The scariest bark park in Florida: an update.

You guys, late in 2021 I visiting a dog park that was near home base and I was rather shocked and frightened to find out it was THE SCARIEST DOG PARK IN FLORIDA! Not only did it have a pond right smack dab in the middle of it, it had ANOTHER pond within the dog park fence! You might think it’s no big deal but think about what Florida is known for… sharks (does not apply here) and alligators (applies like heck here!). So that was the one and only time I took my dogs to that park. Even while we were there I kept them on a short leash. I recapped the visit in depth in a post called The Scariest Dog Park in Florida. And now…

Here’s part 2…

It’s been over a year between the first visit and now I’ve already been there twice. Why? What’s changed? I was so happy to drive by one day last week and notice more fences!

All the scary parts have been fenced OUT. Now the park looks more like the aisles of IKEA, lanes of grass to romp around in. I’m so, SO, happy alligators and for the most part snakes too, aren’t nearly as big of a worry as they were before. My dogs go everywhere nose first and I just can’t fathom what trouble they’d get into if the park was left the way it was.

I chatted with another guy at the park and he was not feeling so joyful. He said, “They ruined it.” I just nodded along because I wasn’t about to be all disagreeable… but I 100% disagree. Just like the old saying, “Fences make good neighbors,” I think fences make good dog parks. I’ll be going here a lot more now. I know the pups will enjoy exploring and I’ll enjoy them exploring safely.

See y’all tomorrow!

-Out of the Wilderness

2022’s Favorites – The Best That Came Out of the Wilderness

I have loved writing every day for the past 365 days! There have been posts written right up to the wire of my self-imposted deadline (posting at 1pm each day). Other days I have something written and have to be super patient to hold it till 1pm. Kicking this post off feels a lot like deja vu because right at the end of 2021 I almost dated a woman with 3 cats. In 2022, just a couple months ago, I dated a woman with 3 cats! What is it with me and these purry people? Do I have a type???? My allergies can’t handle these cat women.

I’ve had Florida as a home base for over a year now and I can hardly believe all that went on in 2022, from camping down to the Florida keys and west to Texas, to working as a videographer for an Indian wedding, and well, LIVING IN A CAMPER YEAR-ROUND! I’ve learned a lot, wrote a lot, and every day I wake up feeling cheesiest, Coach! OK, “cheesy” commercials aside, here are my top posts about TV commercials, a topic I really enjoy researching. Below are lists of my favorite posts and what to look forward to in 2023…

TOP COMMERCIAL POSTS OF THE YEAR…

KIA’s All-New Sportage Beach Commercial

Amazon Prime’s Medusa Commercial

One A Day Commercial – New Medicine, Old Music

TOP NON-COMMERCIAL POSTS OF THE YEAR…

Anne Heche tries to get off stretcher

Gas stations and SoBe drinks

Camping Stories

FAVORITE POSTS OF THE YEAR…

The Unexpected Deer in Caprock Canyons

Who’s the Real Queen of Christmas?

A life-threatening encounter at a state park!

THEME FOR 2023…

I try to have a theme every year. Last year was “full potential.” This year I’d love just not to be sick on Christmas and my birthday (December 25 and 26). COVID last year and some sort of cold this year, enough already! But on a serious note, my theme for 2023 is…

Real and deep.

That sounds a bit cryptic and maybe borderline inappropriate but I mean it with such sincerity! With this blog site, I want to go deeper with my posts and at the same time, be very real and honest about my feelings whether it’s dating, writing about my dogs, family, or anything else that comes up throughout the year.

Thank you SO MUCH for dropping in one last time in 2022. I love writing and appreciate all the comments and likes on my posts! Let’s keep it going in 2023 where I’ll try not to date anyone with 3 or more cats. See you next year!

-Out of the Wilderness

The Amazon Christmas Boxes Commercial – The Music and the Singer

It’s so fitting that one of my final posts of 2022 would be about a commercial. I’ve discovered that I love researching ads and relaying info to you, the reader! I’ve written quite a bit about Amazon because they seem to always have great actors and memorable music in their ads. This time is really no different as they wrap up their holiday ads with one called “Boxes: Amazon Thank You Ad.” Check it out below then scroll down for more info about the voice behind the song!

The Voice. Performing in this acapella song is singer Naomi Banks. It’s hard not to love her voice, right? You can find out a lot more about her by following her on Instagram (@NaomiBanksOfficial) and binging through her YouTube videos here.

The Boxes. This is a clever ad because we all have cardboard boxes. Big, small, crumpled, chewed by mice in the attic, and yet we keep them. Or is that just me? These boxes hold everything from Christmas decorations to stuff we haven’t looked at since high school. They might even be reused next Christmas to put new presents in before wrapping them. I suppose this is the best, most ecological way to recycle, isn’t it?

While it’s already a nostalgic reminder the Christmas season is over, it’s still a good ad. Save your boxes, you never know when you’ll need one, or when a mouse will need a snack this winter.

Be sure to show Naomi some love, too, on Instagram and YouTube! Thanks for dropping in!

-Out of the Wilderness

The Volcano, Dylan Mulvaney, and Deal or No Deal

I recently watched the documentary about the New Zealand volcano eruption, “The Volcano: Rescue From Whakaari,” which was a few years ago now. It’s heartbreaking. I’m glad they wrap it up on a positive note but talk about being at the wrong place at the wrong time. I don’t know if anyone specifically is at fault for the injuries (and death) suffered from the visitors of the crater but goodness gracious, it’s amazing how just two minutes can change a lifetime.

Then there’s Dylan Mulvaney. He recently had facial surgery to look more like a woman and, to be honest, his post surgery pic looks like he was on that volcano island after it erupted. His face is all bandaged up and he’s just a bloody mess. Not that I have it all together because I certainly don’t, but I feel sad for him. Plus many, many cringey moments in the clips I’ve seen of his on TikTok and elsewhere.

But I’ll wrap up with such an inspiring story that started with an episode of “Deal or No Deal.” There was this day where I was in my robe all day because, well, it’s the holidays and DON’T JUDGE ME! But anyway, a cheery tennis player was the contestant and she was so vibrant and happy. This was an episode from 2007 so I looked her up in “where are they now?” style and I could hardly believe what I was reading. Still as vibrant, happy, and cheery but she’s had quite the journey since her appearance on the game show. Her name is Hayley Tucker (married, Hayley Farris) and you can read her story here. Part of me wonders why such an amazing person was dealt the hand she was dealt after the show, why God would take her on that particular journey. It doesn’t seem fair. But on the other hand, anyone less amazing wouldn’t be able to handle it as well as she has. She’s beyond remarkable.

In a world where volcanoes erupt without notice, men have surgery to make their face into a woman’s, let’s all strive to be like Hayley. Rolling with the changes with a heart grateful to God for each day. I can’t think of a better way to end 2022 and start 2023. Also, I can’t believe this needs to be said… don’t change your face to be a different gender. Just my two cents.

-Out of the Wilderness

Driving To See Christmas Lights

Even though Christmas has come and gone, I think a post about Christmas lights is still *barely* relevant… “barely,” unless you’re one of those people who keep their lights up till mid-February, of course. Heck, SiriusXM has already changed some Christmas stations back to regular music! At least they could play holiday tunes till New Year’s Day, don’t ya think? We were in the Christmas spirit and had some extra time on our hands so we drove through a local park decorated with lights. Some people were walking in the park, probably the best way to appreciate all the festive decorations. However, even in Florida the temperatures were very low so we were content to stay in the car.

We rolled the windows down to listen to music playing in the park and I was able to snap a few pictures. They aren’t great. It was cold and I (nor anyone else in the car) was interested in stopping to get out! This also helps me remember that pictures don’t always have to be, and most of the time are not, perfect. I much rather share with you photos that I love or the ones I think set me apart from the average photographer but I’ll be fully transparent with these photos! And to paraphrase rapper Tupac, “only God can judge [my photos].”

What I like about having bad photos, though, is that sometimes they can be salvaged into something artsy or abstract. For instance, the last picture above, after a little bit of freedom in editing, turned into this.

So not all hope is lost, I guess. 🙂 Anyway, it’s been a wonderful Christmas season for my family, even with a range of emotions from happiness in being together, fun road trips, to a few of us getting sick and the sadness of losing a great pup. I hope you’ve had a memorable time this holiday with family and friends!

-Out of the Wilderness