Nov
6
A Romantic New Yorker! Who Knew?
Filed Under Humor | Leave a Comment
Yes, I know this is a Florida blog. Yes, I know this is a NY-centric post.
So?
Those NY-ers that aren’t already living here soon will be. And this guy needs some support, so check out the drawing of the girl of his dreams. Maybe you know who she is - a family member, a friend, someone you worked with before you dropped the stapler on your foot and filed for 100% disability and moved to Florida.**
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** I met my brother for beers one afternoon and he introduced me to two friends who had moved from New York in recent in years. I automatically asked which one was on disability, because every other New Yorker I meet down here is on disability. The guy who was on disability got offended. Said he’d fallen through a roof and landed on his back while working as a carpenter. Didn’t keep him from deep sea fishing, though.
May
22
Waving the Flag, Today
Filed Under Interesting | Leave a Comment
Here in Florida, we have a lot of state pride. Or, at least, those of us that consider ourselves Floridians rather than transplanted New Yorkers, Ohioans, or Michigonians.
United-states-flag.com, the sponsor of this post, is the largest online vendor of flags and flagpoles, with approx 50% of the online market. The store sells a wide range of US flags, outdoor flagpoles, state flags, college and major sport flags, and even some custom novelty flags.
The site itself is laid out well, with an easy-to-understand menu structure so finding the flag you want is pretty easy. There is also a search function, and telephone and e-mail support to aid customers. The shopping cart is powered by Yahoo ecommerce with 128-bit encryption, so buying online is secure.
A pet peeve of mine when it comes to American Flags is flag etiquette. Maybe it’s the Boy Scout in me, or maybe I just appreciate what the flag stands for, but I think flag etiquette is becoming a lost tradition. If you’ve never been involved in a burning ceremoney for retired flags, it can be a moving 
experience, especially when carried out by men and women that have fought for the country and truly understand the symbolism of the flag. I was very happy to see this site provide quite a bit of information about flag etiquette.
Finally, I also liked that you can get the accessories you’ll need to mount your flag, whether on the wall outside of a garage, or a 100-ft flagpole. There are also a ton of of patriotic wear and gift ideas, like pins, decals, and car flags, perfect as we head into election season where each candidate tries to prove that he (or she) is more patriotic than his opponent!
Apr
22
Places I’ve Lived: Brooksville, FL
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Brooksville is one of those places you either love or hate; there are few people in the middle. Those that don’t like it consider it too small, or the surrounding county too infiltrated with people from “up north”. These days, Brooksville is growing and it can be argued that development is out of control. In fact, negotiators for developers routinely outwit local politicians and staff in getting their projects approved.
Those that love Brooksville celebrate that small-town atmosphere. There are shaded, brick-lined streets with elegant southern homes in the downtown area. A continuously-improving downtown main street has evolved to provide for afternoon shopping trips. Most well-known, of course, is Rogers Christmas House, a fixture in Brooksville for decades. Many people make day trips to Brooksville, stopping at the Christmas house, then walking over to the Paper Porch and Westover’s Flowers & Gifts to browse and shop while waiting for a seat at the award-winning Mallie Kyla’s Cafe.
For the men-folk, however, there is another famous eatery, Coney Island Hot Dogs. Coney Island has recently been renovated and updated, and the new owner has improved the service while retaining the same great artery-clogging food. I’ve driven over 50 miles just to get a long-dog when the craving hits.
As for living there, Brooksville, and the surrounding county, offer neighborhoods and living options to suit most lifestyles. There are neighborhoods where children can play in the streets, and there are “adult” communities for retirees looking to live with those of a similar age with similar interests. There are well-maintained planned communities, and extensive neighborhoods with well-spaced lots, and even working farms and ranches. The people consist of a mixture of 5th and 6th generation families, to transplants from New York, to commuters from Tampa looking for cheaper cost of living and a family-friendly lifestyle.
technorati tags: brooksville, florida, paperporch, malliekyla, coneyisland
