I have lived in Florida now for a little over one year.

[givemebackmycountry]

On April 21st, I celebrated my one year anniversary since leaving Kansas City and moving to Orlando, Florida.

The GOOD:
I have a J-O-B and it pays well.
I can be from my door to my 77 year old Mom's door in 90 minutes.
That's VERY good because she loves me and I love her and I know she likes having me close.
My aunt who is 80+ and my cousins are here as well, and they love me and I love them back.

The BAD:
I'm in freaking Florida.

My number ONE observation about living in Florida?
Jesus, is VERY-VERY popular down here.
Jesus is BIGGER than RUSH and Hannity combined.
That's HUGH!
Series1111!
Jesus, apparently is the KING of all media down here.
In Orlando, I have zero sports talk radio (which is important to a sports hand job like me) but JESUS has FM and AM covered like a glove.
That's not fair.

I'm not sure I like it here, but we do what we have to do.

I would much rather be back in Kansas with Proud2BLibinKansas, but that's the way things are right now.
I miss my little loft in the City Market in downtown Kansas City, but I missed my Mom too, so it's a wash.
But, they opened a Burrito Bros. store in the City Market where I lived, and it has a cult following, and that pisses me off.
MMmmmm Burritos.
And I'd kill for some Chile Verde from La Mesa.

Reporting from the front lines in JesusLand, your humble correspondent, GMBMC.

More to come.

[Mari333]

1. thank you for the report

i guess i would say, think of it as a social experiment...sometimes being in the thick of things makes for great reporting. are there people you know there of like mindedness, if only a few, that you can be with? sometimes thats all it takes.

[Malikshah]

2. Been here ten years (due to a job and now a partner and home) Why is Jesus so big down here?

Simple-- life down here is so hellacious that folks just automatically assume that the end times are near and they're grasping at anything to prepare themselves.

Signs of end-times in Florida:

Democratic Leadership acting like Republicans
Gators roaming the streets
Katherine Harris
A closeted governor who's Republican
Elderly Jewish voters voting for Hitler's love child (Pat Buchanan)

All we need are cats living with dogs and we're set.

[xchrom]

3. jesus. nt

[malaise]

4. And yet as I turned on NBC FLorida this morning

I saw hundreds of people lined up for the health fair in Miami where they can receive free tests for a plethora of health issues. Apparently the state of Florida is so keen about sending these people to their Jesusland fantasy aka heaven, that they are not facilitating basic health care for these people.
I could not believe the lengths of those lines this morning.

http://www.nbcmiami.com/health/topics/healthexpo.html

[L0oniX]

5. You obviously have not visited a titty bar like the 2001 Club in Tampa, Bush Gardens or Miami beach.

[Ezlivin]

17. The 2001 Club!

I grew up in Tampa and when I was a young man we used to cruise past the "flying saucer" on Dale Mabry Avenue and check out the prostitutes that always hung outside.

I finally went into it long after its heyday, but after all those years of just seeing it from the outside I had to cure my curiosity!

And we'd go over to Busch Gardens and get buzzed on the free beer they handed out. (The drinking age was 18.) You could hit one free beer vendor then stride across the park to the other one, then finally across to the third one. When we were young and motivated we could burn a lot of calories and get a free buzz by doing some walking.

[L0oniX]

43. Sad ...no more free beer at Bush Gardens.

[mnhtnbb]

6. Hubby's dad lived in Orlando until he died some years ago. The stepmother

from hell--his 4th wife--who married him secretly and eventually convinced him to eliminate his trust
and leave everything to her and hubby's two sisters (writing hubby out of the will for all intents and purposes) then lived to be at least 100 last year before finally going to her just reward. It kills
everyone in the family that she was planted next to her husband in the family cemetery. No one
can go pay respects without having to look at her grave, too.

She was one of the most self-centered, arrogant, manipulative women I have ever met. If that represents
Orlando, well, you have my condolences. For me, Orlando is simply a better airport to pass through
rather than Miami for connecting flights to Central America.

[Lorien]

15. Um no; it's absurd to think that any one human being represents

the people from any given city. I am not self centered, arrogant, and I'm certainly not manipulative-and neither are any of my friends here in Orlando. We have a street close to where I live named Gore; it was named for Al Gore's grandfather, who called Orlando home. A huge number of liberal celebrities and sports figures also have homes here, and Orange county went for Gore, Kerry, and Obama in the past three Presidential elections.

[mnhtnbb]

23. I'm glad you like Orlando. You have a nice airport, and that's all I care to see.

:hi:

[quickesst]

33. Life is much simpler.....

...and egos are stroked more easily when one limits their vision to "red" and "blue". Being caught in the wide nets cast forth here is just tough shit. Ask any liberal democrat in Texas. The kindest words for the democrats there? "Just move". Bottom line for many so-called progressives is that in order to berate, destroy, humiliate, and as suggested by someone here, "Can we nuke Texas?" or as another suggested, denial of federal aid should a disaster befall, in that case, a major city in a southern red state, it is worth whatever tragedy should befall their fellow progressives who live in these areas. For many, but not all, we are collateral damage for the "greater good." Thanks.
quickesst

[Mojorabbit]

39. I agree

I live in Orlando and love it. Orange county is mostly blue.

[DrDan]

7. Perhaps it depends on what part of Florida you now live in

I also moved from KCMo to Florida. I lived in Orlando, New Smyrna and now Port Orange. I do not see anything like what you describe. Sure there is plenty of religious activity. But there is also in KCMo.

And, there can be NO place in the U.S. more right wing than the Overland Park area of the greater KC metropolitan area. And I see no more religion here in Florida than in Misssouri.

I liked Kansas City. I miss Gates and Bryants bbq. I miss Stouds. I miss the Nelson Art Gallery. I miss the Plaza. I miss Sunday afternoons at Royal Stadium. I miss freezing Sunday afternoons at Arrowhead. I miss the UMo-KU rivalry.

BUT - I will never move back to that right-wing bastion of neoconservatism

No sports talk?????? You got to be kidding. Are you ignoring the 580 Magic coverage? Even 104.1 has a sport talk show.

Sounds to me like a giant case of "homesickness".

[ewagner]

14. I was raised in Florida

Just north of Orlando...about 17 miles north...

It wasn't Jesus-oriented when I left but there were a lot of fundamentalists around...and more than a few Klansman too...

Since then, three members of my family have been born again (hopefully to a different family) and I get a steady ration of end-times bs from them whenever we talk.

I don't know why the change is taking place except that the educational level seems to have fallen significantly and educational standards seem to be hellaciously low.

[Lorien]

19. I was raised in Columbus Ohio, back when it was full of progressive

liberals and hippies. Now the fundie freaks are EVERYWHERE in my hometown. My once atheist mother is now a born again Baptist, as is my sister. I hardly recognize the place. I think the change started with Reagan killing the Fairness Doctrine.

[DrDan]

22. not born in Florida - but now going on 27 years as a resident

Of course there are pockets of fundamental religious groups. What state does not have them?

But to declare that all of Florida is like that is just not true.

And yes - the Klan is present. But also in many many other states as well to include states in the North.

I agree - the education system needs a loooooot of work. Jeb did his best to destroy that. My wife is a teacher so it is a subject we are very familiar with.

[Lorien]

27. If you've ever taken a drive through rural Georgia, TN, and SC

then central and South Florida seem like bastions of liberalism. I've never seen so many churches, shooting ranges and "adult clubs" filling small towns like I have in those areas.

[DrDan]

29. YES - and throw in West Virginia, Idaho, Utah,

[valerief]

32. Half of Florida's high schools are dropout factories

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/oct/31/311039/analysis-half-flas-high-schools-dropout-factories/
The Associated Press
Published: October 31, 2007

The state's percentage of dropout factories, 51.1 percent, was the second-highest in the nation, slightly less than South Carolina's, according to the analysis conducted by Johns Hopkins University for The Associated Press.

The term dropout factory, coined by Hopkins researcher Bob Balfanz, describes schools where no more than 60 percent of the students who start as freshmen make it to their senior year.

[DrDan]

44. thanks Jeb

[valerief]

57. Yeah, all those Bushes are just darling, aren't they? nt

[DrDan]

58. this guy will just not go away

he has raped and pillaged this state and will not be happy until he completely ruins it beyond any hope.

[flying rabbit]

42. Bryant's BBQ

Best thing about KC

[dalaigh lllama]

8. Have to agree

We recently had to drive down to Florida and we just had regular radio in the car -- our choices seemed to be between Rush or Jesus. I was very sorry we hadn't gotten some audio books from our library for the drive.

[Mist]

9. Do you read Carl Hiaasen? That would be a good way to develop

a sense of humor about Florida, although a fairly corrosive sense of humor.

[Lorien]

10. What part of Orlando do you live in? It's very different from one

area to another. The Hunter's Creek area is definitely Jesusstan, but where I live in downtown Orlando it's a totally different vibe. It very much a gay/ liberal/ pagan community here. I grew up in a liberal college town in Ohio so yes, overal Florida is more conservative-but it does have pockets of liberalism.

Oh, and how can you NOT find great Burritos and Chile Verde down here?? Go to the Orlando Weekly site and check out their restaurant reviews; you'll find plenty. Even some of my friends from LA are impressed with many of the restaurants here.

[Shipwack]

20. I'll second Lorien, especially about Orlando

It's a crazy mish-mash state, much less homogeneous than a lot of places.

I'm 90 minutes away, on the east coast (Melbourne), but I wish I lived closer to Orlando, for sure.

[Lorien]

24. It's a melting pot for all America-plus Cuba

I'm from Ohio and always notice when there's a Michigan/ Ohio game going on because my neighborhood is filled with flags for either team. I only know ONE native Floridian on my block; my neighbors are mostly from the Northeast, Midwest, and England. I never even hear a Southern accent in downtown Orlando, though I do in areas like Kissimmee. If Florida is wacky it's because America is nuts.

[valerief]

11. Florida is Bizarroland.

http://www.njfamilylawblog.com/blog/2009/02/cohabitation-with-cellmate-led-to-termination-of-alimony.html

In a bizarre case from Florida, the 4th District Court of Appeal, Florida’s equivalent of the New Jersey Appellate Division, in a December 2008 decision in Craissati v Craissati decided to terminate alimony based on the ex-wife living in a jail cell with another person for more than three months. The court held that this met the definition of cohabitation in the parties’ divorce agreement under which alimony could be terminated.

Perhaps only in Florida could the court interpret the term “living with another person” to mean sharing a cell with another inmate. Under the flawed legal analysis of this opinion, merely sharing a room in a hospital would constitute cohabitation that would justify termination of alimony. Sharing a jail cell is just an unfortunate consequence of being incarcerated.

[Turbineguy]

12. I have been working in southern Florida

for a year now.

Florida seems to be given to extremes. As for Jesus, it's just the tin pot scam artist preachers.

[Vinca]

13. And I suppose they all think Jesus would approve of torture, right?

My condolences. Beautiful beaches, idiot people.

[Lorien]

16. Where do you live? Would you like it if we all pile on your hometown?

You just insulted a large number of DUers by calling us all idiots, and that is completely out of line. Florida went for Obama in the last election and we DID vote for Gore; just how much do you hate Liberals, anyway?

[TankLV]

28. at least you're not from texASS...!!!

I'm one of the guilty of guilt by association with assholes who currently controll/vote in a state...

but be glad you're not CANADIAN!!!

doooh - there I go again...

[Vinca]

40. I'm sorry for the loss of your sense of humor.

[peekaloo]

18. Howdy.

if you are near a radio on weekdays M-F from 3-7 pm check out the Philips' Phile on 104.1 FM (also has a delayed broadcast on XM radio) for some liberal leanings and all around fun. One of the guys also has call-in a sports show on the same station on Saturdays from 2-4 pm.Kinda fun for the sports groupies. I don't care much for sports shows but they have classic alternative music weekends that puts other stations to shame. :-)

:hi:

p.s. there is intelligent life in Flori-duh, seek and ye shall find. ;-)

[Shipwack]

21. Dang, you beat me to recommending the Phile!... :) nt

[peekaloo]

31. Sanity maintenance 101

:hi:

being halfway between Tampa and Orlando I get two excellent radio stations, Tampa has WMNF, a community sponsored station that also bears to the left on many of its' programs. :-)

[rufus dog]

25. for your sanity

buy yourself a XM/Sirius radio. Sounds like you have a steady job, helping out with your mom and spending a lot of time in the car. You will get a slew of sports stations and never have to listen to the local stuff.

[tbyg52]

35. You can also get Air America. And POTUS is often pretty liberal. Plus the audio from C-span. nt

[fishnfla]

26. I love it here

I thought region bashing was agin' DU rules, but what the fuck, your views are way off base, so who cares.

your missing listening to Jim Rome? try listening to Jim Philips

[krabigirl]

30. And I bet the Jesus that is popular isn't the one who advocates helping the poor.

It's the right-wing gun-loving Jesus they all love, just like they do where I live.

[elle1sf]

34. I am with ya!

I moved to Panama City Beach, FL and I am missing things in the SF bay area!!! Yes, there is a lot of religion on TV here, too. I don't listen to radio because I don't have my car. I use the internet
and if I listen to anything "talk" it is Air America online.

I moved here to be on the beach, so not for the loving reason that you moved there. If they would put in a Trader Joe's here it would be A LOT better!!

[trumad]

36. Oh lookie---another bash Florida thread,,,,

Hey---life's a beach and if you don't have one--- too fucking bad.

[KathieG]

37. If you think Orlando is bad...

You should see Ocala. Oh.My.God. If Orlando is "JesusLand", then Ocala is SuperHolyGodJesusPrayerWorshipLand.

I'm surrounded. I live in a tiny dot on the map north of Ocala and can spit from my porch and hit three churches. :scared:

[givemebackmycountry]

38. See, I just got an education (which is kind of why I posted this)

In the past 30 years I have lived in:

Denver, Colorado
Dallas, Texas
Kansas City, Missouri
Nashville, Tennessee
Kansas City, Missouri (again)
Maitland, Florida

I live in Maitland on a big lake.
I really like that.
Got a couple of good friends, spend a lot of time at work.

I agree that there are some "progressive" pockets of people down here and I seek them out and enjoy my time with them.
EVERYONE, I work with is right wing, and as a mouthy New York City liberal I am outnumbered by far.
It wasn't that way in Kansas City.

But, I agree with the post about Overland Park.
However, I never saw knuckleheads driving down the street in big pick-up trucks with confederate flags mounted in the beds.

Speaking of Confederate flags...
My Mom lives in Pasco County, Florida.
It's the first place I ever saw someone dressed in a white robe carrying a to-size cross up and down the median strip on I-19.
We have a GIANT 60ft confederate flag on the highway at I-75 and I-4.

Yesterday, we were on Route 52 just minutes from my Mom's house and we saw a MONSTER truck that had ran over another car.
Car on bottom with the roof sheared off and MONSTER truck on top.
The coroners office was there and they were covering people with sheets.
I got a sick feeling in my stomach because I knew that this was not ending well.

I've been thinking about where I live now, and I don't know how to feel.

I never mean to offend anyone intentionally.
I'm just calling them like I see 'em.

I'm not unhappy, I just walk around most of the time thinking WTF?

Maybe I need to head to the Keys!

[onethatcares]

41. I've only been here 33 years as of sept 29,

and I like the place. Of course, I live in the St. Pete area and the chain food places suck, but there are enough ethnic dining establishments if you look for them.

Jesus is big here too, but not the bash you in the face like Orlando has. Trust me, I ain't gonna dis Jesus no matter what anyone says. Him and I have a lot of thoughts in common.

Anyway, welcome to Floriduh:toast:

[Atman]

45. I grew up in Florida...it used to be a nice place.

I agree with you, though. On my last couple of trips back I was astonished how it has changed. For the worse, in virtually every way, but especially in how far right it has swung.

.

[cwydro]

46. I've been in Key West for over 20 years.

Jesus keeps a low profile down here,lol.

[KG]

47. you moved to the wrong part of FL. orlando is a fresh hell.

St Pete is a much groovier place to live.

[RebelOne]

48. I lived in Miami since I was 5 years old.

I finally wised up and moved here to North Georgia, just northwest of Atlanta, in 1989. Best thing in my life I had ever done. I am so glad to be out of what I called "the hell hole of the South."

[dysfunctional press]

50. "hell hole of the south"...isn't that redundant?

:shrug:

[raccoon]

49. I feel your pain. I'm in SC and summer arrived this past Friday.

This area is red as a baboon's arse.

"More to come. " Bring it on! :hi:

[ccharles000]

52. It was around 90 hear in Greensboro,NC

I hate when it gets hot.

[raccoon]

55. You and me both. nt

[recoveringrepublican]

51. I feel your pain! I've been here since 1998, I'm north of Clearwater.

I don't see the Jesus stuff so much (though much more so than my lovely Minnesota and North Dakota....sigh good times). It is striking in the differences on how people treat each other down here, though I wonder if it's because Florida is filled with so many transplants that have no real connection to the area. Growing up in ND and MN, while far fro utopia, it seemed like people just cared about each other more. Not that I haven't seen that down here, it's just different. The gap between the rich and poor is much more apparent than MN. The cost of living (at least in Pinellas) is so far above what the wages actually are it's ridiculous!

Can you podcast some sports talk?

If it wasn't for my Florida born Husband and all his family we would be back in MN, I wouldn't even pack, I would just leave.

[geomon666]

53. Move to Miami.

A little less Jesus. A lot more sports radio, plus mom is only 4 hours away.

[lostnfound]

54. I grew up in Florida. Find the beauty:

Take up birdwatching. It's better there than anywhere else in the country.
Go canoeing in its rivers and swamps. It's got a stark beauty. At Myakka State Park I've seen flocks of magenta-and-pink roseate spoonbills against an azure blue sky.
Go tubing at the Ichetucknee river. Jacques Couseau went diving there once, and said "visibility is..forever".
Take up some water sport like windsurfing. There are beautiful calm intercostals where you can learn your sport.

It's heartbreaking for us "florida crackers" to see the state distorted by Jeb and overrun by Republican imports including the cults.

PS I completely sympathize with your feelings on this, however. If you decide to leave, please do your part to clean up Florida by bringing at least 5 Jeb-supporting end-timers or greedheads with you. You can leave them in some interim state on your way back to your chosen destination. Florida used to be a really cool state..

[DFW]

56. It seems like Florida is rather diverse.

Some parts of it seem tolerable to positively pleasant, and others seems like the
Ayatollahs with crosses have taken over the place. Hard to visualize from here.
For the record, I have lived in :

Northern Virginia/Washington DC
Barcelona (Catalunya), Spain
Philadelphia
Eastern Massachusetts
Dallas, TX (still official residence)
Northwestern Germany (workplace for last 30 years)

I've never really spent any length of time in someplace like Florida, but with
ten different countries within a day's drive of here, I'm just fine with Germany.
Jesus keeps a low profile here.

[FLSurfer]

59. On DU posters can usually find common ground

On this we can agree.

The BAD:
I'm in freaking Florida.

[TuxedoKat]

60. I suggest

satellite radio for your car and home (or stream from your computer at home for free). It's the only way to go.

[southernyankeebelle]

61. GUESS THE OLDER YOU GET THE CLOSER YOU GET TO

GOD. I LIVE IN TN AND WE HAVE A LOT OF THE BIBLE THUMPERS. DON'T GET ME WRONG I LOVE GOD AND I DO GO TO CHURCH SOMETIMES, NOT OFTEN BUT SOMETIMES. BUT THESE PEOPLE TAKE IT TO FAR.