I Hope for a New Adapter Soon

Posted on January 27, 2012 by TheJessicaness
USB to PS2 adapter

USB to PS2 adapter

Last night I bought a USB to PS2 adapter for my computer keyboard that has been shorting out. I was in a hurry when I bought it and failed to realize that it was more of a PS2 to USB adapter. Caleb took the car this morning but not the adapter so I rode my bike the 10.1 miles in hopes of an exchange. What I got was utter disappointment. My computer is old and they don’t make that part anymore, and even if they did it wouldn’t be compatible with Windows 7.

I sat out in the sun and let myself bum it for a bit. I was sad and was looking forward to the picture I would take of my new adapter for today’s post. Now instead, I have drawn a picture for your viewing pleasure. This means it is time for me to upgrade. I was hoping that I would be able to wait until after the move but it seems the computer has it determined differently.

The whole day wasn’t a waste though. I was able to conquer two steep hills on my bike, but the down-side was all the exhaust that conquered me on the return trip. I was surprised to see how much of my route actually had a bike lane and how well I handled lane changes and such in traffic that didn’t. Bummer too though that I didn’t see much to catch my camera’s eye. It seems as fate would have it you are stuck with my personal drawing. Caleb has just ordered the adapter online and it should be here within a week, hopefully I can manage until then.

Posted in Art, Cycling, Inspiration | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

I’m Going to Miss Some of Jacksonville

Posted on January 26, 2012 by TheJessicaness

Caleb calls me this morning with good and bad news. I still have mixed views on both; the bad being we can’t go to Tobago because he will be in school; and the good that we are moving to San Diego on March 12. What?! I’m not ready; I’ve been busy procrastinating things that will need to be done. The Navy is shorting Caleb on his shore duty but we both have enjoyed our time here and it’s our turn to move on.

After this distraughtful yet exciting news I needed a bike ride. On my way out I tried to capture a video of a heron fishing but it seems he will only do it while I walk my loud barking dogs. Oh well, off to the beach where the people always seem so friendly to me while I’m on or off my bike. I hope we are able to live this close on the other coast. I ride a bit farther down in hopes of riding my bike on the beach for my return.

The people riding two days ago made it seem super easy. I began to lower my gears and swerve to dry and wet sand and sand with waves washing over trying to find the easy spot. What I found was a few good pictures and some wet shoes. I walked a bit and would give it another try; I found it harder to stand on my bike and pedal, but it made it easier to pedal through the sand. I decided to go back to the road.

I must’ve gone further than I thought and soon didn’t mind being lost. I took roads to their ends and then went left or right until I hit a two-lane road with no room for bikes. I knew all I had to do was turn around and I would recognize something eventually. I still like getting lost; it’s a great way to learn an area, and I will be doing plenty of it in San Diego. I will drop Caleb off at the park to play Frisbee golf while I attend events tonight.

At Tuesday’s PTA meeting I’d been told about tonight’s Math and Science Fair from 5:30-7:oopm, but had already been invited to a Volunteer Appreciation for Big Brothers, Big Sisters from 5:30-7:30pm. I decided to do both. I showed up at the school to help set up by getting table cloths and drinks ready. There were a lot of kids able to help too. The kids were able to make ice cream in a bag and learn about fossils. I left after making sure everyone had meal tickets and that teachers at the booths had drinks.

The events were only a ten minute drive apart. I arrive and am greeted with a sticker with my name typed on it. I grab some cake and then listen to the CEO finish his speech thanking everyone for doing their part to help and to please tell their friends. I am looking for the person that helped match me to Talidra, Marcena, but she is no where in sight. There are awards and raffles passed out; my number came close twice.

I didn’t want to leave too early, after just getting there, so I thought I would try to talk to someone. Well, a board member, Stephen, decided to start a conversation with me. He asked about how long I’ve participated, what could the company do better, and what I liked about it. It felt awesome to have my opinion listened to. I told him I’ve been a Big Sister for three years, the company already has plenty of resources and helpful measures, and that I loved being able to watch a child learn and grow happily.

We got our picture taken by their photographer so I asked if she would take one with my camera. I got Stephen’s email address to send him the picture and others were starting to leave; it was time for me to go too. I love taking pictures, traveling, making new friends, helping old ones, and learning constantly. Today I got to do it all; it will be days like this that I will miss, but I will never miss Floridian mosquitoes.

There are still good-byes to be said. I need to fill my Vice President for the PTA position. We need to narrow our house search so we can change our address for the third time in a year. Caleb emailed his professor in hopes of finishing his class some how, but the Navy paid for it and they would be the reason he couldn’t finish, but I don’t want problems when we move. There are many to-dos but I look forward to the adventure ahead.

Posted in Animals, Cycling, Education, Events, Food, Friends, People, Photography, Travel, Volunteer, Water | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

My Mom wore Combat Boots

Posted on January 25, 2012 by TheJessicaness

She also wore cowboy boots and flats while she was in the Army. One of her sisters wore shorts in the Navy, another tried the Air Force, and their Dad, my Grandpa, was in the Army. Her future husband wore slacks with a Canon in his hand.  My husband’s dad served temporarily; not that I knew that before I met Caleb. None of them chose to make it a career and none of it was my deciding factor to eventually join myself.

When I was in the 7th Grade I got the opportunity to go to Corpus Christi and visit the USS Lexington. I wouldn’t think about the Navy again until a recruiter came to my high school senior year. I wanted to go to college but didn’t have the money to fill out a bunch of applications and send non-refundable checks without a guarantee. I was also scared of the entry essay that some required. I love to write, but don’t have a book that changed my life.

I signed up and was in the DEP program. I would graduate May 28th and leave for boot camp July 19th the same year – 2004. I was only 17 and needed both my parents to sign consent. I had watched Full Metal Jacket and felt completely prepared to take all that came my way; it was nothing like the movie. I arrived with eight other girls, then the other 80 showed up. I loved the working out but didn’t feel like we did enough. We marched to breakfast where they served donuts – one jelly donut brought back memories.

Boot camp was in Great Lakes, Illinois. A hurricane in Florida kept me in Chicago until Christmas. I flew home, went back for my seabag, and then got flown to Pensacola for a five month school. There is always a delay in a Chicago airport, if you ever go. School seemed to go by in a week. I had night classes and I had freedom to eat at Waffle House every night as it was that or Sonic within walking distance. I broke my foot within the first week but it didn’t stop me from eating or going to the beach everyday.

It was finally my turn to enter what I thought was the real Navy – being on board a ship. I got stationed on the USS Whidbey Island in Virginia Beach, VA. The first three days were great. I got to wear the same thing everyday, clean the same spot for an hour everyday, and then look important in my office for a few hours everyday. And then I got sent to make the salad bar with 19 or so options, and clean and serve food to the other 400 people on board.

I hated this job and I liked to party. I would be tired arriving at 4:00am to serve breakfast. Afterwards I would try to nap but it was always a hassle as to where to sleep and not get caught. Most everyone on the ship gets a chance at this three-month hell, though some people like washing dishes – their job must suck. I was a CTT (cryptological technician); I worked with computers and weapons. Then, I met this boy.

My boss didn’t like this boy who had grease and oil on him. He was an engineer and helped keep all four engines running properly. This boy would leave the ship bound for another Apr 2006 and I didn’t like my job without him. I asked to leave – NO. I begged to leave – NO. I tried to be transferred – NO. So what did I do; I waved goodbye to my ship as they left port on 06/6/06 for a six month deployment. I was nervous the five months I was gone of getting arrested and sent to Ft. Leavenworth.

I turned myself in and they had pity on me. Ha, not really. They were going to send me back and I said – NO. This was October and I wasn’t finally free until January 7, 2007. My parents thought I was pregnant on heroin; why else would I give up a career for some boy. This boy would go on two deployments and I was free to mail him 26 pound boxes of love, and clean underwear. If I had stayed we would have been apart for at least two years, due to the ship schedules, something I chose not to have to deal with.

My job was easy, my time short, and I had my share of fun. Do I regret what I did – NO. Yes, I want to go overseas but it will be way more fun to actually see things then have to go out with buddies that only want beer and sex. I went in thinking I would do my twenty years and have retirement money to see the world. Now, that boy is my husband and we are hoping for the same opportunity. The government tells us that we will only get a percentage of our social security and that they want to change the retirement program.

Caleb has been in over eight years and is an E-6. He just reenlisted for six years and will be stationed in San Diego for that time. He plans on retiring and we plan on making the most of what we have and what we get. Caleb will have monthly income to help support our dreams. I’m glad my Mom wore combat boots and had me. I’m glad I wore them too and found a husband who can do the wearing – those boots are not kind to your feet.

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A Day of Uneventful Events

Posted on January 24, 2012 by TheJessicaness

Today I decided to ride my bike the 15 miles to Talidra’s school. I started getting ready early to give myself enough time to get there. I walked the dogs at 10:30am and was out the door with a bottle of water, a sandwich, two brownie cupcakes, a book, a CD, my iPod and camera. I stopped along the way to take pictures of birds, the marsh, and sky.   I was able to take the bike lane mostly but sometimes I had to use the busy sidewalk full of bus benches and their crowds and individuals holding advertising billboards.

I saw what I thought might be a Star Wars hat across the street and then realized a guy had his dog on his shoulder while riding his bike. I passed a lady on a horse and a dog in an auto-shop. The kids couldn’t talk at lunch, when I arrived, so I took Talidra outside for some reading where she took a picture of me; she should get into photography. In class, we got to use glue to help with visual aids for learning fractions.

After we clean most the glue out of the carpet, that got spilled due to a clogged lid, school is done for the day, but not for me, nor for the other 30 odd kids that stay in an extended program until their parents can pick them up. Talidra reads me a book and then it is time for my PTA duties. The PTA President and I print out some agendas for tonight’s meeting at 6:00pm; we are hoping for a turnout of 25; we are in for a surprise.

We bring in some drinks and cookies and as the last child leaves for the day we realize we only have five adults and two children attending. We still hold the meeting professionally between the PTA president, VP, the Principal, the recorder, and a parent that gets elected as the new treasurer. A planned 30 minute meeting turns into an hour and a half discussion. I wonder how long we would’ve been there if more people would’ve shown, but that left enough fudge cookies to go around.

Photo by: Talidra

The school is doing good, but we could be doing better if only we send out a few extra messages a week to get more parent involvement. I hope to see more participation at the future meeting as the prior one had ten in attendance with equal parents and teachers. A small group leaves little to clean up and we are so absorbed in our conversation that I nearly don’t hear my husband banging on the front door of the school as he sees us pass. A few minutes later and I leave the dark locked-up school.

I never realized how many people come so early and stay so late. It is great to still see dedication where there is a continuing lack of funds. Caleb missed the chance to donate blood today because of a sudden cancellation and went disc-golfing with a few of the guys after work. He lost another disc to the pond and gave a putter away, but was able to find six new ones. He bought me dinner at Moe’s, a Subway version of burritos, and had my bike on the car ready to go when I came outside.

Posted in Animals, Cycling, Education, Food, Friends, People, Photography, Volunteer | Tagged | Leave a comment

It’s Hardly Even Fall

Posted on January 23, 2012 by TheJessicaness

In order to reach my 3,000 cycling miles I should be averaging 8.2 miles a day, 57.7 miles a week, or 250 miles a month. It has been three weeks and I’m at 106.7 now thanks to yesterday’s ride. I went out with the intention to ride to the library, four miles away, and then return home, but when I got to the library the weather was so nice and the beach so close that I decided to make a detour – I could use the extra mileage.

Riding on the Baldwin Rail Trail with professionals training for their next 100+ mile expedition is different then the people found at the beach in flip-flops with no helmets. I wasn’t wearing any compression gear, it was too warm, but I was wearing my helmet because people are crazy; meaning cars and cyclists that run red lights. I’m getting better at riding with a camera around my neck but might get a pad for more comfort.

On my ride I noticed Romney’s people are out for election advertising. I found a new park with tennis and basketball courts, picnic tables, a children’s playscape, lots of birds in the pond, and a small path around it. Didn’t stop long but look forward to the pictures I will get when I go back. On the way to the beach I saw a tire swing, a moldy orange tree, and someone’s possessions thrown on the sidewalk – for sale.

I pass many cyclists young and old. I don’t expect to see much when I hit the sand but there are people near and far enjoying the beach today. There are couples running, cycling, walking; and groups discussing business, travel, and weather; and strollers and dogs and fishing poles. It looks wet where I stand, perhaps the tide has dropped. I’m mistaken when I get closer to the water and end up running backwards to avoid wet shoes.

Looking professional, I’m asked by a girl to take a picture of her with friends at the beach in January. I was fine with using my camera but they offered cell phones . I started to get thirsty and had brought no water, or money, so it was home for me. It was a windy day but I enjoyed the peace, photography, and people. I forget that I live so close to the beach and now it makes me think of San Diego where I might live a few miles more inland.

There are still leaves falling, still flowers blooming, and still baby birds in our pond. I will appreciate this coast as much as I can for the time I have left on it though I’m sure this is more global warming than it is sunshine state. I feel ready to leave now to the west coast and experience all the weather it has to offer but when I get over there I will look back and think of all the Floridian places that I left unexplored – not on purpose.

Posted in Cycling, Friends, People, Photography, Water | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments