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

Simple Solutions

Posted on January 22, 2012 by TheJessicaness

Need a drink of water – use me.

Need a picture for your blog – use me.

Enjoy the simple things in life – use me.

Celebrating your 48th photo-a-day post – use me.

Enjoy art and water – use sparingly.

Posted in Art, Cycling, Inspiration, Photography, Things, Water | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Fishing and Flinging Discs

Posted on January 21, 2012 by TheJessicaness

Costley with his Money Putter

Caleb has gone out with the guys a few times to play Frisbee Golf. He comes back with tales of the one wife there, the few kids there, new discs he got, and the scores of the game. Today it would be my turn to be the wife. I follow a minivan into a parking lot as I realize I’m being followed by a tall FX4 level 3 red Ford – it’s Steve; he doesn’t play often and has a short selection of discs to play with but soon the guys are sharing theirs with him.

I get to meet Jake, Vogel, Squirrel, and Elledge. I already know Costley, Steve, and Caleb. There are first names, last names, and nicknames. Two guys head to the pond for disc-fishing with a rope long enough to cover the length of the pond attached to a metal rectangle with a soft net, like a fishing net, attached. One guy will drop the net at one end and the other drags it across the pond. If a disc has no name and number on it – it’s yours.

Some of the other guys load the stroller with beer in a cooler. The owner can keep his discs in the other space provided. Other players will keep their discs in what looks like an over-sized fisherman’s lunchbox and Caleb keeps his in a backpack. The course has hills like a golf course but has trees in the way – for fun! Each guy has his own method. Some jump, spin, turn, squat, or warm up their elbows.

There are many ways to throw a disc – over/underhand, tomahawk, etc. The first throw is all from the same platform. Remaining throws are from behind where your disc lands. The fun part is trying to find your disc amongst the leaves and bushes if your aim is a little off. There are even putter discs, for close range use, when you get closer to the basket. Costley will have to leave after the first nine holes. Apple will arrive to take his place.

Jake won first place at the Florida Open: Recreational Division and the guys playing today are learning from him. We are all amazed as we watch this guy we don’t know skip his disc off the middle of the pond and have it land safely on the other side. We might have thought it was luck the first time but not the third. At the end of the game there is more fishing. Caleb lost one of his in the pond but will leave with a new one.

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A Day of Flying Thoughts

Posted on January 20, 2012 by TheJessicaness

I woke up ready to visit Talidra, the student I tutor every week, but try to remember her school schedule of early out days, teacher planning days, holidays, no-school days, and in-school events. I once showed up more dressed up than usual on their pajama day. I got to thinking about the benefits of flying. If I could fly I wouldn’t have to drive to the gas station and spend $30 to fill up; I wouldn’t have to drive the 15 miles to the school; I wouldn’t have to ride my bike the 75 minutes it would take.

This was just my easy debate as to whether I should take my bike or the car; of course the car won. I would end up spending more time on my bike than at my destination; not what I had planned. Then I started thinking about all the free international travel I could do while I was migrating and the great birds-eye view pictures I could get with my camera. But that’s fantasy land, or the life of Jeb Corliss, and I’m back here in my reality. But I carried the idea of flying to Talidra.

Here is the story she wrote:

There once lived a witch that had a best friend; it was a broom. Not just any broom, it was a flying broom. She used to get up in the morning and fly in the air to go get pig pie. When they was done with the pig pie they got back up in the air and soared through the sky. Then one day, the witch woke from her beauty sleep and said, “Oh dear, my broom is gone. Someone took my broom” the witch shouted. She was so unhappy. She raced through the door looking everywhere she could, but she could not find that broom.

She looked everywhere. She looked under her bed, and her closet, even in the kitchen cabinets but she could not find that broom. Then she was lonely. Then she heard a big boom on her door. She got up dragging herself. She went to the door saying, “hello” then she heard a man speaking, “are you the owner of a young broom?” She opened the door quickly and, “Oh yes I am!” Then she poked her eye at that broom and said, “Oh broomy you’re back” then she said to the man, “how did you find her?”

“I found her peeking in our bushes.” The witch said, “oh broomy don’t you ever scare me like that ever again.” The man gave the witch her broom and he left. The witch took broomy inside and they both enjoyed some pig pie. The End

After school my husband would invite me to a game of Frisbee golf with the guys. This would be a good end to a flying-filled day. More details on the game tomorrow. I suppose too that if I could fly I would wish for miracle strength to carry my luggage. I would be saved from the hassle at airports and would prevent more carbon emissions from airplanes. If I could fly I could save all the lost balloons and recycle them away from deadly fishy fates. What would you do if you could fly or own something that could?

Posted in Animals, Education, Entertainment, Friends, Places, Things, Volunteer | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Hair Bands, Hot Women, Humid Places

Posted on January 19, 2012 by TheJessicaness

Rob Zombie, 2005

Growing up I heard adults talk about the hair-band concerts they had been to and how they were freakin awesome! Bands like Motley Crue, Whitesnake, and Bon Jovi. I had heard these bands but figured they were probably as “old” as my parents and might be in a walker on stage – the audacity of a teenagers point-of-view! Then I heard young singers like Clay Walker and Eminem and wanted so badly to see them live.

It would be a few years before my dream came true. I would move to Virginia Beach, or more get stationed there, (that’s another post) and constantly await the next show at the Norva concert hall, or at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, an outdoor venue. The number of bands I saw was no disappointment. I was able to see childhood favorites: MSI, Shinedown, Saliva, Rob Zombie, and Bowling for Soup.

I was introduced to new bands: Halestorm and Army of Freshman; there were plenty others but these were my favorites. I’m the concert goer that gets there early and leaves late. I don’t have to party with the band but staying for signatures, drumsticks, and other memorabilia completes the event. I was fine with a little mosh-pit action now and then, luckily never any fights, but now prefer to just listen.

I thought concerts was a “stage” that everyone went through but it is more likely for a woman to get pregnant than to follow her other dreams. I moved to Jacksonville, the action-concert going slowed and more symphony going was to be had; I use to play an instrument (again, another post) too. Luckily for those pregnant women, Jacksonville has free concerts at The Landing, a semi-circle of businesses surrounding a dock on the river.

The Landing, 2010

 I thought free would be awesome. Free is over-crowded. Free is full of smoke and drunks. Free is full of new bands that I had not heard and no longer wanted to. We once drove four hours, maybe more to see a band. I thought it was going to be great; further reading is always necessary. The “concert” was to be held in an arcade. The first bands really sucked and we found a great Indian place to eat dinner within walking distance.

We came back and were only able to hear two songs before they had to end the show due to curfew. You’ve got to be kidding me?! Are we the oldest ones hear listening? The crowd wasn’t full of eight-year olds but being the only ones old enough to drink was upsetting. Though what I regret more than the beautiful drive and the delicious dinner was the lack of pictures I managed to take; not just here but at all concerts.

I was young, and busy living it up, what ever it is. And so even at concerts where I managed to take “pictures” they came out smears of action or little black boxes full of color the once or twice I got stuck on the lawn. Most times I wouldn’t go to a concert unless I could be within spitting distance of the guitarist – I never got spit on but crowds can get ferocious and the staff would catch the crowd-surfers so I didn’t have to.

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