So I haven't posted in a couple weeks. Pretty dull but I have moved to an apt downtown. There just wasn't enough room in that one room. Got a furnished studio on the top (17th) floor for $675/mo. Reed and Jade came over today to inspect and took some pics. Nice view uh??

OK So yesterday I went garage saling and then explored Metro Park where the Beach Boys were going to play. After I went to a farmers/artists market under the I95 bridge. Ate Filipino food. And then finally capped the day of by going to the concert. Beach Boys were getting older and Mike Love's voice has been singing for over 60 years but the main problem seemed to be the sound as even with the Jacksonville Symphony behind them the sound was erratic. Sometimes they had great Beach Boy sound and harmonies and other times it was pretty sparse. Today just explored. I'll see if I can post a BB pic here tomorrow. No pics but I grabbed this poster.

Yesterday Reed and I went over to the Music Dept at UNF to get some information and get a feel for the place. Had an excellent talk first with Ms Lois Scott and later with Randy Tinnin, the Music Chair, with Dr Tinnin being especially helpful. I'll have to give him one of Reed's CDs if I can figure out where I put them. Afterward I took a drive down to St Augustine just to see the place. It was cool. Really liked the pirate ship docked at the bridge.

Continuing: We got the title Tuesday night so we called Geico for insurance and then this morning we we're down at DMV. That went relatively well in contrast to the afternoon when we tried to get Reed and Jade's tickets for Guam. Because of our relocation, trying to get United Airlines money was turning out to be difficult and United's reputation for poor customer service was richly deserved. Hopefully, it's straightened out but I'm not counting on it.

Continuing: The guy we bought Reed's car from couldn't get a new title on Monday so that went nowhere for Monday. Tuesday I went exploring downtown. The Jacksonville Public Library is the biggest library I'd ever seen. The Jacksonville Skyway was cool and free. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacksonville_Skyway and the Jacksonville Landing looked like party central along the river and just a few blocks away. http://www.jacksonvillelanding.com/ Mark from City Place told me my application had been approved and I could move in when I wanted. :-))

OK So I owe you a few days days of information. Saturday night, feeling a bit cramped in my present diggs, I reviewed craigslist and came up with an interesting post. $675 ***17TH FLOOR FURNISHED STUDIO*** (DOWNTOWN) http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/apa/4990676036.html Since it was Sunday I went downtown and checked out the place a talked to a resident. Seemed cool so bright and early Monday morning I went to talk to the leasing guy. Put in my application after checking out the 17th (top) floor unit and also a unit on the 11th floor I didn't like as well. Here's a couple of pics: And here's the downtown with City Place Condos being the yellow building in the lower right corner. So a downtown Condo could be fun.

So yesterday Reed and I went car hunting. First stop was a Toyota a little north of Jade's house. Car seemed ok. He wanted $5500. Second was a Nissan Ultima at a dealership. Looked good, seemed like the transmission hit a little hard, also $5500. Since there was a bunch of time before our next appt I took Reed out to Jacksonville Beach to check out the A1A Sound Studio and on the way we found a cool music store. The music store did need help regularly and the Sound Studio was real friendly and asked Reed to send them his stuff. Basically this was to find Reed some things to do with his time once he got back from Guam in August. As we got done it was time for a 3rd car appt and one that Reed was real interested in--a 2004 Nissan Maxima. Car looked great, drove fine and was in our price range. Seller was friendly, lived in an upscale neighborhood and this was an extra car. We bought it. Reed was happy. Got the money out of the bank this morning and Monday and Tuesday we'll have to get all the paperwork done.

So the morning I went down to the Duval County Ed Dept. Thought they would help me finish getting my Fl Teaching Certificate but all they wanted to see was this letter of eligibility sent from the FL Ed Dept. Had 3 of those and the lady said "great! You are VERY marketable" Evidently I now keep an eye on the openings they have and then talk a principal into hiring me. THEN they help me get a teaching certificate. While I was downtown then I stop in at the Visitors Center and got touristy stuff. Afternoon I got Reed and we headed out to look for cars. We had a recommendation to go to a Hyundai dealership where a friend of a friend would give us a good deal. Well maybe not. They didn't really have any cars in our price range (real cheap--even cheaper). But they decided not to tell us that and to just kinda keep us around and try to get us interested in something more expensive. After we finally got out we hit the Toyota dealer who, after I told him what happened at Hyundai, said they didn't have any either but to go up to AutoMac and check. AutoMac was cool and had quite a few cheap cars. We may go back there but Reed wants to check Craigslist tomorrow.

So finished up finally with DMV today. Car title and Florida drivers license. Reed and I had planned to go get him a bank acct but as he only had about $90 there really wasn't much need for one and he was only going to take the money out to go back to Guam in a few weeks. I, on the other hand, needed one and got one at the 5th 3rd bank. Strange name but everybody was helpful and I didn't have to go to Wells Fargo which could be the worst bank in the US for small accts people. Also spent an hour or so at the local library and got a card. After dinner went back over to the Denusta's to talk about cars.

Ok So it's Tuesday and Reed and I were back to DMV with all of our prescribed documents. He did manage to get his Drivers license but I needed to change Geico insurance to Florida as they have higher requirements. So I'll go back again tomorrow morning. We did manage to see admissions counselors at both U of North FLorida and Florida State College at Jacksonville which is the community college closest to Reed. Their out of state tuition is cheaper than UNF. Reed did manage to lock my keys in the car at the DMV. I was PO'd but there was a tire shop real close and the guys there helped me. In the evening I took a drive into the big city downtown. It was OK.

Monday morning and Reed and I are off to DMV today to start getting our residence established. Saturday and yesterday were find RA a place to live days and I'm now settled. Saturday, after checking out two places that made me cringe, I found a Bulgarian lady who needed a roommate in a great area in a beautiful house for only $500/mo with all utilities included. Internet works great and the TV is ok. I have my own bathroom and the only downside seems to be she wants me to keep all my food in my room where I have a small fridge and a microwave. The room is a little small but not bad and it should be fine for a while.

Ok So we finally got out about quarter to 6pm. Drove a little passed half way and the tire blew--at midnight--in the middle of the freeway--Reed was driving. Discovered we could not get the lug nuts off as the tire iron we had was not the right one. Thanks again Taj Singh. Couple deputy sheriffs and a police officer later we finally had to call a tow truck to get us into town. Dropped the car at NTB Tire and found a motel after a futile attempt to sleep in the car. Got to sleep about 3:30 am. Up and at 'em early the next day. Thanks to the manager at NTB, great guy named Mark, we were back on our way about 11am, a few hundred dollars lighter, however. Jacksonville and a great welcome for Reed about 5 and I might have a line on a place to stay.