Starbucks Surprise

Sitting at the Starbucks at the corner of Pine Forest and Nine Mile - yes, there actually is a Starbucks out here! - I just discovered it the other day!

Now this is why I fell in love with Starbucks to begin with! Man, I don't know what they do differently out here, but this is how an Iced Caffe Mocha is supposed to taste! - the perfect collision of warm espresso, with chocolate and cold milk - topped with fresh whipped, whipped cream.

And the outdoor patio space is amazing!

What's even better is, that there's a "Philly's" Cheesesteak joint across the way in the Publix plaza - so when that hunger pang sets in after a nice long lingering over coffee, you can head across the street for an amazing scrumptious big fat philly cheesesteak sandwich and fries.

I haven't actually been to the one across the street yet, but I have been to the one at 3900 Creighton Rd #4, and it is phenomenal! so, I'm guessing this Nine Mile one is too!

Very happy to have discovered this new side of town! :)

Pensacola Mornings

The other day, I took a drive out to the beach in the early morning.

It was absolutely incredibly peaceful and beautiful out there so early. Sitting there with a blanket draped over my shoulders and a nice hot cup of coffee in hand, it was hard to imagine that in just an hour or so I'd be across town in a whole different world, at work.

Up above on the fishing pier, anglers were already out and about getting their catch for the day. They must wake up really early!

I sat there and read a free, local paper that I had picked up with my coffee at the local Circle K.

Freedom. That's what the whole experience felt like, like I was on the awesomest of vacations without a care in the world.

It's amazing how an hour or two of time here in Pensacola could go so far. Heading out the door even 1 hour earlier before work, can give you such a whole new energy and outlook for your day!

Another go... UPDATE!

So it's nearing time to leave and some said the raffle had been drawn already, but I didn't hear the results formally announced. I did ended up selling a few of my friend's items, so feel somewhat successful....

One thing's for sure, people at flea markets love to give me things! Yesterday, a guy gave me a vial of fresh cut patchouli oil and today a nice lady randomly gave me a Shogun Video Disc - I've never even seen or heard of one of these before.

When I was up in Ohio, a guy randomly gave me a Kenny Chesney t-shirt and brand new CD -In Ohio as well, another guy offered to buy my sister and I dinner from the concession stands...

Another thing's for sure - you definitely meet the most interesting people.

Sitting right next to me today, were a mother and son who drove a hurst and were selling handmade wooden alligators that looked to be about 10-11 feet long. They were really nice and the wooden alligators were really neat, especially since they were hand made!

A couple booths down, some old hippie, surfer type dudes have randomly played guitar all afternoon, they are actually pretty good at it too! One even came over and serenaded a friend and I with an "original" song.

All the vendors are packing up now, so I guess I will too! Well no cash profits made today, but all the people made up for it I guess - I did see a cute guy or two that made up for the effort!

Another go...

So this morning I decided to give the flea market another go....

I haven't sold a darn thing yet, but I guess the non-monetary rewards of being here make it worth the while - all the interesting people you see and meet, novel items to browse and buy, interesting conversations overheard, and amazing impromptu music sessions by that person or two who decides to pick up a guitar and play.

I'm not really sure why I enjoy being here so much, but I just do! Hopefully one day I'll figure out the trick to actually making money off of it too!

St. Patrick's Day!

This St. Patrick's Day, I went green! No, not environmental green, but I actually participated in the whole wearing of green festivities and I loved it! It was so cool to see so many people wearing green all in the same day - for some reason I never really payed much attention to this day, until this year.

I even went last night and bought special green nail polish, eye shadow and flip flops to be ready for today.

As it would turn out, this St. Patrick's Day marked another first for me - today I actually accomplished a long time dream of mine - to set up at the Gulf Breeze flea market as a vendor! A friend and I sat in the sun all day, barely making our table rent back on sales. The money we did make, we turned around and spent buying items from other vendors - but we loved it! - The whole process of buying and selling, the marketplace atmosphere - I feel hooked!

You also meet the most interesting people at flea markets. We had quite a few kind and interesting neighboring vendors that kept things interesting during the lulls in traffic.

The night ended with dinner at Outback, which was quite a treat. Across the street was a jammed packed McGuires - all kinds of people rounding out this sunny St. Patrick's Day at a this wildly popular Irish restaurant. All of that craziness seemed a bit much for me, I felt festive enough wearing so much green!

Lions, and tigers, and poisonous snakes and alligators?!?! oh My!!

Ok. So no real lions, tigers or bears here, but poisonous snakes and alligators?! Well, maybe.

That is maybe if you happen to go for a seemingly benign nature stroll along University of West Florida's Edward Ball Nature Trail......

It was a leisurely Tuesday afternoon when I recently decided that I was in need of a great adventure.

It was time to head off to UWF in search of some nature trails that I had heard a few random students talking about a few months back.

After stopping at the UWF Visitor Center to inquire about where these nature trails were? How to get there? Where to park? etc. I was quite pleased to find the foretold parking lot and a nice big sign that said something along the lines of "Edward Ball Nature Trail. Take a walk right down the walkway, and go down the stairs to the left." All I know is that I saw the stairs, and I couldn't get to them fast enough. I was so ready for a nice long bout with nature.

However, just before bounding into the woods, my excitement quickly turned to a cautionary "I'm not too sure about this" feeling when I read the words "CAUTION You may encounter poisonous snakes and alligator in this area," on a sign posted near the entrance.

I was horrified. "What?" I thought to myself "Is this for real?"

I looked all around, somehow expecting someone, somewhere to call out "Hey, what are you doing over there?! Don't go in the woods!" But, I neither saw nor heard a soul.

I wasn't too sure what to think, or what to do next. I looked around again and saw some people milling about the building above the trail, but they seemed unconcerned with my presence on the trail.

It was nearing early evening and though my better instincts told me that this might not be the best idea, the disappearing path into the woods just seemed so enticing.

I was desperately longing for the soothing solace of a "nothing but God's green earth." I reasoned with myself that I had "driven all the way out here, and I didn't want the whole afternoon to be a waste." "I mean, certainly this trail wouldn't have been built here in the first place and opened it to the public if it weren't safe - It must be ok..."

So, I entered the woods.

When I encountered two bicyclists, at the first minute into my trek, I was encouraged that I wasn't the "only one" on the trail. They looked like they were just finishing up a long ride. They didn't really say anything, but I felt conspicuous for ambling about alone. They rode on.

It wasn't much further down the path, that I jumped and nearly froze when I heard a rustling in the bushes....It turned out to be a squirrel.

As I rounded another bend, I heard people talking and laughing ahead. It turned out to be a couple frolicking around a bridge with their dog. I was horrified to see the woman, traipsing off into the woods, off the path, stepping precariously over a fallen tree limb that hung over some water - her dog running all around her and finally making a big splash into the water.

"Are they crazy?" I wondered. "They're wandering off the path? Aren't there alligators and snakes around here?" In retrospect, I was the one venturing down this wild, green-wooded yonder, alone. So, I'm sure they were wondering the same about me.

At any rate, I wandered down the path that was supposed to be relaxing me, and all it was doing was freaking me out. It was intriguing me as well.

The narrow, wooden-bridged path seemed to circle around into oblivion with nothing but swampy waters, trees and all sorts of intriguing greenery draped in every which direction.

I was sorta, kinda, just starting to relax when the sudden sound of something trodding quickly and heavily down the path in front of me made my heart skip a beat. I jumped, froze and held my breath all at once, before realizing that the thumping sound was was nothing more than a loud, shaggy, enthusiastic dog accompanied by another quieter canine friend and two human running companions.

"I'm about done with this!" I thought to myself after being able to catch my breath again. All 10 to 15 minutes into the trail, I was nothing but jittery and nervous. "I can't take this," I concluded. "I came here to relax and I'm freaking myself out. This whole thing is not very smart at all."

At this conclusion, as well as the happening upon another "poisonous snakes and alligator" sign, I decided to "Get the hec out of Oz!" So, I turned around and headed back out toward the trail entrance.

Still, not quite ready to give up on my adventure, I stopped occasionally to take pictures of various plant species, trees and swamps along the way. I was just framing up for another shot of another swamp, when I saw that my Dad was calling me on my cell. - So I answered.

"Get out of there!" my Dad said instantly, when I told him where I was at and what I was up to.... So, I did. I hurried out of there as quickly as I should of been going in the first place. I wondered later if my Dad found it odd that he had to tell me the obvious.

....... Yes folks, that was my short and sweet adventure on the Edward Ball Nature Trail. No, I didn't encounter any snakes, alligator or any other fascinating creatures, but I am left in wonder and amazement that anyone would venture down that trail for leisurely purposes. I definitely DO NOT recommend going without a dog and a stick.

After a little further internet research on the place, I found an online guide, which I suppose I should have at least browsed through before going. I still have yet to really read it, but at least I now know it's there.

I was also quite aghast to come across a Trekaroo review of the trail, which features a picture of children leaning over the wooden rail - People actually take children down this trail? The reviewer also writes quite casually about the possibility of encountering a snake!

Maybe it's my northern upbringing, but this is all so fascinating and confusing to me at once. I think the Edward Ball Nature Trail is kind of cool, but also very precarious. - Is the possibility of encountering a snake or alligator so slim that people don't really worry about it? Is there an actual real an present possibility of encountering one of these slithering species on the trail? Is this kind of trail safe to walk on? If you encounter a snake or gator, should you pay them no mind? Is there some kind of Floridian knowledge I'm missing out on here?

I guess I'm not in Ohio anymore. The good news is, that besides a skipped heart beat or two, I did make it home alright!

oh the joys of no home internet connection ....

So, there are two "staple" items missing from my dream-life in the trailer - washer/dryer and the internet.

Long story about why no internet right now, but here I sit at a local cafe (using the wifi) and am incredibly amused at a conversation that just occurred - at a table just across the way from me. I mean it is "lol good."

A group of opinionated women were all chattering away animatedly about a variety of things, but the hot topic right then seemed to be politics. But WOAH! - in an apparently "bad for his health" move, the only guy at the table happened to mention his dislike of Obama. I thought the women were going to crucify him.

It got to be quite comical how everyone in the cafe actually seemed to get involved in the conversation - either by looking over in disbelief, laughing to themselves, or shifting around restlessly in their seats as one does when uncomfortable about something. Other patrons actually seemed itching to hop into the conversation themselves, and you couldn't really help it.

The conversation meandered around to various things and then back to Obama - the women began surmising why they thought Obama was great - and of course Michelle, what a great woman!

In defense of their reasoning they brought up how Michelle had recently spent "an hour and a half!" at some function, circulating with folks - and ... she "even had a dog with her!" as one woman reported.

I had to laugh so hard when a guy sitting across the way from them, was noticeably amused by the conversation. Never looking up once from his newspaper, an amused smile turned up on his lips as he noted dryly -

"Huh. The country's going down the tubes and they're worried about a dog."

Just minutes before the "newspaper" guy was calling the anti-Obama guy an "egomanic" or something of that nature. But here it was a few minutes later and apparently the chatter of the women had gotten to him ............................

.........................................Here it is about 10 minutes after most of the group has gone home...The guy of the group has also left, and there are just three of the "opinionated women" left. They are apparently making commentary on the conversation that just ensued between the guy and them...

"Well," one said piously. "WE are educated."

"Yes," the another said in faux, resigned sort of way - "WE are smart women," - as if there were just no helping it.

The whole scenario was so comical to me, and it made quite happy that I don't have internet at home right now - I mean if I did, I likely would have missed this lol funny moment in time.

... And oh, I meet quite a few interesting folks at the laundry-mat too... I guess the no washer/dryer thing is working out just fine for now too.. Things definitely stay interesting.