If you’re like me, you get really busy doing day-to-day tasks and don’t always take the time to hone your skills. I found on of the best ways to keep in practice was to participate in a 30-day blogging challenge. It’s easy to do and you don’t need anyone to join you. It’s you and the keyboard.
Here is a quick start guide to get you started:
Editorial Calendar
I find that as long as I have something written in my desk calendar, then I am more likely to do it. Because I am a task-oriented person, everything has to be written down for me. Mostly, so I can mark them off and get a feeling of satisfaction!
This is an example of my editorial calendar:
I have four blogs in the works, so it’s necessary for me to use a spreadsheet to keep my writing on track. I plan my posts out four months in advance, add them to my calendar, and my day timer software. This way, I can work in advance and I don’t have to spend any time trying to figure out what I’m going to write about. You can set up the spreadsheet in google docs too.
Need some help getting started on your blogging challenge?
Knowing how to write Shopify meta titles and descriptions will go a long way toward being seen in organic searches on Google, Bing, or any of the other search tools. You have to think like a copywriter (give the reader the benefits as to why they need to buy your product), and write like a novelist (be entertaining and engaging) and do it all with a human flare.
Here are some tips that I have learned about writing effective meta titles and descriptions for Shopfy:
Write Shopify Meta Titles
Your meta title acts as an important SEO signal and typically appears as the clickable headline in search results. Here’s how to write a great one:
Keep it within the limit – Google typically displays the first 50-60 characters of a title tag. If you keep your title under 60 characters, you can expect at least 90% of your titles to display properly.
Incorporate keywords – Make sure to use the main keyword for which you want the page to rank. The keyword should fit naturally within the title.
Be descriptive – Describe accurately what your page offers. This helps users to understand if it’s relevant to their search.
Entice the user – Make the title catchy and attractive so that users want to click on it.
Example: Organic Cotton Shirts for Men | YourBrandName
I am including a meta title and description that I wrote years ago for one of my products. I am way over Google’s recommendations for word count on the description.
Meta Descriptions
Your meta description acts as a short summary of a page’s content and can influence a user’s decision to click through or not.
Stay within the character limit – Google typically truncates meta descriptions to 160 characters. To ensure your entire description is visible, keep it below this length. Mine was way too long as it was.
Use your keywords –Just like with the title, incorporate the primary and secondary keywords naturally within the description.
Be clear and descriptive – Describe your product or service accurately. This will help users decide whether to click on your link.
Use a call to action – Encourage users to click on your link with a compelling call to action.
Example: Discover our range of high-quality, organic cotton shirts for men. Ethically sourced and designed to last. Shop now at YourBrandName!
After doing some fresh SEO searches using Google, I came up with some other keywords that I want to use in this product. I want to add best teacher gifts, best gifts for female teachers, idea for teacher gift because they are long-tail keywords with medium competition.
Remember that your meta titles and descriptions represent your brand in the search results. They should be appealing, accurate, and reflect the content of the page. It’s worth spending time on these to improve your SEO and click-through rates.
I’ve talked about my favorite software for writers before, but I want to focus on the tools I use to help me organize my writing. One of the things that I am still amazed by even after over 20 years is the fact that I can write as many documents as my computer has the memory to hold. To me, that’s an amazing thing. The software I use is equally, seemingly endless.
NOTE: All of the software I mention, I own and use regularly. I am not affiliated with any of these products.
As I have written about Scrivener in the past, you might know that I use it for everything I write – eventually. Anytime I am working on a nonfiction piece, I use Scrivener to keep my chapters in order and everything nice and neat.
I know that I don’t use it to its fullest application. There is a Facebook group for Scrivener users, and they are always asking questions about the software that is so far out of my ability to understand that I usually ignore those conversations. I’ve found that the software is as easy or as complicated as you would like it to be.
Scrivener keeps my notes in order and gives you easy access to chapters.
Scrivener can be used as a series of notepads, which is what I use it for, or you can use the templates to build a story. It has a bit of a learning curve, and since I use other software, I’ve not gone that far with the tutorials.
Software for writers can compile text to document format
Once you’re done writing, you can compile the entire manuscript into several formats. The part I like the best is the tree on the side where I can see my chapters and get to them easily. I can’t do this in word or google docs.
I am trying to write fiction. I spent hours and many dollars reading books on how to write a novel, how to outline a novel, how write from the seat of my pants, and hours of trying to understand acts and beats.
It wasn’t until I gave The Novel Factory a trial run did all the things I had read fall into place. I wrote the first part of my very first novel in word until I couldn’t see my way through the fog. That’s when I started looking for something to help me stay on track. The Novel Factory software does that.
This is the background of The Novel Factory where you can see the scene outlines at a glance.
This overlay gives you the scene details. You write into the text box. I love the scene blocking tab.
I bought the software as a standalone on my desktop, and I moved my first novel into it, and was able to finish it. It’s a mess that needs to be rewritten since it’s way off track, but I will get to that.
Keeps the story on track
The book second in the series started in The Novel Factory and it went very smoothly without any of the problems I ran into the first time. With the outlines and templates to work with or modify to meet your needs, it’s much easier to stay on course and wrap up the story. Both of those novels are 60K plus.
You can build your own outline/beat sheet or use pre-designed templates that are free to download. In fact, I had downloaded the free templates before I bought the software. I liked them so much that I decided to buy the software.
If you’re struggling with your plot, you might want to look into The Novel Factory. No, it does not give you cookie cutter stories.
Plottr is a plotting software that I had to modify to get it to work the way that I wanted to use it. In its simplest form, it is a glorified excel workbook. That being said, it’s much more than that.
The outline below is a list of my current and future projects and different series using a template by another author who needed an organizational chart.
This outline shows my current and TBD projects at a glance.
Here is what it looks like when you plot a book:
Chapter outline on left in default mode.
My complaint in this format is that it’s hard for me to follow the chapters. I think I might be the only one though since everyone loves this software. I used it halfway through my first novel, and it kind of helped me get things and people organize, but it still was hard for me to follow. This is why I moved to The Novel Factory.
Choose your view
I used it to lay out my second book, and once I flipped the view, I found it much easier for me to follow. Here is the flipped version for the second book:
By flipping the view, I found it easier to see the chapters and my characters timeline.
Now I can see where in the story these things happen.
Another view of the character’s timeline.
I have J.K. Rowling to thank for this because someone posted her spreadsheet worksheet and it was laid out in the same format, but she had the chapters off to the left.
You can use a regular piece of notebook paper to write on.
There’s nothing expensive or sophisticated about her method. In fact, it’s not even a lined accounting spreadsheet. Just a piece of notebook paper.
This is the first software I bought about 12 years ago. I used it to start my first novel, and at the time, I couldn’t afford Scrivener or anything else expensive, so I bought this software. I love the heck out of it. It’s easy to use, and it helped me to keep my story semi-organized.
Build character with photos
I think the part I really liked was that I could build my character pages and add photos. I could lay out my scene maps and make notes. It was everything I wanted that kept everything orderly and ready to use.
I confess that the story is still in its original condition, and I have not gone back to write on it for almost 8 years, but it is still a story I will go back to. What I didn’t know when I started writing was how plotting was important, so this is a seat of your pants story from beginning to end.
I am only a quarter of the way into the story, and I don’t’ know how it will end, but I have a good idea that it will continue to be a seat of the pants type story.
Liquid Binder XE is an economical way to plot, organize, and write your novel. It’s a Scrivener alternative.
The story has gone from word to Liquid Binder to Scrivener back to word, and one of these days, it might go to print. It’s a story I really want to write, and I daydream about it when I am supposed to be doing something else.
Plot or seat of your pants software for writers
Even though her mom was absent from her post, she could see her father sitting in his old, worn high-back leather chair. The ancient leather was worn thin in places and cracked in others. The sun had faded out half of the chair from buttery, gold leather to a pale, pink color. Her father had molded the cushions to suit his body from years of use to the point the no one else found it comfortable. That was one way to keep the guests out of it.
Although the hearth was cold and the fireplace clean, she saw her father sitting with his feet up on the hassock before it as if the temperatures were subzero and the Montana winds were bearing down on the old hotel.
Sandy noticed that he appeared to be talking to himself. On second glance, it seemed more likely that he was having a conversation with someone only he could see.
Her deep sigh reflected the sadness she felt about the loss of her father to his disease.
These are my favorite software for writers that have kept me sane and moving forward. Hopefully, you will find them helpful for productivity.
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You know the saying, “It’s not the heat; it’s the humidity”, well the humidity in Florida takes that saying to an entirely whole new level.
Living in Florida means dealing with high humidity levels year-round. There are only a few days out of the year that we aren’t in a humid climate: when we have a Nor’easter and after a hurricane.
The rest of the time, here are some of the tips on how we deal with humidity in Florida:
Humidity in Florida can be managed
1. Invest in a dehumidifier: A dehumidifier is a useful appliance that helps remove excess moisture from the air. Place it in areas prone to high humidity, such as bedrooms or living rooms. Running a dehumidifier can significantly reduce the muggy feeling and prevent mold and mildew growth.
2. Use air conditioning: Air conditioning not only cools the air but also helps to remove moisture. Set your AC to a comfortable temperature and ensure it is properly maintained to optimize its dehumidifying capabilities. Consider installing a programmable thermostat to regulate humidity levels more efficiently. K&N washable filters are very helpful in keeping the expenses down. I have two of these because I live in a very sandy, dusty area.
3. Proper ventilation: Proper ventilation is crucial in humid climates. Use exhaust fans in the kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry areas to remove moisture at the source. Additionally, ensure your home has adequate airflow by keeping windows and doors open when weather permits, using fans, or installing ceiling fans to circulate air. Damprid is helpful in the bathroom and laundry room.
4. Avoid hanging wet clothes indoors: Hanging wet clothes indoors can contribute to increased humidity levels. Instead, utilize a clothes dryer or set up a designated drying area with good ventilation, preferably outdoors. We have more than enough sun to find a day to hang the clothes out on the line. Because we’re not an industrial state, our air is clean, which makes the sheets smell so good.
The Florida lifestyle may not be what you think it is. Read the myths here.
Prepare your home for the humidity in Florida
5. Seal windows and doors: Ensure windows and doors are properly sealed to prevent excess moisture from seeping into your home. Inspect and repair any gaps or cracks to keep the humid air out and maintain a comfortable indoor environment.
6. Use moisture-absorbing products: Place moisture-absorbing products like silica gel or desiccant packs in closets, cabinets, or other areas prone to moisture buildup. These products help absorb excess moisture and prevent musty odors and mold growth.
7. Keep surfaces clean and dry: Regularly clean and dry surfaces prone to moisture accumulation, such as bathrooms, kitchens, and basements. Wipe down countertops, sinks, and shower areas to prevent mold and mildew growth. Walls in the bathroom can be prone to mildew build up, and a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser will clean it right up.
8. Avoid excessive water usage: Be mindful of excessive water usage, as it adds moisture to the air. Limit the length of showers, repair any leaks promptly, and avoid overwatering plants or using humidifiers unnecessarily.
9. Use natural ventilation methods: Take advantage of breezy days by opening windows and doors to let fresh air circulate through your home. Natural ventilation can help reduce humidity levels and provide a refreshing atmosphere.
10. Embrace moisture-resistant materials: Opt for moisture-resistant materials when furnishing your home, such as mold-resistant paint, moisture-resistant flooring, and water-resistant fabrics. These materials are designed to withstand high humidity and minimize potential damage.
Hurricane season is upon us. Can you read a hurricane map?
Hopefully, these tips will help you keep the humidity in Florida under control. Don’t forget to stay hydrated, dress for the climate, and keep your home comfortable. Florida humidity can be managed, making living in Florida enjoyable.
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If you love the National Parks, then see if you can answer these National Park trivia questions. The above image was taken on my recent trip to Acadia National Park. Do you know where it’s located? Read on!
15 National Park Trivia Questions
1. Which national park is home to the famous Old Faithful geyser?
2. Which national park features the tallest peak in North America?
3. Which national park is known for its massive, ancient sequoia trees?
4. Which national park is renowned for its stunning red rock formations and hiking trails like The Narrows and Angels Landing?
5. Which national park is located in South Dakota and features the iconic sculptures of four U.S. presidents?
6. Which national park, located in Utah, is famous for its unique and otherworldly rock formations called hoodoos?
7. Which national park, situated in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, is home to the tallest waterfall in North America?
8. Which national park, located in Alaska, is known for its fjords, glaciers, and abundant wildlife?
9. Which national park, spread across parts of Arizona and Utah, features magnificent, multi-colored sandstone formations?
10. Which national park, located in Hawaii, encompasses two active volcanoes, Kilauea and Mauna Loa?
11. Which national park, located in Wyoming, is famous for its stunning mountain range and diverse wildlife, including grizzly bears and wolves?
12. Which national park, known as the “Everglades of the North,” is located in Michigan and is characterized by its unique freshwater coastal dune ecosystem?
13. Which national park, located in Texas, protects a portion of the Chihuahuan Desert and features unique rock formations called hoodoos?
14. Which national park, located in Maine, is known for its rugged coastline, granite cliffs, and iconic lighthouse?
15. Which national park, located in Utah, is the largest national park in the contiguous United States and features stunning canyons, mesas, and buttes?
Want to read more about National Parks? Check out my book on Hiking in Yosemite for non-hikers.
15 National Park Trivia Questions and Answers
1. Which national park is home to the famous Old Faithful geyser? Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho)
2. Which national park features the tallest peak in North America? Denali National Park and Preserve (Alaska)
3. Which national park is known for its massive, ancient sequoia trees? Sequoia National Park (California)
4. Which national park is renowned for its stunning red rock formations and hiking trails like The Narrows and Angels Landing? Zion National Park (Utah)
5. Which national park is located in South Dakota and features the iconic sculptures of four U.S. presidents? Mount Rushmore National Memorial (part of the National Park System)
6. Which national park, located in Utah, is famous for its unique and otherworldly rock formations called hoodoos? Bryce Canyon National Park
7. Which national park, situated in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, is home to the tallest waterfall in North America? Yosemite National Park (California)
8. Which national park, located in Alaska, is known for its fjords, glaciers, and abundant wildlife? Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
9. Which national park, spread across parts of Arizona and Utah, features magnificent, multi-colored sandstone formations? Canyonlands National Park
10. Which national park, located in Hawaii, encompasses two active volcanoes, Kilauea and Mauna Loa? Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
11. Which national park, located in Wyoming, is famous for its stunning mountain range and diverse wildlife, including grizzly bears and wolves? Grand Teton National Park
12. Which national park, known as the “Everglades of the North,” is located in Michigan and is characterized by its unique freshwater coastal dune ecosystem? Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
13. Which national park, located in Texas, protects a portion of the Chihuahuan Desert and features unique rock formations called hoodoos? Big Bend National Park
14. Which national park, located in Maine, is known for its rugged coastline, granite cliffs, and iconic lighthouse? Acadia National Park
15. Which national park, located in Utah, is the largest national park in the contiguous United States and features stunning canyons, mesas, and buttes? Canyonlands National Park
Here is even more information on all of the National Parks. Grab your copy now and go park hopping.
If you liked this post, please comment and share with your friends. I love trivia and love to share the fun with everyone.
Blogging is good for your business by providing a number of benefits for your business. In today’s digital age, blogging has become a powerful tool for businesses to connect with their target audience and establish a strong online presence. While some may view blogging as a hobby or personal outlet, it offers numerous benefits that can significantly impact the success of a business. If you ever wondered whether you should start a blog or get better at being consistent at blogging, keep reading.
Blogging is Good for Your Business because it Boosts Search Engine Visibility
One of the key benefits of blogging is its positive impact on search engine optimization (SEO). By regularly publishing high-quality blog posts that incorporate relevant keywords and topics, you increase your website’s visibility in search engine results. Search engines value fresh, original content, and each blog post presents an opportunity to optimize for specific keywords and attract organic traffic. Increased visibility in search results can lead to higher website traffic and better brand exposure.
Blogging Establishes Thought Leadership
Blogging allows you to showcase your expertise and position yourself as a thought leader in your industry. By sharing valuable insights, industry trends, and expert opinions through blog posts, you demonstrate your knowledge and credibility. This positions your business as a trusted source of information and establishes your authority within your niche. Thought leadership can lead to increased trust from potential customers, media recognition, and opportunities for collaborations or speaking engagements.
Blogging for your Business Drives Website Traffic and Lead Generation
Regularly publishing blog posts creates opportunities to drive traffic to your website. Engaging and informative content attracts visitors who are seeking information or solutions related to your industry. By including relevant calls-to-action within your blog posts, such as inviting readers to sign up for a newsletter or download a resource, you can generate leads and expand your customer base. Blogs provide a platform for capturing potential customers’ attention and nurturing them into loyal clients.
Blogging opens the door for meaningful interactions with your audience. Through comments and social media shares, readers can engage in conversations, share their thoughts, and ask questions related to your blog posts. This direct engagement allows you to build relationships with your audience, gain valuable feedback, and understand their needs and preferences better. Responding to comments and fostering discussions demonstrates your commitment to customer satisfaction and builds a loyal community around your brand.
Blogging Supports Content Marketing Strategy
Blogging serves as a core element of an effective content marketing strategy. By consistently producing high-quality blog posts, you create a library of content that can be repurposed across various channels. Blog posts can be shared on social media, featured in newsletters, or adapted into video or audio formats. This repurposing increases your content reach, attracts a wider audience, and reinforces your brand message consistently across different platforms.
Consistent blogging helps raise brand awareness and contributes to shaping a positive reputation for your business. By offering valuable content, you increase the visibility of your brand and establish a stronger online presence. As readers find your blog posts helpful and informative, they are more likely to share your content with their networks, thereby amplifying your brand’s reach. Over time, a well-maintained blog can become a valuable asset that enhances your brand’s reputation and fosters a positive perception among potential customers.
Blogging offers a multitude of benefits for businesses in the digital landscape. By investing time and effort into creating valuable, well-crafted blog posts, you can unlock the potential to attract and retain customers, enhance your industry standing, and ultimately achieve long-term business success.
If you would like to start blogging or don’t have time to blog, then feel free to contact me, and I will help you with either pre-written blog posts for your industry or affordable SEO content for your site.
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When you use the best research tools for writers, your articles will stand out from all of the rest of the internet. I’m primarily a nonfiction writer, which means that I rely on tools to look up information.
I used to go to the library with my notepad, gather all my reference books, sit down at a desk, and find the answers to any questions I might have about the subject matter. While it’s not much different now by using online tools, being online allows me to go deeper than I could in the library. It’s time consuming to do deep research by hand, and by using online tools, I can quickly decide if I’m on the right path.
Best Research Tools for Writers
Google Scholar: An online search engine that allows users to look for scholarly literature. This includes articles, theses, books, and conference papers. While I don’t use this regularly, it does have a wealth of information that I can use to write my automotive articles like finding a book that gives me an overview of automotive sensors that I can quote.
JSTOR: A digital library for scholars, researchers, and students, providing access to thousands of academic journals, books, and primary sources from various disciplines. Once again, I can use this site to find information the differences between the Japanese and US Automotive sectors when it comes to inventory reduction and productivity growth, which I can use to write about our ongoing recovery from the pandemic.
Academia.edu and ResearchGate: Social networking sites where researchers can share papers, ask and answer questions, and find collaborators. Academia.edu allows you to download millions of PDF files on subjects like medieval history, ancient history, economics and more. ResearchGate connects you to the scientific community. These sites are out of my realm of expertise, but I do like history, so I am looking forward to getting lost in the Academia.edu rabbit hole.
PubMed: A free research database from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It’s useful for researching medical and health-related topics. While this is so far out of my area, it looks like it is a great place to find out information on clinical trials and citations.
ProQuest: A multidisciplinary research tool that offers access to a collection of databases with information on a variety of subjects. I found information on financial reports for AutoNation, fabrication of metal automotive parts, and press releases from automotive aftermarket services that are useful for my work with subscription based automotive services.
Organizing Your Research
Evernote: A note-taking app that can save your web research, allows you to make notes and clipping, and is searchable. I use the free version of this tool, and I have found it helpful when grabbing webpages as I was doing my preliminary research, so I could go back later and refine or discard the results. It’s less clicking than copying and pasting to my notepad or in the body of my word doc.
OneNote/Notion: These are note-taking tools that allow you to organize your research in a structured manner.
I love OneNote; it’s colorful, organized, structured, is fun to write in, and I have been using it for over 20 years. OneNote came in the Microsoft Office 2003, and I was hooked. I like that I can reference it across platforms from my tablet to the desktop to my phone and can jot notes or look things up no matter where I am. Pricing may vary on it, and you may be able to use it for free through Microsoft apps on your phone or tablet.
Notion is the same thing as OneNote, but it appears to be free. In a comparison that I read, the difference between the two pieces of software is not that big. However, Notion is less robust, but if you’re looking for a note taking piece of software, I recommend either one for their organizational tools if nothing else.
A screen shot of one of my OneNote notebooks
Citing Your Sources
Zotero: A free, open-source reference management software to manage bibliographic data and related research materials. This is a downloadable app for your desktop or Chrome app.
Screenshot of the structure of Zotero
EndNote: A commercial reference management software package, used to manage bibliographies and references when writing essays and articles. This is a citation management piece of software that helps you organize your references. It has a free version, but you may want to buy the software.
Mendeley: A free reference manager and academic social network. Make your own fully searchable library in seconds, cite as you write, and read and annotate your PDFs on any device.
Writing Your Article
Hemingway Editor: This online tool helps simplify your writing. It grades your text on readability, identifies passive voice, and shows where you’re using adverbs or complex language that could be simplified. I use this off and on. I find it easy to use, but a bit of a pain. It’s rather clunky, but it’s accurate, so that’s a good thing. I offers suggestions on how to clean up your writing, and for my jobs, it helps me stay within an appropriate reading level.
Scrivener: This writing software is like a digital binder, enabling you to organize and rearrange your content easily. It has useful features for writers doing large amounts of research for their projects. I have used Scrivener since Stephen King told me to. Good enough for me. It’s a great organizational tool, and it has a lot of features that I will never use, so I use the ones I want. It keeps my books in order, and while I don’t always write in this, I do move them in there before I compile my manuscripts. This is an excerpt from a book I am working on that covers all of the scenic travel routes in the United States, so you can see why I need to stay organized.
Excerpt of one of my books in progress in my Scrivener software
Remember, different writers and researchers have different needs, so it’s important to find the tools that work for you!
There are at least 3 myths about the Florida lifestyle, and I’m here to bust up a few of them.
First, we’re not always at the beach; we work just like you. While you’re saving all of your money to come to Florida, we’re saving all of our money to get out of Florida. Seriously, there’s only so much sun, fun, and sand you can take before you start to hate the sight of palm trees and the smell of coconut oil.
But that isn’t really a myth so much as a belief. Have you seen our pale legs sticking out of our shorts? We don’t have time to lounge about the pool or the beach. At least not in the daylight.
Myths about Florida Lifestyle: It’s Always Sunny
Okay, I fell for this one when I moved here in the mid-1980s. I didn’t even pack a coat when I left Illinois in June for my new life in the tropics – see topic #3 for more on that. I had the impression – wrong, I might add – that Florida had no winter. That it was some perpetual sunshine party.
Let’s step back and look at the whole state of Florida.
The panhandle has an average temperature of 68º and around 52.4 inches of rain annually. I landed in Fort Walton Beach and camped along the Gulf. The wind was blowing, and I was sure it was a hurricane and I was gonna die.
It can, does, and will snow in the panhandle of Florida. Coats are recommended.
The northern part of Florida gets cold. Winter temperatures around Jacksonville, Daytona Beach, and Gainesville can get in the 30s. Sometimes – but rarely – that’s a high. Freeze, both hard and frost advisories, can reach as far south as the Vero Beach and Okeechobee areas. Lake Okeechobee is considered South Florida, and every so often, there are freeze warnings for the area that last around 7 hours.
It’s not unusual to see smudge pots in the orange groves to keep the trees from freezing in Central Interior Florida.
The sun doesn’t always shine; some days are as gray as the Midwestern winter skies, and some days, it rains for days on end. It snowed in West Palm Beach one day in 1977, and there were flurries in Miami and Homestead. Our ground doesn’t freeze like it does up north, so our snow doesn’t stick. Nonetheless, it’s a myth that it’s always warm and sunny in Florida.
Check out this book on traveling to Orlando, Florida for tips, tricks, and hidden places to visit.
Drink your coffee from one of my flamingo coffee mugs.
Myths about Florida Lifestyle: Alligators in Every Back Yard
Okay, this one is borderline true, depending upon where you live. Have I had one in my backyard along the East Coast of Florida? No. But I have seen them in the same area in canals, retention ponds, riverside, lakeside, and lounging on golf courses around where I live.
Most people with gators in their backyards live along man-made canals and golf courses with lakes. Gators will eat people and pets, so it goes without saying, don’t take a selfie with one (see idiots with cameras in Yellowstone standing by bison), and they are fast, so give them a lot of room. They can hit 35 MPH on land and 20 MPH in the water. Can you? Oh, and they can climb, too. Ladders, trees, fences, etc.
They are fascinating creatures but best left to admire from a distance – like from another state.
My tropical pillow looks great in your beach house. Take it with you when you go back north.
Another Myth: It’s Tropical
Another awesome and disappointing myth is that we all live a tropical lifestyle with rum runners in each hand, flowered shirts, flip flops, and hibiscus flowers stuck behind one ear. Okay, that might be the parking lot of a Jimmy Buffett concert, but not really how we live here if we live here year-round. Now, I am not talking about those retirees who are baking themselves around a poolside trying to get the color of a kidney bean, but those people who keep the retirees living their lives of comfort and sometimes excess.
Money people also spend a lot of time wandering around in floral skirts tut-tutting the sorry state of affairs should they accidentally cast their eyes upon a lowly servant-type person. They might be carrying a martini or a fruit drink, but they are usually in their backyard broiling in coconut oil around their pool, so they aren’t noticeable. If you see one, they’ve gotten out and will go back home soon.
The rest of us are happy to be able to wear casual clothes like jeans to work and comfortable shirts like a polo shirt rather than suits and ties or dresses and heels. There is a more casual lifestyle in Florida that does seem to permeate more traditional businesses like banks and doctor’s office.
Where are the tropics?
Only the bottom half of the state is considered tropical I think Vero Beach has said it’s the top of the tropics, but anything south of midway is more tropical. Driving in Ft. Lauderdale and Miami is a lot different than driving where I live around Vero Beach. You have to watch where you drive down there because their roads are filled with homeless iguanas, large lizards, crabs with sharp pinchers, and even boa constrictors and pythons. It’s an unwanted pet dumping ground where even the cutest little lizard can grow up and take your face off. I only have to contend with raccoons, opossums, armadillos, egrets and Sandhill cranes.
Those of us still working all look foreign because we’re not dressed in flowered shirts, flip flops, board shorts, and carrying a cocktail. If you see us, be nice; we’re tired and just want to go home and lay on a pool float face first.
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Julie L. Cleveland 