time because I wanted the Florida resident price but I don't have a Florida ID. No worries, it went off without a hitch and I am the proud owner of a Florida Resident Disney World Annual Pass (after just 12 easy payments-- I did the math, I will definitely get my money's worth!).

If you didn't catch it earlier, I went to Disney World alone. I've done plenty of things alone since arriving, and I don't have a problem flying solo. The fact that I don't have someone to tag along with hasn't stopped me before. In fact, moving to Florida was kind of to embrace the "I'm my own person" thing. And being at the parks alone didn't even really bother me. There were a couple of things though that were... weird. Like, when you walk up to the cast member at the front of the line and they ask how many in your party. You throw one finger up and then you try to decipher what the expression on their face means. They aren't really sad for you, I don't even know if I would say that they were judging, but you definitely get a look and a "do you mind sitting in a row of kids?". I suppose for the most part, people don't even notice that you are there alone. You are probably just with a gaggle of people but you decided you wanted to ride a ride that no one else wanted, or you wanted ice cream and everyone else went to get pretzels. The other strange moment was meal time. I was there for 9 hours, I kind of have to stop and eat. Well, it is VERY apparent that you are there alone when you are having dinner alone. I felt like Peter in Forgetting Sarah Marshall when the host was giving him a hard time about eating alone. "Will your wife be joining you?.. your girlfriend? You are just going to eat alone? Isn't that going to be boring?" But I persevered and ate an entire meal without someone even offering me a magazine to read...

So, I went to Disney World alone, I know I am not the first person. And in fact, I know I will do it again. I think I am going to go to Hollywood Studios one day this week and Animal Kingdom next week. But this experience was evidence that it is time for me to start working on my next (and probably most difficult) task of moving... making friends. It's either that, ooooooooor win the lottery and pay for all of my friends to move down here too. I am still doing calculations on which will be a more likely solution. Until then, looks like I'm going to Disney World!

Jesus, the Bellhop?!?

I've been going to this church since I've gotten down here. I just googled churches the first week I was here and thought I would work my way down the list until I found one I liked. I stopped after the first one.


At first glance, looked like any Catholic church. Pretty standard set up. Then mass began and I started to notice that things were... off. The priest has a sense of humor, that is for sure. He makes random jokes, lightens up the mood. He has a scottish or irish or something accent, but he speaks fluent spanish and sometimes slips into it. He kind of reminds me of a Spanish leprechaun or something. 


The front of the church has a "Last Supper" mural and at first I thought nothing of it. Then I started to really look at it. They have all sorts of people represented, pregnant lady, asian guy, I even think the two guys on the right are a bi-racial gay couple! Not exactly how the last supper went down in the bible. But I can get on board with that, I actually really dig the painting. And after I realized the uniqueness of the Last Supper in the front I started to take in the rest of my surroundings. They have several paintings throughout the church that represent the stations of the cross (I think that is what it is called). One with Jesus carrying the cross, another with Mary comforting him. And as I was scanning the different paintings, I came to one that literally made me laugh out loud. Again, if you weren't really paying attention, you would glance right past it without even noticing. But take a look and tell me if you are seeing what I am seeing. Because, what I am seeing is an old guy in a polo shirt holding up a set of dice to Jesus. Is that man inviting Jesus to a game of Yatzee? What is going on here and how does that fit into the story?!? And why is Jesus so uninterested? Does he prefer Scrabble?

Throughout the mass, they have different photos and verses projected up on screens on either side of the church. Sometimes, I look and wonder why they would pick the image they did but usually pretty standard stuff. Well, today they had a real treat. The photo was a man and wife with their young daughter. They were walking up the side of the road. About 10 feet ahead of them was Jesus, dressed in his usual Jesus fashion of robe, beard, and no shoes. In the picture you can definitely tell that he is walking with purpose,  like he has somewhere to be. All of this so far is acceptable and not completely out of the ordinary. Until I mention the luggage Jesus was carrying. He had two arm loads of suitcases, literally. Four pieces of luggage as he is huffing it up the road with this family walking behind him. Is that family making the Son of God carry their luggage?!? What, being the savior wasn't enough? Gotta make him your bellhop too?!?

I have to give this church props, because although I joke and the priest is a hoot, none of it has ever been disrespectful. I really like the church and the atmosphere of it all. When I stopped an usher today to take my picture and talk a little bit about the church, he said lots of people like the photos. I think it keeps your attention. If nothing else, it makes you want to go to church each Sunday just to see what Google images they were able to find this week. I have to be honest though, I'm not sure how they are going to top Jesus, the bellhop!

What is a 'Budget'?

Of course I know what a budget is. I have had to create and work within a budget numerous times for work. In fact, I am EXCELLENT at spending someone else's money. But me? On a 'budget'? Not that I have had an over-abundance of money in the past, or that I have been haphazardly spending it or anything, but if I wanted something, I could usually just pull out my debit card and get it.


As I am starting to look for an apartment, I am starting to tally up all the bills I will have to pay in the process. Rent, electric, water, internet, garbage disposal, insurance, buying furniture, the list goes on and on. I am not going to lie, money will be tight. So, just tossing plastic at the Wal-Mart cashier without looking at my total might not be the best approach anymore (again, it's not like I've been Miss Got Rocks or anything just never really took the time to think about it before).


My solution, I have started to explore new options... Roommates. It wasn't my first choice, but the more I think about it, the better of a plan it sounds. Then I won't be coming home to an empty place, the bills will be split with other people, and potentially the most appealing of all, the possibility of instant friends! Maybe not such a bad plan after all. Hmmmm, not sure this is going to be an easy process. Better get cracking!

The 2nd shift

So, I have survived the 1st shift, the shift from Illinois to Florida. Now I face the 2nd shift, adjusting to a new job. Since we are basically a hotel with a very specific clientele, the front desk and guest services needs to be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I was hired on to work the 2nd shift. Its not a bad gig, working 2:30-11 pm. Get to sleep in every day but still out early enough that I can have a social life is I so choose. After one week of work, I fell into line quite nicely. Like I said, get to sleep in. Not hard to adjust to.


To be honest, the weirdest part of the whole thing is the food situation. Instead of 'packing a lunch' for work, I 'pack a dinner'. For years and years, dinner has always been the more extravagant meal of the day. For lunch you throw together a turkey sandwich and an apple and you call it lunch. Dinner has more prep work, there has always been more to it. Not a big deal in itself, you can always make something and turn them into instant left-overs by putting it in some gladware. But, when you are working until 11 pm, when do you make "dinner"? Well, at lunch time of course. Now I find myself dicing and slicing, boiling and grilling, at 1:00 in the afternoon. It's odd to me to be boiling pasta at lunchtime. Maybe that's normal for other people, but that is new territory to me. Not only am I making dinner at lunch time, but I am also making lunch at lunch time. All of a sudden I am running a mini-restaurant in the kitchen preparing multiple dishes for just one person.


I suppose I could always just flip the meals. Make a meatloaf for lunch and a tuna sandwich for dinner. I've had cereal for dinner before, no big deal. Of well, the way I look at it, if this is the hardest "adjustment" I have to make, the 2nd shift will be a piece of cake (you have to have dessert with dinner!!!)

Florida 'To-Do' list

I was thinking about it the other day, and it might be a good idea to get my Florida move to-do list hammered out. Otherwise, there are lots of shiny things here and I have a very good chance of losing focus. Here it is, in order of importance (sort of):

- Find a job (Somewhere that I can be passionate about and make a career out of): CHECK

- Find a place (there HAS to be a pool)

- Make friends (they HAVE to have a pool... that is if my previous 'To-Do' goal is not met, otherwise I have not specifications)

- Acquire fun Florida hobbies (Hobbies under consideration: Surfing, Fishing, Gator chasing... which has a very good chance of becoming Jessi chasing)

- Work on base coat: ONGOING (but off to a good start!)

- Become a sufficient tour guide (I've got to be able to lay some knowledge on people when they come to visit)

- Find a gym (Ugh, if I really have to... like how it is the very last on the list?)

I've created a little gadget thing in the right column in case anyone wants to keep track of where I am at with my 'To-Do' list. Well, that's if anyone really cares. I suppose if you read this, you may care slightly. Well, it appears I have my work cut out for me and I better hop to it!