Shelley and I arrived in Florida May 8, 2008 fresh from our hike along the Appalachian Trail via San Francisco. We were immediately struck by the raw beauty of the area, beaches, sunsets, and calm gorgeous waters.

Our first seven months were spent in Gulfport, a quietish beach town wanting to be a more vibrant art community. While in Gulfport we enjoyed the series of summer thunderstorms and braved two hurricane sideswipes. We fished and cooked blue crab and learned how to make tepache. Shelley was accepted into the Visual Arts program at Eckerd College and also found a great position at the regional utility company, Progress Energy. Finding a steady position was more challenging for me so I took work where I could find it. Designing pages and working with social media to working events like the Tampa Red Bull Flugtag, the TV show Closing Time, the movie Exit 727, and stage managing a fashion show and substitute teaching. One of my goals during my stay in Florida is to have a geographically independent income source so I have been working at writing and blogging as a means to that end, this is moving slower than I’d like.

Our family grew while we were in Gulfport with the additions of Biscuit, Angus, and MooseB8. Each one enriching our lives in one way or another. We also had our share of visitors. Maria and Mike were first, then Shelley’s mom, and a later visit by her dad. Abbey also made it out but that was after we moved to St Petersburg.

Our new apartment, Chez Kitteh, in St. Petersburg is very close to the Tropicana Stadium. It has many of the features we were missing in the Gulfport apartment, central A/C, gas stove, sturdy construction…..and located in a more urban industrial environment.

We’ve gone camping in Fort De Soto National Park where I saw for the first time fiddler crabs doing their little dance. We also made a trip out near lakeland for PreHeat, my first regional burn. Miami was a great adventure for Ultra Music Festival, and we also visited the Ringling Museum in Sarasota as part of Shelley’s course requirements. Speaking of museums the Dali Museum was a great place to explore… I was so into the work I took no photos…. but I discovered in seeing his work in person that photos dramatically reduce the impact of Dali’s work. I also discovered a weekly drum circle at the Treasure Island Beach, and a regular hippy-burneresque gathering at the Blueberry patch. Most recently I found a weekly hooping crew in St. Petersburg that have some of the most exciting and interesting people I have met so far.

Keeping busy when not working has found me biking around the area (much more fun on my new fixed gear GT Gutterball), compiling a study on creative mailboxes in Gulfport, producing two regular events in Gulfport, their Tuesday Fresh Market and the monthly Gulfport Goes Green expo. We also have two kayaks but have not been on the water nearly as much as we should. I’ve also been in my first bicycle accident in many many years that left me a little sore but otherwise seemingly ok. I’ve also seen three space shuttle launches but none up close. I also made it to one day of the St. Petersburg Grand Prix and caught the ending of the St. Petersburg Triathlon. The Pier had a VW show where I saw more VW busses in one place than I had ever experienced before. We also caught then Senator Obama on his campaign tour through Florida.

There are lots and lots of wildlife about, parrots, ibis, squirrels, alligators, manatee, dolphins, blue crabs, horseshoe crabs, stingrays, an assortment of fish, and so many species of birds.

Whew… that was one full yea and that was not by any means all that happened or everyone that I met. 2009 feels more productive and energetic than 2008 so I am excited to see were I will be May 8, 2010.

Angus is polydactyl (you may have also heard this called a Hemmingway Cat) with an extra toe on each of his front paws. Fascinated by water and continually twitchy he loves to run and jump on anything. Normally this is amusing until he turns his attention to your feet at 4AM.

Recently Angus acquired a harness and leash, making him the most stylish feline on the block. (Biscuit in her Burberry is more fashionable)

It has taken two days for us to get the harnesses adjusted properly. Biscuit looks great in Burberry-esque while Angus is traveling the more metrosexual route with sequined velvet trim.

The each too to the out of doors a little differently. Angus is the more exploratory running for the door, chasing the leaves, intrigues by bugs. Biscuit was reserved. Sitting on the porch then venturing out a few steps, working her way to the back of the house.

Angus found a bird that was taunting him. I think it was a mocking bird, but I am not much of an amateur ornithologist.

While Angus was facing down the bird, biscuit had a change of heart that had her racing for the front door. It was about that time that Shelley and I realized that neither of us had remembered to bring keys. While she watched the cats I gained entrance to the apartment. Unfortunately Biscuit and Angus became increasingly spooked and when I opened the front door both ran inside. Angus was trailing his leash that had gotten attached to a plastic bag. From his point of view it must have been a little scary having the bag follow him moving as fast as he was.

I think that they are able to adjust to the leash and harness, both cats being much calmer when we equip them. It may be simply the outside is going to take a little longer getting used too.

The adventure continues.

She has been quite the adventurer climbing into and onto everything.  She loved to perch on high places and subtly snuggle up into people’s laps. 

• New belts (7-08-08)
• Oil Changes 
• New Starter (7-08-08)
• New fuel filters (7-08-08)
• New Master Cylinder (4-17-09)
• New Shocks (4-17-09)
• New Power Steering Pump (4-17-09)
• New Batteries (7-08-08)
• New transmission (4-17-09)

Things still on the list:

• Remove weatherstripping and unjam windows
• check fuses and get heater & A/C working
• Install kick ass stereo (watch out Space Cowboys)
• set up biodiesel or alternate fuel acquisition system
• Moose Antlers

The most vocal in the house when she puts her mind to it, she thinks nothing of a 5AM wake up call if she decides she needs to eat.