happy new years

okay, technically it's hours away. but, better early.

hope everyone has a safe and fun time tonight.
it's just another day for me. i don't drink nor do i want to be around a bunch of drunks nor want to drive around people who've had too many. so, i stay home.

**i have nothing against people who drink. i used to myself. my problem is people who can't say or know or don't care when they've had too much. saw a friend get hit by a drunk driver. he didn't make it, his wife is in a wheelchair for life. the drunk walked away without a scratch.**

things i learned from my father

this started as a weird conversation with my sister....

1. how to curse like a marine. simple reason~ he's an ex-marine vietman era.
2. mass punishment is the best way to find out who actually did it.
3. part 1 if you can't pay for it with cash, it's probably not needed. debit cards are cash to him.
    part 2 one credit card is it. use it to buy dinner once a month. otherwise don't touch it unless it's a true
    emergency.
4. music is music. if you like it, it's good music.
5. let your kids be themselves to a safe point. blue hair is harmless. our rule was do good in school.

added #6 how to tell if someone is trying to BS you.

5 fashions i hate

everyone has those styles they you hate. here's mine.

1. skinny jeans
it takes a certain body type to pull these off. i don't think it exists. or everyone hasn't found the right size. muffintops on someone who is 5'6" and 100lbs shouldn't be. and guys wearing them low should be illegal.
2. white pants/skirts
i don't want to see your underwear. nuf said.
3. strapless/halter/"sexy" neckline with a regular bra
it doesn't look sexy. it looks rather cheap and trashy. buy the proper bra for the shirt.
4. super baggy pants worn low
again, i don't want to see your underwear. though, watching you trying to run across the street is mildly amusing.
5. short shorts with a huge thick coat
maybe this is a Florida thing. you see girls wearing super short shorts, flip flops, a tank top and a huge parka-like jacket. just wha?!?!?!?! does the bottom half not get cold what so ever.

merry whateveryouwanttocallit day

merry Xmas! hope everyone had a good time. my kiddies are happy and relatively quiet. the house is trashed. we'll call it a good day!

this years totem is next years meh.

i just read this. it makes total sense. they were talking about why you shouldn't buy the most expensive, high demand must have items for Xmas or really in general. cabbage patch kids, tickle me Elmo, video game system bundle packs, the newest wonder phones, etc. Once xmas is over, you can get them everywhere and usually the price drops.  Anyone who has done their time in retail knows this. i, for one, live by the wait 6 monthes and see. it'll have the bugs fixed, the price will go down, etc.

#20 will miss

orange blossoms

they just smell divine. they are really lovely to look at.

#19 will miss

ugly Florida tomatoes.
you can get tomatoes from Florida in many parts of the us. but, only in Florida can you get these homely fruits. they taste a lot better than they look. or most other tomatoes in general. but, for some reason, they don't send them to other states.

#18 won't miss

commercials for appliance direct. i know people who worked there and said it's a living hell. the commercials are too. between this guy yelling "i love appliances" and the woman in the 80's mini-dress with a knee brace. it should be used as a form of punishment.

coooooold

todays high: 49
and it felt way way colder. gotta love that humidity. work lovingly doesn't turn the heat on til 7am. sucks for those of us who've been there hours earlier.

new florida state motto

.....hoodies and flipflops.....

they go well together

#18 will and #17won't miss

sea world

i have a love/hate deal with this place. the same way i look at any zoo. it's so close, you'd visit every year in school. i don't go very often anymore. and, i drive passed here at least once a week.

question of the day

do you thing that laser tattoo removal has made people more likely to get a tattoo?

background story~~~~
(i have 7 tattoos. ranging from silver dollar size to a large part of my back)
so, I'm at the salon yesterday getting my eyebrows done. there's 2 chairs in there. the other chair is occupied by a early 20something girl and her friend is sitting off to the side. (i swear they found the need to talk as loud as possible while sitting 4 ft away). i glance up to see that the friend has a very badly tattooed arm sleeve ~ poor shading, missing/varying outline, etc. what caught my attention was that they were saying the tattooist knew he screwed up. and, as so many people do anymore had had the work done at someones house. permanent body art out of a garage? bedroom? kitchen table? sorry. I'll pay the extra cash for a sterile licensed tattoo shop. and, what comes next with them? naming other person who does "awesome ink" cheap from his HOUSE. i had to laugh.

something that will never make sense to me: buying things by name. the most typical of these would be Gucci/coach purses and ipods. but, there are many other types. one thing I've learned  is the people who generally spent the most on these things are the first to have to show them off. are nice things good to have? yes. but, is it worth spending twice or who knows how much more for the same thing? hmm.... we've all seen the stories on TV/Internet saying how certain items aren't/are worth the extra money.

#16 won't miss

brighthouse cable!!!! it's up. it's down. these channels don't work. then, those channels don't work. Internet up. Internet down. complain? "well, we can rewire you're yard or you can upgrade to the best (uber-expensive) cable." so, if i upgrade, suddenly said problem is gone? I'm not alone on this complaint. i work at a place with over 100 employees, we talk. it's normal. bah.

#17 will miss

places being open on holidays. due to the large amount of tourists, there are places to eat, shop, go to movies, etc etc etc. for someone like me who isn't much into holidays, this is a good thing.

this time of the year is very bitter sweet. the closest family to me (that matters) is 8 hrs away. hence, why i can't wait to move closer to some.

sometimes just smile

a lot of people have been posting about how bad/rough/horrid life is. so, let me tell you a little story. it's a real child no less. when things seem to get bad repeat..........................
AT LEAST, I'M NOT STEVEN. AT LEAST, I'M NOT STEVEN.

steven is a friend of damien's. he's 13yr old. raised by a single mom and 2 adult sisters. very well mannered. just a sweet kid. but, his name shouldn't be steven. it should be murphy s law. yep, murphy's law. the safest place in the world is probably standing next to him. here's a few of the many many many reasons:
1. gets to my house to see damien and precedes to explain that the front tire fell off his bike. thankfully he wasn't on the bike at the time.
2. riding his bike and the chain falls off. not jump the track. totally off the bike. (still can't figure this one out.)
3. goes to school on monday, breaks wrist playing FLAG football. (isn't that the no tackle type? hello?)
4. same week as broken wrist, comes back to school on friday. same P.E. class, takes basketball to face. *edit* broken nose
5. while going for pencil in pocket, stabs himself. nurse visit.

i think if i was his mother i'd be a) a stressed out mess b) full gray and c) wrapping the boy in bubble wrap daily.

raising teenagers is like nailing jello to a tree.

random thoughts

most people who say they're open-minded are....if you happen to agree with what they believe.

#16 will miss

publix subs!!!!!

publix has the best bread. but, it's a southern grocery store chain. i have to have 1 sub a week.  about the only place to get better is a jersey hoagie.

#15 will miss ~ gatorland

we'll say will miss on this one. but really, i drive pass here everytime i go most places. still cool place. it's like 5 minutes from my house.

gatorland

photo courtesy of wiki. i'm too lazy to stop and do the tourist "stand in mouth" photo.

#14 will miss

great cuban subs! let's face it, you can't get much closer unless you go to cuba. i'm not much a meat eater in general. but, somethings are worth it.

#15 won't miss

dear people,
not everyone who lives in florida looks like those from those lovely tv shows. we work real jobs and don't live at the beach.

yes, that was totally sarcastic.

good

some days, things are great. others,......well...not so much. it's worth it to find happiness in whatever you can.

today's was: saving more money than spent at the grocery store. took about 20 minutes yesterday to find coupons. mostly store ones. (gotta love the internet). spent $130 between food, kids clothing, an various other items. ended up paying $47.

hey, I'll take it as my happy.

back from abroad. fun times. tired. but, back to the fun.

#14 won't miss

got that lovely pic from wiki.

those are sand hill cranes. one of the nastiest birds around. they're protected (in Florida). I've seen them chase kids on bikes. the joke is if walking, bring a trash can lid to use as a shield. they're that territorial. they attack cars. etc etc.

thought of the day

there should be a national "talk like mr t" day.

#13 won't miss

rainy summers

while i love the rain. really i do. but, the "sunshine state" should really be called the "severe storms every summer afternoon" state. it's due to it getting so hot and humid.

smartphones

did you ever think how different the world would be without smartphones? until about 2 yrs ago, i never wanted one. a blackberry, iphone, droid? hell no! then, i got a crackberry. now, i have a samsung moment. who knows what'll come out next. what crazy thing a "telephone" will do. my oldest says my phone is more high tech than his computer. my younger son thinks it's for youtube and "video games" while we're out. they do videos, have facebook/livejournal/twitter/etc. you can do banking. watch movies, play music. the list goes on and on.
just wish they'd make a super long life battery.

#13 will miss

signs like these. i'm in the burbs. who'd swim in a nasty retention pond?

#12 will miss

this is going to sound horrible. but, one thing i will miss is screwing with stupid tourists. I'm not talking about the cool ones. this is for the oblivious ones.
example: a few years ago, i was at a gas station. there was a hurricane heading straight for the area. (3 in a few months). a tourist (touron) asked me if
1. Disney would stay open (i guessed no. i don't work there. watch the news)
2. would Disney be safe.
3. what about her park-hopper passes?
i told her that Disney has a special dome that covers the parks for just such a reason. she believed me. didn't even catch on to the sarcasm about the employees not giving a damn what happens to their family/homes. and, definitely don't get nasty at a store/restaurant/gas station and expect correct directions. you'll end up in utah before sea world.

if you find my sanity keep it.
i really would love if my brain had a pause button.
that is all.

#11 will miss

actually some of my coworkers. i know it's not a "Florida" thing in theory. but, it is Florida and the people. i have some awesome coworkers. my team is small. but, it's a huge company. these are good people. lots of long term employees.

#12 won't miss

"asian cockroaches" "palmetto bugs"
whatever you call them i won't miss them. you may know roaches. but, here we get huge flying unafraid of humans ogre bugs. as the song goes "if the spray don't kill it, kill it with the can".

#11 won't miss

socks and sandals!!!!!

it's seen elsewhere. but, it's an epidemic here. elderly man, tourist, whoever. extra bad points if it's those toe socks.

#10 will miss

the idea that cold is anything under 65 degrees. just remember the humidity works for hot and cold weather. so, it'll feel colder. but, yeah, we can be a bit of a sissy. :P actually, i go to other places and the cold doesn't bother me too much.

#10 won't miss

#10 won't miss goes with #9 will.

the cheap airfare is great. i travel quite a bit. and, flying out of the airport about 45 minutes away, you can get cheap tickets.

BUT!!!!!

the flights are always PACKED! it's 1 of the lesser of 2 evils, i suppose.

thought for day

did you ever notice if you aren't talkative, people assume you're either stuck up or rude? i don't talk sometimes as i have nothing to say or am just enjoying the quiet. doesn't mean i'm not friendly.

#9 will miss

being able to travel relatively cheap. the one plus to being in the tourist capital is cheapish flights. well, from sanford airport. but, the drive is worth the $100 tickets.

#9 won't miss

you may have bad drivers elsewhere. but, orlando has a special version.
drivers stopping dead and rolling over railroad tracks. no warning. it's not like the tracks around here are old and dangerous. i can understand slowing. but, this is jamming on your breaking feet from the tracks whether or not someone is behind you. ugh.

thought of the day/week/whatever

never pick a fight with an ugly person. they have nothing to lose.

#8 will miss

i will so so so miss mikado  !!!!!!!

this place is just beyond a great restaurant. friendly staff. great food. good sized portions. definitely worth checking out to anyone in hunter's creek Orlando area.  we go once a week. they have cheap lunch specials. who can beat 2 rolls and soup or salad for $9? my boys love to tonkatsu.

#7 will miss

this goes with #8 won't miss.

explaining to people that those "cute little 2headed bugs" they're holding are lovebugs. it's not 2headed. you're giving 2 bugs a perch to do their thang! yep, they enjoy using your hand/arm/whatever part as a bed.

#8 won't miss

love bugs!!!!!

i hate these little monsters. they can ruin the paint on your car if you don't wash the bodies off a.s.a.p. get into everywhere. bah bah bah!!!

#7 won't miss

this 1 has gotten everything from funny to sick comments. here's the nicest way to put it.

you can't speak 2, 3, even 6 languages. but, are only bilingual if you speak Spanish. i don't want to come across as mean or rude. but, it's true. simple as can be put. enjoy your heritage. but, don't kill other peoples.

#6 will miss

#6 will miss

everything being nearby and most open 24hrs. we're that close to Disney/universal studios/sea world. so, everything to open either late or 24hrs. you want to grocery shop at 3am? go to a restaurant at 3 am? tattoo? or whatever. yeah, it's open.

i started this as a joke to myself or even a reason to never come back here. i can't believe the emails I've gotten from people who want to put in their reasons. some funny, some nasty, even had a few we'll say were racists.  i will include the ones i agree with. sorry I'm not racists. those emails got deleted. i'll add names to the tags.

#6 won't will

DISNEY

i live 10 minutes from this place and it's not all you would think it to be.
first off, it's expensive. people find out you live so close and go "you must go so often!" it's $80 a person...for 1 of the parks....to wait in a line most of the day.
second, i know people who work or have worked there. they pay crap. getting into the park free doesn't make up for it. you get yourself in free. then get "maingate passes". only so many a year. who goes alone?
third, you get sick of people who do work there going "you give a Disney discount?". do they give me a local discount.
fourth, everywhere you go you see Disney merchandise. not that it doesn't help these places (hopefully). but, damn, seeing mickey's head everywhere gets old.
i could go on and on about this one.

#5 will miss

summer sun-showers.
it gets so hot and humid. then out of nowhere, a really heavy cool rain. not like it anywhere else. really. they only last 10 minutes tops.
you wear your sunglasses at night. how about during a heavy rain?

#5 won't miss

I've already mentioned about it being nice to look how you want here. BUT!!!!!!

SWIMSUITS ARE NOT OK CLOTHING TO GO GROCERY SHOPPING OR ELSEWHERE IN.

it's for the beach.

missed several days. work had me 40+ miles away. fun yet not.

#4 will miss

being able to pretty much look however you want. you can have blue hair and tattoos or be conservative or wear a raccoon on your head. we're used to having so many people from so many places (living here or on vacation), so really anything goes. you don't get that eerie stare.

#4 won't miss

serious lack of non-chain restaurants.
this isn't all of Florida. but, I'm less than 10 miles from Disney. I'm not saying there are none. maybe 1 in 10 or so would be. and, when we do get a new place it's either super expensive or closes quickly. i visit family in other areas/states and they have places everywhere.

best song title ever

best title ever:

you're the reason are kids are ugly

almost embarassed i know this song. it's so twangy. but, best lyrics.

1 car household?

odd thought of the day

reading on Yahoo that to save money, become a 1 car family. that's the short version.

are these people for real?

i go into work early. like most of you are probably still sleeping. no buses this time of day. which also means i get off work at a different time then most people.  I'm not walking or biking 5+ miles in the dark. it's nutty enough in a car. same with coming home. between the heat and people out on their lunches, it's no safer. this would be a good idea if you lived in a place with 24 hour bus or subway service. most people don't.
the other driver in the house goes into work a regular 8-5 job. but, takes a child to daycare. it's over 10 miles.  again, this isn't a smart idea. this is Florida. it's hot and humid most of the year.

this is why i always say it's easy to tell people how to do something; actually doing it is another story.

#3 will AND won't miss

this is one that goes both ways.
being able to spot a tourist 100 yards away. yes, if you've lived in florida long enough you can do this. it's been a joke for so long you would think people would realize. new shoes, white socks, matching "disney" shirts for groups, shorts with sandals/socks, etc.

#2 will miss

the beach.
(but, not hearing about shark attacks.) whether or not you go often, it's still nice to be close enough to go whenever you feel.

#2 won't miss

PAY. or lack there of. Florida is a right to work state. that should say it all.
to put it nicely, you bust your backside for pay most people would consider an insult. i work with people who after 2-3 years get 30cents more than when they started. thankfully, I'm not them. but, seriously, it's a slap in the face. this place isn't cheap to live.

#1 will miss

since i started with weather, here's something i will miss about Florida.

going to the beach or barbecuing on Xmas. it does suck that snow is a extremely rare thing. like you may get a dusting every who knows how many years. i think 2 times in the many many years I've lived here. but, a nice warm beach day in December is nice.

#1 thing i won't miss about florida

having to explain to someone that we have 2 temperatures here. the actual temp and "what it feels like" temp. hello humidity!!! the temp can say 90. but, add humidity and it's suddenly 105.

issues issues

having issues from every which way. ugh. trying not to crawl into a hole. i'll be fine. just have a million things going....good and bad.

things i will and won't miss about florida.

starting a sort of list of things i will and won't miss about florida. i'm hoping to be out of here by next summer.

1st

well, it's the typical first post. you have to start somewhere right?