Whiplash is real

Yesterday morning I wrecked my car. The entire front is crunched in. The amazing thing is the airbag didn't deploy and no glass broke. I walked away without one single scratch...but I do now have a colorful bruise on my chest from the seatbelt and am SO SORE!

So my Toy Yoda is history. I am actually seriously thinking about buying a Chevy S10 4X4 that belongs to a friend's son (he wants a bigger truck). I checked it out briefly tonight and it looks awesome...it looks just like a truck a 19 year old kid would own! It's actually pretty cool and I do like it alot. Once I find out ho0w much $ I'll be getting from my insurance company, I'll go take it for a test drive. I can already see myself driving down Jane's Scenic in it...big knobby tires and about 6 feet off the ground...YeeHAW!

Ok...on a more serious note. I have a predicament. At least I think it could be a predicament. The cause of the accident...was it actually me, or was it the 18 year old kid driving the big Dodge Ram? Right before impact, I remember thinking "My God, that truck just ran a red light!!!" But the kid swears he had a green arrow...I have thought about it almost constantly since it happened, but I cannot get a clear, positive memory of that light. I have never blown a red light. I am a careful driver. Could I have actually run that light? Or is the kid full of shit? It is bothering me so much, but I refuse to say "yes, I ran it" when I am not 100% sure I did.

This kid's mom...oh, what a piece of work she was...I heard her telling the cop, "Look at her! It's so obvious she's sleepy. You can tell she's tired!" WTF woman! I just totalled my car! I am shaken up! I am feeling a bit nauseous! Yes, I am sitting on the curb with my head in my hands! SHUT UP! I bit my tongue and said nothing. THEN, she comes up to me and says, "Why cn't you do the Christian thing and just tell the cop you ran the red light?" Again I say WTF???? I camly told her that if I truly knew I ran it, I would. But I could not remember...it's like there is a blank space there. I am not going to say someting just to make her happy! Well, she was pissed and walked away. She never once bothered to ask me how I was, though I certainly asked her son how he was. BTW, she was not involved in the accident, but showed up about 5 minutes after the fact.

The Trooper has the report down as us having "conflicting statements". My fear is that this woman will try to sue me. I have nothing worth any money. I have a crappy dinky job, do not own my home, own no property...what good would it do? Her son's truck was damaged, but is definitely repairable whereas my Yoda is a total loss.

So on top of the aches, I have this awful feeling of impending doom in the pit of my stomach. Any advice out there? Has anyone been in this situation before? I have been in accidents before, but never with someone as snotty and hateful as her (and she wasn't even involved!). The accidents were never my fault (honest!) and my first concerns were always the wellbeing of the other person involved. How could this woman want me to act Christian when she was acting so far from Christian that day?

Well, time for another Percocet. Whiplash sure is real and I sure am sore...send me some good karma, well wishes and prayers. I think I'm in for a bumpy ride.

Snow comes in many colors...

Why is this never in the movies or on Hallmark cards?


I'm sure alot of you have gotten an email or two about the changing sign in front of Casa D'Ice. The current one is political, but not as rough as they sometimes are. I wanted to go in, but the place was locked up. I have it on good authority that the place employs some real a-holes anyway, so no big loss.

Respect the Chair...

It's a Pittsburgh thing.

Our Annual Visit to Gatorama

Woke up this morning to ice on my car in Lake Placid. Brrr....! Thank goodness my friend, Susan, gave me a heater to use. That plus my super duper sleeping bag kept Aidan and I toasty warm all night. But was I surprised to see the ice in the morning!

On the way home, I decided it was time to make our yearly pilgrimage to Gatorama...one of the few remaining Florida roadside attractions. Located in Palmdale, it has been there as long as I can remember.

They have the biggest gators and crocs I have ever, EVER seen in my life! They always amaze me.



They also have two gorgeous panthers there. Their enclosure isn't the biggest, but they seem content. One cat was rolling around and stretching out on his back, just like an overgrown house cat.

Peacocks roam...
and they also have a few raccoons, a couple super cute Bobcats, parrots and a kinkajou.



At the end of the walk, there are a few cement buildings that they use to raise younger gators. Yes, they sell their gators for meat. Nothing wrong with that. Hmm....I'd sure like a gator quesadilla right about now....

I love gators. I respect them. I am amazed by them. I challenge anybody who stops at Gatorama to not be in awe at what they see there. Awesome creatures!

http://www.gatorama.com/

Shark Valley, Another's View

My friend and coworker, Lily, goes bike riding out at Shark Valley quite often.

These pictures were all taken by her...

Nothing is cuter than baby gators.

Lily has been completely enthralled by these baby Anhingas. I love their pinkish color.

I always love Woodstorks!

This Red Shouldered Hawk is actually on a nest.
None of her pictures of the babies came out too good, though.
I love this shot...you can really admire the beauty of this hawk.