Darlene's guide to Jacksonville

I read a letter in the Folio Weekly tonight about a gal who thought Jacksonville was the worst place she'd ever had to live. Well Rebekah, in the immortal words of Lewis Grizzard, Delta will have you in Cleveland by evenin'. Here are some great things about Jacksonville.

1) Avondale eateries - including Moon River Pizza, The Brick, Biscotti's and the West Inn

2) The beach and the river - All this water makes it a whole lot better during the summer.

3) The fact that it's still relatively cheap to live here. It's not Birminigham, but it's not the Northeast or SoCal either.

4) I don't care what anybody says, the traffic isn't that bad.

5) We are family - from the outpouring of support after 9/11 to the outstanding response after the Humane Society fire, this town is extremely willing to reach out and help their fellow man.

6) Downtown Jacksonville at night - the skyline is beautiful with all the bridges lit.

7) Outdoor Sports - The RITA tennis tourney, the Gate River Run or the MS 150. If you like to be outside playing sports, you can do it here just about all year round.

8) We still have seasons. We have a longer summer than most areas of the country and it is oppressively hot for the majority of it, but we do have a Spring, Fall and Winter. If you like cold weather, move to Chicago. If you like HOT weather, move to Miami - and learn a second language.

9) Skynrd - The Brickyard Road is a real place and you can go visit. If you go at sunset, you can almost see Steve and Ronnie watching over us. I'm proud that so many great bands came from this city.

10) The surrounding area is FILLED to the brim with history. St. Augustine, Ft. Caroline, Olustee. Our history and heritage are rich.

It's a great place to live!

Tragedy

As I sat listening to the reports about those poor souls at Virginia Tech, my heart literally broke for those that are left behind. The students, teachers, and family who will never see their loved ones again.

It makes a few things more urgent, no? Tell your family that you love them. Take advantage of every day. Follow the Father and trust Him. I learned something new in church this last week. I learned that we should believe God. Haven't heard that before right? Believe what? Believe that we'll be okay? Believe in God? Believe He is in control and that He has our best interest at heart. Don't believe in the expected outcome, believe in Him who has made you and knows the numbers of the hairs on your head.

It makes my little jobless problem seem like nothing. May the peace of Jesus be with the Virginia Tech family.

A New Life

I got laid off on Thursday. I've been with Citigroup for 15 years and now, I'm looking for a job. I admit, I was upset for about an hour. Because of my length of service with the company, I have a very generous severence package. Many others are not as lucky.

So, I'm taking about a month off to do all the stuff I've not had time to do (hello clean garage? How are you?). Hopefully, I'll not have a difficult time finding a job. Time to dust off the resume.

Lost

I love this show, but it's the most frustrating hour of television I watch every week. It's the perfect show for a geek like me. It's the only show I've watched consistently week to week in the last 10 years. I hate reality T.V. and nothing else has appealed to me. I do like to watch Law and Order: Criminal Intent, but only the eps with Vincent D'Onofrio. There's something scary-cool about that guy - or at least the Bobby Goren character - that intrigues me.

Anyway, back to Lost. I have no idea what's going on. I mean, forget the answers - I can't even remember the questions anymore. I vacuum up the data from the newsgroups every Thursday morning. I'm sure eventually, we'll figure out what's going on. I'm also sure whenever that is, it will be a huge let down.

I tried for almost half an hour to get a decent shot of me and the kids, but this is the best I could do. That's Lily on the left and Truman on the right. I've got a gawky looking smile and Lilly blinked, but the other shots have parts cut off or missing, so this turned out the best. I'll have to have someone take a better shot of us soon.

He is risen.

Hallelujah, the King of all Kings is risen. Let him be exhalted. I hope you know my Jesus. John 5 teaches about a man who had been lame for 38 years who was trying to get to the healing pools from the porches in Jerusalem. Jesus asked him if wanted to get well.

It doesn't matter what your past was or even what your present is. There is no sin that Jesus cannot forgive. Fall on your knees and ask the Great I Am to make you well. He has healed me and my miserable life even when I thought it was impossible.

It's been a glorious weekend. Praise be to the name of the Lord Almighty. Happy Easter to all of you.

Love to all.

Sneezy...or Dopey?

The "experts" have been telling us for months that this years allergy season will be the worst in 40 years. It's finally caught up to me. I played tennis this morning with a new friend. Being outside was great, because the weather is beautiful, but with the pollen and the dust blowing around on the clay courts I'm really paying for it. It feels like my brain is going to drain down through my sinus cavity. My body's immune system is kickin' in the histamine's and now I'm really sleepy.

I guess the good part is that I'm stayin' my sickly rearend home tonight. Dinner on the couch with the lovey's.

Bausch & Lomb's

Oh the glory of a vacation day. I needed a day where I didn't have to do anything but enjoy myself. My biggest responsibility yesterday was to be at the meeting place at the appointed time. I went with my girlfriends Tara and Kim up to the Bausch and Lomb Women's Tennis Championships up at Amelia Island. We met up with my other girlfriend Claudia and her family. The weather was fantastic, although a bit chilly(at least for this Florida lightweight). We watched Venus lose to Golovin and a very competitive match between Bammer and Hantuchova. I was really surprised by how skinny and tall Venus is. I guess television really does add 10 lbs. She is a healthy weight though. Not like the startlingly thin Hantuchova. Would someone give this girl a sandwich? I've read she's a recovering bulemic. She looks much healthier these days than her 2003 Wimbledon appearance.

Jaden with horsie and the girls.

Venus warming up.