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

[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!

[kidsnurse.livejournal.com]

and seriously, i'll take the bombing! the spasms make me nuts, and cause me to reach for the baclofen--which steals my brain. as i told blackmare_9, it's all relative! :)

[angelfirenze.livejournal.com]

That handy little barometer I told you about says it's nine degrees outside my window. Hooray. I've had my space heater on high all morning, and my robe. AND a thermal shirt, and some of my warmest pajama pants. I'm thinking I'm going to change into the fleece ones.

*nods*

As for the snow, one of our neighbors had a deal with my mom to shovel our snow, but then the storm came and doubled the price. *snort* *checks window* And then the storm came back...oh, just look at it...all those flakes blowing around...

[angelfirenze.livejournal.com]

Dude, did your aunt live near Selfridge? *eyes glaze over*

kidsnurse, like I told californiaquail, mich8283 understands every Michigan-inclined word I say! *cackles* If I point to my hand and say 'this is where I live', she gets it!

In fact, she lives near where I went to high school. *cackles more*