Just another day at the beach

I love swimming, and I prefer oceans to pools. But there’s always that fear of sharks.

And after years of going to the North Beach, a state park in Fort Pierce, it finally happened. People at the beach gathered and grabbed their cameras. The man who hooked the small shark reeled her into the beach where she was pulled onto shore.

I wasn’t scared but fascinated by the five-foot black tip shark. I acted like a photojournalist instead of a beach-goer, taking pictures while circling the shark closer than anyone else in the crowd.

Here’s some of the best photos from the eventful day:

 

Fay floods Florida, Fort Pierce neighborhood

Although Tropical Storm Fay is old news to the nation, it’s still a harsh reality for those dealing with flood waters and damage. The following photographs are the last images I’ll share in regards to the flood, taken at my family’s neighborhood west of Fort Pierce. The creek along the neighborhood spilled over into the yards.

These pictures are important because they show the impact of a tropical storm that most people disregarded before it made landfall. Many in the community agree that Fay was worse than Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne of 2004.

Flooded Fort Pierce neighborhood

Flooded Fort Pierce neighborhood

Flooded Fort Pierce neighborhood

Testing depth of flood

Boy giving rides to flooded neighborhood

Flooded Fort Pierce neighborhood

Flooded Fort Pierce neighborhood

Flooded backyards

Flooded backyards

Palm-tree covered yard

Floods bring wildlife

Flooded Fort Pierce neighborhood

Flood view from inside home

Flood view from back porch

 

Amateur photos capture local flooding

Even though a few days have passed since Tropical Storm Fay began dumping 15 inches of water on St. Lucie County very late Monday night, families – such as my parents – are still flooded in. The streets around my place have been pumped and cleared, but several neighborhoods around me look like lakes.

Here are some photo galleries submitted by locals and photojournalists on TCPalm.com:

Reader-submitted Tropical Fay photos, St. Lucie County #1

Reader-submitted Tropical Fay photos, St. Lucie County #2

Reader-submitted Tropical Fay photos, St. Lucie County #3

Fay’s aftermath in St. Lucie County, 8/20/2008

Fay’s aftermath in St. Lucie County, 8/21/2008

 

A delightfully draining day

After working late and getting up before the sun, I sent my latest story to my editor. She said it would print in Friday’s edition of The Fort Pierce Tribune, so I will update this post with a link to the article on TCPalm.com when it becomes available.

Read it here: “Participant leaves for 2008 U.S. Transplant Games”

I had an amazing time at the Vans Warped Tour in Orlando, but I’m going to bed early tonight.

Today I learned a very important lesson: I’m not as young as I used to be.

But it might have been the direct sunlight and heat reaching 102 degrees. Either way, I was beyond exhausted after spending the day at several concerts. I didn’t even make it to the last couple hours of shows.

I also learned the importance of hydrating before the event – not only because of the draining heat but also because water costs $3 per bottle. When I attend Sunday’s show in Jacksonville, I will have a gallon of water in me, as well as aspirin – and extra sunscreen.

 

Fatherly fishing in Fort Pierce

Today I remembered why I love Fort Pierce.

My brother, my dad and I went fishing along the Indian River and the St. Lucie Inlet, and I couldn’t help but stare all around me as our boat skimmed over the surface. It’s so beautiful. I realized my favorite color is the ocean – with polarized sunglasses.

I believe the way you’re raised determines your life choices. Since I was raised in a fishing family and a fishing town, I can’t see myself ever being far from the water or even outside of Florida in the future. I’m lucky to be from such a great hometown.

I have dreams and goals of traveling the world in my journalism career, but this is the only place I can ever truly call home.

Enjoy your Father’s Day weekends. Be thankful for your dads. And remember all the dads who are no longer with us.

 

Welcome to the real world

I thought my blog post after the first day in my place was going to have a different theme.

Excitement turned to frustration as my first shower there had be to a cold one. My dad spent all day fixing the bathtub’s single-handle faucet. He knows a plumber who’s coming by tomorrow to finish the job.

A tip: never go a year without running the water in your home.

However, the real tragedy came when I couldn’t detect a wireless connection around my place with my laptop. I’m not being dramatic – there’s no life worse than one without Internet. We all depend on it for just about every aspect of our lives, even if we don’t admit it. But there’s no reason to be ashamed – it’s just the way the world is, so embrace the Internet.

I’m embracing my parents’ DSL at their house for now. I’m hoping I can get Internet hooked up at my place by the beginning of the week.

Then we came across more problems. No peephole existed on the front door, so my dad – the handyman always concerned with my safety – drilled a hole and put one in today. Also, everytime we opened the door at night, the bugs from the front porch light would fly inside. Instead of spending her Mother’s Day at the beach, my mom – the handywoman – shopped for groceries, house items and a bug light that won’t attract insects.

Some things have been resolved, and some are in the process. But there’s still so much to do: choose cable, manage utilities, unpack boxes, organize rooms and basically set up a new life.

Although I’m still excited, I’m just not so idealistic anymore. I guess this is my wake-up call to the real world.