Nature lovers

[Edm]

Nice story Jane. I grew up in Deland and absolutely loved it until all the new sub divisions went in a few years ago. It got too busy for me. Hopefully Titusville will remain small. In the middle of my neighborhood we have a 500 acre bird sanctuary. Lots of hawks and a few eagles but not too many owls. We get alot of other wildlife too, deer, bob cats, coons, otters, and I have seen 1 Nile water monitor and 1 fox crossing 407 out near I-95.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the bear that was seen eating out of the trash at the old China buffet before they tore it down and built the home depot.

[carolwicks]

I wish...

i wish i could come back and hear Hailey (5) & Bobby (8) talking to their children about how they spent their weekends at race tracks all over Florida, Disney, Busch Gardens, Sea World, museums, concerts, the trip we made to Georgia to escape Charlie only to have to return to escape her attack in Georgia! etc with their great grandmother (OZZIE aka Nanny).... i hope the things i do now will all be happy memories for them when they are parents.
they both LOVE animals and as soon as things dry out and it isnt so hot, we will make a trip to see flvideo Bobs friends buffalo! (bisons)....
Hopefully, we all leave something real special for our children and grandchildren... i wish it was a world of love and peace and we could get pollution controlled. well wish in one hand and poop in the other and see which gets the fullest the fastest... roflllllllllllll
you guys are so special... we have a special bond too and even tho we argue once in awhile, i am so happy you are all a part of my life. you make it interesting & fun... ;-)
carolwicks aka OZ

[Jane]

If we don't take care of Florida and conserve and try and save some things, it truly will be "A Land Remembered". Dad has fought for conservation for Florida for years. I have always admired his belief that we need to leave something for our kids to see but honestly, there is little left of Florida for the kids. When we first moved to Florida in 66 and dad got our house on a canal, you could go crabbing in your backyard, catch huge fish, see shells living in the canal. Now, the crabs are gone, you might catch catfish and sailor's choice and you don't see shells or horseshoe crabs at all anymore. There was a time if you went crabbing off Humphrey bridge, you could easily get a 55 gallon drum of crabs in one night but not anymore. Florida has been used up and wasted. However, we do have manatees in the canal alot and one alligator but it is sad to think what we have lost so more houses and more condos could be built and hurricanes can just wipe them away. We needed the dunes and the sea grapes for protection but they are all gone for high rise condos. This state was beautiful at one time but has lost alot of it's beauty to the dollar.

[Edm]

That is so true. Its still a beautiful state but it used to be better. I may make jokes about certain things but when it comes down to it I love animals and nature. I do my best to preserve it and it really pisses me off to see someone buy a wooded lot and completely strip it to build a house.

I spent a few years in N. California growing up and I have fond memories of it as a kid. The hills, mountains, trees and the free spaces. I went back a few years ago and saw how they were cutting into these hills and mountains, completely clearing hill sides and building sub divisions. It literaly made me sick to my stomach. Havent been back since. Then spending alot of time in Deland an seeing what has happened there. Something drastic needs to happen soon.

Me and my wife are getting ready for our first child and I want him/her to enjoy the same things I did as a kid.

[1wildfastgirl24]

That is so true. Its still a beautiful state but it used to be better. I may make jokes about certain things but when it comes down to it I love animals and nature. I do my best to preserve it and it really pisses me off to see someone buy a wooded lot and completely strip it to build a house.

I spent a few years in N. California growing up and I have fond memories of it as a kid. The hills, mountains, trees and the free spaces. I went back a few years ago and saw how they were cutting into these hills and mountains, completely clearing hill sides and building sub divisions. It literaly made me sick to my stomach. Havent been back since. Then spending alot of time in Deland an seeing what has happened there. Something drastic needs to happen soon.

Me and my wife are getting ready for our first child and I want him/her to enjoy the same things I did as a kid.

Hey Ed I know what ya mean.....I've lived in Deland since I was 8 years old,And things are building here quickly,The woods that was once behind our house is cleared all out and now it's another sub division,They are popping up here everywhere unfortunatly ,I guess volusia county is happy to be getting all them high priced impact fees,never mind about the conservation here in Deland,We even get rush hour traffic in this town now.....who would have figured ,I remember when I was a kid going to the out door skating rink at the corner of 17 & 11 which now a carlot remains there,that was the biggest thrill for us kids here back then,and I also remember everyone calling it Deadland,Well it certainly is'nt called that anymore .
Thats great news Evie and you are planning for a child....tell her I said hi,and we all have to meet up with each other sometime

[flvideo]

Edm, The only way to let your child experience nature is to move to the country. There is a little left, believe it or not. The only trouble is there is no work unless you are a cowboy or do farm work. You have to drive to find work.
Unless you are an old fart like me and let Social Security help. Some nights my wife and I sit on our porch and just listen to the sounds of the country. Cows bellowing, horses, owls, and once in a while a peacock will holler. One of my neighbors have peacocks. No boom box going up and down the road, no speeding cars although a redneck kid in a jacked up truck passes once in a while. No sirens all the time, we do have an occasional siren, we live about a mile from a state Rd. Let me tell you man its paridise they just call it Myakka City. There is land for sale and the prices aren't as bad as you might think. Bob....

PS: I forgot to congratulate you and the misses on your first Child. My first was almost 48 years ago and I remember it like it was yesterday. Now my wife would say thats strange cause I usually can't remember any thing. We had 5 but the first was the most exciting. Enjoy it............

[Edm]

Thank you, we are both as excited as we can be. We live somewhat in the country, not as far out as I would like to be but not bad. A couple of heavily wooded acres with our horses, ducks and chickens. I think it will be a pretty good place to raise a kid.

[flvideo]

You got it man. The country is the place to raise a kid. When my kids were growing up they left the house in the morning when there was no school and they may come in for lunch and maybe not. they weren't stuck to the tv playing video games. Now thats left to us old farts. Its our turn to play.. LOL!
Do you race Ed? That has been a life time thing for me. I was introduced to Stock car racing in 1953 and have been hooked ever since. Bob.....

[Edm]

I race when I can, usually spend more time helping friends then racing myself. Sometimes thats more fun. I just moved up to the sportsman class this year from super stocks and have been putting my new car together. Hopefully I will have it together soon. We started a new business this year and that has really taken a lot of my time. I havent had the time or the energy to be at the track every week like I have for the last few years.

55 years of racing is a long time. I am sure you have seen alot of changes. I have been around it for about 1/2 of that but missed some years in between. Have you ever been to the old Deland Speedway? I dont know much about it except its a really nice vet clinic and sub division now that floods out.

[flvideo]

Hey Ed, No I don't think I've been to the Deland Speedway. I used to go thru Deland to get to volusia or Barberville back then. Developement has taken a lot of our tracks. The track I began at is now a trailer park. To them its all about money. Bob........