Most people would probably say that police prioritize donut shops, but Jacksonville Police like to sit in the a/c or heat running tax dollars in empty parking lots partially blocked by trees so that they can’t see traffic violations or crimes. Today’s post is inspired by the visit of the Vice President to the base this morning. I was told last night and had quickly forgotten; not like I was going to be able to meet him – like him or not.
This morning on the way to my ‘job’ I saw a police car and another and…you get the idea. There was a cop car parked on every block, corner, street, gas station, and grassy sidewalk. I was almost surprised for one-billionth of a second thinking the world had come to justice and that the Jacksonville Police were actually doing their job. Then I remembered the whole force was on duty, on their ass, for one guy. I wasn’t aware there were that many officers that were hired in Jacksonville.
I think their priorities are misplaced. The only way to get a bunch of police in one area is with one guy (President or next-in-line), a football game (so they can watch), or a car accident (so they can stand around), or a peaceful protest (for mase practice). How does that one guy deserve so much more protection and service than the rest of us; everybody dies. At football games are people afraid the stadium will turn into a riot field like soccer games overseas? All police do at accidents is write people tickets; not very useful when there are bodies lying around.
I am bias too. I thought a police officer’s job was to serve and protect. I was almost not so lucky the other day when one attempted to run me and my bike over while in the crosswalk and while my little white-guy-light was walking too. I was more than pissed but had nothing to throw at his face to hopefully better get his attention. Perhaps next time I will stick my leg through his window; that’s how close he came. How are other citizens supposed to respect and abide by the laws when the ones they pay to enforce them could care less about the law or the people who pay their salary?
I am a vegetarian on purpose. I always hated pepperoni, pork chops, hamburger, hotdogs (even the vegetarian ones), and wasn’t a big fan of bacon. Then I went through a stage where me and the hubby would order Suicide Wings from Calz Pizza. It was more for the heat than for the meat. Caleb still loves bacon-and-bacon sandwiches, a thick brisket now and then, and some other dead animal carcass to get him through his cravings. But, he has indulged in my fruit and vegetable delight.
We have learned that he likes eggplant lasagna. I don’t like papaya much, perhaps it’s the frozen brand. There are a few vegetables that Caleb doesn’t like but he has a new-found love for peanuts. We went on a tofu binge for a while and then started exploring faux meats. We love black bean burgers and despise fake hotdogs and fakin’ bacon. Being vegetarian we can still enjoy cream cheese on our bagels or eggs with our pancakes. Lucky for vegans they have these same options with alternative products.
Pictured above is a recipe from Burmese culture; the other a Jessica Special. I like to try new things and hanging out with my Dad gives me that opportunity. I was able to try jackfruit curry over spring break ’11 and he finally sent me the recipe via Facebook a couple of months later. The special is a breakfast chunky (mine never come out too smooth) that I invented. It consists of an apple, banana, orange, tomato, some Brussels sprouts, and part of a large leek. Caleb doesn’t like the curry base, not because of the pounds of red onion or the tomatoes, but because he doesn’t like curry.
He doesn’t like my chunky either because he thinks that Brussels sprouts taste like dirt. I am glad that no matter how gross my next new concoction looks Caleb is still willing to give it a try. I recently bought some Veggie Cream Cheese and cold it seems better on an onion bagel, but warm it is delicious on a cinnamon bagel. I have been a fan of soy-milk ever since the day I tried it and could never go back to using some other animals calf-raising formula to attempt to get calcium that I can get from broccoli.
I look forward to continuing our path of foods that are new to us and great for our bodies. I enjoy a vegan meal now and then, maybe more on purpose in the future, in a meat crazed world. Feel free to make my chunky recipe and let me know what you think; perhaps you have a juicer for different texture. I have one on my shopping list. If you would like to try the Burmese curry recipe let me know and I will either post it or can email it to you. When is the last time you tried something new and what was it?
A cricket once told me that I should post a photo-a-day and I agreed. I wanted to get my blog rolling and have done some 40 posts in six months. That is great on some level and I told the cricket I would start next year so that I would have an easier issue with time telling. Then I realized I was beginning to sound like Darth Vader* (named changed for security purposes) and decided to change that. So here I am.
Today’s picture is a block-clock someone got me while I lived in Germany; it was even made there. It can still tell time, but I prefer to look at it and think that I still have that extra minute, hour, day, week, or year needed to reach my next goal. I don’t think I’m too horrible with procrastinating though deadlines do determine desire sometimes, but perhaps that’s only with 14-pg group paper assignments done by yourself. It’s also another thing I am proud I accomplished.
I may not get a photo-a-day or a paragraph-a-day but I will enjoy the lessons learned along the way. Everyday is worth remembering, at least it should be, or why would humans have evolved to have so many of them? I am continually growing into someone who can appreciate the more mechanical, the more detailed, and the more natural way of living. I look forward to this project and the new perspective it will bring to what may seem mundane through daily routine.
Feb. 14, 2007: From 1-800-flowers.com: I love you, babe, and hope that you have fun. One of these years, I will be able to spend Valentine’s Day with you. Hopefully, next time. I love you bunches
June 24, 2006 to Caleb: Happy birthday to my awesome boyfriend with love. May this be the best missed birthday because I was here to miss it with you! And I plan to be there for all the rest. I love you! Card: “For my husband, for all the times you reached back to hold my hand, let me have the last bite of cake, told me I looked beautiful first thing in the morning, rented the movie I wanted to see, sat and listened patiently to the details of my hectic day, and for all the happiness that you bring to my world — I love you. Happy Birthday” Now you can buy me alcohol. Thank you so much for giving 100%. I think the card says the rest. Do you feel any older yet? I love you! – your wifey Jess – xoxo
Feb. 2007 to Caleb: Hey Babe – I didn’t really want to write on the pretty card, so I got an envelope to go with it. Out of the 250 I saw… I liked this one best. I love you super bunches and can’t wait to see you again. I couldn’t fit everything in this box, so there will be another one on its way real soon. Sorry this one is late. And about your new panties… we got matching ones… how cute! I love you and am almost out of writing space. Hope to hear from you soon.
May 12, 2007: Dear Jessica, haha, I always wanted to write that, but anyway, here it is the last one. If you don’t get this, I will just worry about getting a place when I get home. I figured it was all or nothing this time. Usually, I just send you my ID and a short note, but this time, I am sending it all. All my stuff that will fit in an envelope anyway.
Random stuff I got or found [a tow receipt from Apr. 28, 2006, for $85; two receipts from Le Comptoir de Maitre Kanter in Toulon (a Ballantine whiskey and tarte flambé); 50 Saudi riyals; 1/2 Bahraini dinar; ATM receipt for BD 100 withdrawal; Jameel Al Saegh Tuxedo Tailoring card; an MWR receipt from Mar. 27, 2007, for $5.55 (Bac Dbl Ch Bur combo w/Lg Frie); a liberty information card with phone numbers and off-limits venues for Bahrain; a beard/hair chit (no shave); a black Kenzo boot tongue, size 41; train tickets for a day trip between Toulon and Marseille for €19.50; and the contact information from a poster for La Mafia Provençale.]
Along with the very first copy I made of my ID that I lost and just found again. It’s either you get it or you were never meant to have it and it’s all gone. By the way, it’s the 6th of May this time. This will go to the post office tomorrow and will leave the ship about a week or so after that. I really hope you get this because I have trouble sleeping at night knowing that it is my fault you don’t have a home because I didn’t know they would want my ID, which is bullshit if you show them the original.
Anyway, I am going to seal this and send it off, hoping with all my heart that you get it soon. I love you and miss you terribly. P.S. I sent you a story. I hope you like it. [For my eyes only!] P.S.S. The MV [stacked] is my broken heart that will stay that way until you are back in my arms again.
To Caleb: Here’s your first postcard. Everyone here says hello. I miss you so much. Here’s box #1. The 2nd one will be Valentine’s Day. I think I’m supposed to say something sexy or inspirational here, but I’ve never been good at that, so I will just tell you I love you and am looking forward to what I get in return. See you soon. Tell the guys I say hi.
I know this card should have made it to you sooner, but every time I go to the post office… it’s packed. I could tell you about my visit in Memphis when this guy and his cousin were left at the gas station waiting for another ride or how I got a picture of the same bridge, but not with the same effect. And then I will tell you how much I love you and can’t wait till I can hold you again. Or maybe one day how we can share stories of us in Memphis together. I love you.
Jan. 1, 2008: Happy New Year babe. I love your crazy ass!!
March 2008 to Caleb: For my husband at Easter. I love you, not because you’re perfect… but because you’re so perfect for me. Love and kisses and a great big hug. I love you so much and miss you all the time. Thinking of you.
April 19, 2008: Well, I finally went online, and Sparky can fly with Delta, but it will cost 100 dollars as a carry-on, and his kennel must [be] the size of a carry-on, and you can’t have any other carry-on baggage. But please call the vet and ask them what you should do to take Sparky with you to Texas. Now, as for coming back to Virginia, I don’t know, but if you go to http://www.unitedairlines.com, you should be able to find out. But here is some more info from Delta for you, just some things they want you to do. I would have this, just in case. And don’t worry about the money, just use my card at the airport to pay the fees. I love you and hope that you get this.
May 2008 to Caleb: From: Wonderful Wife, To: Super Sexy Sailor. Sudoku inside with answer sheet, try not to cheat. “You make my tail wag so much… my butt hurts.” I had to get this card on behalf of me and Sparky. I love you so much. And that’s why I bought a card and put these pics in it. I hope you like them as much as I do. Did you find your digital camera? I didn’t. I hope you are taking some pics for the both of us. Love you and can’t wait for you to make my butt hurt… if you know what I mean, lol. xoxo
June 17, 2008: Well, here I am, stuck in steering again, and I have paper this time. So far, I have been on [numerous] boardings. We drop the boats and go over to dhows (small fishing boats) and send the VBSS team onboard. I wear 45 pounds of body armor, cami’s, a nine mm, 45 rounds, and a Kevlar helmet. It is so scary. Every time I go out, I run the risk of being shot, and the whole time, I think of you and how much I miss you. We had to patch 7 holes in the 11M RHIB, which is the boat I am on, but we did dump 4000 kilos of hash into the ocean.
I hate the constant stress. It never ends because, after boardings I have to go back to work. I am the only person in A-Div that doesn’t stand watch. So now the ship can’t send e-mail out because of a serious security violation. One of the people that we brought with us took a picture of themself and posted it on Facebook. It wouldn’t have been bad, but he took the picture in a top-secret space with the ship’s charts right behind him. So anyone that looked at the picture would know exactly where we are.
This deployment sucks so much worse than the last one because we don’t know what is happening until it happens. We were supposed to pull into Bahrain on the 25th, then it got canceled, then brought back, then moved twice, and now we don’t know again. But now we can receive emails, just not send them. I really hope we get email back soon. I feel so bad. It sucked so bad when you couldn’t email me and now I can’t email you. They don’t even know if we will ever get email back.
So, for now, I will be writing you super long letters and sending them to you that way we can stay in contact. I just hope that I can find an envelope otherwise I will have to send you postcards until I can get some. I would write you a super long, sexy story right now, but it is hard to focus in steering with a bunch of guys around you. So I was meaning to ask you how Sparky is doing around other dogs (i.e., Peanut)? Well, I love you babe, and hope to hear from you soon. I can’t wait for that story. I miss you. Your super loving husband, Caleb (super in love with you) Aldridge [Enclosed were 2 lottery tickets, each winning $1]
June 24, 2008 to Caleb: The card: “Happy Birthday to someone with good taste from someone who tastes good. Uh, I don’t get it.” I do, the words that said it all. I love you, and you are the best man and husband and soon father [not pregnant] any woman could hope for. I look forward to spending the rest of your days with me. The ink is melting. It is so freakin hot. I love you! A note: Thought you might like to wear something [temporary tattoos] to remind you of me… besides your watch. I love you!
Aug. 30, 2008: From The Sunflower Florist: Hey Babe, I wish I could be there instead of sending you stuff. I will be able to celebrate your birthday with you one of these days. I love you and can’t wait to see you.
2011: [A gift from Ghirardelli] I love you and hope you taste at least one of them before Piggy steals them.
End of 2011: [In a handmade envelope] So I had a pretty good day today. I got to hold your hand, which made me so happy. I am glad you liked the waffles. I will have to come up with some more ideas for fillings and toppings. Maybe I will try to get my mom’s waffle recipe. I hope there is a park in California like Mt. Trashmore so we can take the dogs there. I really want to start taking the dogs out for more exercise. Maybe that is why Sparky is so angry, he doesn’t get enough exercise.
I hate it when I get sidetracked while trying to write you. Like right now, I just thought about how I should have you sell back the Rules for Writers book when you sell the cameras. I can’t wait for the email that says the panniers are in the mail. I think it will be an awesome experience [riding from Jacksonville, FL to San Diego, CA] that I want to share with you, but at the same time, I don’t want to take away from it by being there. I hope you understand that.
It makes sense in my mind, like so many other things that you tell me make no sense at all. I have been thinking about getting that video camera for you so you can video yourself riding into the sunset or something. I am looking forward to seeing the pictures and hearing the stories, but am even more excited about when we can do it together. One day, we can ride from California to Washington, to Maine to Florida, and back to California. I think it would be fun, then we could bike across Europe.
I have been doing some thinking, and we should not only get our bucket lists together but should get prices for them. It would be easier to plan for each item if we had a price range to save towards. But anywhosits, I suppose I should stop writing for this year. I love you and will write more next year.
I love holiday weekends when Caleb can get out of duty and finish his homework to give us some time away from the city. I didn’t realize how anxious I was for this trip until the night before leaving when I couldn’t sleep. My eyes wide open at 4:15am on Thursday morning and Caleb was already packing. We were ready to go before 5:00am. The idea for this trip came from me making a list of things I have done and I noticed the World’s Longest Cave was within driving distance over the weekend.
We bought the tickets for a tour only offered Friday and Saturday in this season. I wasn’t looking forward to the large accompaniment of 70 other tourists, max allowed for the trip, and hoped that some would give in to Black Friday Fever. We didn’t do much planning, we never seem to. By 6:00am the sun was up lighting the way to Cumberland Gap. Caleb had found camping here, but we were disappointed upon arrival. The park ranger told us that the park was updating the camping from the 1920s and the sites would be closed for a while; and then gave us hotel info. She was very friendly and helpful.
Piggy hiking the Object Lesson Rd Trail
We always like to travel at minimum costs; it’s how we ensure we can do it more often. This was not in the plans and it would be dark at 6:00pm. The ranger also informed us that the cave tours were booked, thanks. We took some trails and they got steep; my dogs are in better shape than me. We made it up to the tri-state area of KY, TN, and VA; enjoyed the view and the fall back down the hill. Later that night we would pull into London, KY and find lodging at the Budget Host Inn.
I recommend this place to anyone near the area. I don’t usually advocate for places, not that I don’t care, but I forget. We got a jacuzzi for two and a massaging bed for less than a tank of gas for an SUV. I turned on the water while Caleb ran to Domino’s. I wasn’t expecting much but they are stepping up to the health plate competition. A yummy veggie pizza with some cheesy bread sticks for dinner and a movie with Albert Brooks for a few minutes until we fell asleep at 8:00pm. It might seem early but both of us were tired and would wake every hour in anticipation. I finally gave in at 4:00am and decided to get up.
Amish Paradise
This would give us time to try the massage bed. A quarter would buy us 15 minutes. My expectations were formed by what I had seen in romanticized or thriller movies. I thought it might be like the vibrations from those pads fitted to office chairs. I had trouble getting the quarter to go in and settled down as Caleb turned the know just a few degrees. I could feel a difference and was excited for something new tried but felt somewhat disappointed. With us off the bed, Piggy was left to feel the whole thing for herself and she loved it! We put our hands near where she was and it was vibrate heaven. Perhaps we are longer than the coverage area was made for.
We packed up the room, forced the dogs into the cold, and let them go back to bed while we went to Waffle House for breakfast. I know this restaurant is a chain, but it felt like a neighborhood diner sitting at the bar chit-chatting with the locals. We got offered some puppies but took them up on waffles and biscuits instead. We had decided to visit the Lincoln Birthplace on the way to Mammoth Cave; we had an extra hour with the time change. We learned that the cabin wasn’t old enough for Lincoln to have been born in it and that there is a model inside the memorial that was downsized to fit.
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace
At the end of the path was a huge leaf-filled place where a six-foot wide, 90-foot tall tree with a span of 115 feet of branches used to be, and a sinking spring. We had the choice of the Boyhood Home at Knob Creek Farm, only 9.58 miles away, but Mammoth Cave was calling. We got there an hour and a half early. I looked like I was suffering from withdrawals as I didn’t want to sit still. We picked up our tickets, I got my stamp, and then we looked for food before the 4.5 hour tour. I wanted the fastest thing in this slow looking restaurant. We got cinnamon rolls and juice for under $4.00.
The cinnamon roll looked pre-packaged and over heated. Our juice came in a double-shot glass. Done with that; time to find the greeter, waitress, and register lady – they are all the same person. We check out and take to the trails. We read signs and take pictures. We get to see a group getting the safety brief before entering the natural entrance. Soon I am anxious again and we go to Shelter B to await our bus to the Grand Avenue Tour. There are kids climbing on everything and I worry – a lot!
on the bus to the Carmichael Entrance
Finally two buses arrive with a ranger for each. We are the first on and obviously the first off. We get our safety briefing and the ranger warns us we wont have time to fill an 8GB card. I whisperingly ask about a 16GB and the lady next to me gasps. We start in after the ranger and begin hurrying down the stairs. There are three left when I realize we have some space between us and the next guy. I turn around to get a picture. From there the race continues through the first mile of cave until we arrive at the Snowball Room.
I am upset at this point. I always feel fulfilled with love and nature and unicorn magic. This time I felt rushed and unsatisfied. We were pointing and clicking as we speed-walked. While everyone else sat down to shove their faces full of dead animal and candy we walked around getting some pictures. Here we decided, for the first time ever, to take to the back of the line. This made me feel worse. I was able to get a few pictures before the dooming clomp-clomp of the ranger’s boots made their presence known. If you got behind her, you got left in the dark – more than once.
the ranger that is supposed to be behind me
I could have easily tripped and broken my face, arm, or fancy camera. Caleb said we might have been able to buy the cave at that point and then we could actually enjoy it. We rushed so that we could stop in the dark and let the uneducated, meaning they didn’t read the brochure or all the signs, ask stupid questions. Is this a real cave? Are there other passages? Was the Civil War fought here? No, it is all a dream or at least I wish it was because then I could control it. We stopped for a bathroom break and in-between got to watch parents and their kids pet the cave.
“Mommy, I like the way this feels.” I couldn’t help but say something. “Please don’t touch that. I know a million years isn’t a long time, but that’s how long it will take to fix what you just destroyed.” Luckily for the group of 77, plus two rangers, only a stunned look was returned. I now know I could not be a ranger as my mouth would get me in trouble. On to the rest of the race; we pass what looks like the boat scene from the movie The Addams Family. Tours are no longer given because the space available isn’t as profitable.
a third of our tour group
Mammoth Cave has at least five levels of passages and the longest line-of-sight in any cave. Sometimes the marked trails are five-man wide through 1/8-mile wide passages. At a few points I had trouble not touching a wall or banging my head on formations closer together. Carlsbad Caverns tallest room is about 256 feet. In Mammoth, we are able to see multiple levels at once looking forward and to see several hundred feet in certain areas when looking up or down. This cave has so much to offer and so much unseen.
The rangers tell us that the first half of the cave is boring and the second half will be strenuous and full of stalagmites and stalactites; it was just more stressful to me. We made it out of the cave only 15 minutes past our scheduled time. If it hadn’t been for having the dogs with us I would have gone to the visitor center to complain; I still should have. We gave the dogs lunch and saw some deer and turkeys on the way out of the park. We were headed somewhere far away and it was already 4:30pm, so we changed our minds.
homes and highway
We decided to camp at Mammoth Cave and head to Indiana in the morning. We set up right next to the bathroom unknowingly but the main light was on a motion sensor. I think that night we were asleep by 7:00pm. Another 4:00am morning and by 5:00am when we are packed up the light from the sun is hitting the horizon. We arrive at George Rogers Clark NHP and the ranger is all upset about the time change and her state’s place on the time zone line. I didn’t appreciate that much but the maps she gave us came in handy.
We have to be let into the memorial along with another family. We get some good pictures and listen to a recording. There seems to be plenty of ‘old’ things to take pictures of here, as that’s how they refer to their historic attractions, but we are off to the Lincoln Boyhood Memorial instead. We would walk to the living historical farm and midway through the nature trail my battery would finally die after hours of blinking. Today we will head to Big South Fork where there is $5 a night camping. We stop in Santa Claus, IN for some pizza from Brick Oven Pizza and to see the post office that takes in all the official Santa mail. There is no rush as we will be arriving after dark.
Santa Claus, Indiana Post Office
We pass the road to camping; it looked like a ranger road or a trail. The speed limit was 20mph and even though it was dark, or maybe especially because, we were going even slower. We park on what we think is the edge only to find out that our campsite is a few stairs down. We can hear running water but can not see it. We set up the tent and let our backs get adjusted to the rocks. We agree we should bring a thick foam pad next time. Another early morning. This one didn’t work out in our favor. We waited an hour for the sun to rise and then learned that it would be another two hours.
We headed from the north-end camping around to the south-end visitor center. They were still closed when we got there so we visited the horse stables near by. I wish we would’ve been able to feed them more or donate the money to do so. We got offered a horse and trailer for only $70,000 – like it’s pocket change. Got our stamp, saw some snakes in cages, and then headed to the west side to see the Twin Arches. We wanted to do more, we always do, but there was weather and time deciding factors.
on the dirt road
We take the 6.4-mile dirt road, mostly free of pot holes, to the parking lot. Not much sprinkling and the exercise will be good for the dog; there is barely water on the ground. I put my camera under my sweater. The rain starts to sprinkle and the dogs are putting up with it so on we go on our 0.7-mile trek. There are some steep stairs and we carry them down. It begins to pour and we begin to run. Piggy doesn’t want to take the bridge; she prefers the edge. They stay back with Caleb as I run around the corner to get a picture of the arches so we can get out of the pouring rain.
I saw the North Arch. It was the one dry spot but really windy. We all take back towards the car. Again, the dogs are in better shape than me. Sparky makes it up the steep stairs himself; I begin to breathe heavy; it could be the elevation. I appreciate the training so I will be more prepared for Alaska. We are now running through puddles. We make it back to the car for toweling and treats. We had been informed that we were near Obed WSR by the park ranger.
North Arch at Big South Fork
Caleb asked if I wanted to go. Of course I do, but we don’t have the time. He already got someone to cover his Sunday, but the boss will be back to work on Monday and so will he. From here, it’s estimated to take us 10.5 hours to get home. We will suffer through a few bumper-to-bumper miles due to impatient drivers. One car was parked under a semi. Another, a truck had hit the semi, the suburban hit the ditch, and two other cars decided to hit each other. Another, a car burst into flames but that was north-bound traffic. We would finally catch a break and were excited that we would be home before midnight.
We come up on this white car in the far left lane with two open lanes next to them. Sometimes that is the position we are in and we let others go around. They are going faster and are less likely to get stuck behind someone. Later I would realize that we had gone around all the lanes, with cruise control set, and managed to get back in front of this car three times. Finally, they get tired of us getting in front of them and speed up to cut us off. Eventually traffic would catch up and save us and we were able to resume safe driving.
I was hoping for a straight road to our house, but as had been the case the entire trip there was construction. Lanes would be closed and cones everywhere but no workers during the holidays. We will arrive home five minutes before 11:00pm. I love driving roads when I can make frequent stops; we think we should put a sign on the car that says so. We risked getting hit a few times. I would get lost in the moment on these long empty roads but not for long.
I hate dealing with traffic and holiday’s are the worst. We thought of multiple ways we could fix the problem. Caleb’s plan was to build a second layer of roads and have fewer cars and more semi’s and buses with cheaper gas for them. My idea is to get half the cars off the road. I think gas should be $15 a gallon. We both agree there should be more stringent drivers test exams. We were able to enjoy a new radio station, 91.5, in Indiana geared towards kids; I will be looking for it online.
black barn with black bovine
Caleb knows I love peaceful music, but sometimes when driving tired it’s not the best idea, but it helps to keep me calm. Our favorite is the Muppets Mahna Mahna song. I had a train of thought here, but obviously it went off the tracks. I will finish by saying that music that speaks to your soul can make any trip more memorable, but inner peace comes from a more quiet place – for me. I enjoy the distance, I enjoy the noise, but most of all, I enjoy the natural intensity of what the elements have to offer in combination.
TheJessicaness 