A Few Of FR's Finest....Every Day....09-17-03....Florida~The Sunshine State

dansangel

[dansangel]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, dansangel, dutchess, Mama_Bear, Aquamarine ~

~The "Sunshine State"~

Florida became the 27th state of the Union in 1845.

To me, Florida is the most beautiful and compelling state in the United States. Of course, I'm just a *tad* biased. Although I wasn't born there, I consider myself a Floridian after spending most of my adult life there. After this current (and definitely temporary) leave of absence, I intend to make Florida my home state once again.

The Florida peninsula itself boasts approximately 1200 miles of coastline (source: NOAA). Factoring in the coastal area of all of its islands and keys, this total grows to over 8,000 miles (source: the U.S. DEA). From Jacksonville in the north to Key West at its southernmost tip, Florida is packed with history and rare beauty.

Are you a history buff? Take a trip to St. Augustine. Located in northeast Florida, it is our nation's oldest city. On March 27 1513, Don Juan Ponce de Leon sighted land while sailing towards the "New World" from Spain. He claimed this land for Spain, naming it "La Florida," meaning "Land of Flowers."

In 1564, the French succeeded in establishing a fort on the St. Johns River, threatening the safety of Spain's treasure fleets. In 1565, Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles arrived off the coast of Florida. Eleven days after the Feast of St. Augustine (August 28) he founded the city of St. Augustine and set about reclaiming the territory from the French. With the help of a hurricane, he defeated the French, destroyed their fort and fleet and began building the city of St. Augustine.

Today, St. Augustine is a popular tourist spot due to its many museums, its lighthouse and, of course, the oldest house and the oldest schoolhouse in the country. With more than 4 centuries of history to share, St. Augustine is a must-see on any trip to Florida.

Key Deer

The Florida Keys comprise the southernmost portion of the Florida territory. Stretching out over the ocean beginning just south of Homestead, the keys serve as a gateway from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico. From Key Largo to Key West, all of the keys connected by 113 miles of U.S. Highway 1 boast their own beauty and attractions. Key deer, no larger than a large dog, can be found on Big Pine Key. Swim with tame dolphins off of Islamorada. Or, visit Ernest Hemingway's house in rustic and festive Key West. The sunset viewed from Mallory Dock off of Duval Street is like none other viewed anywhere else in the world.

Florida Everglades

Finally, the Everglades and their own delicate and unique ecosystem is described eloquently by Jeff Ripple as found on the Florida Everglades Website:

"The Everglades and the Ten Thousand Islands is a rare and beautiful place. It is one of North America's unsung wild places - a beautiful, rugged, subtropical landscape experienced by a relatively few adventurous souls each year. Many who appreciate the unique qualities of this wilderness will argue that it is a place better kept secret. Perhaps, in my quest for solitude and a deeply personal communion with nature, I might ordinarily agree. But I also feel that it is a resource important not only for its natural heritage and spiritually enriching powers, but for its commercial and recreational values as well."



The peace and serenity in the Everglades is beyond description. Once you venture out, it is difficult to return to civilization. We have a duty to preserve the delicate balance of flora and fauna so that generations to come will benefit from its beauty.

There are many other points of interest in Florida not mentioned here. From the white sands of its pristine beaches to the protected habitats of the Everglades, Florida is definitely one of those places where, once you visit, you may just want to call it "home."

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 09-15-03 Military Monday 09-16-03 This One's For You T Man

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me a FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

God Bless Our Military

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Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to Billie; Dansangel; Dutchess; Mama_Bear; Aquamarine and we will add their name to this list. As we pray for them, we pray also for all our nation’s leaders, and military personnel, and their families and friends. May God hold them close to His heart.

~~~~~~~~~~   ~~~~~~~~~~

We ask Lord, that You guide the leaders of our great country in their hour of decision. The burden that has been placed on their shoulders is overwhelming. We ask that with Your infinite wisdom You guide them gently to the right decisions.

Please give us the strength, Lord, to get through each difficult and devastating day that faces each of us and our country. Protect and guide our Military that are now being called to duty, strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OhioWfan........................son mystery-ak..........son, husband Gogrammy................grandson Inspectorette...................son Blessed American..........nephew Slip18..........................nephew anniegetyourgun...........nephew Pippin....niece,nephew,loved one Doug from Upland......son-in-law weldgophardline.....brotherinlaw Future Snake Eater..........cousin WaterDragon..son-in-law,grandson BeforeISleep...................son The Mayor........................niece LadyX.........................grandson fawn796.....................nephew ValerieUSA................2 sons Warrior Nurse...........active duty SK1 Thurman...........active duty David Osborne.........active duty fc2tomschermuly......active duty bkwells..................activve duty LongCut..................active duty Trish.......................active duty StarCMC......................brother Atomic Conspiracy...........half-brother Atomic Conspiracy............niece, nephew

Maigrey................cousin ladtx....................2 sons Mama_Bear...........2 nephews gator girl............husband severa................husband MozartLover......son, nephew LBGA........................son SpookBrat...........nephew Himyar.....................son boxerblues............2 sons the piper...................son sheeza...............husband kemathen7...........husband Diver Dave................niece deadhead................cousin JimRobinson.....2 nephews Armymarinemom.....3 sons Consort..2 daughters,son-in-law Darheel..................niece dixie sass.............nephew BeAllYouCanBe.........son AgThorn...............2 sons homeschoolmama.......nephew kneezles.................son kimmie7...............brother Tiffee4Bob.............boyfriend Explorer89............brother TexKat...........son and stepson

[Diver Dave]

Now you've gone and done it... I NEED some key lime pie.

I'll trade ya 2 Dem Senators and one soon to be gone governor for just one slice.

[WVNan]

As noted before, that's another of our "alikeness". I do not cook for the same reason you don't. All those years of cooking for kids and hating it. I was so happy to hang up my apron when they were all grown up.

[Calpernia]

>>>>Worth the effort of squeezing it yourself.

That is what kids are for ;)

Everytime I buy oranges by the bag, they only last at the most 2 day. My son loves using the citrus squeezer.

[MEG33]

I've made my mouth water just thinking about it!(No thanks on the trade!)

[LadyX]

The trick was how to please all the family and children's tastes on limited food budgets. Couldn't experiment to your heart's content and 'waste' food - depressing, rather than fun, especially with commuting and limited time and energy.
You had to do yours on the go a lot, too, traveling.

[Calpernia]

LadyX, Meg, Cal

Hazzah!

[Calpernia]

I enjoy cooking. I hate prepared packaged food. It is stuffed with corn startch, salt, items that shouldn't be exposed to air or light. Blah!

[Calpernia]

I will try to ftp a slice to you after I make it. :)

[LadyX]

WOW! We made the movies!
Must be time for popcorn again, but Diver Dave - you can bring the colas and round up Nan to join us after the Intermission.

[WVNan]

You know, I hadn't thought about that Maggie. Maybe that did have something to do with my dislike for cooking. Always on a limited budget and boring food.

[WVNan]

Hey.....there was a fourth Musketeer..

[WVNan]

Well, I was popping in and out, but I think I will call it a night. Aqua and I have a great secret project coming up soon. Loveya sooooooooooo much Sistah (((((Maggie)))))

[MEG33]

I don't cook any more either.I enjoy a rare dessert or helping someone else but getting out the cookbook and thinking up something new is OVER.I retired!Only the absolute minimum here.

[LadyX]

The hardest part was after long military moves, crippling the bare budget with expenses out of pocket.
Unlike civilian moves, you received pennies per mile from Poinr A to Point B - but often there was no base housing available - high cost of living areas, and you picked up the motel and eating out costs until you found something. Received a Travel Advance that was paid back over six months at reduced (half) pay.

Remember vividly when Bernie came back from Southeast Asia and we moved to Charleston - at Christmas a month and a half later, we had one Life game for the two teenage boys to share - a small doll for Jennifer - and an extra Gainesburger for the dog.
That was all, but we were blessed to be together again!

Had to devise 'military spaghetti' - noodles with catsup on it for five, and the like, in some years... it used to be there was a silent Thou Shalt NOT ask for Food Stamps Militrary Edict in those days. Sink or swim.

God bless all military and their families, who understand what I describe, and sacrifice so much.

[LadyX]

Loveya2, Nan - and Jack.

{{{{{ Hugs for you both }}}}}

[LadyX]

You and I can chant together:

FREEDOM - FREEDOM - FREEDOM !!!

The apron strings have been severed...LOL

[MEG33]

I salute the sacrifices made by our service families.I didn't have it rough in the Navy although living in a quonset hut on Mare Island that backed up to party people when the ship was in drydock was a new experience.

I was pregnant and sick so I wasn't taken with their parties!I moved home when the ship was gone for 6 months My baby was 2 months old.

[Calpernia]

Have a goodnight Muskateer #4!

[LadyX]

I was Navy, after Marine Corps, too. MEG (before Air Force!).
My first child was born 20 April 1954 and the second one on 1 July 1955.

In that 14 1/2 month period, I moved from Parris Island to Florida - to two places in Rochester, NY - to Glendale, Ohio (2 places) - husband back from sea in Norfolk, so then to Norfolk - shore duty in Chincoteague, Virginia - where No. Two Son arrived!

Seven moves up and down and around and around...:))

Yes - I stood on that Norfolk pier with a baby in arms 11 months old and was five months pregnant, waiting for the ship to dock like you see today...

[LadyX]

Time for me to follow Sistah Nan's example and think of going to bed.

Hope to see you tomorrow.
Thanks for a delightful day!