Florida @ MindSay

that I just fucking tried to save a huge lizard from being eaten by one of my cats. When I finally manage to get my cat off of it and away from it, before I can pick it up and bring it outside to safety, my fucking dog rushes in and gobbles the whole thing in her mouth.

AT LEAST IT HAD A CHANCE OF ESCAPING WHEN MY CAT HAD IT.


wtf Justine, can't even fucking saving a fucking lizard correctly.

I think my fingers are frozen.

It's 54 degrees but we still have 100% humidity, WTF





I shouldn't complain because I'd rather it be like this than 90 degrees, which I'm sure it will be in a few weeks. >:[

But my fingertips are frozen.
That's what I get for walking to the store in this weather. haha.

#2 Florida beat previously unbeaten #1 Alabama by a score of 31-20 in the SEC Championship. It looks like they will be heading to the BCS Championship Game to take on #4 Oklahoma. The Sooners crushed #19 Missouri 62-21 in the Big 12 Championship.

I had some old friends from California visiting this week (not staying with me, though).  Monday was an open house of sorts -- and really, it felt like the old-school days, all the people gathered under the same roof once more.  The only caveat was the munchkins running around.  As one friend put it, "It's just like it was back then, except you're like, 'where did all these kids come from?"  One of them was hers, so she should know.

 

LilBro was relieved when I finally arrived, because until then, he was apparently the only one without a kid.  Then FloridaGal came, and then I was the only non-parent/non-coupled-person there.  But that's ok.  I didn't mind borrowing a few kids for awhile.

 

Anyway, during one of the random conversations I drifted in and out of, the mother/wife of the California family was talking to FloridaGal (no doubt to assure herself that it is no joke LilBro has found himself such an awesome girlfriend -- because, hey, Mrs. California knew him back when, too).  The discussions turned towards Florida, particularly Tampa, where FloridaGal is from.  Mrs. California mentioned that she has a cousin living in Tampa, who used to live (somewhere nearby) until he got a job out there.  As a news reporter.

 

"Huh," I think to myself.  "I, too, have a cousin in Tampa that is a news reporter.  I wonder if they could possibly work for the same station?"

 

Why, yes, as it turns out, indeed they do.

 

Crazy.

 

FloridaGal insists that this news station was her favorite, but we're not sure if she isn't just being polite.

 

[Oh, and we don't have the same cousin.  But we're curious to know if they've ever worked on a story together.]

American Forces Press Service

 

Oct. 1, 2008 - A delegation of secretaries of state and chief election officials from Pennsylvania, California, Indiana, Mississippi and Florida visited here yesterday to receive updates on the voting process for servicemembers serving in Iraq.  Delegation members said they visited Joint Base Balad to promote voting participation by servicemembers and learn about the installation's voting assistance program and servicemembers' overseas voting experience. The delegation also visited an installation post office and the military mail terminal here and received a briefing on overseas voting operations.

 

With responsibility for mail distribution in Iraq, the 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command individually tracks registrations and ballots from remote post offices in Iraq back to New York's John F. Kennedy Airport, where they are received for distribution.

 

At each stop, the delegation received an in-depth look at the voting processes and procedures provided to servicemembers deployed to Iraq.

 

"Servicemembers are already providing a valuable service for our country in defending our democracy," said Pennsylvania Secretary of State Pedro Cortes, president of the National Association of Secretaries of State. "That democracy cannot continue to stand if people do not participate in the electoral process. It's our most fundamental right of citizenship, and also our responsibility."

 

Cortes said he and his colleagues were impressed with the way and the 3rd ESC and voting assistance officers were making sure all servicemembers are aware of voting deadlines and requirements of their respective states.

 

"We are trying to inform the troops," said Army Maj. James Hess, plans and operations officer in charge for the 3rd ESC's personnel section. "No matter if they are in the States, or overseas, in remote sites or right here on Joint Base Balad, they still have the right to vote, and we are providing the opportunity and are dedicated to giving them the opportunity."

 

The overall message that Cortes and the delegation continuously stressed to servicemembers was the importance of voting and having their voices heard.

 

"I'm so delighted to be here in Iraq, and I want to wish our troops a great election time," Cortes said. "It's very important that you vote, so please make sure that you do."