As we leave tomorrow, I feel it only fitting to reflect on the numerous fun times I've had down here.
First weekend to Saint Augustine to see the Fountain of Youth (1513), the lighthouse (1874), Castillo de San Marcos National Monument (1695), and finally, the Fort Mose Historic State Park (1738). Also rode the ferry for the first of several times and really enjoyed seeing the pelicans.
Next weekend off too! Labor Day weekend: Finished Black Beauty, dinner with my fellow FSAs, stayed at the Hilton, went to B&N and made the first of several purchases, first sushi with Cassie, horseback riding on the beach, saw Fort Clinch (1864), got a bike, went swimming at Jax Beach, went to the movies. That Monday I got the bike tire fixed and stumbled across a great seafood restaurant and local bookstore that I returned to several times.
Then I had a weekend in Winston-Salem and Charleston for my first anniversary. (NC & SC)
Later on: saw the Jacksonville Zoo, the Cummer Art Museum, the Symphony. Then I went to a wonderfully normal small church, and then saw my first professional football game.
Another random night on base: Internet cafe, reading, movies... then another night at Town Center Mall.
Another long weekend! Hotel, baseball, great restaurants, another Symphony concert, another hotel, the MOSH, the toy soldier store, the antique store, another motel, Fort Matanzas National Monument, swimming with a dolphin at Marineland, one more time at the church, a fine lunch with a couple from my row.
Near the end: Mary Poppins, a great hotel, another trip to the post office, again to town center for Panera and movies.
Then a couple days here and there. And one last one.
Who says Mayport gets old in a week? Those who don't get out and enjoy it!
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Movie Mania!
As for the rest of today, after the hotel, I got a taxi to the Post Office where I successfully sent most of my extra stuff to my housing office before we move back onto the ship soon. The taxi waited the couple minutes for me and then drove me back to Town Center where I had Chipotle for lunch and Panera Bread soup for dinner... and all the while utilizing their spacious and comfortable dining area to watch a few movies.
Unbelievably, the first two movies were great bookends to each other, by accident. A few weeks ago I bought a Steven Seagal double feature for $5... and today I watched the first... Under Siege (1992). But the second was Here Comes the Navy (1934). I didn't know it, but Siege was about the USS Missouri being hijacked in route to being decommissioned. The Jimmy Cagney film was about a Sailor trying to get even with a Chief on the USS Arizona (filmed seven years before Pearl Harbor). Both films showed lots of footage of the internal workings of the battle wagons... including firing the 16-inch guns from inside the turret. What a coincidence, since I had never seen either movie before today, and I had no idea what either was about. Now, those two ships lie next to each other in honored rest.
Because I had more time, I also watched The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)... which has no special significance at all (beyond the fact that it was made the same year I took that picture). But it was fun! What a day.
Jw
Unbelievably, the first two movies were great bookends to each other, by accident. A few weeks ago I bought a Steven Seagal double feature for $5... and today I watched the first... Under Siege (1992). But the second was Here Comes the Navy (1934). I didn't know it, but Siege was about the USS Missouri being hijacked in route to being decommissioned. The Jimmy Cagney film was about a Sailor trying to get even with a Chief on the USS Arizona (filmed seven years before Pearl Harbor). Both films showed lots of footage of the internal workings of the battle wagons... including firing the 16-inch guns from inside the turret. What a coincidence, since I had never seen either movie before today, and I had no idea what either was about. Now, those two ships lie next to each other in honored rest.
Because I had more time, I also watched The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)... which has no special significance at all (beyond the fact that it was made the same year I took that picture). But it was fun! What a day.
Jw
One Day Off
Had a half-day yesterday, and a whole day off today...
Last night I saw Mary Poppins in the theater, and stayed in the Hilton Garden Inn right next door to the Cinemark "Tinseltown" Theater. Besides the thrill of having everything much larger than life, it was the sound that really made it worth it. As a friend commented on FB who saw it somewhere else, Mr. Banks really sounds like he's in the basement when he's fixing the kite. It's hard to remember all the things that looked and sounded much better, but the one thing that stands out was how much more real the robin looked in the nursery! The whole thing was just lovely!
I didn't go swimming this morning; just thought it lovely to look at. After eating breakfast at the last moment it was open (10am - waking up 15 min beforehand), and posting to my other blog, I did fifty pushups in my room and took a shower. Simply delicious. And even though the breakfast cost $8, the eggs were freshly prepared and everything tasted marvelous.
Jw
Last night I saw Mary Poppins in the theater, and stayed in the Hilton Garden Inn right next door to the Cinemark "Tinseltown" Theater. Besides the thrill of having everything much larger than life, it was the sound that really made it worth it. As a friend commented on FB who saw it somewhere else, Mr. Banks really sounds like he's in the basement when he's fixing the kite. It's hard to remember all the things that looked and sounded much better, but the one thing that stands out was how much more real the robin looked in the nursery! The whole thing was just lovely!
I didn't go swimming this morning; just thought it lovely to look at. After eating breakfast at the last moment it was open (10am - waking up 15 min beforehand), and posting to my other blog, I did fifty pushups in my room and took a shower. Simply delicious. And even though the breakfast cost $8, the eggs were freshly prepared and everything tasted marvelous.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Here and There Again
Yes, Rings fans, I've been reading The Hobbit. And what a fun journey it's been... the book and my weekend.
Stayed at the Best Western in Mayport again... dropped off at the door by the duty driver. Watched the incredible end of Game 3 of the Yankee's ALDS, and both of former Mariner Raúl Ibañez's home runs to win it (in the 9th and the 12th). It was very neat because I was talking with Mike when they flew, flew away. What can be better than having your wife give you a play-by-play of a miracle win by your favorite team when you're apart? :)
That was Wednesday night! Thursday morning I picked up the Hertz car, had a great breakfast at the Third Street Diner, stopped by The Bookmark, and nearby Atlantic Beach, then stopped at the outdoor Starbucks on the corner of Atlantic Blvd and posted to my Navy Times. Dropped off my ballot at the Post Office on the way to the ferry, stopped at Singleton's for some shrimp cocktail, rode across the St John's river and went to Amelia Island to walk around and look for shells. I found a couple broken conchs, but also over a dozen horseshoe crab skeletons. Loved just walking along the edge of the surf with the wind and the bright blue sky.
Then I had to get downtown for the symphony concert... parked for half-price at the garage... and enjoyed a wonderful concert featuring the symphony's enormous pipe organ and a famous organist from Germany. It was open seating, and I was able to get one of the normally expensive, raised seats to the right... perfect for watching the fingers fly over the keyboard and the violins. There was a Bach solo to begin, then a Handel piece including strings and oboes... a modern piece by a French composer in the 30's (strings and timpani), and finally a 20-min piece commissioned by the symphony (and a couple in attendance), written by a Florida resident (also in attendance) on variations of that familiar circus song... famous as The Most Wonderful Night of the Year. I had visions of Dick van Dyke pretending to do the tight rope in Mary Poppins all night.
It was Michael's birthday, Thursday, and unfortunately, the Yankees dropped the game that to Baltimore... but we Skyped afterwords, and talked for ever and ever, just like old times... and it was really nice! Had a king bed at the Hampton downtown... and it was awfully comfy!
Got up Friday morning, not believing how much time I still had off, and had a continental breakfast in the lobby, the returned to my room to watch Hachi: a dog's tale, an updated rendition of the real thing in 1920's Japan. When the widow discovered the dog was still waiting for her husband at the train station ten years later... that made me cry. It was a sad story, but fun to watch. Since it was time then to check out, I capitulated and gave up my room.
Went to the nearby Museum of Science and History, mostly to watch the planetarium show, as it was supposed to be geared for kids. I loved the two shows they let us see... one on the night sky and constellations, and the other talking about how Earth is an oasis in the universe. Every time I remember that, and think about how huge and ordered everything is, it makes me consider how much God loves me. When I see the Earth from space (as in the animations) I think about how God condescended to come down to that little planet and do what he did. And that made me cry too... for joy. They had other neat things at the museum... a whole room devoted to Florida's marine mammals, and another with a mini zoo... and then a walk-through of Jacksonville's history.
From there I crossed the river back to downtown and checked out the toy soldier shop I found out about in a visitor's guide magazine in the hotel room. Troops of Time... finely painted tin soldiers from all sorts of periods of warfare... I ended up buying two... a WWII Sailor, and a crusader knight with a horn. The guys in there were very happy to show me everything as I was the only customer. Even gave me an orange juice to drink from their fridge while they packed them up for me.
On my way to the toy shop I passed a busy small-town sort of main street and an antique store with a 48-star flag in the window. When I stepped inside to take a look, I was amazed and pleased to find that it was a cloth one in great condition for an affordable $19. Very happy indeed! I've been wanting something like this for years! Then I had a small-size sausage and mushroom pizza at a local shop next door... a place that's been running since 1976! After finishing, I hopped in the car and decided now was a good time to go down to Marineland for the next day's adventure. Stopped at a local motel (villa) in Palm Coast. They had a rustic stone wall covering inside and out that felt very extravagant... but wasn't. :) Turned on the TV for more baseball, but found a family station that was playing a very funny episode of We Love Lucy, one of the later seasons, I presume. When that ended, I turned it over to the game just in time to see the Yanks clinch the series. After talking with Mike for a short while, I stayed up watching a couple episodes of WENN (2 for the Price of 1, and Hilary Booth, Registered Nurse)... and some snippets... I Gotta Sing, Grace Cavendish, and the beginning and ending of Happy Homecomings. It was a wild mash, but it was also lots of fun. Turns out the snippet from Grace Cavendish and the end of Homecomings both have those silly slapstick routines. It was good random planning. :)
Next morning (Saturday the 13th), after a bagel and a banana, I headed back north a bit to the Fort Matanzas National Monument, which turns out to be a bookend to the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument I saw in St Augustine the very first week! It's just down the river from San Marcos, and was built 50 years afterwords to defend that approach to the city. There was a free ferry ride across the river, and a 1/2 mile nature trail that allowed for a beautiful walk in the woods. And across the street from the monument, there was a public beach access. Took another walk on the beach and enjoyed it a bunch. Just a beautiful day! After that it was back to Marineland for a lunch (burger!) and a swim with the dolphins.
I was hoping for a session all alone, since I was the first to register for this time slot the day before, but 4 other women had signed up as well (one from Lebanon, and two from Germany!). First they told us all about the 12 dolphins they keep, especially the record-breaking oldest dolphin in captivity... turning 60 yrs old this February! Life expectancy is estimated at 30 years, so it is indeed remarkable. We learned a bit about their skin, how it's best to not scratch them, then we changed, got into life vests (really? the pool is only like 20 feet deep... lol), and walked out onto the concrete "beach". We got to pet, rubbing sides, belly, fins and flukes with flat hands. We got to throw her little fish (our dolphin was a female named Pebbles), watch her swim under us, and tell her to do things with trainer's hand signals (I got to make her open and close her mouth when she was right up next to me!). There were also lots of pictures taken, but we'll see if they ever upload them to their site.
After drying off and changing, I made my way to Red Lobster for dinner... of shrimp and snow crab. I read quite a bit in The Hobbit between courses of my endless shrimp scampi. LOL! Stopped by Panera in Jacksonville Beach for coffee and a cookie, and I felt fully at peace as I drove through soft rain, listening to soothing piano music. And then I made full circle, returning to the Best Western where I started out at. The Yankees went into extra innings again, due to Ichiro and Ibañez catching up the 4-0 deficit in the ninth with 2-run home-runs each, but maddeningly, lost in the 13th... because they couldn't hit anything else, while the Tigers did. Chatted and put all the pics from the weekend on Facebook... and after Mike and I finished talking, read a bit more in Bilbo's adventure with the dragon. It's hard to put down.
Today, I got up in time to take a shower before church and get there just in time after checking out. Another fine sermon from 1st Peter... and very pertinent to the congregation as they decide on a new pastor next week (it's all about what church elders should be like). A couple sitting next to me chatted me up during the "greet one another" time and ended up inviting me to lunch with their friends afterwords. They treated me out too... so very nice of them... and we chatted a long time about the Navy (he was a retired O-6 - captain-) and about our various marriages. They gave me their phone numbers, and said I was always welcome anytime! I really feel like I've been led to my new church home, if the home-port shift is for sure. They blessed me (and Mike in spirit) as we hugged and said goodbye. How good God is to me!
Afterwords, I got some orange juice from CVS to combat my little head cold (it's developed into a runny nose/cough now), then went to the NEX and bought more than I was planning (but also found a Christmas present for someone), and then stopped by Walmart to get a new cheap pole for fishing this week. And here I am at Panera again (chicken noodle soup!) while I write.
What a great time! My bank account is signing with relief that I will be back on duty tomorrow! :)
Stayed at the Best Western in Mayport again... dropped off at the door by the duty driver. Watched the incredible end of Game 3 of the Yankee's ALDS, and both of former Mariner Raúl Ibañez's home runs to win it (in the 9th and the 12th). It was very neat because I was talking with Mike when they flew, flew away. What can be better than having your wife give you a play-by-play of a miracle win by your favorite team when you're apart? :)
That was Wednesday night! Thursday morning I picked up the Hertz car, had a great breakfast at the Third Street Diner, stopped by The Bookmark, and nearby Atlantic Beach, then stopped at the outdoor Starbucks on the corner of Atlantic Blvd and posted to my Navy Times. Dropped off my ballot at the Post Office on the way to the ferry, stopped at Singleton's for some shrimp cocktail, rode across the St John's river and went to Amelia Island to walk around and look for shells. I found a couple broken conchs, but also over a dozen horseshoe crab skeletons. Loved just walking along the edge of the surf with the wind and the bright blue sky.
Then I had to get downtown for the symphony concert... parked for half-price at the garage... and enjoyed a wonderful concert featuring the symphony's enormous pipe organ and a famous organist from Germany. It was open seating, and I was able to get one of the normally expensive, raised seats to the right... perfect for watching the fingers fly over the keyboard and the violins. There was a Bach solo to begin, then a Handel piece including strings and oboes... a modern piece by a French composer in the 30's (strings and timpani), and finally a 20-min piece commissioned by the symphony (and a couple in attendance), written by a Florida resident (also in attendance) on variations of that familiar circus song... famous as The Most Wonderful Night of the Year. I had visions of Dick van Dyke pretending to do the tight rope in Mary Poppins all night.
It was Michael's birthday, Thursday, and unfortunately, the Yankees dropped the game that to Baltimore... but we Skyped afterwords, and talked for ever and ever, just like old times... and it was really nice! Had a king bed at the Hampton downtown... and it was awfully comfy!
Got up Friday morning, not believing how much time I still had off, and had a continental breakfast in the lobby, the returned to my room to watch Hachi: a dog's tale, an updated rendition of the real thing in 1920's Japan. When the widow discovered the dog was still waiting for her husband at the train station ten years later... that made me cry. It was a sad story, but fun to watch. Since it was time then to check out, I capitulated and gave up my room.
Went to the nearby Museum of Science and History, mostly to watch the planetarium show, as it was supposed to be geared for kids. I loved the two shows they let us see... one on the night sky and constellations, and the other talking about how Earth is an oasis in the universe. Every time I remember that, and think about how huge and ordered everything is, it makes me consider how much God loves me. When I see the Earth from space (as in the animations) I think about how God condescended to come down to that little planet and do what he did. And that made me cry too... for joy. They had other neat things at the museum... a whole room devoted to Florida's marine mammals, and another with a mini zoo... and then a walk-through of Jacksonville's history.
From there I crossed the river back to downtown and checked out the toy soldier shop I found out about in a visitor's guide magazine in the hotel room. Troops of Time... finely painted tin soldiers from all sorts of periods of warfare... I ended up buying two... a WWII Sailor, and a crusader knight with a horn. The guys in there were very happy to show me everything as I was the only customer. Even gave me an orange juice to drink from their fridge while they packed them up for me.
On my way to the toy shop I passed a busy small-town sort of main street and an antique store with a 48-star flag in the window. When I stepped inside to take a look, I was amazed and pleased to find that it was a cloth one in great condition for an affordable $19. Very happy indeed! I've been wanting something like this for years! Then I had a small-size sausage and mushroom pizza at a local shop next door... a place that's been running since 1976! After finishing, I hopped in the car and decided now was a good time to go down to Marineland for the next day's adventure. Stopped at a local motel (villa) in Palm Coast. They had a rustic stone wall covering inside and out that felt very extravagant... but wasn't. :) Turned on the TV for more baseball, but found a family station that was playing a very funny episode of We Love Lucy, one of the later seasons, I presume. When that ended, I turned it over to the game just in time to see the Yanks clinch the series. After talking with Mike for a short while, I stayed up watching a couple episodes of WENN (2 for the Price of 1, and Hilary Booth, Registered Nurse)... and some snippets... I Gotta Sing, Grace Cavendish, and the beginning and ending of Happy Homecomings. It was a wild mash, but it was also lots of fun. Turns out the snippet from Grace Cavendish and the end of Homecomings both have those silly slapstick routines. It was good random planning. :)
Next morning (Saturday the 13th), after a bagel and a banana, I headed back north a bit to the Fort Matanzas National Monument, which turns out to be a bookend to the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument I saw in St Augustine the very first week! It's just down the river from San Marcos, and was built 50 years afterwords to defend that approach to the city. There was a free ferry ride across the river, and a 1/2 mile nature trail that allowed for a beautiful walk in the woods. And across the street from the monument, there was a public beach access. Took another walk on the beach and enjoyed it a bunch. Just a beautiful day! After that it was back to Marineland for a lunch (burger!) and a swim with the dolphins.
I was hoping for a session all alone, since I was the first to register for this time slot the day before, but 4 other women had signed up as well (one from Lebanon, and two from Germany!). First they told us all about the 12 dolphins they keep, especially the record-breaking oldest dolphin in captivity... turning 60 yrs old this February! Life expectancy is estimated at 30 years, so it is indeed remarkable. We learned a bit about their skin, how it's best to not scratch them, then we changed, got into life vests (really? the pool is only like 20 feet deep... lol), and walked out onto the concrete "beach". We got to pet, rubbing sides, belly, fins and flukes with flat hands. We got to throw her little fish (our dolphin was a female named Pebbles), watch her swim under us, and tell her to do things with trainer's hand signals (I got to make her open and close her mouth when she was right up next to me!). There were also lots of pictures taken, but we'll see if they ever upload them to their site.
After drying off and changing, I made my way to Red Lobster for dinner... of shrimp and snow crab. I read quite a bit in The Hobbit between courses of my endless shrimp scampi. LOL! Stopped by Panera in Jacksonville Beach for coffee and a cookie, and I felt fully at peace as I drove through soft rain, listening to soothing piano music. And then I made full circle, returning to the Best Western where I started out at. The Yankees went into extra innings again, due to Ichiro and Ibañez catching up the 4-0 deficit in the ninth with 2-run home-runs each, but maddeningly, lost in the 13th... because they couldn't hit anything else, while the Tigers did. Chatted and put all the pics from the weekend on Facebook... and after Mike and I finished talking, read a bit more in Bilbo's adventure with the dragon. It's hard to put down.
Today, I got up in time to take a shower before church and get there just in time after checking out. Another fine sermon from 1st Peter... and very pertinent to the congregation as they decide on a new pastor next week (it's all about what church elders should be like). A couple sitting next to me chatted me up during the "greet one another" time and ended up inviting me to lunch with their friends afterwords. They treated me out too... so very nice of them... and we chatted a long time about the Navy (he was a retired O-6 - captain-) and about our various marriages. They gave me their phone numbers, and said I was always welcome anytime! I really feel like I've been led to my new church home, if the home-port shift is for sure. They blessed me (and Mike in spirit) as we hugged and said goodbye. How good God is to me!
Afterwords, I got some orange juice from CVS to combat my little head cold (it's developed into a runny nose/cough now), then went to the NEX and bought more than I was planning (but also found a Christmas present for someone), and then stopped by Walmart to get a new cheap pole for fishing this week. And here I am at Panera again (chicken noodle soup!) while I write.
What a great time! My bank account is signing with relief that I will be back on duty tomorrow! :)
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Stormy Night
Sunday night, I finally decided to get off the barge, even though I had to work early the next morning. It had been a long duty weekend, and this was my first time leaving since... the last time I posted (Wednesday).
Thought I'd work out on base, so I took the evening shuttle bus. Since I had been working all day, I forgot that it was Sunday, and that the gym would be closed. So I did some running... and I went straight to the Internet Cafe at the community center. Paid my bills finally... and was able to enjoy the full version of Facebook. I know that sounds silly, but when a person is limited to an app on their phone, seeing it on a full screen is so much better.
But what really knocked me out was the massive thunderstorm going off in the distance. All I saw was the towering black cloud (the sun had gone down) and flashes of lighting every 1 to 3 seconds. Every minute or so a bolt would either trace horizontally across the cloud, or fan out in fingers of bolts.
I also enjoyed looking at and petting the little toads I saw on the sidewalk between the gym and the center... it was a fun little evening. And on the way home on the bus, I finished Busman's Honeymoon (Lord Peter Wimsey story by Sayers). My friend Julie commented on my FB status... so back on the barge I gave her a late-night phone call and we talked for a whole hour about everything. So fun!
Other than that I've been pretty boring... (while relaxing!) and have been reading The Hobbit in the cute little pocket-size, hardback (with original dust jacket and artwork) copy that I found at The BookMark the last weekend I had off. And I love it! Also been watching movies... finished watching A Night to Remember (1943 screwball murder mystery!), looked at Public Enemies (2009, Johnny Depp - about John Dillinger), and last night I watched Hogan's Heroes and then the last half of Gettysburg (1993).
Tonight I escaped the barge to the St John Town Center Mall when one of the officers from the ship who I've ran into a couple times in B&N, asked me if I'd like a ride. Much better than waiting a half-hour (or more) for the duty van. I didn't have dinner on the barge... my nap went a little later than expected, and I was working hard washing dishes all the way through the meal, so it just sorta got skipped. So I enjoyed some tortellini alfredo for the first time at Panera... along with a decaff and some chicken noodle soup. :)
Jw
Thought I'd work out on base, so I took the evening shuttle bus. Since I had been working all day, I forgot that it was Sunday, and that the gym would be closed. So I did some running... and I went straight to the Internet Cafe at the community center. Paid my bills finally... and was able to enjoy the full version of Facebook. I know that sounds silly, but when a person is limited to an app on their phone, seeing it on a full screen is so much better.
But what really knocked me out was the massive thunderstorm going off in the distance. All I saw was the towering black cloud (the sun had gone down) and flashes of lighting every 1 to 3 seconds. Every minute or so a bolt would either trace horizontally across the cloud, or fan out in fingers of bolts.
I also enjoyed looking at and petting the little toads I saw on the sidewalk between the gym and the center... it was a fun little evening. And on the way home on the bus, I finished Busman's Honeymoon (Lord Peter Wimsey story by Sayers). My friend Julie commented on my FB status... so back on the barge I gave her a late-night phone call and we talked for a whole hour about everything. So fun!
Other than that I've been pretty boring... (while relaxing!) and have been reading The Hobbit in the cute little pocket-size, hardback (with original dust jacket and artwork) copy that I found at The BookMark the last weekend I had off. And I love it! Also been watching movies... finished watching A Night to Remember (1943 screwball murder mystery!), looked at Public Enemies (2009, Johnny Depp - about John Dillinger), and last night I watched Hogan's Heroes and then the last half of Gettysburg (1993).
Tonight I escaped the barge to the St John Town Center Mall when one of the officers from the ship who I've ran into a couple times in B&N, asked me if I'd like a ride. Much better than waiting a half-hour (or more) for the duty van. I didn't have dinner on the barge... my nap went a little later than expected, and I was working hard washing dishes all the way through the meal, so it just sorta got skipped. So I enjoyed some tortellini alfredo for the first time at Panera... along with a decaff and some chicken noodle soup. :)
Jw
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
A Refreshing Rain
I got out early (after lunch... About 1 o'clock), and caught a ride with another FSA who was going to the gym on base. I had never been to the gym, but now that I have a bee in my bonnet about working out, I thought it a golden opportunity. We were both feeling a little frazzled by the time we took off. Although we had gone over to the ship for sweepers before lunch, we were sent back up those sixty steps of the drydock to sweep one little passageway. It really wasn't much, but we were very tired from lunch (as always) and had already imagined getting off promptly after the meal. So we felt good to be leaving when we did. I had planned on swimming, but I found out they close it everyday at 1. So I did cardio on a bike and took a quick shower while the guys lifted weights. I did some pushups again, and found out my weight isn't as good as I thought. On the way back to the barge, I directed us to a Chinese buffet using my phone which was the unanimous choice for dinner. Loved the snow crab legs! But when I finally felt really relaxed was when I returned to the car while everyone else walked on to the barge. I had misplaced my cell phone, and it was starting to rain hard. Found the phone in the back seat and decided to wait out the now pelting rain sitting in the backseat with my legs propped, reading Lord Peter Wimsey. Finished the chapter and the rain stopped. Felt like a new person as I walked back to the Navy. I think it was the clean air. Jw
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Two Random Days, and a Weekend Too
The first day off was last Wednesday the 26th. It's just part of our schedule to have one day off during the week... which is pretty awesome! So I took the duty van to Mayport on Tuesday night and stayed at the Best Western down the street from the base. Had Arby's for dinner, Skyped with Mike, got a pickup from Hertz in the morning. Tried out the Beach Diner in Atlantic Beach, stopped by the base to check out the ticket center, talk to the Chaplain about becoming a Lay Leader on my ship, and walked around on the beach. Went to Walmart to pick up a few things, then went back to Atlantic Beach for dinner at the seafood restaurant and another browse through the book shop next door. Returned the car, then got a ride to the base where I caught the duty van back to the ship.
This weekend, I went crazy! Started out Friday night at Town Center (a duty van drop-off point), got a room at the Hilton. Saturday morning I had breakfast in the lobby and then got picked up by Hertz again. Went to the Jacksonville Zoo... which was wonderful... especially loved the baby jaguar... the set up of the whole zoo was refreshingly simple to get around in, yet full of animals to see. Then I drove to downtown immediately afterwords for the Cummer Art Museum, which was also very neat! Pit stop back at the hotel to catch my breath, then went back downtown for the opening night at the Jacksonville Symphony. The first thing they did was stand and play the Star-Spangled Banner! I thought that was really classy! Mahi-mahi for dinner afterwords (10:30ish) at a river-side restaurant at the Jacksonville Landing, just steps down the street.
Sunday morning I woke at 8, worked out in the hotel gym, cooled off in the outdoor pool, showered, had the free hot breakfast in the lobby, and made it to the church I had spotted in Atlantic Beach on earlier visits. It was wonderful! I walked in on "Lord, I Lift Your Name On High" and then they finished worship with "Create in Me a Clean Heart", both memories from Jr. High... needless to say I felt right at home right away. Good sermon too, by one of the elders. Apparently they're between pastors at the moment.
After that it was back to the mall for lunch at Chipotle, and browsing through Best Buy. Later on (around 3ish) I decided I did, after all, want to go to the football game downtown. It was my first pro football game, and I enjoyed it well enough. Great seat... really high on the 50-yd line. But since the stadium isn't the biggest, even the top section wasn't too high. The people I sat next to were pretty normal... so that definitely was a plus. They ended up losing 27-10 to the Bengals, but I'm not really a fan... so it didn't matter. Just a fun experience on the whole, even with the pelting rain afterwords, the long walk to the car in the lighting storm and the very long wait to get out. I listened to the symphony's horn player's cd that I bought the night before... and then the compilation of Beatles love songs that Mike gave me when we were together last. Got a taxi ride all the way to the ship after dropping off the car. He gave me a flat rate, and it saved me several hours waiting.
Today, I had another random day off, so last night I came to the same hotel in Town Center and watched Monday Night Football in my room. This morning was a repeat of Sunday after I watched a couple Tintin cartoons on the TV... worked out (running and benching) then swam (all alone... the pool was so calm in the morning sunlight, the only thing that caused ripples as I soaked up the early rays was caused by my own breathing - loved watching my wedding ring sparkle underwater) then breakfast (sausage, tater-tots, oatmeal, toast, juice, yogurt) and a shower. Watched Mr. Roberts after all that, then checked out, got a taxi to the post office to send some extra stuff to Mike so I don't go crazy on the barge trying to jam it into my little spaces. The people at the Post Office went in the back and got me some blank boxes so I could ship the stuff lots cheaper. So helpful! Had KFC for lunch (yum!) then stopped by the Salvation Army Store next door just for fun. Found a couple things and went right back to the P.O. to send them too! LOL! Since my taxi ride back to the mall, I poked around in B&N and have since been enjoying the benefits of Panera Bread.
This weekend, I went crazy! Started out Friday night at Town Center (a duty van drop-off point), got a room at the Hilton. Saturday morning I had breakfast in the lobby and then got picked up by Hertz again. Went to the Jacksonville Zoo... which was wonderful... especially loved the baby jaguar... the set up of the whole zoo was refreshingly simple to get around in, yet full of animals to see. Then I drove to downtown immediately afterwords for the Cummer Art Museum, which was also very neat! Pit stop back at the hotel to catch my breath, then went back downtown for the opening night at the Jacksonville Symphony. The first thing they did was stand and play the Star-Spangled Banner! I thought that was really classy! Mahi-mahi for dinner afterwords (10:30ish) at a river-side restaurant at the Jacksonville Landing, just steps down the street.
Sunday morning I woke at 8, worked out in the hotel gym, cooled off in the outdoor pool, showered, had the free hot breakfast in the lobby, and made it to the church I had spotted in Atlantic Beach on earlier visits. It was wonderful! I walked in on "Lord, I Lift Your Name On High" and then they finished worship with "Create in Me a Clean Heart", both memories from Jr. High... needless to say I felt right at home right away. Good sermon too, by one of the elders. Apparently they're between pastors at the moment.
After that it was back to the mall for lunch at Chipotle, and browsing through Best Buy. Later on (around 3ish) I decided I did, after all, want to go to the football game downtown. It was my first pro football game, and I enjoyed it well enough. Great seat... really high on the 50-yd line. But since the stadium isn't the biggest, even the top section wasn't too high. The people I sat next to were pretty normal... so that definitely was a plus. They ended up losing 27-10 to the Bengals, but I'm not really a fan... so it didn't matter. Just a fun experience on the whole, even with the pelting rain afterwords, the long walk to the car in the lighting storm and the very long wait to get out. I listened to the symphony's horn player's cd that I bought the night before... and then the compilation of Beatles love songs that Mike gave me when we were together last. Got a taxi ride all the way to the ship after dropping off the car. He gave me a flat rate, and it saved me several hours waiting.
Today, I had another random day off, so last night I came to the same hotel in Town Center and watched Monday Night Football in my room. This morning was a repeat of Sunday after I watched a couple Tintin cartoons on the TV... worked out (running and benching) then swam (all alone... the pool was so calm in the morning sunlight, the only thing that caused ripples as I soaked up the early rays was caused by my own breathing - loved watching my wedding ring sparkle underwater) then breakfast (sausage, tater-tots, oatmeal, toast, juice, yogurt) and a shower. Watched Mr. Roberts after all that, then checked out, got a taxi to the post office to send some extra stuff to Mike so I don't go crazy on the barge trying to jam it into my little spaces. The people at the Post Office went in the back and got me some blank boxes so I could ship the stuff lots cheaper. So helpful! Had KFC for lunch (yum!) then stopped by the Salvation Army Store next door just for fun. Found a couple things and went right back to the P.O. to send them too! LOL! Since my taxi ride back to the mall, I poked around in B&N and have since been enjoying the benefits of Panera Bread.
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