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| The front bed and mulch is Ky's handiwork |
Although the Fall equinox officially occurred about 2 weeks ago, the marginally cooler temperatures are still fashioning their appearance on the North Florida stage. Peeping its head out from behind the palm trees, the 83-degree high is a welcome departure from the oppressive mid-summer heat and humidity that welcomed us upon our arrival. Over the past month or so, Kyle and I have enjoyed whacking the yellow ball around, tearing out vines and weeds in an effort to beautify the greenspace around our house, and introducing family members to our new home and accompanying playground. In late August, Ky's wonderful sisters made a brief stop to our humble stomping grounds before visiting more extravagant and exotic destinations in NYC and Alaska. As will likely be the case with most of our guests (you have all been forewarned), we trekked up to our favorite stay-cation local in Amelia Island/Fernandina Beach. Kerry and Kim's second full day here was devoted to supporting the local economy via trips to Best Buy (x2) and the Sports Authority. Their generous contributions to the sporting goods store earned them a 50-dollar gift card, which they so graciously bestowed upon Kyle. (Today, we made our weekly journey to the east side of I-95 to redeem the coupon for Ky's new fishing rig.)
Labor Day weekend not only welcomed September to North Florida but also my parents on their inaugural trip to Jax. In addition to the requisite trip to Fernandina, we also ventured down to St. Augustine for some first-hand colonial history. After attending a canon-firing demonstration by some felt-clad faux-Spanish military, we admired the sailboats, ski boats and kayaks passing in front the Castillo San Marco, just as a trio of playful dolphins was making its way across the intercoastal waterway.
In what we thought we be our last weekend together before my departure for France in mid-September, Ky and I exchanged a couple of Groupons for a relaxing morning at the Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens. My dear boyfriend marveled at the creepy crawlers and reptiles, while I preferred the more playful, less venomous otters and penguins. Although we bypassed many of the Zoo's more interactive attractions like feeding the girafes, petting the stingray, and frolicking on the carousel, we did allow our inner child a chance to mix syrups at the shaved ice stand for a late morning treat.
During the week, Ky has been working dutifully at his cubical to help prepare CSX for the next Microsoft upgrade while I have been, at times, at home reading and, at others, on the road preparing for my eventual trip to France. After a mid-week, 12-hour round trip drive to Miami, which only included a 10 minute stop in Miami (I think I may have paused longer at a travel plaza along the way!) for my appointment at the French consulate, I finally have a work visa in my passport! The long-awaited document appeared at our door Saturday morning while Ky and I were working at our respective morning chores. So, the new date has finally been set. As of Tuesday morning, October 12, Ky and I begin our 9-month stint (well, the French government has actually helped us out by shortening it to 8-months) as a Skype couple. I will miss him terribly and wish that we could share in this French adventure together. Nonetheless, I am looking forward to this opportunity to reacquaint myself with Paris, teach English, finish my dissertation, as well as spend time with friends and travel.
In our second to last weekend together before the trip, we enjoyed a relaxing Saturday and a beautiful Sunday afternoon and evening with our dear friends, Mr. and Mrs. Corse. They treated us to a little wakeboarding and boating, and we joined them for hamburgers and beer at a local sports bar, where the mood went from anxious to celebratory after the local NFL team pulled off an unexpected win over Manning's Colts with a 59-yard field goal.
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| Mr. Corse, our skipper |
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