Florida: Hurricane Irma

Last weekend, as scheduled weeks ago, I headed down to Gainesville, Florida, to visit my boyfriend. Yes, I went. Even though I knew I'd be meeting a hurricane halfway.

Although Gainesville is central and northern and therefore was unlikely to be seriously affected by Hurricane Irma, Southwest flies out of Jacksonville, which is much closer to Florida's east coast. So I brought some extra clothes and my work just in case.

As you've probably guessed by now (or already know by following my Instagram), I got an extra three days in the swamp (the actual swamp) and survived my first hurricane, which in Gainesville, amounted to binging Netflix during an extended thunderstorm.

Before the storm, Scott and I visited Cedar Key on the Gulf coast, but it was empty and we only managed to get in lunch before we had to evacuate. Saturday (when we were supposed to be at the canceled Gators game), we squeezed in a pre-storm walk, and Sunday we watched the Ravens at what appeared to be the only bar in town that was open. When not N&C'ing, we took some nice long walks around the University of Florida campus and a nearby park. On my last morning, we watched the sun rise at Sweetwater Wetlands Park, which is full of different types of birds and other wildlife (like gators and snakes...). Be proud of me -- I enjoyed the nature.

Until I returned home last night and discovered 17 new mosquito bites.

Here's a look at my extra long weekend in Gainesville!

-Staci