Seeing Renewal in Destruction at Everglades NP

Even though our area of downtown Miami came through Hurricane Irma relatively unscathed, we live in an entirely fabricated environment that’s designed to withstand storms and other natural events. Underground power lines, steel-reinforced concrete construction, and a limited amount of trees all contributed to very light damage from Irma in Miami’s downtown core. However, we … Read more

Rocketing Up the Learning Curve at Jonathan Dickinson State Park

We snagged a campsite for the week of Thanksgiving at Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Hobe Sound, where we planned to have our first extended camping experience with our new Airstream trailer while being close to family to celebrate the holiday. The park is packed with enticing amenities and activities, so we hoped to enjoy … Read more

Surveying Miami’s Confederate Monuments

Confederate monuments have been much in the news, and the recent controversies have sparked some useful personal reflections. Growing up in the south, I didn’t particularly question the predominance of Confederate monuments. Mostly, I just mocked the maudlin, overwrought testimonies to the greatness and chivalry of the war dead which these monuments tend to feature. … Read more

Cheering On the Ironmen (and Women)

One of the best things about living in downtown Miami is the frequency of festivals, races, and other special events, which typically take place within easy walking distance of our apartment. This means that lazy people like us can enjoy music, fireworks and other shows by merely sitting on our balcony or heading to the … Read more

Returning Home After Hurricane Irma

Well, that was interesting. After dashing around the state in a panic, wearing ourselves out with storm preparation, and spending an anxious 24 hours watching Hurricane Irma make the final march toward and over Florida, the storm was finally over and the clean up could begin.   We and our loved ones experienced no significant … Read more