A matter of National Security....

[kidsnurse]

 A favorite coffee mug of mine--a lovely glazed light gray ceramic piece of art, with a handle in the shape of a graceful cat, just fell from my hutch, along with a book, a magazine, and two notices from Koda's school.  Why does this minor occurrence [even the mug survived the fall] rate a journal entry?

Because the Navy is dropping bombs.  LIVE bombs.  And has been since 9 January.  And will be, between 8:00am and midnight, every day until 25 January, according to this article--which very handily also gives a toll-free number for "noise issues".

It isn't the noise that's bothering me; it's the shuddering house, the rattling windows, the skittish pets--the interminable headache and edginess of the entire experience.  The Ocala Forest is about 25 miles away from here, and we're used to the routine bombing practices.  But normally, they occur only three or four days per year.  And normally, they don't use live ordnance--which, we are rapidly discovering, is much louder and much more effective at vibration-making, than the usual dummy bombs.  They're annoying, but tolerable.  However.  Every freaking day for seventeen days?

My mother points out that it could be worse--we could actually live in Ocala, where more things fall off more hutches, and windows actually break.  And I could be out of Ativan.  And/or coffee.  And/or cigarettes.  All I'm really out of, at this point, is patience.

Here is an interesting editorial about the practice; Glenwood, the town in the dateline, is actually where I live, and the author gives a good description of the practice--and  saved me from placing what would have been a useless call to the Volusia County Sheriff's Department.

Gawd--there goes another one three.  The dog is whimpering in his crate, two cats just raced down the stairs and under the bed, and a small tree limb fell in the yard.  Nine more days of this is unthinkable.

Okay.  Done ranting.  Going now to hide under the bed with the cats.

Comments

[nightdog-barks.livejournal.com]

I just love it that the Navy is dropping live ordnance -- y'know, blowing things up -- and the headline on the Sentinel article is "Learn all about the Girl Scouts".

Hee. But ye gods, I can't imagine living with that for more than just a day or two. Eeeek.

[misanthropicobs.livejournal.com]

Under the bed sounds like the best place with all that going on. Is the dog crate big enough for Ko & the dog to share?? :}

At least my headache maker is only the utility work going on next door, across the road, in front of my house, across my drive until every day until about dark for the next few days. Today it involved 10 guys, two backhoes, lots of pipe etc. The dogs are outside barking their heads off at all the commotion as I write this. Of course with all the equipment in the road it means that only one car at a time can get by so getting in and out is lots of fun lately.

[chaoskir.livejournal.com]

Urrgh, that sounds really bad. I can't imagine how you are feeling right now because I never had something like that around me. Well, last year (the whole June and the half July) there were road works by a road near by the road where I'm living and all the cars and busses and trucks were driving over the very small street (those street is so small: it isn't possible that two cars can passed each other at the same time, the street is just wide enough for one driving car in one right. The other car has to wait untill the car in front has passed) where I'm living and that alone was pure horror. Usually here are not much cars driving - sometimes a long time no car and than at those time here drives a lot of cars in one minute. The whole house had vibrations and you felt the vibrations in your stomach and the walls are tottering when there drove a truck or a bus over the small street. It's really a very small street where I live and the noises of the traffic were bad, very bad and I was annoyed every day and every day more. I guess that what you has to bear right now is much more annoying and loud and disturbing. *hugsyou* Well, I do hope you, your kid, your family and your pets (cats and dogs and whatever animal lives with you) will survive without any damage. *hugsyouagain*

[blackmare-9.livejournal.com]

No freaking WAY.

Okay, yes freaking way, but ... wow.

Have I mentioned lately that -- below-zero temps notwithstanding -- I am so glad I got out of Florida?

The Ocala National Forest really is beautiful, though. I just feel bad for the folks at the Juniper Springs State Park who booked their trip in January when the weather is perfect, only to be that close to the bombing range. Good grief.

There is, in fact, such a thing as doggie tranquilizers and/or anti-anxiety meds. Don't know if it's worth calling the vet to ask about or not, although I don't suppose a question could hurt.

[topaz-eyes.livejournal.com]

Oh, I sympathize there. The British Army has a huge training base about 30 miles outside my town. The area they play in is 324 square miles--almost up to the city limits. They train every summer with dead and live ordnance. With night firing, too. That's annoying.

I hope you and Max can endure... (((hugs)))

[mich8283.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the info. I can cross off Ocala (and anywhere within 50 miles) as a place I would ever want to live or vacation. Just when I've been looking at places to escape the arctic air settling here.

I wouldn't/couldn't manage. Multiple times per day every day for seventeen days? Seriously, I'll take -20°/-40° and 8" of snow. I'd rather have the spasms and stiffness from the cold than the uncontrollable jumping and racing heart rate that would come from constant unknown bombings.

I'm glad Ko will be able to be away for at least a few days of it. I remember being about 8 and staying with my Aunt and she lived near an AFB and just the every day noises and sirens were overwhelming.

I'll let you get back to your space under the bed!

[romeo46.livejournal.com]

I am from Virginia Beach jet noise is pretty much a given. The Navy here tends to go to Florida because Bush the Youngest managed to get a lot of the planes sent there. Help yourself and the Virginia economy by writing about how bad having the Jets there would be.

:)

[hibernia1.livejournal.com]

AWFUL! I hope nothing will get shattered (apart from your nerves), it'd be a shame if it would cost you your nice mugs! *hugs*

[poeia.livejournal.com]

If you are the "kidsnurse" on the new psycho forum,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!