1/23/2024 0 Comments 197) Walk With Me! Let's See the Exterior of Bay Breeze Cottages, then go to the Rod & Reel Fishing Pier!Hey Dreamers!! We’re going for a walk together today, folks! But first, I’m going to show you the exterior grounds of Bay Breeze Cottages on Anna Maria Island in Florida! So, if you didn’t catch my livestream from yesterday, definitely go back and check it out for a very detailed tour of the entire interior of our beach cottage! So today’s focus will be on the exterior… I want to show you our front porch, including a cute table and chairs set with an umbrella, and all the beach amenities just outside our front door, located in the car port area for our use. There’s even a washer and dryer there so we can do laundry while on vacation! Plus, I’ll show you the patio seating areas, umbrellas, pool and lounge area including the pool deck and the tables and chairs on the deck. There’s also two grills available for our use - one charcoal grill and one gas grill - Bay Breeze even supplies charcoal for us! We’ll see the parking and the exterior layout of the three cottages. It’s an absolutely beautiful piece of property, and roughly a block from the Gulf of Mexico and the start/opening of Tampa Bay, the location just can’t be beat! We’ll then head on down to see the famous Rod & Reel Fishing Pier, roughly one block from our Beach Cottage! We are staying on Anna Maria Island for the week and I am filming and will continue to live-stream many aspects of our trip - so be sure to keep your notifications on so you know when I go LIVE! Plus, the first stop on our journey was Ybor City Historic District in downtown Tampa. If you haven’t watched that yet, definitely go ahead and check that out as well. Thank you so much for being a part of this special, dream vacation with me! And I do hope that my sincere love for this beautiful island comes across to you on camera. If you’ve got any suggestions, tips, comments, etc., please drop me a comment down below. I would love to know your thoughts! I love you, Christine The complete playlist of our Anna Maria Island getaway, including further detailed information on Bay Breeze Cottages, can be found right here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtRd9_A1GFo&list=PLa7nooQvf7IREQ-HCw0tFA4pxOIw0YMY3 Hey Dudes! Here is the link to the Rod & Reel Fishing Pier Live Webcam: https://www.rodandreelpiercam.com/ And lastly, here’s the link to the seafood restaurant located on the edge of the pier - appropriately named - the Rod & Reel Fishing Pier: http://www.rodreelpier.com/ This was filmed LIVE on Tuesday, January 23, 2024 on Anna Maria Island, Florida. Video 265. Livestream 73. #baybreezecottages #annamariaisland #florida ___
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1/22/2024 0 Comments 196) Bay Breeze Cottages on Anna Maria Island, Florida! Cottage Room Tour, Pricing, Amenities & Features!Hey Dreamers!! It’s a “Coffee & Cottage Tour” type of morning - so grab your cup of joe and let's do this. Thanks for joining me today as I tour you around our vacation home that we are staying at this week! I’m so very excited to be back on Anna Maria Island, which is located on the Gulf Coast of the Sunshine State, south of Tampa Bay. This is our first road trip of the year 2024, and I’m so glad you can join me on this Floridian adventure. Anna Maria holds a very special place in my heart, as I will most likely explain to you throughout the course of this week together. I am hosting future live streams during our island getaway, so be sure to keep your notifications on! We actually began this trip with a livestream in the Ybor City Historic District of Tampa, which I had never been to before. So if you didn’t catch that livestream, definitely go ahead and check that out! And now that we’ve spent our first night in this phenomenal beach cottage, today I am going to showcase to you all the features and amenities of Cottage #2 ‘The Redfish’ of Bay Breeze Cottages on Anna Maria Island, Florida. I will also be detailing for you and completely honest about the exact pricing of this six night stay, and will be glad to answer any questions you may have as well. So grab your cup of coffee and we can ‘Cheers’ in this new day together on Anna Maria Island! Love you, Christine Bay Breeze Cottages is located at: 617 North Bay Boulevard Anna Maria, Florida 34216 For more information on Bay Breeze Cottages on Anna Maria Island, check out their website, below: https://www.baybreezegetaways.com/ And for more information on Anna Maria Island in Florida, check out the link below: https://www.visitflorida.com/places-to-go/southwest/anna-maria-island/ This was filmed LIVE on Monday, January 22, 2024 on Anna Maria Island, Florida. Video 264. Livestream 72. #baybreezecottages #annamariaisland #florida ____ 12/25/2023 0 Comments 188) My Christmas Wish For You... Merry Christmas Morning from Jacksonville, Florida!! Vlogmas 2023 Day 25!What I Wish For You This Christmas Day… I love you, Christine This was filmed LIVE on Monday, December 25, 2023 in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Video 235. Livestream 65. #vlogmas #merrychristmas #vlogmas2023 ___ 11/25/2023 0 Comments 157) It's Small Business Saturday! Stroll With Me As I Highlight My Favorite Local Small Businesses!Hey Holiday Dreamers!! Today is Small Business Saturday! So come along and stroll a half mile on the beautiful and sunny beach with me - as I showcase to you some of my very favorite local area small businesses - all located in the greater Jacksonville area! I hope you are having a lovely and long holiday weekend. And if you’re looking for something new and different to do - don’t forget to go ahead and patronize a local small business in your area. Small ‘ma & pa’ shops do not have the foundation and backing and investors in comparison to the massive and much larger corporations that we all use on a daily basis. Small businesses appreciate every cent brought into their shop. Small businesses near and far, local and digital, in-person or on the internet, all of them appreciate your continued support of their ventures. So go ahead and shop small today, and don’t forget that I have a small business too! There are SO many ways you can support me! I am an Artist and Writer, besides being a content creator here on YouTube. So definitely check out my website and lifestyle blog, browse and shop my motivational merch - such as tees and sweatshirts, hats, and water bottles, etc. Also, I sell all my art on my website - there is a ‘For Sale” page that I’d love for you to take a look at. I write a lifestyle blog, and have been publishing written content online since July 4, 2019 - including reviews, poetry, short stories, and lots of publications about my travels and experiences living in The Sunshine State. But gosh - guess what? One of the biggest ways you can support Christine’s Floridian Dreams is actually one of the easiest, and simplest, and it’s free to do! So go ahead and hit that LIKE button for me, SUBSCRIBE if you’re new here, and please, definitely SHARE out my content with others on your social media! I truly do appreciate and love every single one of you and I thank you for your continued support of my channel. Now get out there and support a small business today! And, by the way, thanks for strolling a half mile with me. See you in the next video! Love you, Christine See below for information on all of the small businesses I discussed and showed real, physical examples of each in my livestream today: 1) Pelindaba Lavender Amelia Island, Florida https://www.pelindabalavender.com/amelia-island-fl-a/301.htm 2) Southern Grounds & Co. https://www.southerngrounds.com/ 3) Island Donuts Atlantic Beach, Florida https://islanddonut.com/ 4) One Ocean Resort & Spa Atlantic Beach, Florida https://www.oneoceanresort.com/ Here is the YouTube video on my Channel that I referenced today about a family vacation at One Ocean Resort: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26q-gAlZRmQ 5) BeYou Jewelry https://beyou.store/ 6) Christine’s Floridian Dreams http://www.christinesfloridiandreams.com/ This was filmed LIVE on Saturday, November 25, 2023 in Neptune Beach, Florida. Livestream number 37. #southerngrounds #islanddonuts #pelindabalavendar #beyoujewelry ___ 11/8/2023 0 Comments 146) A Golden Sunrise! Good Morning LIVE from Jacksonville Beach, Florida - Let's Watch Some SurfersHey Dreamers!! Boy, I knew it was gonna be a good one, didn’t I? I titled this stream a golden sunrise well before the sun came up! I must be some sort of sunrise expert lol. Moving on - I do hope you enjoy going for a 1.2 mile walk with me. Get your steps in with me as we check out the now infamous shipwreck, once more, situated directly in front of the Jax Beach Hampton Inn. We’ll also watch some surfers catching some morning waves. Wishing you a fabulous day y’all! Love you, Christine This video was filmed LIVE on Wednesday, November 8, 2023 in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Livestream number 27. #jaxbeach #florida #goodmorning ___ 10/25/2023 0 Comments 137) Sailboat Washed Ashore in Jax Beach, Florida - Sunrise LIVE - Let's Walk 1.07 Miles TogetherSo, the good news is the boat owner is ok! Bryan spoke to him after our stream ended. The local news media was also on site to interview the boat owner. I’ve linked a news article related to this sailboat washing ashore below. Thanks for waking up the sun with me today! I hope you have a fabulous day ahead of you, and please enjoy this breathtaking sunrise in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. The weather is 70 degrees, a high of 80 degrees is forecasted. It’s a tad bit humid, but other than that, the weather is near perfection. We do walk 1.07 miles together - so get out your walking shoes, and let’s go! I was definitely not expecting the sight that awaited us when we crossed over the dunes this morning. To see a sailboat - literally - washed ashore?! It was kind of shocking. I’ve seen a lot of things washed ashore over the years, but never something this large, and this close to me. There’s been a rip current warning out, and definitely some angry waves as well. I always talk about how powerful the ocean can be - and this sight today is a prime example of the sheer power of those beautiful ocean waves. Happy Wednesday and I love you all! Christine During this livestream, I talked about drawing Dante from Coco. Thank you to Chris and Owen of Ear to Ear Magic - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcEiLkBvQZs - for streaming a live Disney Animation class taking place in Animal Kingdom Park in Walt Disney World. And many thanks to Cast Member Gabriel for teaching the class on how to draw Dante the spirit animal. I share my Dante drawing with you in a photo below. Plus, I have more images of the sailboat on shore as well. If YOU end up drawing Dante, please share your image with me - I’d love to see it! And don’t forget to let me know who is your spirit animal?? I share mine with you in this video. Filmed LIVE on Wednesday, October 25, 2023 in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Livestream number 18. #jaxbeach #florida #sunrise Here is a link to a News 4 Jax news article if you are interested in learning more about how this sailboat washed ashore: https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2023/10/25/sailboat-owner-says-series-of-unfortunate-events-led-to-stranding-on-jacksonville-beach/ ___ 10/18/2023 0 Comments 134) Mickler's Landing, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida LIVE! Wake Up The Sun With Me! Let's Walk 1 MileWhere will we all be in July of 2029? That is the question I am pondering today. And I would like you to join me on a six year journey - together. Let’s go! On Friday, October 13, 2023, SpaceX launched a Falcon Heavy rocket for NASA into outer space. I find this quite fascinating, so I invite you to join me as I ramble on about this venture - and - let’s walk one mile together on the beach while we’re discussing this massive voyage. This launch was SpaceX’s 8th Falcon Heavy, and NASA paid SpaceX a sum of $131 million to launch this mission. The mission cost to NASA is $1.2 billion. The spacecraft is the size of a tennis court, and is now traveling on a six year journey, going 2.2 billion miles away from us here on Earth. It will arrive at an asteroid in July, 2029, and then study its magnetic fields and chemical makeup. Now- all of that information is WAY too complicated for me to even begin to understand. I can barely process the fact that the rocket lifted off successfully and left Earth’s atmosphere, let alone the fact that we sent something to land on an asteroid billions of miles away. But the point I’m making here today is about the journey - the voyage itself. We are voyagers… we always have been, and we always will be. As humans, we will always be looking out at the horizon, and wonder what is beyond it. This mission acts upon that belief. And I can’t help but do some dreaming of my own today... About what life will be like when that spacecraft makes it to its destination? Where will we all be? What will we be doing? What dreams - that we have today - will we have made come true? What will we still be dreaming about - six years from now? In this video, I invite you to add your dream, or dreams, into the comment section down below. I told you my own dreams in the video, and I’d love for you to share yours with me, and with the rest of all the dreamers out there. Think of it as sort of a form of ‘accountability’ or a declaration of sorts. There is definitely power in writing down your thoughts. So go ahead and let me know what a dream of yours is that you hope to have accomplished by the time this spacecraft meets up with the asteroid 2.2 billion miles from now, and six years from now. We can all work on our dreams together, and let’s meet up on the flip side once again. I’m going to check back on this video six years from now, and let’s see what we’ve dreamed along the way together. So today, I want you to dream - dream loud, dream hard, and dream proud. I am proud of you, and you should be proud of you too. Love ya! Christine Mickler’s Landing is a public beach access located in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. At the intersection of A1A and Ponte Vedra Boulevard, there are bathrooms and showers on site, and this beach access is handicap accessible as well. Mickler’s Beach, as it’s also known, is an extremely popular spot to soak in the sun while in the greater Jacksonville area. Especially during the summer time, and weekends, Mickler’s Landing’s fairly small parking lot can be constantly full, with cars waiting in que to park, and a backup on the roadway. There are now lots across the main intersection that charge to park to help in the need for extra parking spaces. Mickler’s Landing is also a known shark tooth hunting spot. So while you may be looking out at the horizon line when you’re here, be sure to look down into the sand as well. You never know what kind of treasures you may find. Filmed LIVE on Wednesday, October 18, 2023. Livestream number 15. #micklerslanding #pontevedrabeach #florida Ron On The Go: https://www.youtube.com/@RONONTHEGO About the mission launch: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/13/watch-spacex-falcon-heavy-launch-nasa-psyche-asteroid-mission.html About the mission: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaizD3e--h8 ___ 10/15/2023 0 Comments 131) Crossing The St. Johns River Auto Ferry While LIVE! Mayport To Fort George Island, Florida!So - this adventure - I am soooo happy to bring to you! You guys - I have crossed the St. Johns River on the Auto Ferry more times than I could have ever counted. I LOVE this Jacksonville icon with all my heart. And today, I’m actually sharing it LIVE, with YOU! I hope you enjoy my trip across the beautiful and flowing St. Johns River, as viewed from inside the car, and from outside the car. Enjoy the sights and sounds - including the very loud boat horn. And while the pelicans may just be my favorite part of every trip across, please make sure to keep your eye open for dolphins, various birds, massive freight ships, Singleton’s Seafood Shack on the Mayport Village side, and the Sandollar Restaurant on the Fort George Island side of things. Our fare was $8.00 for a weekend trip. Fares are one way. There are bathrooms on both sides of the river, which come in useful, especially if you are far from home, or end up waiting for the ferry for a very long time. There are also picnic tables and a viewing platform/pavilion on either side of the river. And now, I even noticed an Amazon Locker on the Mayport side during this visit! The ferry runs seven days a week, and approximately every half hour. Have a fabulous voyage folks! Love ya’s! Christine P.S. You’ve gotta check out Island Donuts in Atlantic Beach, Florida! Did the donuts I shared with you look absolutely delicious?! Check it out next time you are in town. Cost is roughly $2.00 per donut and I believe, worth every penny! Island Donuts is located at: 363 Atlantic Blvd. Suite 6, Atlantic Beach, Florida 32233 Filmed LIVE on Sunday, October 15, 2023 in Mayport Florida, Atlantic Beach, and Fort George Island - located in the greater Jacksonville area of the Sunshine State. #stjohnsriver #autoferry #mayport #jacksonville #islanddonuts 9/12/2023 0 Comments 119) This Is How I Am Comfortable Talking To The Camera! I Put The Camera In My Face & I Talk To It.Celebrating My 100th YouTube Video!!! Hey Dreamers!! You There! Don’t Stop! Don’t Quit Now! If you’re a new content creator on YouTube… Or - Maybe you haven’t even started your channel yet? All because you lack confidence or comfort in talking to the camera…? Watch this video - to see how I handle the camera being in my face. This is my 100th video upload on my YouTube Channel (Christine's Floridian Dreams) and I made this video to celebrate that special milestone. Thank you so much for dreaming along side me in this wild and crazy life. But mostly, I made this video because I hope this can help you in any way as you pursue the dreams of your own YouTube content creator journey. Or, just to help you get out there and live the life of your dreams - each and every single day. And then - do it all over again tomorrow. If you’ve got dreams, it’s up to YOU to make them come true, and no one else. So pick up that camera - and hit record. You have a story to share with the world! For goodness sakes, TELL US! Love you, Christine P.S. Let me know how your dreams of talking to the camera are going? I would absolutely love to know… What stage of content creating are you in? How do you overcome the fear, anxiety, or awkwardness you may feel when attempting to talk to the camera? And what about all the rest of your dreams? Are you pursuing them each and every single day? Share with me in the comments… I’d love to know! This was filmed on Tuesday, September 5, 2023 in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Video 100. Places I went in this video: Sneakers Sports Grille (phenomenal food, by the way!) 111 Beach Blvd. Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 & Whit’s Frozen Custard (my favorite ice cream shop in Jacksonville Beach!) 1232 Beach Blvd. Jacksonville Beach, 32250 #talktocamera #motivation #contentcreator ___ 8/24/2021 0 Comments 110) VLOG #27] Vacuum SnoutYoutube Shorts Video #shorts Hey Everyone! Check out my first Youtube Short video! It only took me a few months to figure out how to post a thirteen second, on repeat video, lol. I had a lot of fun making it, so let me know whatcha think please. I hope y’all enjoy ;) Christine #shorts #sheltielife #dunkindonuts #shetlandsheepdogs #youtubeshorts
4/13/2021 0 Comments 104) Cookies Not Required~ Reconciling Our Irreconcilable Differences ~ I remember watching Lucy walk over to Ethel’s apartment to borrow a cup of sugar. And visa versa. I remember when DJ Tanner talked on the phone with Kimmy Gibbler. I remember playing baseball in the street. I remember when neighbors actually spoke to one another. I remember when a new family moved into the neighborhood, the locals would trek across their lawns, ring the doorbell, introduce themselves, welcome the newest residents, and drop off some baked goodies - whether it be a loaf of bread, or a plate of cookies. And it actually didn’t matter what form of food the calories were melded into, what mattered was the act of the offering. And that was it. They were now neighbors. And - They were friends. It didn’t matter who was a republican and who was a democrat. And, all the politics in the world... wouldn’t stop a neighbor from helping a neighbor in need. Someone would always be there to shovel the snow for the people nearby them. Someone would always have time, or desire, to organize that infamous summer block party. And at Christmas time, there’d always be that neighbor who wanted to host a cookie exchange - or even - set up matching light-up plastic soldiers lining the entire block. But does any of that matter anymore? Does anybody still do any of these things? Do you even talk with your neighbors? I do. But I do know it's becoming increasingly rare. With our phones in our hands, and our heads bent down, we can’t even see our neighbors, let alone talk with them, through that black and desolate screen. So, over time, with less one-on-one communication, we have now ended up in the situation we currently find ourselves: Anger. Hate. Violence. Incivility. And worse. And, no I’m not blaming the smart phone for all our worldly problems. I’m blaming us. WE - are bigger than a phone. WE - are bigger than the internet. WE - are bigger than social media. But - WE - have forgotten all this. In this crazy covid world, we have forgotten that humanity is more important than how many likes we get. That communication isn’t just one directional. And that the world isn’t one size fits all. We have even forgotten how to speak simply with one another. And how to speak civilly with one another. And without communication with another - we are no longer unified. Why does a couple, or a union, divorce? Separate, or break up? Why does a relationship end? Is it because they no longer love one another? They can no longer agree? They’re not on the same page? They have different aspirations and life goals? They feel anger and hostility toward each other? They cannot even communicate with each other any longer? They are disgusted with one another and cannot stand the sight of the other? Maybe, maybe all of the above… but maybe it’s the simple fact that they no longer want to share a life together. After all, love cannot be forced. So, what happens when we, as a nation, no longer agree with another? What happens when we no longer love our neighbors? When we cannot agree on the definition of words? We are basically speaking different languages at that point, right? Speaking different languages is not always a problem. There are people who speak different languages all over the world, and they all don’t disagree with and hate one another. It’s the actions one takes that lead to agreement or disagreement. Civility or incivility. A smile and a handshake go a long way, especially if two people standing before each other do not understand the words coming out of their mouths. But what happens when two people who do speak the same langage stand before each other, attempting communication, and one word means something to one of them, and the same word then means something else - something completely different - to the other? The meaning being contradictory, the opposite of intention… leading to anger, or violence over perceived meaning? Are we in the denial phase of breaking up our relationship in this country right now? I don’t know… maybe we are well past denial at this point. Maybe we’re well engulfed in the anger phase by now? Yes, that must be it. Because all I see is anger and hostility - on the news anyway. In real life, it’s a completely different story. In real life, I see the sun rise. I see people walking on the beach… passing each other and smiling. I see myself shopping in the grocery store. And real people being real nice to one another. I even still see neighbors helping neighbors. Could it be that the news and media paints a different picture of real life? Are we in denial of what’s really happening, or is what’s really happening just happening differently in different locales? Is one person’s perception of the same matter differently perceived by the other? Can we even wrap our heads around that question? Yes, maybe that’s it. What’s happening online really is happening, but some people can’t see it? And maybe some people see the same thing but completely differently. Who knows? But, either way, I still see us falling. My perception is I see the country falling apart. As some are still baking cookies for one another, others are beating people in the streets. Bloody and bruised. Chocolate chips and cinnamon rolls. Hatred and anger. Lemonade stands and block parties. Fires and bear spray. And, due to all this disagreement we have with each other - Is it time we broke up with one another? No. I argue, No. It’s not time. We have a long road ahead. With each other. Side by side. Agree and disagree. We should not divorce. We have reconcilable differences. We have differences - yes. But they are NOT irreconcilable. In any good, healthy, solid, and long term relationship - continuous work is required. We have work to do, indeed. But, that work must be together. Not apart. Not separate. Not under disunion. Not under false pretence. And not under a guise of fake mediation. We MUST work hard at living as good neighbors to one another. We MUST be civil. We MUST be noble. And true. And kind. And do it all for nothing in return. When did everything become about what you will get out of it? When did actions become simply about the reaction? And nothing more? After all, every time Lucy borrowed a cup of sugar, did she ever repay it? When did we start not dropping off a plate of cookies when a new neighbor moved in next door? Expecting nothing in return, except maybe a smile. A handshake. An introduction. A civil conversation? A long, long time ago, I guess. I’ll let you in on a little secret. These cookies... they don't have to be homemade. They don’t have to be the fancy recipe straight from your Grandma’s kitchen. They don’t have to be gourmet. These cookies could be a plastic box of store-bought chocolate chip cookies, sealed with a bar code and priced at $3.99 for a box of twelve from the Publix down the road. But, here’s an even bigger secret. You don’t even need to bring cookies with you. You just need to say hello. No, you see - It’s not the cookies we have forgotten, and it’s not that we cannot afford $3.99 with endless bills to pay, with worries over rent and healthcare. It’s the act of walking next door that we have truly and utterly and sadly forgotten and completely eliminated from our lives. The act of crossing the lawn, getting shoes wet from the morning dew on the blades of cut grass. Walking up the front lawn, climbing the porch, and ringing that gosh darn effing door bell - with good intention in our heart. Cookies not included. Cookies not needed. Just a Hello. Just a Welcome to the neighborhood. Just simplicity. We have definitely forgotten this simple act. And who am I to even write about it? I have forgotten it too. Well, I haven’t forgotten. I do THINK of it when someone new moves in. But that’s about it. I THINK. I don’t ACT on it. After all, who has time for all that, right? I’m the busiest I’ve ever been in my entire life. I am living my very best life. But I am NOT partaking in dropping cookies at people’s doorsteps. And maybe that’s where this whole thing has gone wrong. Right freaking there. I am truly happy. Extremely happy. Immensely happy. I am busy. I work hard. I love my family and friends. But when’s the last time I welcomed a new neighbor? I have no freaking idea. I must give myself some credit though where credit is due. This Christmas, my husband and I made hundreds of cookies - piles and piles of cookies. The proof is on my Youtube Channel if you don’t believe me. And I did deliver cookies to neighbors and strangers alike. But this is simply one small act. And today, I made a double batch of cookies for work tomorrow. A coworker's last day. For a ‘party’ and for my best wishes to send this person onto their next adventure in life. One other small act. These little acts. They do add up. They become our life. And our lives. If we are not interacting with one another regularly, in real life, then how can we have a civil relationship with each other in real life? We need to say hello. We need to get to know one another. We need to have a relationship, other than by our avatars and screen names. Outside of the computers and not reflected through our phone screens. Let’s toss aside our usernames, and use our real freaking names. So, is it time we broke up? Should we be getting a divorce? I still say NO. Now is not the time to call it quits. We have still but a fleeting moment. Not even now, as cities burn once again. Not even now, as the world seemingly readies itself for another war. Not even now, as more death engulfs the world. Not even now, as Evil reigns. And Evil thinks it’s winning. The flames having the upper hand. With fireworks in the night sky, and the Devil staring straight at us front and center. World War III on the horizon. We can still work this out. And we can stave off a civil war. But, we must heed the warning signs. We can find the reconcilable parts of our hearts. And join together once again. As one nation, undivided. And then we can have a simple block party. Hot dogs and beers all around. Slip, sliding away. Party in the USA. Everyone’s invited - Kimmy Gibbler included. And cookies are not required.~
3/8/2021 0 Comments 99) Tweet Ya Later, Twitter~Saying Goodbye to The Most Destructive Social Media Platform on the Planet~ Today I finally deleted my Twitter accounts. Accounts - plural - because I had two accounts… a public Twitter, and a private Twitter. But either way - they’re both gone as of today. So, goodbye - and good riddance - Twitter. I have had an on again/off again sorta relationship with Twitter for a few years now. But today, we formally broke up. Forever. Like - We are never, ever, ever getting back together babe. The main and exact reason for my breakup with Twitter will always be private and, thus, I am not going to share that with you here today. But I am very happy, indeed, to share that the relationship is over. OVER! And if anything I have ever written is deserving of an exclamation point in my writings, it is the previously typed one word sentence. We are divorced. Our union - dissolved. Irreconcilable differences - Checked. But - THIS - is not bad news. THIS is good news. Very good news, in fact. You see - I am now one less person on the vast, and seedy, and quite despicable platform. One less is a sea of millions. One less droplet of water in a vast ocean of destruction. And gosh, the waves were strong. Like hurricane force winds taking place. EVERY SINGLE MOMENT. OF EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Don’t get me wrong, here. There is a whole lotta good taking place on Twitter. Like - oh, let’s just say - local weather reports. Or, maybe even announcements of the special flavor of the day at the local ice cream shop. And, maybe even a Tweet from your favorite author sharing with you the title of their next and upcoming book. But the loudest voices in the room seem to be filled with hate in their hearts. And I just don’t have time for hate. My private Twitter account was the one I really enjoyed the very best, and is, sadly, the one I will miss the most. It was there, behind lock and key, that I followed all my favorite people in the world. I read their daily musings and followed along as civilized society fell apart around us all. I considered it a private diary of sorts. Where I was brave enough to declare to my private little world who I really ‘had a crush on’ at the moment, and who I ‘loved’ deeply. Who would I go to the ends of the Earth for? Only my diary knows that. And the few people whom I allowed to view that sacred, private diary. My public Twitter account, on the other hand, was very simple. And not very exciting. I had, oh, I would say, roughly about three followers, and I followed about seven public accounts - including a few bakeries. If I read an interesting piece of news, it was here that I would tweet out a link to said article. And it was here that I would find the donut of the day, and coffee of the moment. It was here that I would be informed of a 99 cent sale on medium iced coffees after 3pm at Dunkin. For goodness sake, if there isn’t anything more important in the world than to know about that sale, I don’t know what is. But, while the public realm of Twitter can be filled with innocent coffee and donuts, and surveys about which drink is your favorite - the caramel macchiato or the peppermint latte - Twitter can also be filled with a lot of destruction. At the exact same time. There may even be a hate-filled answer to an innocent survey question about what your favorite drink happens to be. if there is any place in the world that can turn a simple comment (Tweet) into the end of the world - it is on Twitter. The Hate was real people. Real. And I’m guessing that as long as you haven’t been living under a rock in recent history, then you know as much as well. Somebody always misinterprets someone else. Somebody always hates what someone else has to say. I’m not even referring to myself or my own Tweets here. I’m just referring to what I have witnessed across the entire platform. And it seems Hate breeds Hate. And the loudest voice in the room gets louder, and bigger, while the smallest voice, or the most quiet voice, gets quieter. My own footprint on Twitter was small. Very small. And I’m sure not one person on Twitter will miss me there. And guess the heck what? I certainly won’t miss that blue little bird either. Bless his little heart. I don’t think there is one single thing I will miss by not being on Twitter - except, maybe - the weather reports. It was Twitter that I have relied on during almost all previous hurricanes that have come through during the past few years. It was Twitter that stayed on strong, and kept going, if the internet service was bad to nearly non-existent. It was Twitter that I could pop on and see what the latest forecast was from a local or national meteorologist - up to the minute reports. What was the governor saying? What was the mayor’s latest press conference? Had the river flooded? Was 1st Street under water? Twitter would keep me updated. And help keep my mind at least a little bit at ease, as I watched a storm churn and whirl past us. So, I guess I’ll just have to get my hurricane weather updates elsewhere. Of course all of this is easy to say right now - in March - when the ten day forecast ahead of me is ten glorious days of sun. Easy for me to say now, when the upcoming hurricane season is still a few months away. Oh well. Many people have survived many hurricane seasons without Twitter. I’ve been one of them before. And I guess in 2021 - I’ll be one of them yet again. I said goodbye to Twitter for many reasons. Many, many reasons, in fact. And as I said already, I won’t name the reasons themselves here. And the reasons shall remain locked away in my very own private diary. But, I am overall ecstatic to share this news with you. The news of saying Goodbye. The news of hitting the DELETE button. And I’m happy to share this news with you right HERE. And NOT on social media. Alrighty then - I’m gonna go eat some Munchkins. And drink my large Iced Latte from Dunkin. And I’m really gonna enjoy another blustery and wintry day on my barrier island. And I don’t need that little Blue Bird to tell me the weather forecast today either. Because I just looked up at the beacon of sunlight staring right down at me. Beckoning me to get my daily dose of naturally derived Vitamin D, as I sit down to read a good book - by my favorite author. So, Goodbye Twitter. Tweet Ya Later. ~ If you enjoyed my ramblings and babblings, you may also like: 71] My 69 Week Break From Social Media ~ Why I Left & Why I Came Back
~Finding Peace Amidst A Simple Morning Walk~ Thought I’d post my usual (daily) Instagram image right here today - instead of actually on the social media platform I just mentioned.
Because Christine’s Floridian Dreams lives in - well… Christine’s Floridian Dreams. And while I do love Instagram, I also loathe all social media platforms. So as I watch the world seemingly crumble - and desperately attempt to continue onward - around me... That world cannot crumble me - and I continue onward as well. And I remain optimistic. As my focus goes inward. And I go for a walk. Sipping my steamy, hot, morning coffee. And I hug my furry baby. The world is at peace. Or so... it seems. While I enjoy a blustery, winter day on the coast. So today’s post - including the image, caption, and any relative hashtags - lives here, and here alone. On my website. And in MY dreams. I’ll see you again tomorrow Instagram. But for today - you don’t get even a slice of my time. ~ Cheers ~ #saturdayvibes #christinepieper #christinesfloridiandreams 5/25/2020 0 Comments #78) The Best Part Of Waking Up...The best part of waking up... Is Folgers in your cup… Sorry, I had to. If merely because I love coffee so very gosh darn much. But right now I’m actually literally stuck on Folgers. It’s cheap. It’s basic. It’s good. Buying at least one pound worth a week, and making it every single morning. In my trusty ol’ Mr. Coffee coffee maker. Just like the one my grandparents used to use every day. And all those massive amounts of coffee beans got me thinking... about mornings. And how important they are to how one’s entire day will eventually turn out to be. If you are literally rolling out of bed every morning, strolling over to the bathroom and getting right in the shower, then heading directly off to work, hair barely dry from being shampooed and conditioned - I’m here to put a thought bubble above your head, and let it pop... You may be doing mornings wrong - in my opinion, that is. For the past few years I’ve been taking my mornings quite seriously. Meaning, I devote a huge chunk of time to myself - at the start of every single day. Whether it’s exercise, reading, or a bit of both and then some, I am absolutely certain to do something just for me each and every morning. This simple act sets the path for a better day forward. I talk to you a lot about momentum - And mornings mean momentum, my friends. I take my mornings so seriously that I rise well before I need to - a good chunk of hours ahead of time actually. And the morning activity I partake in may differ as much as the day itself does. But the one act remains the very same and true each day. It’s the activity of time for self that is imperative. So, if rising early is something that you haven’t been doing, but are interested in getting started with, I’ve got a few ideas and examples to help you begin, right here: 1-Grab a book: Read. Even if it’s just five pages. Or ten. That’s how a book gets read, doesn’t it? One page at a time? 5 pages at a time? Just pick up a copy of the latest book you’ve been dying to read, put it by your bedside table, and when that alarm goes off the following morning, grab Grishman’s latest novel, Camino Winds, and read the first few pages. [Spoiler-not-spoiler - it takes place in a fictional town based on an island exactly where I live here in the Jacksonville, Florida area. And - It’s a sequel to Camino Island.] 2-Exercise: There is nothing better to kick your day into high gear than to get your body moving. Even if moving simply means stretching. If you haven’t been doing a whole lot of exercise lately, I’d highly recommend you start with some simple stretches. Add onto that routine a bit at a time, and then start walking. Days, weeks, and months later, you’ll have a solid walking routine down. And - if you miss a day, you may actually really be missing it! 3-Gain Mental Strength: I believe that mornings to myself help my mentality, my overall mental state. By doing what I mentioned up at the beginning… rolling out of bed, hopping in the shower, and driving off to work… that doesn’t allow much time for the mind to wander. Freely. So set your alarm early - far before you have to be in the shower… and simply light a candle, if that’s the best you can do at the moment. And maybe breathe. Or journal. Meditate. Make a cup of hot coffee. Sit in a hot bath - maybe, with a podcast. Chill… just…. hang out… with yourself. Your mindset will lighten. Your shoulders will become unburdened. It may take some time. And repetitiveness. But that load will lighten, I promise. Just keep at it. And let these minor, daily actions build into momentum, which will build movement, and massive action will then follow. 4-Creativity: If you are a creative person, mornings are a phenomenal time to get it all out and onto the medium you may be working with at the time. Don’t wait till the end of the night, after work, after dinner, and after dessert and night-time television, to open up your creative side. Because your best work might actually be done in the mornings. When you can rise early, to devote the time just to yourself, without any of the upcoming day’s distractions to block your outlet. If you paint, get on over to your studio. If you write, pull open your laptop, and get typing. If you are merely planning ideas and brainstorming, open up your bullet journal and get those ideas onto paper. Draw. Sketch. Apply for art shows. The list is endless. Whatever it is that you don’t have time for during the day - the time is now, to work on that. Which brings me to my own latest announcement I’d like to share with you today: Christine’s Floridian Dreams now has a YouTube Channel! It’s out there, public, and with one whole solid freaking subscriber to date… plus, one whole, whopping 49 second video, just sitting out there, waiting for you to go ahead and watch it. Wahoo! :) You can access my channel by clicking on the link below: Why YouTube? For myself, personally, It’s part of what I mention in bullet number four above - creativity. There’s a creative outlet there for me that I want to brainstorm. Explore. And paint a new picture with - so to speak. The app is the easel. The mind is the creator of the artistic content, and the video is the canvas. I see it. I envision it. And now, I’m just going ahead and doing it. YouTube has been something I’ve been wanting to do for quite a very long while now. And why have I finally decided to start it? Because I’m here to take my own gosh darn advice, y’all. The only one stopping me - is me! I have no excuse not to do something I really want to do. It’s free. I already have a smartphone. And I have a whole heck of a lot of ideas that I’m currently filming for y’all. Again - did I mention... it’s free? And this brings me back to my own creativity and how to get started with your own creative ideas... Christine’s Floridian Dreams is alive as my creative outlet. And my ultimate goal, by sharing all of my writings, paintings, Etsy shop, inspirational tee-shirts, blogs… my entire website, and now - my videos, with you - is to help you get out there and live your own dream. I’m living my dream, and I want you to know that you can live your own dreams, too. There is nothing stopping you. You are the one who has to make your own dreams come true. And once you truly understand and comprehend that fact, there will be nothing stopping you from living out your wildest and happiest dreams and goals in life. Dreams just don’t miraculously come true with the waving of a magic wand. They come true through hard work. Visualization. Planning. Plotting. Sweating. And maybe even by lighting a candle, sitting in the bathtub, and listening to a podcast... instead of sleeping in…. They come true because you took the action of getting out of bed - well before you may have been ready to. So go ahead and get started on yourself. Give yourself that momentum to a better day ahead. Give yourself the gift of your morning. When you hear that alarm go off, jump out of bed, and begin your day. Whether you want to or not... March before you feel like it. And while the best part of waking up, may very well indeed be Folgers in your cup…. it’s really the best part of the day by simply just doing whatever you want to do most in your life. You merely need to get up, dust off that big and heavy thought bubble that’s just hovering around patiently above your head like a cloud, pop it, and get started. ~
*How do you spend your early mornings? Do you allocate a good chunk of your day entirely on yourself? I’d love to know. Drop me a comment down below: Also, I’ve got some more of my ramblings and writings and adventures for y'all to check out, right here: 77] The Lost Art of the Phone Call 73] What I’m Missing Right Now 71] My 69 Week Break From Social Media ~ Why I Left & Why I Came Back 68] A Sunday Stroll 63] Mercy & Comfort 62] PERSPECTIVE @ Seaside Sculpture Park 61] Bean’s Idea List ~ 15 Daily Activities For Well Beyond 15 Days 59] REACTION ~ To World War 19 55] The Shamrock 51] Life Is Full Of Pasta-Bilities ~ Bean’s Red Sauce Recipe *Part of - Bean’s Kitchen - series 49] A Picture Worth A Thousand Words ~ Happy Valentine’s Day, World 48] Love & Donuts In The Air @ Beaches For Australia *Part of - Bean’s Coffee Shop Challenge - series 46] Key Largo, Montego, Baby Who Don’t We Go? 39] The Very Official & Quite Serious Donut Debate Of 2020 *Part of - Bean’s Kitchen - series 24] In Real Life ~ My First Visit To A Southern Living Idea House *Part of - Bean’s Coffee Shop Challenge - series I’m always trying to do something I’ve never done before - to try something new. Whether it be a new recipe in the kitchen, read a book I never thought of reading, drive a different route to get where I’m going, expand my taste buds with a new brand of coffee, or visit somewhere I’ve never been… Well, in the spirit of that continued search, we finally made it to The Grom… Angie’s Grom, that is. We had visited Angie’s Subs for the first time a while back - before the plague - and had intentions to then get ourselves on over to The Grom as well, but then everything shut down. And it only took us some freaking years to finally make it to the most local of local establishments in town here at the beach. Located at 204 3rd Avenue South in Jacksonville Beach, The Grom describes itself online as a colorful and quirky sandwich joint. They serve breakfast and lunch and coffee and sodas. And on weekends they also have a Sunday Brunch menu. With a Facebook page and an Instagram, social media is the way to stay connected with the Grom online. So if you’re looking for an online menu before going in, check them out on social for the latest and their daily specials. The Grom is a daytime cafe - of which there are a lot in town. Their hours are normally 7am-4pm on Monday through Friday, plus 7am-5pm on both Saturday and Sunday’s, with dine-in, takeout, and delivery having some limitations right now during the coronavirus situation we all find ourselves in. Described as a local dive, or the beaches dive, I knew I wouldn’t need to be dressed in my Sunday finest to visit. A tank top, shorts, and some flip flops are more than dressy enough, and most people get their food while going or coming to the beach for the day. And with the early morning start, it’s a great, quick stop to get coffee on the way to work for the day. Angie’s also sells reusable drink mugs too for hot coffee refills to go. On this day, we were once again out on a morning walk with the pooch. And decided it was finally time to pay them a visit. The vibe is fun and most definitely beachy. Silly, and most certainly colorful. There isn’t a dry or boring space on any wall. Service is fast-casual, paying at the counter, then waiting for one’s order to be called. Out the front door and around to the side, there’s a cute little outdoor seating alcove that we found ourselves situated at, enjoying the beautiful morning. I’ve been in love with the tall palm tree being hugged by a table and chairs forever and glad to finally sit at it. For purposes of this visit, we ordered two hot coffee’s, to go. Plus hubby ordered the breakfast burrito/wrap meal - which comes with home fries. They also offer iced coffee - already premade and sweetened. We opted for the hot coffee, adding cream and no sweetner. Our total for two coffee’s at $2.50 each, plus the single breakfast meal at $5.99, was $11.76, plus tip. The price for a cup of coffee is certainly one of the cheapest around, and the cup a generous size as well. Actually, word of mouth has it that Angie’s offers generous portions and remains extremely inexpensive. I would say that rumor is true. With our cups of coffee being quite large - comparable to a Starbucks venti size hot drink, and the portion of food in the to-go box, we definitely got our money’s worth. In fact, my coffee was so large I didn’t finish and put the rest in the fridge, to reheat the next morning. Fast, simple, and in and out. We took our order home to eat on the balcony. Another Sunday at home. Another week on the way. And another place I’d never been checked off my imaginary list… What something new did you do this weekend? And what something new will you be trying this week? ~
*Have you been to Angie’s Grom? What’s your favorite item on their menu? I’d love to know. Drop me a comment down below: Hey - you there - If you’re looking for the rest of Bean’s Coffee Shop Challenge, check out the links below: 72] Breezing Through Life @ Breezy’s Coffee Shop 69] Chaunie’s Coffee Truck 67] Delicious & Delightful Days @ The Delicomb 60] Welcome To Muffin Land ~ The Ugly Cupcake & Muffinry 48] Love & Donuts In The Air @ Beaches For Australia 44] Nothing Finer Than Coffee In The Keys ~ The Coffee Plantation Cafe 39] The Very Official & Quite Serious Donut Debate Of 2020 9] Sago Coffee: A Cup Of Friendly & Flavorful Florida Also - you may wanna browse through some more of my ponderings, and poems, here: 73] What I’m Missing Right Now 71] My 69 Week Break From Social Media ~ Why I Left & Why I Came Back 68] A Sunday Stroll 65] The Sea Life ~ Happy Easter 64] Stay-At-Home Sunday ~ Palm Sunday 63] Mercy & Comfort 62] PERSPECTIVE @ Seaside Sculpture Park 61] Bean’s Idea List ~ 15 Daily Activities For Well Beyond 15 Days 59] REACTION ~ To World War 19 57] First Watch on the First Coast 55] The Shamrock 54] Um, Open @ Angie’s Subs 51] Life Is Full Of Pasta-Bilities ~ Bean’s Red Sauce Recipe *Part of - Bean’s Kitchen - series Remember when it was somebody’s birthday? Ohhhh, so very, very long ago… Candles would be lit. A song would be sung. And the birthday boy, or birthday girl, would take in a big breath - with their lungs - and blow out all the candles. And then everybody would clap. The cake would be sliced. Every piece passed around - a plate of deliciousness for all at the party. Everybody sharing, in an act of celebration. Another person a year older - another piece of cake to commemorate the occasion. A fork in one hand. A plate of frosted, sugary goodness in the other. And without giving it a second thought, everyone would bite into their slice of dessert, even though somebody had just previously breathed upon said cake? Sacrilege! Those moments are now gone. But a girl can dream - right? No one will look at a birthday cake the same way again now. Because, while we all still may eat the cake, the sentiment just isn’t the same. And while we all still may sing a song… and candles can still be blown out… the world has once again changed. And I miss that corresponding sentiment. I miss a whole lot more than just that though. I miss it all... I miss coffee shops. I miss restaurants. I miss saying, “Table for two.” - Instead of “Two dinners to go, please.” I miss smiles on unhidden faces. I miss laughter. I miss jokes. I miss friends. I miss family. I miss parties. I miss the library. I miss fairs, carnivals, rides, cotton candy, and sno cones. I miss Art Shows, Art Walks, Art Festivals, craft shows, and concerts. And I still don’t miss nfl football. I miss my once a year and very boring visit to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle Department. Otherwise known as the FLHSMV. In fact, I miss that a whole heck of a lot more than football. And I missed out on the opportunity to see Hamilton - right here in Jacksonville, back in March. My tickets - sadly, refunded to my credit card. I miss the smell of a book, just picked up from the library, as I crack open the spine. I miss handshakes. I miss milk shakes. I miss hugs. I miss kisses on the cheek. I miss the darn dentist. I miss joy and good cheer. I miss good will to all people. I miss Christmas. I miss Walt Disney World. I miss All-You-Can-Eat Buffets. I miss unlimited scoops of ice cream, from large tubs, on the dessert line of the above-mentioned buffet. Where I can pick up my own cup, take the cold steel scoop, push it with my own hands into the milky cream, releasing chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry into my own cup. My very own ice cream mountain - as high as I want to make it. I miss simple get togethers - large and small. I miss people’s faces when I communicate with them. I miss the act of meeting up with those fellow humans - in person. In real life. I miss being able to hear that fellow human being, clearly, when they speak to me - their unmuffled voice carrying into my ears, and the sound of it not being blocked by a cloth mask. I miss people treating one another as fellow human beings - and not treating others as the walking plague. I miss closeness. I miss happiness all around us. I miss people leaving their house like it was just another day. I miss life… I miss seeing other people living their lives. I miss faith over fear. But just because I miss all these very simple things, doesn’t mean I haven’t been doing them, and living them, myself. In fact, I’ve been the busiest in my entire life - during the long and drawn out and quite dramatic duration of this entire, never-ending plague. Regardless of life outside my own front door. I am breathing. I am communicating. I am celebrating. I am being responsible for myself. I am making my own life decisions. I am sucking it up. I am dealing. I am not only surviving. I am proud and happy to be fully alive. I am living. I am reading. I am planning. I am dreaming. I am pursuing. I am working hard. I am exercising. I am writing. I am painting. I am utilizing this time to become stronger. To learn. To grow. To try new things. And most importantly, I am persevering. And I am coming home from work - and I’m stepping right in the shower, washing the invisible and mysterious and confusing plague off me each night. And, I’ve learned a lot. And I’ve learned what I already always knew - how imperative each breath we take really is. So let’s all inhale. Breathe in - In the face of fear. Exhale - and keep going, my friends. Exhale and continue onward. Exhale and push forward. Exhale and persevere. And if it happens to be your birthday, go ahead and exhale a big breath straight onto your very own birthday cake candles... Yes, I know that’s exactly what we will be doing this weekend. As we celebrate my hubby’s birthday, we will dine out, along the water’s edge, for our First Supper since the plague began. We will sit at tables, amongst other human beings. All partaking in the common and essential act of breathing, and eating. And I will pick up the special cupcake creations I ordered from Cinotti’s Bakery. And I will slap some candles on top of the frosted red velvety goodness. I will light the flame. And I will sing “Happy Birthday!” And my furry baby will probably sing a lot louder than me. And most importantly, my hubby will then inhale with his own set of two lungs, and exhale hard on top of all the frosting, extinguishing that flame. And then we will eat all the darn sugar. ~
*How have you been living through this plague? Are you persevering? Are you experimenting with new ideas? Are you at home brewing up new talents? Are you getting fresh air? I’d so love to know. Drop me a comment down below: Also, if you’re enjoying my Floridian daydreams, then check out some of my others, right here: 71] My 69 Week Break From Social Media ~ Why I Left & Why I Came Back 68] A Sunday Stroll 65] The Sea Life ~ Happy Easter 64] Stay-At-Home Sunday ~ Palm Sunday 63] Mercy & Comfort 62] PERSPECTIVE @ Seaside Sculpture Park 61] Bean’s Idea List ~ 15 Daily Activities For Well Beyond 15 Days 59] REACTION ~ To World War 19 55] The Shamrock 51] Life Is Full Of Pasta-Bilities ~ Bean’s Red Sauce Recipe 49] A Picture Worth A Thousand Words ~ Happy Valentine’s Day, World 44] Nothing Finer Than Coffee In The Keys ~ The Coffee Plantation Cafe 42] Where Does The Chicken Cross The Road? 39] The Very Official & Quite Serious Donut Debate Of 2020 18] Sea & Sky Jax Weekend ~ Fun In The Florida Sun, Sea, Sky & Sand *Part of - Bean’s Coffee Shop Challenge - series If you’ve been patiently waiting for Starbucks to reopen their doors, you may want to consider checking out Breezy’s while you’re in Jax Beach. As the coffee giant closed their doors at the beach a few weeks back, those long days might have well been eternity. But a lot of the local shops, the small businesses trying to survive, having been doing their best to remain open - for to-go service. So as Starbucks remained closed, and in my infinite search to find every coffee shop around, I was reminded of Breezy’s. Located directly on A1A and 237 8th Avenue South, and less than three blocks from the sandy and breezy beach, Breezy’s Coffee Shop is the ideal cafe if you’re looking for a quick, yet relaxing, outing. It’s small, alright. And it’s quaint, and charming. And while Starbucks is my usual go-to coffee shop, I was extremely glad to find myself at Breezy’s doorstep on a sunny and cheerful day along the coast. Situated in a bright yellow old beach cottage, the cafe is on the first floor of the home. There is plenty of outdoor seating around back on the outside patio. Although, for purposes of this visit, there was no on-site dining allowed due to the coronavirus - which was just fine for hubby and I. We were on a morning walk with our furry baby when we stopped in. I had been to Breezy’s only once before. It was about a year ago. And it was right around two o’clock in the afternoon. We walked in and were informed they were closing for the day. We made a quick purchase, and hadn’t been back since. I figured, no time like the present to head on back for a second outing. So if you are headed to Breezy’s you’ll want to make note of the somewhat limited business hours. They close at 2pm five days a week, and are open until 9pm for wine on Friday and Saturday evenings. So while it is definitely a local cafe, and an alternative to Starbucks, there’s nothing like the dependency of Starbucks’ hours of operation if you are a busy person like I am. Also due to the coronavirus, there was one copy of their menu outside the building. It was sitting on a bench. It was suggested that we look at the menu outside, then come on inside once we were ready to place our order - all to-go, obviously. So I went inside to order. And I was reminded of how much I cannot wait until dine-in is once again allowed. Such a cute little shop, with cozy seating, and newspapers ready and waiting to be read, all set out. Even if just chilling out for a few minutes to soak in some air conditioning, coffee shops remain a wonderful place, in my book, to cool off. We both ordered two frozen lattes. To go along nicely with the hot weather on our early morning walk. And hubby ordered the sausage breakfast sandwich, which comes on sliced pita bread - he was given the ham sandwich instead - but enjoyed it just fine. I ordered a slice of the homemade banana bread - the infamous bread of the moment - during the pandemic. I highly recommend the banana bread. Our total was $19.80 for the two cold drinks and the two breakfast items. And if you are a fan of seeking out and photographing all the local wall murals in town, Breezy’s is the place to be for that as well. The surrounding area buildings and alleyways are painted, so if you’re sitting outside at the cafe, you’ll have a fun time gazing at all the art while you’re soaking in the sun. Yes, it was definitely a gorgeous spring morning at the beach. And I was so grateful to be outside, walking, and with my doggy. We walked home the rest of the way with our cold and refreshing drinks. Passing Starbucks up, enroute home and merely two blocks away from Breezy’s… I immediately noted their first day of operation since the coronavirus had them closing their doors! Exclamation point well deserved. The drive-thru line might have well been a mile long according to my eyes. I was not the only one happy to see them open and alive once again. Arriving home, and grateful for my breezy and beachy outing… feeling all the calming coastal winds while out exploring... I made note of plans for the following day - I will most definitely be at Starbucks tomorrow. ~
*Have you been to Breezy’s? Have you missed Starbucks as much as I have during this crazy pandemic? I’d love to know. Drop me a comment down below: Also, for the rest of Bean’s Coffee Shop Challenge - check out the links below: 69] Chaunie’s Coffee Truck 67] Delicious & Delightful Days @ The Delicomb 60] Welcome To Muffin Land ~ The Ugly Cupcake & Muffinry 48] Love & Donuts In The Air @ Beaches For Australia 44] Nothing Finer Than Coffee In The Keys ~ The Coffee Plantation Cafe 39] The Very Official & Quite Serious Donut Debate Of 2020 9] Sago Coffee: A Cup Of Friendly & Flavorful Florida Plus, if there’s a diner in town - I’ve been there! And if there’s one you think I need to visit - PLEASE - let me know! You can check out my visits to many local area diners, right here: 57] First Watch on the First Coast 50] Sundays Are For Diners ~ Super Diners 40] Visiting The Florida Cracker Kitchen ~ Jacksonville 19] Another Broken Egg Cafe ~ A Taste Of NOLA @ The Beach 16] Beach Diner ~ If You Feed Them They Will Come 4/24/2020 0 Comments #69) Chaunie’s Coffee TruckPart of - Bean’s Coffee Shop Challenge - series Well I never thought I’d live to see the day that Starbucks is closed. I mean - like - really closed. Not closed early; not closed for a holiday; not closed for training. Just - closed. With no predetermined opening date either. In the Jax Beaches area, at least. Sigh. The CoVid19 crisis is certainly upending all types of area businesses at this point. Large and small, local and chain. There is nothing remaining that is unaffected in some way by the coronavirus at this point. And Starbucks has been closed for many days now - a few weeks actually. The place that I have relied upon for outings of all kinds, remains shuttered. I’ve been there on vacation, I’ve been there on the funnest days of my life. On Thanksgiving Day... On Christmas Day... I’ve been there in New Orleans, sitting inside the window, watching the electric street car go past on the outside. I’ve been there on the hardest days of my life. I’ve been there in Rochester, Minnesota, on days with the coldest sub-zero temperatures I’ve ever felt in my life. I’ve shared iced frappuccinos with my dearest friends, while standing on Main Street USA. I’ve been there for meetings. For friendship. For chatting. For reading. And, oh yeah, for some coffee, too. So, with Starbucks literally being closed, and me still leaving the house every single day for work and life, I’ve been seeking out all the small coffee shops in town. Anyplace - and anywhere - that still has their doors open. Just like my recent outings to the Ugly Cupcake & Muffinry, and The Delicomb. If it’s open, I’ll be trying it. I’ve always been a fan of all the chain shops and equally all the small shops. Which is why I started Bean’s Coffee Shop Challenge to begin with. Basically, if it’s coffee - I tend to be a fan. In fact, I may like coffee just as much as I like donuts. Yeah, I guess those bold beans are basically up there at the top of the list for me. So today I’m extremely happy to showcase another exciting and very unique coffee adventure in the greater Jax area: Chaunie’s Coffee Truck! And all it took was a virus, a global plague, and complete and total economic destruction, to finally lead me there! And to the absolute cutest truck in town, by the way. I have actually been searching out Chaunie and her truck for a couple of years. A few years back I had my first iced latte from Chaunie’s while they were parked at an Art Walk in Jax Beach. But considering the entire business concept of a food truck is on wheels, and moving around, my schedule has simply never matched that of her truck, since my initial introduction to it back in the day at that fest. But then, just recently, I happened to find her Instagram page. So I followed, and started watching where she was going to be each day. Noticing a day scheduled in Ponte Vedra Beach, on my day off, and it was finally a date. We drove around the town of Ponte Vedra Beach - the small coastal town just south of Jax Beach, and found Chaunie’s black and minimalist and very cool truck, parked in the Ponte Vedra Lakes neighborhood, next to a small pond at the very end of a cul de sac. As we parked and walked up, we noticed people from the neighborhood, walking away with hot cups of coffee, and some walking up to make their purchases. Word was definitely out that there was a coffee truck sitting in the neighborhood. There were friends and neighbors, standing around the curled street, chatting and sipping. Chaunie said that she has been taking her truck all over Jax through the pandemic. Knowing how entire neighborhoods of people were simply - at home - she wanted to bring coffee - to them. A superb idea! She had just recently traveled out to Julington Creek. And was then in Ponte Vedra Beach. And the next day - onward to another residential area in the Jacksonville greater community. And continuing. I mentioned that I had my last cup of coffee from her truck at a local fest in Jax Beach. And I was super excited to finally get another cup. I ordered a hot latte, and hubby ordered an iced latte. All one size - no option for a small or large. Chaunie then mentioned that she was serving breakfast that particular day. That even though she didn’t have her menu out, she was serving hot breakfast sandwiches and cinnamon rolls with iced frosting. We basically said - what the heck... We were already there, how’s about breakfast with our coffees? So I ordered one of her homemade cinnamon rolls, and hubby tried the breakfast sandwich - which came with bacon, eggs, and cheese. Both were delicious, and we could definitely taste that everything we ate was very much homemade. Our total for two breakfasts and two hand-crafted espresso drinks - to go - was $21.70, plus tip. Chaunie’s Truck does take credit card, so you do not need to have cash on you at the time of your visit. I thanked Chaunie for being out there. And mentioned we would definitely be seeing her again. We walked back to our car and drove on toward home. I wondered when Starbucks would open its doors, once again? When will I be able to sit inside a coffee shop, listening to relaxing and calming cafe music, while reading a book and sipping a steamy latte? I pondered how certain businesses may be thriving right now, and how many, many others, are on the absolute verge of dying. And while I don’t ever have my sights on planning to visit any cafe in Rochester, Minnesota, ever again, even if someone paid me a million dollars, I also thought to myself - when will I once again stand on any ol’ Main Street in the USA? Sharing a laugh, and clinking our cups in cheer, with friends? As we stand closer than six feet from one another - to cheers, of course. Ohh, sigh. A simple outing, during another “stay-at-home” sort of day. We had been on a lovely walk. We had soaked in the fresh Floridian air. We supported a local area small business - during the absolute worst time of my life on this Earth I have ever witnessed, for any small business. And maybe, most importantly, we drank some bold and delicious coffee. ~
*Have you visited Chaunie’s Coffee Truck? Do you have a favorite coffee truck driving around your town? I’d love to know. Drop me a comment down below. Also - here’s more coffee, and more beans! Bean’s Coffee Shop Challenge: 67] Delicious & Delightful Days @ The Delicomb 60] Welcome To Muffin Land ~ The Ugly Cupcake & Muffinry 48] Love & Donuts In The Air @ Beaches For Australia 44] Nothing Finer Than Coffee In The Keys ~ The Coffee Plantation Cafe 39] The Very Official & Quite Serious Donut Debate Of 2020 9] Sago Coffee: A Cup Of Friendly & Flavorful Florida Plus, you can check out some more dining reviews of many local area diners all around Jax, right here: 57] First Watch on the First Coast 54] Um, Open @ Angie’s Subs 50] Sundays Are For Diners ~ Super Diners 40] Visiting The Florida Cracker Kitchen ~ Jacksonville 19] Another Broken Egg Cafe ~ A Taste Of NOLA @ The Beach 16] Beach Diner ~ If You Feed Them They Will Come 4/19/2020 0 Comments #68) A Sunday StrollSo we went for a walk this Sunday - as we normally do. But there was one minor change to our morning routine. And… yeahhhh… I’ve officially become - that person. You know, the one who pushes a doggy stroller around town... Not ashamed. Not embarrassed. Not sad. Not mocking. And not making fun. Quite the opposite in fact. I’m soooooo happy. Very happy. Overjoyed. I actually know quite a few people who have a doggie stroller in their life, and all who do are sincerely happy with their purchase. They are the ones who gave me the idea in the first place, long ago. This amazing contraption and piece of complete and utter materialism was one of the best purchases I have ever made for the life and health and welfare of my precious little angel pooch... My dog is - sadly - getting older. Whether I like to admit it or not. This purchase has been a long time coming. A very long time. My little sugar plum fairy has had arthritis for many years. She limps, and tries, to keep going. Continually moving. Little things hurt her and if she jumps up a chair or down the stairs wrong she’s in a lot of pain for days. And then she limps more. Thus, her walks are increasingly shorter and shorter. But she loves her daily adventures and loves being outside. As is the life of a dog. And really, this whole pandemic “thing” going on in the world is what made me decide to go ahead and just buy the darn thing already. Cause there’s nothing like a pandemic surrounding a respiratory virus to prove how important fresh air really is. And our walks must go on. So the first day of this whole crisis that our little creature started limping, once again... was the very day I went ahead and placed the order. I refuse to have her “stuck” at home just because she couldn’t walk very far. Especially with her humans still out there exercising and walking and getting their fresh air - and the world in crisis… It just didn’t seem right to have to cut the walk short for her, or leave her at home altogether, just so we could go on a very long walk without her. So I made the executive decision to visit Chewy.com. And I quickly bought what I’m calling her buggy - her new ride. Now Miss Madeline can ride around town in style. And not miss out. On FRESH AIR. That we all need in this life. Plague - or no plague. Because fresh air can do wonders. For doggies too! So I purchased the Paws & Pals Deluxe Folding Dog & Cat Stroller, in black. The cost was $129.99, plus $9.10 in tax, for a total of $139.09. And yes, you can zip a cat in the netting, allowing them to sit, safely, so they can’t escape! How cool! Free shipping goes along with any purchase through Chewy costing $49.00 or more. And I set up a free Chewy account while I was at it - so now we can order dog food and medicine and other supplies if needed as well. I don’t anticipate needing to buy much from the site, as most all of her purchases are made at Petsmart, in person, and not online. But then again, I’m always happy to try out new or different pet suppliers. And mostly I’m just happy we finally made this purchase for our little angel. Then the day came when our stroller “finally” arrived to us - with impressively fast shipping actually. And we went on a lovely Sunday morning stroll. And I’m so happy that Madeline absolutely loved her buggy! She walked shorter than her usual route - and slower - and I could tell she was done, tired, in pain. This was when we normally would have gone immediately home. But noooo - not today! Prepared for everything - we finally were! We plopped our little ball of fluff into her new and comfy seat. We gave her some ice water. And then we continued onward. We walked for a much longer time period. Like - a lot longer. We walked a length that Madeline never would have been able to do and something I usually do all by myself. But this Sunday we were able to do it as a family of three! For the very first time. So it was a very good Sunday indeed. And we even made it to The Delicomb - once again. Enroute home on our walk, we just so happened to walk past the coffee shop, and quickly ordered two large lattes to go. You know I didn’t happen to plan things that way, right? And then, as our lovely Sunday morning stroll was reaching its conclusion, we were headed toward home and sipping our coffee, I saw something blue on the ground. I can’t see for anything, and from a distance I thought it was a piece of trash. But we got closer and I let out a gasp. If there is any reason to love Jax Beach that does not include the ocean - it is for all the little things. Yes, these little things. Like rocks! I found another scavenger hunt rock! People all over town paint rocks in their spare time and hide them - some hidden very, very well - camouflaged and tucked away - and some hidden more so in plain site, sitting out front-and-center - so people like me can actually find them. And I have never met a painted rock I didn’t like. And today’s rock was no exception. On the front is usually the artistic and painted design. And on the back is usually written who made the rock and/or how to tag it online to acknowledge the find. #jaxbeachrocks on Facebook is the usual group that I tend to find from. But I’ve found some from much farther away too. After you tag online you can then rehide it - so someone else who may just need a rock in their life at this very moment - can also get in on the fun. And some rocks do not come with a tag and you can keep them for your rock collection if you like. I have a small rock collection going right now sitting in my art studio. They bring me joy every time I look at them. And that is exactly the whole gosh darn point. Joy. There is joy in all the little things in life. And whether we like it or not, life is still going on. And we have to keep going. And we have to keep walking too. I learned a long time ago a very simple equation: MOVEMENT = LIFE So even though my little doggie is getting older. I have found a way for her to keep moving. I’ve found a way for her to still get her fresh air. For her to see the world around her. As I breathed in the delicious and heavenly scent of all the flowers blooming around me. I have found a way for Madeline to do the very same. For her to still keep moving and breathing and living. And soaking up all that surrounds her. And while this societal and economic crisis is affecting the pocketbook to the extreme right now, there isn’t a penny I wouldn’t spend on my little baby to help allow her to have her very best life possible while she is on this Earth. And if buying a doggie stroller allows her to have some more time with us during our day, seeing new things, and going farther on a walk than her four little paws could ever take her, then $139.09 is sincerely worth it to me right now… Plague or no plague. Since this entire crisis began it has been food and rent. Food and rent. Nothing extra. Nothing extravagant. But that doesn’t count for Madeline. I would happily even go into deep and severe credit card debt if it meant even the chance of saving her life somehow. So this cost was so worth it to me, and really not even a significant investment in comparison to the absolute joy it brought her - instantly. If you have a dog. And your dog is older or hurting and in some sort of pain, or injured or disabled. And if you have been on the fence about buying a dog stroller. Or if you have a cat - and always dreamed of bringing them along on a walk. I am here to tell you to go ahead and make that silly and ridiculous and oh-so-funny of a purchase. Yes - it might just be the most comical purchase of your life. And - It may make a lot of people laugh at you along your walking route while you’re on your Sunday morning stroll. But guess what - they’re not actually laughing at you - they’re really just laughing with you. Because it also may just bring your whole family together. And it may even bring you rocks. And mostly, it may just bring you some very needed JOY. ~
*Do you have a doggy stroller? Have you ever considered purchasing one but are on the fence? I’d so love to know your thoughts. Drop me a comment down below: Also, if you’re enjoying my stories - straight and freshly squeezed from The Sunshine State, check out some more of my other adventures right here: 67] Delicious & Delightful Days @ The Delicomb 65] The Sea Life ~ Happy Easter 64] Stay-At-Home Sunday ~ Palm Sunday 63] Mercy & Comfort 62] PERSPECTIVE @ Seaside Sculpture Park 61] Bean’s Idea List ~ 15 Daily Activities For Well Beyond 15 Days 60] Welcome To Muffin Land ~ The Ugly Cupcake & Muffinry 55] The Shamrock 52] Keeping Cool - And Creamy ~ In Key West 51] Life Is Full Of Pasta-Bilities ~ Bean’s Red Sauce Recipe 50] Sundays Are For Diners ~ Super Diners 49] A Picture Worth A Thousand Words ~ Happy Valentine’s Day, World 48] Love & Donuts In The Air @ Beaches For Australia 46] Key Largo, Montego, Baby Why Don’t We Go? 44] Nothing Finer Than Coffee In The Keys ~ The Coffee Plantation Cafe 42] Where Does The Chicken Cross The Road? 41] Minnie The Daschund Mouse & Her Birthday Wish 39] The Very Official & Quite Serious Donut Debate Of 2020 38] The Year Of The Sweater ~ Bean’s Minestrone Soup Recipe 32] Jolly Holiday In Jarboe Park ~ The Beaches Green Market 31] Tuesday’s On First Street ~ The Jax Beach Art Walk ~ 22] Saturday On San Pablo Island 3] The Dog Days Of Endless Summer *Part of - Bean’s Coffee Shop Challenge - series How does one “do” coffee shop outings during a pandemic? In-and-out is the basic and simple answer - in this, our new and current reality. After my visit to the Ugly Cupcake & Muffinry a couple weeks ago, plus many recent visits to other local area restaurants for take-out, I knew exactly what to expect when I decided to visit the Delicomb this week. And I wasn’t surprised at all but the sight of my surroundings. I’ve been visiting the Delicomb for a few years now. It’s one of my favorite coffee shops in Jax to go inside and soak in all the air conditioning, while sitting in a big comfy, leather chair. As well as to sip a delicious and foamy cappuccino, while reveling in the delightful and coffee-filled atmosphere. And further, to always be surrounded by a bunch of unique and local art on the walls. But this time, walking in the shop was very, very different. There’s something quite sad about walking into an establishment - that is open for business - and seeing all their chairs - hanging, in a frown face and upside down - from the tops of every tabletop. It can definitely bring about the feeling of defeat. The sight of depression. And the imagery of uncertainty - and loss. And while all I wanted to do was sit down and chat for a while, I knew that wasn’t possible under our surreal and very pandemic of circumstances. By this point of the coronavirus crisis, I’m simply grateful a coffee shop in town still has their doors open. Especially considering that even my beloved Starbucks is currently closed here at the beach. Located at 102 6th Avenue North, the Delicomb is a charming little cafe, sitting right in the heart of Jacksonville Beach, Florida. They’re open 7am-4pm, Tuesday through Sunday, and always closed every Monday. Situated kiddy-corner from the new Margaritaville Resort - currently under construction - and across the street from the Casa Marina Hotel. The Delicomb offers the typical assortment of hot and cold coffees and espresso drinks, all of which are fantastic. I almost always get the large hot latte - as I did on this occasion. And hubby chose the iced latte. We’ve also had the granitas many times in the past - and if you haven’t had one before, I’d highly recommend trying one. They remind me of coffee flavored Frappuccinos, and are perfectly refreshing on a very hot day, and to bring along to the beach. It was mid-morning when we ventured inside the cafe this visit. We had just finished a long morning walk - a daily act I consider very important and high priority, just as important as the fresh air itself. So with it being morning, and having not had our breakfast just yet - we each decided to grab a bagel, to go, along with our drinks. Hubby chose the everything bagel and I decided on the whole wheat bagel, both toasted with cream cheese, and both fabulous. The Delicomb also has a large selection of sandwiches, açaí bowls, salads, wraps and paninis. I’ve had the scrambled two-egg breakfast sandwich many times in the past as well, and it’s a fantastic grab-and-go hot meal. And because of the circumstances, we literally did just that. We grabbed... and we went. We grabbed hold of our steaming lattes, and quickly left the shop after thanking the baristas. We could not sit underneath the shaded outdoor patio either, as all the tables and chairs have been removed to follow the current social distancing guidelines. We then sat on the curb and ate our bagels for a few minutes, and then headed home. Oh, sighhhh. By this point of the CoVid19 plague we are surrounded by, I’m thinking … Does one go on without coffee? Is life - life - without a coffee bean? Is coffee essential? Are those magical beans a necessary purchase? As I sipped my creamy and steamy hot latte, my answer to all of the above was, and is, yes. And thus, is the reason I’ve been trying to support as many local shops as humanly possible during this critical time period. It is my sincere hope that you also leave the house… and grab a coffee… To-Go. Get out there and support your local area cafes, coffee shops, and diners. Many are still open and very ready to serve - just in a different capacity than most are used to. Offering take-away, curbside, online pickup, and grab-and-go. They’re all a big part of what makes any town special. And besides - It’s absolutely imperative that we all get out there and get some fresh air. Pandemic or no pandemic. So don’t y’all forget to go for a walk now and then - or every day, as I do. Let’s all breath IN the fresh air of our Mother Nature - and let’s breathe OUT the stress of the news. We all can INHALE the aroma of espresso - and EXHALE the worries and thoughts of doom and gloom. We can all listen for the sounds of a milk frother - and not for the sounds of sirens in the distance. Let’s all say HELLO to those working outside the home all around you - As we all say GOODBYE to sticky, and yucky, and very clingy and needy viruses… Or at least attempt to say goodbye… And Good riddance…. And… Oh yeah, one more thing - Don’t let the door hit ya’ on the way out, either. Whenever a hurricane comes to town, all the Floridians always say we’re gonna BLOW it away. No matter what hurricane is headed our way, I tend to think that big and forceful “goodbye” comes with all the strength of all our lungs. It’s the strength of togetherness that makes one think they can blow a hurricane away, or even the mere wish for it to be gone. As one little blow can snuff out a candle. But it takes a much larger gust indeed, to change the course of a storm. So we all need to keep fighting. We all need to keep living. Even while at home. Even - Amidst a plague. Because… life is still going on all around the world. And because pretty soon those chairs will be right side up once again. And because - Pretty soon that frown will turn itself around - right here - and in your community too. And pretty soon those seats will really be filled, once again. Because - We all need to keep going. We all need to keep living while we’re alive. And we all still need our very delicious, and indeed delightful, morning coffee. ~
*Have you been to The Delicomb? What coffee shop are you desperately missing right now? I’d love to know. Drop me a comment down below: And to check out the rest of Bean’s Coffee Shop Challenge, as well as reviews of various Floridian diners - check out the links below: 9] Sago Coffee: A Cup Of Friendly & Flavorful Florida 16] Beach Diner ~ If You Feed Them They Will Come 19] Another Broken Egg Cafe ~ A Taste Of NOLA @ The Beach 40] Visiting The Florida Cracker Kitchen ~ Jacksonville 44] Nothing Finer Than Coffee In The Keys ~ The Coffee Plantation Cafe 48] Love & Donuts In The Air @ Beaches For Australia 50] Sundays Are For Diners ~ Super Diners 57] First Watch on the First Coast 60] Welcome To Muffin Land ~ The Ugly Cupcake & Muffinry 4/10/2020 0 Comments #65) The Sea Life ~ Happy EasterEaster Morning: 2020. It will be very, very different this year. Most years past, after our move down south to Florida, Easter Morning has become a wonderful and tropical tradition… and always, at the beach. We’d wake early - as usual. Make a fresh pot of coffee - as usual. But then, not, as usual… I’d pop a tube of highly processed, cinnamony, and sugary goodness into the oven. As the rolls of spiced dough rise in the heat we’d get ourselves ready for a day in the sand. Surf and turf. And pure fun. As the heavenly scent of cinnamon wafts throughout the apartment in windy swirls, combined with the fresh, salty, ocean breeze floating through the patio door. And coffee beans - doing their thing. We then ready our beach bag and grab our umbrella. When all is packed up and ready to go, and the buzzer finally decides to ding, I then proceed to slide the Easter Morning breakfast treat out of the oven. Something that costs a mere couple of dollars, but brings forth great and priceless joy. In the final step of preparation, I then glide the spatula over the cinnamon rolls and spread the most delicious frosting atop. Standing in the kitchen, I watch as the ice cold frosting melts over the slope of a doughy mountain. And then, finally, the frosting completely melted, meeting in its final descent, gently hitting the baking tray. And with that act, it is our que to leave. It’s then off to the beach for our Easter Morning. To sit and gaze at the ocean. To take in all the beauty of the sea directly in front of us. Stretching all the way out to the horizon. No end in sight. What’s past that line nobody really knows. Going to the beach is something we do all the time. But on a holiday - it’s just all the more special. And all the more peaceful. Hubby plants the umbrella into the sandy floor. We lay out our beach towels. And our doggie sitting between us nestled in the shade. And we swim. And read. And listen to podcasts and music. And mostly, we just drink coffee. But Easter in Florida will definitely be very, very different this year. The beaches here are closed to the public. Wrapped up with police tape. Barricaded. Coned off. Caution and warning signs abound. Parking not allowed. To help stop the Coronavirus spread, of course. So, while there may be coffee, and while there may be cinnamon rolls, and while there may be frosting. There will be no surf and turf. But knowing all that, one thing is still very, very certain. While they can most certainly close the beach, and can do so fairly easily I might add. There is no front door to the ocean. There is no window they can shutter and latch to prevent us from taking a look. And they certainly can’t throw away the key. So while it may be in everyone’s best interest that the beaches remain closed this spring, the sea is still sitting out there - doing it’s own thing - very much alive and breathing - and it will be there still, on Easter Morning. In fact, I tend to think the Sea and all the life within it, are kinda, sorta, wondering, at this point, where all the humans went? I think, maybe, the ocean is getting a little lonely? The dolphins that swim alongside us… what are they up to right about now? Either that - or the sea is laughing at us and saying, “Good riddance! They’re finally letting me take a nap!” And it is with that thought in mind that we have been regularly going for our morning walks, still, throughout global chaos. As usual, throughout this pandemic, we take a peak, and glance out toward the ocean - from afar. As we get our cardio in, doggy included, we take a look outward toward the gorgeous and colorful and ever-changing skyline. And the forever distant horizon. While never, ever, crossing over the strategically placed yellow and black police tape. Of course. And that is what life at the beach is all about, Charlie Brown. The Sea. Life. And The Sea. Life surrounding the sea. On the sea. In the sea. And… looking at the sea. Gazing at the sea. And dreaming of The Sea. Yes - I’ve lived The Sea Life for a few years now. It’s been over three years since I moved to Florida from the Midwest. Dreaming of the sea, ultimately, brought me to the beach. To San Pablo Island. And with that milestone, there’s another kind of Sea Life that I’ve been living since my move to Florida. It has also been nearly three years since I was discharged from the Mayo Clinic Pain Rehabilitation Clinic - located in Jacksonville. There is a cognitive behavioral therapy tool that all of us patients learned as we went through the long and detailed and rigorous rehabilitation program. It divides our life - the life of an individual living with chronic pain - into three very distinct phases… The A Life. The B Life. &... The C Life. And while my C Life is ultimately why you are reading this right now, I wanted to provide you a brief explanation as to how the A and B life have to be lived - in order for a participant in the program to EVER even obtain the opportunity to have a C Life. Their own C Life. First up is The A Life. And The A Life is just that. It’s LIFE. The A Life is everything and anything and anybody that came before chronic pain took over the body. The A Life, for me, and for hundreds of other patients, was growing up… it was going to school… it was sports, it was college, it was marriage, it was graduate school… it was first jobs, or many jobs. Full careers. Family. Friends. Parties. Travel. Success. The A Life - was life, itself. And then, all of a sudden, that darn, no good, very bad day of a B Life came along - and that was a very, very Bad Life indeed. The B Life enters into a person’s life as chronic pain takes them over. A patient's body succumbs in almost every single way to unrelenting pain. Marriages are lost. Jobs are most definitely lost. Whole careers upended. Some patients even get fired from their life-long career on the very day they choose to take back their own life. To be admitted to hospital. Money = gone. Even responsible and diligent financial penny pinchers and savers - their financial statuses, quickly changed. Debts add up. Lots and lots of bills. Bills that can’t be paid. Bills on payment plan. Bills leaving one drowning in paperwork and dollar signs. A feeling that they will never be able catch up. Financial ruin…. All as the patient, and sometimes their family as well, spends every single penny at their disposal on doctors appointments, tests, experimental treatment, lots of travel to specialists, surgeries, injections, miracle creams, potions, lotions, powders, herbs, capsules and tablets. In search of a cure. Daily life is abruptly changed. All the little things that make up a life. Hobbies are gone. Forgotten in nearly every way. Sports are not even an option. Cooking - gone. Reading - gone. Books sit closed and their bindings collect dust. Parties - gone. Friends - lost forever. Mental strength. Physical abilities. Exercise. Self care. As chronic pain sets in, as chronic pain takes over… everything else is lost. And The B Life can be a very long life. The B Life can leave a young 39 year old with a whole lot of gray hair on top of her head. After the patient has done nearly everything, and lost nearly everything, that tends to be when they find out about Mayo Clinic’s Pain Rehabilitation Clinic. Some kind soul usually refers them. A friend, family member, doctor, or maybe even a quick Google search - a quiet whisper in their ear - informs them of Pain Rehab at Mayo. And yeah - lots of people really do not even find out about the program I am discussing with you today until they’ve lived The B Life for a very, very long time. And a lot of pain has already been experienced. To the point that it’s all sheer madness of a life to live. But then… That’s when PRC comes along. The C Life comes along. And The C Life - is a brand new life. The C Life - is being reborn. Think of it kinda like a cat…. Just as a cat has nine lives… graduates of the PRC Program at Mayo Clinic have three lives. Like - no joke. I WAS reborn - at Mayo Clinic. My life WAS saved - at Mayo Clinic. I WAS transformed - at Mayo Clinic. But it wasn’t a light bulb moment. No one flipped the switch. I wasn’t injected with a shot, vaccinating me into a different realm. No, nope, nope, nope. That’s not how any of this works. I had to earn my C Life. Through a lot of hard work on my part. The C LIfe is a lifestyle choice. But The C LIfe is, once again, Life itself. The C Life is about acceptance. The C life is about making peace. The C Life is about discipline. Diligence. Routine. Adaptation. Moderation. Forgiveness. Patience. The C Life is about faith. The C Life IS hope. And, maybe most importantly, the C Life helps a patient to say goodbye… To say goodbye to their nightmare, of a B Life. And then, to take it even one step further - To say goodbye - for good - even to their A Life. Yes, that’s correct. The A Life is tossed out the window too. It is then and really only then that the C Life can become a real and new Life. We do not look backward in The C Life. We don’t try to meet up with our old selves. We do not try to re-obtain our A Life. We accept that it is gone forever. And we simply accept the new selves we have become. Accepting of our past, and working toward a better future. And work - each day - to build a life around that knowledge. If a patient fully believes and practices the program… all knowing the C Life Is a lifestyle - and not a magical lotion, potion, prescription, or pill - the C Life can really become a brand new life. A real rebirth. An Easter Resurrection. The C Life, for me, has been truly life-changing. Just as it was meant to be. Just as I allowed it to be. And. Just as I continue to allow it to be every single day. I’ve been practicing The C Life for nearly three years… It’s lifestyle - not a cure. It’s hard work - and not the waving of a magic wand. And, The C Life is not perfect. In fact, there may be newer, stranger, or more horrible nightmares of problems that crop up in The C Life. Maybe even more so than in either The A Life, or The B Life. And I say that to be honest. But with great confidence. Because even with pandemics, massive contagions, and disruption of the entire world order, The C Life - can still be a fabulous life. And anything, anything at all, can be accomplished living The C Life. Despite all obstacle. Despite any challenge. Despite a roadblock, clearly sitting directly in front of a person. The world is at the fingertips of the discharged patient - from the very first day they exit the Program and walk out the hospital doors for the final time. Life - is waiting for them as they enter their third life. Their new life. The C Life has brought me more joy and happiness than I ever thought possible. The C Life has stopped me from waiting… Waiting….. To LIVE. I now am fully alive. Even today. In the midst of the world’s largest global crisis of our lifetimes. Yes, amidst the apocalypse of this plague. This global pandemic. Every day is still special to me. Every day I am grateful. And every day I am truly alive. As we all continue in this, our strange and new kind of life. As everyone on Earth, right now, is also going through a transition of life. And, as Easter Sunday arrives on our doorstep. Churches, for the most part, remain closed. Family and friends will not be meeting up, from afar, to celebrate the special Sunday. Most of us, throughout the entire world, will be having our Easter dinners with only the members who reside in our immediate households. And while we cannot have the beach, and we cannot look out at the beautiful sea - as we sit in the warm sand - we can all still have each other. While we are all far apart. Yes, there will be no beach on Easter Sunday this year... That is - Unless Dr. Fauci goes on television sometime between when Christ dies and when Christ has risen - and then proceeds to tell us that it is all now safe, let’s open up the world again! But something tells me he won’t be saying that any time soon. Yes, Easter Sunday will be very different this year. And with some supply chain disruption, there may not even be those highly coveted cinnamon rolls. But there will be people sacrificing. For the good of humanity. And for the continuation of life itself. I saw in the local Jacksonville news the other day that an administrator at Mayo Clinic Jax is now accepting letters, words of encouragement, drawings, images, etc. They will be sent onward - to all the doctors, nurses, and hundreds of other staff members who make up the Clinic. To thank them. We, the general public, have been asked to pass along our best wishes and support. As Mayo plays a prime role on the front lines of this global war on disease. Mayo will no doubt be on the front lines of research, studies, testing, and treatment of patients - all in the CoVid19 fight. It’s basically like this - As one of the most amazing humans on Earth always says, “We’re number one!” All kidding aside though - They really are number one. And yes - they saved my life. They brought me back into the world. And they lifted me up when I needed it the most. My experience at Mayo Clinic has given me my C Life... As I started my first job outside the home in a decade. As I’ve now completed road races, a half marathon, traveled, met countless amazing people, and various other opportunities I never thought humanly possible. Countless milestones and achievements I never thought would be available to me, merely a few short years ago. But the most important part of what Mayo gave me really is my overall brand new life. The different life. The one that is in no way at all part of my A Life or my B Life. All the countless new doors that have opened. All the boats I’ve hopped on board - to float on out toward that distant horizon line in the vast and open sea. As I volunteered. As I fell completely and madly in love with Art. As I started my own Etsy Shop, Website, Lifestyle Blog, and Art Studio. As I fell in love with writing. As nothing is impossible to me now. As there is no limit to where all my dreams may take me next. As Christine’s Floridian Dreams was dreamed up - because of them - because of Mayo. Doing all things new. With confidence. Doing what was never completed in the A or B Life. Yes, I am truly living The C Life. Even amidst a global pandemic. In fact, I actually tend to think that it is because of Mayo Clinic that I am simply plugging along, no big deal, throughout this sci-fi, apocalyptic life we all now find ourselves within. When I graduated from the Program. I had a whole lifeline of tools at my disposal. Tools I have diligently utilized each day of my C Life. Tools I am continuing to use - right now - through crisis. Life is good. Yes, life is still good. And while there may be crisis. And while there may be death, and horror, and evil, and destruction. There will always be hope. So, to answer the call from the local news stations. These words of thanks are now my words of encouragement to all the doctors, nurses, and staff - as they fight on the front lines. As they battle the evil virus. As they fight for humanity. As they give hope to countless others. As they change lives each and every day. And as they continue to - right in the middle of a plague. As they give countless patients a new life. With each deed, word, and action: THANK YOU. You’ve got this. And we are all here with you. Yes, this may be a very different Easter. All throughout the world. And even right here in Jacksonville, Florida. And, rightfully so - There may not be the beach. There may not be surf to ride upon. There may not be men with metal detectors walking up and down the shoreline - looking for shiny coastal treasures. There may not be little children collecting shells, and building sand castles next to the tide pools. There may not be a grown woman with graying hair sitting out on the beach with cinnamon rolls, hot coffee, and a doggie sitting beside her in the sand. But there will always be life. There will always be hope. There will always be faith. And, there will always be good people doing God’s work - each and every day. And maybe, and most importantly, floating out there on the horizon line… with a door that never closes and most certainly never locks, just waiting for that next someone to step out and push themselves off the sandy floor, onward and outward toward their next high and mighty adventure… forever unknowing of what truly lies ahead… The Sea Life. ~ *Happy Easter to Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, Florida. Thank you - for everything.* *This painting, titled - “The Sea Life” - is being donated to the Pain Rehabilitation Center at Mayo Clinic Jax - and will be hand delivered, in person… Whenever we can all see each other, once again - In real life.* [Editorial Note]: I am not a doctor. And I don’t pretend to play one on TV either. This article and personal story is not medical advice or a prescription in any way. But - if this post reaches you because you are living in chronic pain. If you found this article because someone thought it may be screaming YOU. If you were referred here by others who thought you might benefit from this story. Let this reading be that whisper in your ear - informing you of possibility. Know there is always hope. There are people everywhere - on all corners of this globe - who know how to help you. Never give up. The people and place that helped me are referenced within this publication. The main phone number to Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida is 904.953.2000. Go ahead and pick up that phone of yours. Punch in the numbers. And help yourself - by getting help from others.
Hey - you - over there. If you’re looking for more stories of hope, inspiration, faith and optimism, check out the links below: 64] Stay-At-Home Sunday ~ Palm Sunday 63] Mercy & Comfort 62] PERSPECTIVE @ Seaside Sculpture Park 61] Bean’s Idea List ~ 15 Daily Activities For Well Beyond 15 Days 59] REACTION ~ To World War 19 55] The Shamrock 51] Life Is Full Of Pasta-Bilities ~ Bean’s Red Sauce Recipe 49] A Picture Worth A Thousand Words ~ Happy Valentine’s Day, World 48] Love & Donuts In The Air @ Beaches For Australia 42] Where Does The Chicken Cross The Road? 41] Minnie The Daschund Mouse & Her Birthday Wish 39] The Very Official &. Quite Serious Donut Debate Of 2020 38] The Year Of The Sweater ~ Bean’s Minestrone Soup Recipe 36] The End Of A Decade & My New Year’s Wish To You ~ 34] Merry Christmas ~ And How To Buy For That Person On Your List Who Saved Your Life ~ 27] Thanksgiving & Pete’s Bar ~ Not All Resolutions Need Be Fulfilled On January First 26] Deck The Chairs ~ BE THAT CHANGE YOU WISH TO SEE IN THIS OUR VERY OWN AND SHAREABLE WORLD 24] In Real Life ~ My First Visit To A Southern Living Idea House 23] Faith ~ And Life Lessons Learned Living With Wild & Untamable Hair 21] Cinotti’s ~ And Why Life Is Too Short To Not Eat Donuts |
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