Seriously....we just want to see Mimi.

We just want to get to Fort Lauderdale.

We got to Tampa airport super early for our 0830 flight to Fort Laudedale. All excited, ready to go.  Except when we checked in it said "cancelled, please see agent".
When we got to the desk, the nice woman said "I'm sorry but your flight is cancelled." Ok. Options?? "We have shuttles leaving at 830, or we can refund, or we can rebook for Monday...wait she's not flying alone right", looking at Faith, suddenly panicked.  No ma'am. I will not be sending my 8 year old on a 4 hour bus trip with strangers.

Ugh, and considering this child has been looking forward to this trip for weeks and I'm booked to return tomorrow...looks like we're going for a ride.  I snuck over to the Southwest desk and they very quickly said they were already booked.  I looked at the Silver desk (no clue who that is but they were going to ft lauderdale too) and there were already a few angry people over there...so I signed their little bus trip sheet and sucked it up.

Faith and I enjoyed some $12 airport Burger King breakfast. I tried to score us a meal voucher since I was now stuck with Spirit for 5 hours instead of 1 but the manager was too busy to speak to me.  After another $5 in airport water bottles, we finally loaded our shuttle van. I should say one positive thing, Faith sat next to another little girl and they played babies and animals.  Thank god for small favors.

We finally got into Fort Lauderdale airport at 1:15pm. Mimi picked us right up, fed us and got us right on to the boat for our scheduled play and fishing trip. A short fishing trip yielded a half dozen pretty unknown fish and about 3 massive big boys who were just too big for our lines.  Faith fought one for nearly 10 minutes before we lost it.

We came back in to have dinner at the Beachcomber, right across the street from Mimi's condo.  The place was gorgeous, the food and ambiance amazing...although the meal took about 2+hours.  After 4 hours in a van, I was pretty much done.  After an awesome desert of deep fried banana cheesecake and apple turnover, I practically begged for us to go back to the condo.  Saturday night.  Happening place.  But we were exhausted.

I'm so grateful that Faith can stay until Tuesday night. She needed this time. I did too, but she really did.

I'm scheduled to go home tomorrow night.  Pray they don't cancel because I have my first day of work about 10hours after my flights arrival...

#wetookthelongway #missedmymommy #wheresmyhusband

Warning - Tears ahead

This morning, Faith and I were going over her valentines to make sure she didn't miss anyone, when she asked if she could make something special for a boy.  "Really...do you have a crush on this boy?"  

"No mommy...he has leukemia cancer and hasn't been to school in a couple weeks.  I feel bad because he can't have friends over or swim in the pool or come to school or go ride his bike.  He's gotta sit in the hospital or his house.  I mean, I know he'll be fine in a couple months but I just want to give him something special."

The part that made me get emotional, MORE than her wanting to do something nice, was the fact that she knows he'll be fine in a while but it's probably hard now.  Whether or not that happens, she sees cancer so differently than I used to.  She's watched her aunt fight, be 'a little' sick, not be able to hug for a bit and miss some things....but "Aunt was fine mom...so he'll be fine, he'll just be a little sick like her."

Well, it was more than 'a little sick' but the thought that that is what Faith remembers and interpreted...is just mind-blowing.  

Cancer meant something so different to me when I was young...but for her, all she sees is a crappy time, followed by some so-so time, and then back to normal.  Apparently her Aunt made that look easy.  

Run, twerk, run

Last week, I came across some super fun 'workout' videos a woman had done for a dance fitness class she ran.  They were to my favorite hip hop songs so I gave them a shot.  If you're looking for super fun dance workouts, check her out: Dance Fitness With Jessica.  This girl is about to blow up on the workout scene.  The only part that makes me sad...I don't think you're allowed to use other peoples songs to make money...so it will probably be all original songs when she makes her DVD.  But I guess it's not all about me.

How effective was run, twerk, run (RTR=3 dances and 2 miles)...3lbs down in a week.  Not too shabby.  I feel like I should run a disclaimer though.  I have a pulled calf and quad muscle.  So shawty get lo...but maybe stretch first.  Oh and disclaimer number two:  You will NOT look like Shakira...or like she do it in the mirror.  Or at least I didn't.  I looked more like...I was having a seizure.  BUT that is the fun of working out at home alone.  It may not be pretty...but damn if it isn't fun and it works.  

We'll give run, twerk, run another week.  

So begins the church hunt

The child and I tried out a church this weekend.  It's something I've put off doing in the last 6 weeks we've been here because I didn't care for organized religion until I found Shore Fellowship.  As a child I went to CCD and completed my sacraments but I really didn't get it.  And my experiences in church services made me feel like I didn't want to 'get it'.  

However, when I found Shore Fellowship, it was different.  I didn't feel that constant push towards political statements.  I didn't feel like I wasn't wearing the right clothes to walk in the doors.  I didn't feel like people were all looking around to see who was going to walk in late, or with the loud child, or maybe in their work clothes because the just finished their shift.  It was very "come as you are and we're so glad you're here".

Which brings me to Sunday.  We picked this church because it was mega-looking, which typically means there are super engaging kids programs.  My thought is if the kid enjoys church, she'll want to go and that is important to me.  So once I got her situated at the appropriate time, I went into the main worship center to hunt down caffeine.  I found in a beautiful little balcony style cafe, overlooking the worship area.  Awesome.  So I sat with my drink and listened to the worship band sing and play....looking at my watch...20 minutes.  30 minutes. 40 minutes.  Now, I DO enjoy Christian music.  It gets my head and my heart right.  However, after nearly an hour of it, I was done.  

Finally, we're all ready...opening prayer begins with joining hands.  My anxiety level keeps on jumping.  Then walk around and say good morning and shake hands and hugs/kisses.  I was on the verge of hyperventilating.  I'm not a jerk...I just don't like touching strangers or them touching me.  

Then baby dedications.  When the pastor began speaking about each child and praying over them, I thought how nice.  Until he started praying that these children never encounter a liberal person or liberal ideas.  Oh and these children are proof that life begins at conception.  Talk about uncomfortable.  I was brought right back to my issues with my old Catholic church, that a pastor or priest shouldn't just make a statement and call it proof and all should follow along.

How about tolerance, love and all that other Jesus stuff???  I mean seriously?  

By the time he really got into preaching, I was so frustrated and uncomfortable...and then his sermon was about investigating church members being wolves in sheeps clothing and yadda yadda yadda.  I packed it up and sat outside in the sun to wait for the kidlet to be done...

I was absolutely correct about the kids program being huge and happy.  With a rock climbing wall, full kiddie rock band, and friendly support, it worked for Faith.  She had a blast and wants to go back.  It was so hard to explain to her that I can't take her to a church that spouts political statements about fending off a liberal society.  Once I broke it down, 8 year old style, she did get it.  We want to belong to a church that preaches love and tolerance....and doesn't take 2 hours (that makes me sound like an ass...I know).

So...I guess it's back to the drawing board.  

Ohhh school security

As my northerner friends are dealing with getting their kids out of locked down and evacuated schools, I've been trying to find a tactful way to ask the kids new school why the place is wide open with tons of unsecured access points.  Their classrooms are individual buildings with open doors, no fences and the office in the middle of them. We literally walk past open classrooms to get to the office.  Coming from NJ where you can't show up mid-day without ID, being buzzed in through locked doors, I'm a little surprised.  And when I casually asked the principal about safety procedures, she went over children not being released without ID, etc, etc.  But it looks like I could possibly just bust into a classroom and take whoever I want...

The OCD psycho-mom in me wants to ask to see their emergency plans, lockdown procedures, etc.  But that would probably put me on some sort of crazy parent watch list...

Speaking of lockdowns and crazy parents, I know it is stressful and upsetting when your child is 'locked down' in school.  I KNOW.  Faith once had to evacuate thru the woods in her old school.  I get it.  But we should remind ourselves that between police and the school staff, our kids are as safe as humanly possible.

1. DO NOT FLOOD THE SCHOOL.  Doing so distracts law enforcement from securing the area.  It draws on human resources needed to keep the kids safe.  You want your child and you expect the school to ensure your kid isn't given to anyone else.  Let them do their job.

2. DO NOT SPREAD PANIC.  Support each other, share positive or confirmed information and if you know something super important call the police.

3. DO NOT CALL THE POLICE to ask when your kid will be home.  They are busy.  VERY VERY busy.  Even a mid-size department needs outside support when securing schools and searching areas, etc, all while still responding to motor vehicle accidents, domestic disputes, etc.

4. The Police and Schools will do all they can to ensure your kid is safe.  That may even mean not putting the full-threat info out until after the situation is over.  This is typically to keep everyone safe and catch whoever is responsible.  It's not because they think you're an idiot or even because they think they're better.  It's simple for SAFETY.

5. Hug your kids.  Let them know you were a little nervous but know that everyone would keep them safe.  Or if you think they'll obsess on that, tell them it was a big test for everyone and they did great.  Then hug them again.


Finally, I still can't figure which is scarier.  A district like Hamilton, that locks down and evacuates maybe twice a year, or a district like Pasco, whose idea of lockdown is literally locking 4 access doors per classroom.  (They haven't drilled it yet in the month we've been here.).

It's hard meeting new friends

That's what my daughter told me last week as she cried in her bed.  She was missing her cousins, her bff's, her mimi, heck even her teacher.  We chatted about how it was ok to miss someone and to try to talk to them but we need to find new friends to play with here. "Well you're not trying to find friends mommy."

Point taken.  This weekend, we tried some family time at the pool.  It was impossible to relax with a power washer and leaf blower going non-stop (every Saturday for the next two months...) and the water was a little cold and a little dirty for me and Dave.  So we came home.  I asked Faith if she wanted me to bring some of her little girl friends to the pool (getting me off the hook to swim!), but I'd have to go meet and ask their parents.  Maybe mommy would meet a friend and we'd get to know some parents.

Her first friends mom was pretty nice.  The younger brother came running out wearing nothing but superman underwear and she didn't freak out.  So she seemed pretty cool, but busy.  Then on to the next house where two more of her little friends lived.  There was no mom...just a pop-pop, 6 kids including a newborn and two others in foster care.  The girls told me all of this on the 30 second walk over.  Pop-pop was very kind, asked me if I was sure I wanted to take them to the pool, because they'd been told they weren't allowed to use it because of fines for leaving bikes in the yard, trash cans at the curb, etc.  Lucky for me, I am allowed 5 guests, so we were good to go.  My poor kid was probably praying "Dear God do not let an old lady tell my mom the kids aren't allowed...and if she does please don't let my mom use curse words."

So I took 4 pre-teens to the pool (that was 70 degrees) and they played even while following all the silly rules (no running, no jumping, no horseplay, no yelling, etc etc etc).  The pool cleaner even let them go in the hot tub since they were being so polite and sweet.  

Of course peace doesn't last too long.  A few boys their age came in with their dad.  Another Yankee, transplant from Manhattan.  "After I almost got extinguished on 9/11 I decided to do something more quiet."  Literally his second sentence after "Hi my name is".  I couldn't tell if it was an attempt at a pickup or just the blunt northern style...

We all hung out for about an hour, watching the kids, talking about technology (really this guy was an odd-duck).  I collected all the children and deposited them back to their homes in one piece.  I was pretty proud of myself.  I'm not typically the kid-collecting type mom but if this kids going to have any friends, it looks like I may have to be...

As for me, I still haven't really made any new friends.  Mr. Manhattan was nice but he's a dude.  I just have to keep getting out and trying I suppose...

Our new reality

After a busy week of homework, appointments, interview and job applications, we spent Saturday at Fort DeSoto Park.  For my Yankee's, beaches are at parks and fishing piers are called boardwalks.  Very confusing.  No beach tags...but you have to pay to enter/park.  $5 was worth the day.  An hour at the dog park to wear the pup down.  He met tons of other shepherds, a pair of mastiffs, a fat old grumpy beagle, and a bluetick coonhound who really wanted to get to know Mack better.

We saw one dog muzzled.  Her owner said she has so many siblings at home that she tries to dominate at the park too.  We might consider that for Tasha, as her fear aggression is a little too unpredictable for dog parks.  The kid and I are working with her, trying to walk her a bit each day to get her socialized some more so she can join us on our family outings.

After the dog park, we *thought* Mack would be tired and just chill on the dog beach.  Then he met Poppy.  Poppy, despite his name, is a 6 month old poodle pup who was off-leash and being chased by a nice older man.  Poppy was nipping Mack's feet and playing chase in the ocean for about 30 minutes until Mack finally gave up and walked away.  

I still can't believe I live here...

A great day.

Hopefully I can get some work going here soon.  Then we can start exploring places like Lego Land, Disney, Busch Gardens...