Boondocks and Stix
Tuesday, 25 October 2011
Fall in North Florida
Fall in some parts of the world is the best time of the year. It is a time when you don't need to run your air conditioner or your heater and you can open all the windows at night and breathe in the fresh air (provided you live in the country or the suburbs).
In north Florida it is a strange mixture of all four seasons rolled into one.
One day it is hot and humid - with temperatures in the upper 80 degrees Fahrenheit. You crank up the AC. That night the humidity drops and a cold front rolls in. Temperatures plummet to the 30's. You throw an extra blanket on your bed, close the windows and think about turning on the heat.
The next day, a thunderstorm rolls in, bringing overcast conditions and humidity again. You throw the blanket off your bed and open the windows.
You then experience a few days of perfect weather, and enjoy actually being able to sit outside without being eaten alive by mosquitos, no-see-ums or deer flies and sleep with the windows wide.
Until a hurricane arrives. Hurricane season only ends in December, so you board up the windows and evacuate.
One thing for sure - fall in north Florida can not be described as monotonous or dull.
Posted by trishjax
at 2:45 PM EDT
Thursday, 22 September 2011
Getting a New South African Passport
While visiting South Africa from the U.S. I wanted to renew my expired South African passport. I used my U.S. Passport to travel with, but both countries allow dual citizenship and you never know when you will need it.
As fortune would have it, a branch of the Department of Home Affairs happened to be within walking distance of where I was staying in Wynberg.
The building was old with peeling paint. The passageway at the entrance was almost blocked with cardboard boxes piled haphazardly around in no particular order. The guy manning the security scanner at the entrance picked my bag up and lifted it over the scanner - so I guess it was out of order.
I filled in the application form and walked to the photography studio next door, where they sold potato chips. The camera was one of those very old wooden ones with concertina sides. I only needed two pictures but the minimum they could do was four. I was given the option of waiting until someone else came along who also only needed two or paying for four. I took four. They were quick and efficient and the antiquated camera produced some perfectly usable photographs.
Back in Home Affairs I waited in a very orderly line, with seating. I produced my expired passport as I.D. as I have lost my Book of Life. I paid the required R400 and gave them my niece's cell phone number. They said it would take about three weeks and they would SMS her when it was ready.
I then had to get my thumb print taken. The metal ink plate was cracked through, but one was able to fit a thumb on it, so it did the job.
Next, I had to go and get a live capture thumb print taken onto a computer and they took a photo to use for facial recognition. There go my chances of becoming a terrorist.
Nobody was more surprised than me when the passport was ready within three days! It sure beats the three to six months if one has it done from the U.S. The entire experience was a stange mixture of the first and third world, which epitomizes South Africa as it is today.
Posted by trishjax
at 12:01 AM EDT
Wednesday, 21 September 2011
South Africa
Just got back from a visit to South Africa and wanted to put down my impressions in writing while they are still fresh.
I landed in Johannesburg's O R Tambo International Airport at some time around 6:00 in the evening. The airport is impressive after all the additions and changes made for the world soccer cup finals in 2010, but that name still sticks in my throat since he was a terrorist and blew up innocent people.
The Delta airlines flight was a comfortable as could be expected in economy for 16.5 hours in the air on a full plane.
The check in for my connecting flight was not well signposted and I wandered around for a while until a porter took me to what he thought was the check in counter. It turned out to be the wrong counter and it took me a while to find the right one.
South African Airways are still a pleasure to fly on and the meal they provided was far better than the Delta Airlines food. Cape Town International Airport's changes are even more impressive. The weather was clear and cool but not as cold as I expected for late winter.
My stay in Cape Town was delightful. The weather fluctuated between cold and windy with some days when it was totally warm enough to wear flip flops (slops). The scenery is still among the most beautiful in the world and I never tire of looking at it.
Although residents still live behind barbed wire topped high walls, the threat of attack in the streets seems to have totally gone away. I was able to walk around the suburbs without fear. I even shopped in a predominantly black shopping center without incident. Obviously one would be foolish to wear expensive jewelry (if one had any) and I held on tight to my handbag at all times and was very aware of who was behind me.
Johannesburg was so different - it was as if I was in a different country. In one word I would describe it as "vibrant". Like all big cities it has a pulse, and here you know you are in Africa.
Zoning laws allow small businesses to operate in residential areas and their signs are everywhere, testifying to the entrepeneurial spirit of South Africans. The effects of the recession have hardly been felt here, and with cheap labor and a currency that is valued well below the dollar, business is booming.
While Cape Town was still in the throws of winter, Johannesburg seemed to have skipped spring and was already in summer, with day time temperatures above 80 deg F or 30 deg C and dry, and night time temperatures hovering around a comfortable 70 - 75 deg F or 21 - 23 deg C.
The streets I saw were clean. People lock themselves in their homes for fear of attack and don't wander around outside their gates. The traffic is busy, and taxi's still stop wherever they want. That's Africa for you.
Posted by trishjax
at 12:01 AM EDT
Updated: Tuesday, 27 September 2011 9:36 AM EDT
Tuesday, 16 August 2011
Redneck Rampage
The dog days of summer are now at their peak - but I do see light on the horizon. For the first time in so many months the morning temperature this morning was under 70 deg. F.
Like I mentioned before, summer in Florida is great if you live at the beach and don't have to work. For the rest of us it sucks!
The one thing I have enjoyed about this summer are the thunder storms. Last summer it seemed to just be damp or dripping all the time, but this summer was dryer and I have really appreciated watching the billowing thunderheads amassing and growing darker, then that first crack of thunder and the heavens opening up. The temperature drops 20 degrees after only ten or twenty minutes.
Casey Anthony is still in the news. Her attorneys seem to have it under control and she is unlikely to come back to Florida for a while after all the death threats she got.
The Dougherty Gang got themselves caught and I'm kind of glad they didn't end up like Bonnie and Clyde. For some unknown reason I can empathize with them. They're just redneck kids out looking for some relief from the Florida heat! And they found it. I bet it's a lot cooler in Colorado - even in prison. Way to go!
The rest of us just have to suck it up and hope for fall. I am very thankful for the rain, though and do not envy anyone living in Texas right now.
Posted by trishjax
at 2:24 PM EDT
Updated: Tuesday, 16 August 2011 2:35 PM EDT
Thursday, 21 July 2011
Triumph or Tragedy?
Is the end of the space shuttle program sweet or bittersweet for the U.S.A.?
The shuttle Atlantis made a perfect landing in perfect weather at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida before dawn this morning.
This was the final journey in the space shuttle program. From now on Americans, the pioneers of space, will have to hitch a ride from other nations to get to the International Space Station. Does this really send a good message to the world?
We are told that other programs are in process --programs that will enable us to go far beyond our current capacity. We also know that NASA employees are being reduced from more than 18,000 down to about 1,000.
Is this a smart move for the cash-strapped America -- to let other nations foot the bill for the cost of maintaining the space station-- or is it a desperate survival move?
Posted by trishjax
at 9:45 AM EDT
Wednesday, 13 July 2011
The Dog Days of Summer in Florida
Summer in Florida may be fun at the beach, but it is not fun if you live inland. The temperatures seem to be higher every summer (I would think global warming, but they're also colder every winter).
Having lived in the desert and now in this humidity, I'm ready to go back to the desert. When it's 97 degrees Fahrenheit the "feel like" temp here is something like 110 and the sweat pours off you. The desert is the same but you don't sweat. The Duchess of Cambridge is lucky she isn't heading this way, because she wears pantyhose with every outfit and that would not be any fun here.
The bugs here are something else, too. Deer fly bites are something that seem to be unavoidable if you live in the country and man they hurt. They swell up and itch, too. Then there are the black flies, mosquitos and no-seeums.
The Casey Anthony saga won't go away and is almost as annoying as O.J. Simpson. Please do not make good your threat to kill her, anyone. I can not imagine how long the trial for the person who killed Casey Anthony would go on.
Roll on autumn, I'm ready for you.
Posted by trishjax
at 12:13 PM EDT
Wednesday, 6 July 2011
Casey Anthony
He who laughs last laughs longest - a lesson prosecutor in the Casey Anthony trial Jeff Ashton learned yesterday. His mirthful outburst during the defence's closing statement was unprofessional and completely un called for and he got what he deserved for it.
Kudos to the jurors - they got it right. The prosecution had no motive, no cause of death, no dna in the car's trunk, no fingerprints, no nothing to prove without a doubt that Casey Anthony murdered her child.
Sure, she's a very disturbed individual and she lies with impunity. But if she was such a bad mother why could they not find one, just one person who would say she mis-treated the child. You know they searched really hard.
We'll never know for sure what happened. Did she drown and Casey tried to cover it up for fear that she would be accused of murder? Did she have some other accident? Does George Anthony know more than he is admitting? Does Cindy? And what about Kronk?
Whatever happened to that beautiful little girl will probably remain a mystery forever, but I am heartened that the justice system worked and the jury followed the law, unlike the media, who judged her to be guilty right from the start.
Guilty until proven innocent doesn't quite cut it - Casey is obviously not totally innocent. But a jury of her peers could not find compelling evidence to judge her guilty either.
Posted by trishjax
at 9:47 AM EDT
Wednesday, 22 June 2011
The Dog Days of Summer (in Florida).
This is my sixth summer living in Florida and without a doubt it's been the hottest spring, with temperatures repeatedly touching on 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Add the humidity and you know you don't want to be spending much time outside.
The heat and dryness has spawned dozens of wildfires and the smoke in the air is sometimes so thick you wish you could give up breathing for while.
The preoccupation with the Casey Anthony trial has taken on national notoriety - and the media have already judged her guilty of the cold-blooded murder of her child and a monster of epic proportions.
This despite the fact that the prosecution was unable to find one witness who had ever seen her even get angry with the child.
Undoubtedly she is a pathological liar and a very disturbed individual, but she needs help - not punishment. I don't believe she is guilty of pre-meditated murder, although I can see her covering up the accidental death of little Caley.
Maybe we'll never know what really happened.
Meantime, according to the weather report relief from the heat is on its way and the much needed rain will be here soon. They aren't often right, but I think everyone in Florida is hoping that this time they will be.
Posted by trishjax
at 9:35 AM EDT
Monday, 30 May 2011
They're Victims Too
The unpresidented spate of deadly tornadoes in the south east and mid-western states and the record flooding along the Mississippi River have created many victims.
People have lost everything, including loved ones and will have to start rebuilding their lives over again, and my heart goes out to them.
Luckily for them, they are able to express their needs and apply for aid
The animal victims can only wait for some kind soul to take pity on them.
The story of Mason, the dog who crawled home on two broken legs and waited for his family to find him on what was once their front porch steps has touched the hearts of people all over the world.
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/bizarre&id=8139450
Other animal victims are not so lucky. Please give to the A.S.P.C.A. - they are doing a wonderful job and need all the donations they can get to help save these animals.
http://www.aspca.org/Blog/aspca-rescuing-animals-affected-by-floods-tornadoes.aspx
Posted by trishjax
at 1:42 PM EDT
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
Things That Make me Smile
Laughter is the best medicine, so they say, and it is a proven fact that depression can cause physical health problems and happiness can cure them.
So many little things make me smile every day -- if only everyone could see them and appreciate them.
My loved ones - just looking at a picture of my husband, my kids, my grandchildren or my Mom makes me realize how truly blessed I am.
Music is a stimulant for most people. The popularity of iPods, music downloads and CD sales speaks for itself. Sometimes it's the melody, or the memories it brings, or the story told in the song.
One song that always makes me smile is "Ol' Red" by Blake Shelton. The story probably makes most people smile - except maybe correction officers and prison warders! http://youtu.be/728mujAt7dI
In spring I love seeing the new calves and foals cavorting around the fields and the pride and affection of their mothers is so plain to see. And how about puppies and kittens. You gotta love them, and have you ever seen a baby donkey?
The green growth and flowers in spring -- azalias, wisteria, jasmine. They smell so good too -- you can't feel sad -- they're just too beautiful.
Smart cars. Every time I see one I just can't help smiling. If I ever get one I'll put a bumper sticker on that says: "When I grow up I'm going to be an S.U.V."
Chocolate anything. 'Nuff said.
If everyone could just learn to appreciate the small things in life and enjoy moments of happiness instead of focusing on things that make them unhappy, maybe the world would be a better place.
Posted by trishjax
at 9:52 AM EDT
Newer | Latest | Older
