Tag Archives: Jacksonville

A Place That Felt Like Home: Highlands, North Carolina

Posted on September 21, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Highlands, North Carolina, never became my actual home, but after enough visits, memories and family connections, it began to feel like one. Continue reading →

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Best and Worst Airports I’ve Been To — Sort Of

Posted on September 7, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Asked to name the best and worst airports I’ve visited, I realized I’m not much of an airport critic. Nashville is cool, Atlanta is unavoidable, Honolulu had surprisingly great sushi, and someday I’d like enough travel experience to have much stronger opinions. Continue reading →

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The Best Thing I Ever Found… Somewhere

Posted on September 1, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

I’ve never been much of a roadside treasure hunter, but I did once find a Buck knife that I still own and use. Unfortunately, that’s where the details get fuzzy. Continue reading →

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Best Restaurants in Jacksonville: My Local Favorites

Posted on August 15, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Jacksonville has no shortage of great places to eat. From fine dining at Restaurant Medure to Italian at Catullo’s, tacos at TacoLu and enormous sandwiches at Blue Boy, the “best” restaurant depends on what you’re craving. Continue reading →

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The Funniest Misunderstanding I’ve Ever Been Part Of

Posted on July 22, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

I thought I was being warm and engaging when I introduced myself to Lisa’s daughter. There was just one problem: She wasn’t Lisa’s daughter. She was Lisa’s best friend—and they were the same age. Continue reading →

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“The Hard Years” — When Love Pulled in Two Directions

Posted on July 10, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

The hard years were not the mistake years or the lost years. They were the years when love pulled in two directions, home became complicated, and God taught love to stretch. Continue reading →

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Tasting Tuesday: The Bourbon Hunt Shouldn’t Feel Like a Shakedown

Posted on May 26, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Bourbon hunting should feel like discovery, not a shakedown. Some liquor stores build loyalty with fair prices, good picks and real customer relationships. Others treat bourbon drinkers like walking wallets — and those stores may find out the hard way that we remember. Continue reading →

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The Best Thing to Do in Jacksonville Is Often Not in Jacksonville

Posted on May 7, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

Jacksonville has its charms, but the best thing to do here is not always technically here. Sometimes Jacksonville works best as a launching pad. Continue reading →

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The Risk That Rewrote My Life

Posted on April 24, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

A few risks change more than your location. They quietly reshape who you become. Continue reading →

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Describe a decision you made in the past that helped you learn or grow.

Posted on April 17, 2026 by Douglas Blaine

I thought I was moving toward one future. Instead, unemployment pushed me toward a completely different life than the one I had planned. Continue reading →

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