Wild predators on the gulf coast

We’ve had quite an experience here on on the gulf coast of north Florida. It’s not uncommon to see dolphins, sting rays, fish, but just in the last couple of days we’ve seen all sorts of ocean life, the kind we don’t often see so close to shore. If you think I’m just talking about sharks, you’d be wrong. Well, we DID see sharks, but added to that, we’ve seen manta rays, a sea turtle, manatee, and… this next one is rarely seen, especially in salt water. Yep, it was a alligator. Conservatively we’re thinking 7 feet or 8 feet. Less than an hour later, an 8-foot shark (possibly a nurse shark?) just a few hundred yards from where the gator was spotted.

The pic was take from looking through a scope, so it’s not the best image. To be honest, though, who want’s to get close to such a prehistoric creature anyway, right? Especially if they’re leaving their normal fresh water domain to explore the sea. Crazy times!

Swimming in the morning or evening won’t be happening. Sharks are one thing, but sharks AND gators…

See you all tomorrow for another post at 1pm central.

-Out of the Wilderness

Independence Day 2023 – Glory, Glory, Hallelujah

I can’t think of a better post for July 4th than including the lyrics from a well-known celebratory song played across the nation during this holiday. It was published in 1862, written by Julia Ward Howe. Here are all the verses with the chorus at the end…

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword
His truth is marching on.

I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps
His day is marching on.

I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel
“As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall deal”
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with his heel
Since God is marching on.

He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! Be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on.

In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free
While God is marching on.

Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
While God is marching on.

Happy Independence Day 2023!

-Out of the Wilderness

Tri, Tri Again

I finished another sprint triathlon although I ALMOST vowed to never do it again a couple of months ago. I had an embarrassing swim and the rest was very mediocre. But this one was much different! Short distances on the swimming and biking were good for me. My brother-in-law and I ended very happy with our results: we finished in the top 10 of our age group. Here is a picture of us after we finished, posing with our medals.

Have you done any sprint triathlons? What was your experience? Chime in below!

-Out of the Wilderness

What do you think about Dylan Mulvaney’s partnership with Bud Light?

Hello and thanks for reading today’s blog. I post every single day at 1pm central and today’s thoughts are about the fiasco (is there a word for something that’s bigger than a fiasco?) of Bud Light sending “one single can” to social star Dylan Mulvaney. In a nutshell, Dylan was celebrating Dylan’s 365th day as a woman and went online to show off a beer can with Dylan’s face on it. Backlash ensued, as you probably know. As I stated in this post a few weeks ago, Budweiser said it was (paraphrasing) just one can you guys, one moment in time not meant to be anything more than a small gesture. What’s the big deal?

Well, that was a lie. This week Dylan posted a video where Dylan shares that the promotion of this single can was in fact a paid endorsement deal. Dylan explained that Dylan is upset Bud Light didn’t come to Dylan’s defense when the sh*t hit the can. Get it, fan/can?

So basically, Bud Light paid Dylan to promote Bud Light to all of Dylan’s followers. What Bud Light didn’t see coming is a tidal wave of rejection, of which they’re still under water. This same week, the CEO of Bud Light made rounds on news shows trying to clear up what all went down… meaning… trying to salvage the wreckage (is it too soon to use this kind of language after the whole OceanGate, ummm, fiasco?) of a once profitable brand. He dances around all kinds of answers.

Still no apology.

So as it sits now: Bud Light is shunned by customers it once had AND it’s shunned by Dylan (and probably Dylan’s fans, too). People have been fired. Bud Light cases still sit on store shelves. I’m not sure there’s an end to this where Bud Light doesn’t declare bankruptcy or whatever brands of larger corporations do when they keep spending money and eventually have no money to spend.

Also, Dylan is the dictionary definition of a narcissist. Not that anyone was wondering.

Crazy times. See y’all tomorrow!

-Out of the Wilderness

The Publix Won’t Grow Up Summer Commercial – The Music, the Float, and More…

Is anyone surprised Publix has done it again? Just in time to celebrate everyone’s (well, everyone who’s normal 🤪) favorite season – summer – Publix has a new commercial and it’s great… or is it? Take a look then scroll down for the name of the song and more info…

The Float. That’s one adorable commercial right there. From the begrudging young freckled child to the last shot of an evening pool party, the commercial has all the elements of summer we enjoy here in the south. But what caught my attention the most is that root beer float.

Might have to get some vegan vanilla and make it happen to celebrate Independence Day. And let’s address the elephant in the root beer room… Everyone knows the best part is drinking the root beer after the ice cream is gone…. Right? Riiiiiiiiiiight?

The Music. The cheery song playing along with the ad is “I Won’t Grow Up” by the Peter Pan Ensemble including Mary Martin, Robert Harrington, Joseph Stafford, and Kathy Nolan. Here’s the full track from the 1989 re-release of Peter Pan, and a live performance, as well.

Where does this fall on your list of favorite Publix commercials? Comment below, and see you tomorrow at 1pm central…

-Out of the Wilderness