Be Prepared

Hurricane season is always in the news this time of year in Florida. When a tropical disturbance develops near Africa, we start getting updates on the developing storm. There are never-ending public service announcements and billboards about being prepared. There’s a list of things to have on hand including bottled water, flashlights, cash, medicines and such. No doubt, in the last 5 years there have been some devastating storms. However, the constant news coverage of even the smallest disturbance tends to desensitize me to the seriousness of the bigger storms.

I’ve had the thought recently, “what would I take if we had to leave in one vehicle – quickly?” (Not likely to happen as we are about 25 miles inland. Tell that to the people hit by Charlie – they were at least 45 miles inland) It makes me laugh to remember my son’s idea of getting prepared while he was away at college. I called him at one point when there was a serious storm headed our way (I believe that was Katrina!) with instructions to use the credit card and go stock some nonperishable food, bottled water and basics. He reported back that he’d been to Sam’s and bought a case of hot fries, a case of boiled peanuts and water. Basics? I laughed.

I pretty much keep the basics covered, but if you could take a few comfort items, what would they be?

Here’s my short list:
1. My pillow. I’m very picky about my pillow.
2. My Gardenia lotion from Bath & Body Works that they’ve discontinued! (The nerve!!) It makes me happy.
3. My laptop. You know why.
4. My iPod. Music can help my mood a lot.
5. My vitamins and herbs. When I mentioned mood, I immediately remembered these.

What would you take? Remember, it’s got to fit in the car. ONE car!

Not a Hard Knock Life

I've lived in Florida my entire life (I moved from the South to the North when I got married... I'm in the Panhandle now). I laughed at the accuracy of this list I saw over at Rosezilla's. This is no foolin'.

You Might Be a Floridian If...

You know the four seasons really are: almost summer, summer,
not summer but hot, and Christmas.

"Down South" means Key West.

"Panhandling" means going to Pensacola.

Flip-flops are everyday wear.

Shoes are for business meetings and church.

No, wait, flip flops are good for church too.

Socks are only for bowling.

Orange juice from concentrate makes you sick.

Sweet tea can be served at any meal.

An alligator once walked through your neighborhood.

You have a drawer full of bathing suits, and one sweatshirt.

You get annoyed at the tourists who feed seagulls.

A mountain is any hill 100 feet above sea level.

A good parking place has nothing to do with distance from the store, but everything to do with shade.

Your winter coat is made of denim.

You can tell the difference between fire ant bites and mosquito bites.

It's not "pop." It's "soda" or "coke."

Anything under 70 is chilly.

You pass on the right and honk at the elderly.

You understand the futility of exterminating cockroaches.

You can pronounce Okeechobee, Kissimmee, Withlacoochee, Okahumpka and Loxahatchee.

You understand why it's better to have a friend with a boat than have a boat yourself.

You've driven through Yeehaw Junction.

Bumper stickers on the pickup in front of you include various fish, the NRA and a confederate flag.

You were 8 before you realized they made houses without pools.

You were 12 when you first met someone who couldn't swim.

You've worn shorts and used the A/C on Christmas.

You know what the "stingray shuffle" is and why it's important!

You could swim before you could read.

You have to drive north to get to The South.

You know that no other grocery store can compare to Publix.

Every other house had blue roofs in 2004-2005.

You know that anything under a Category 3 just isn't worth waking up for.

You dread lovebug season.

You are on a first name basis with the Hurricane list. They aren't Hurricane Charley, Hurricane Frances...but Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne.

You think a six-foot alligator is actually pretty average.

You haven't seen snow.

You eat ice cream cones in the winter, because it's finally cool enough so that it won't melt instantly down your arm.

You save your sweater for summer when everyone's A/C is so cold, you are freezing in their houses or cars.