Holiday countdown

Days are ticking away until Hannukah and Christmas. Its odd to be in a warm weather place awaiting Christmas. Things are decorated, trees abound, Santa is around but its lovely weather. A bit weird. No complaints about the weather. Its really the best thing about this place. Every day on the news I hear how there's a weather front moving through the country, so cold, snow everywhere.... its seems all very far away. I guess because it is. And yet here I sit, its 11 pm and I have my sliding glass doors open while I type this. Thursday, I met my new Scottish friend for lunch and we ate outside. You just can't beat that stuff.

When last I wrote I was telling you about all the Hannukah presence there is here. Its true. It amazes me. Now many of you have told me that there was Jewish stuff in Rockville or other places and maybe I just never saw it. That's totally possible, but its true, I never saw it. But lest you think its all Jewish, I was driving through Coral Gables when I saw this Nativity Scene. Its live size. Yowza.

So as I was driving around I passed a Winn Dixie. that's one of the grocery stores. I saw this sign. Its a big deal around here. Very latin I guess to have a WHOLE PIG for the holidays. People set up smokers and firepits and go to town. Hmmm. Interesting. While I do love a good pork roast, or some finger licking ribs, I just don't know about seeing the whole pig cooking away in the back yard. As always, just not sure I want to be the personally engaged with my food. I prefer the blissful ignorance. But you never know, I bet that's good food. If I were to get an invitation, I wouldn't turn it down.

Today, my friend Suzanne and I went on an adventure. we went to a place called Antique Mall Y'All. Now really. who came up with that? Anyway, its one of those large indoor shops where lots of different people rent rooms or areas to sell their products. This one was pretty nice because its not a flea market, you check out at one place. Its pretty seamless, as you go from room to crowded room, you never really know where one person's stuff ends and another's starts. there was a ton of great stuff and also so much that we all shed from our childhoods. Remember the dial phone we had a kids? Ours was black. the one at the store was turquoise. It was $60!!!!! I know for a fact that my mom still have a white large rectangular one in her closet. Break it out mom, its a gen-u-ine antique.

They had tons of those white, translucent, pearlish dishes, bowls, pans, that were so prevalent in our earlier years. I'm sure there's a name... there were coffee cups, bowls, casseroles,... some kind of glass but not clear. I don't think we had it but it was definitely very prevalent. It just made me laugh since most of us shed all that for "better" stuff. Now its collectible. they had some Fiesta ware -- $45 a piece for a dinner plate. whatever. its probably the old kind, has lead in it and is still over priced.

I did find a few must haves, but some of them might be gifts so mum's the word.

In my ongoing effort to learn the differences in Palm trees, I found a new twist this week. It has fruit. I don't know if this kind also does coconuts or what, I'm so confused. I can barely tell these trees apart but I'd never seen this before.

This is taken in front of Suzanne's condo. I don't believe this fruit is edible, but cool none the less.

Suzanne thinks I'm funny with my photo recording and my big city ways. She grew up in Jamaica. she was tickled one day when she took me to this open air market. they had all sorts of fresh things and even prepared food. It was all interesting and wonderful and so expensive. While she went off to buy some Jamaican food from one of the vendors, I was mesmerized by someone taking a coconut, taking a machete to the top, sticking a straw in it and selling it for $3.00. You just don't see that in Philly or DC. I want to do that one day when I have an out of town visitor. fun. What a tourist I am some times!

Finally, here's a picture that makes me happy. Its not meant to torture or boast. Just to say, I'm like a kid in a candy store enjoying the benefits of a warm place even if it is far from home.

Speaking of home I am eager to visit again in a week. I'll spend a few days in Philly which is nice, because I can see my family but then I head to DC for a few days. Now that makes me happy. I haven't been there since I left and I miss it terribly -- as well as all my friends. But I've been surprised at how much I miss the city itself. there's a feeling, a sensibility in DC that I think is completely unique. Not only is it a beautiful place, but the people, the places, its all good. I can't wait for a half smoke! Yum. Until then.... stay warm people! As always, you there's a place for you here in Miami!

holiday time is different in Miami

One of the most notable differences in Miami -- the holidays in warm weather is one. the presences of such a strong community is a second. Everywhere you go, there are menorahs and dreidels and "happy Hannukah's."

Now Washington, while a most fabulous city is sort of the antithesis of a jewish presence. Washington is a white bread city. there are no ethnic names, there is no jewish presence without heading out to the suburbs.... I can remember being so impressed when I went to Philadelphia to visit my mom and there were be Rugalach at the store across the street from her. Elliott always has the best bagels and my favorite, white fish salad! but here, where its a whole different story. While I haven't found any whitefish salad in my grocery store -- all the cuban delights you could want, but no whitefish salad. the nod to the Jewish presence is everywhere. This picture, upper left, is from the lobby of Nancy's office building at the Univ of Miami Medical School see the Menorah on the counter?

I went to the mall tonight to do some power shopping, Its an outdoor mall called The Falls with a big lake type thing in the middle. this huge dreidel is among the decorations in the middle. Can you decifer the lit reindeer in the upper right corner?

Then there's the New Balance sneaker store. Can you see the menorah on the top shelf and the dreidels stuck in the shoes on the lowest shelf? Love it.

I understand that the critical mass of the jewish community has moved a bit north of Miami Beach to Aventura. Its very possible that's where our clinic will be. I need to go check it out. A weekday if possible. Traffic up there is a killer. But I bet they have whitefish salad, One day when driving home from a meeting, we passed a Judaica store the size of a , well, I don't know, the size of a normal store -- as in not a small or even medium space. Never seen that before. Not even in Wheaton or Rockville. So I need to check it out.

I had my book club pot luck today. That was fun. Met a few new people. It seem many transplants have trouble adjusting. Good to know its not just me. The host was a Scottish woman who ended up here via San Francisco because of her husband's job. At one point she leaned over to me and asked "so how do you like it here. Be honest. I hate it." She's been here since August. Fascinating. A group of us, not a native among us, decided to get together and try and work on (read: learn) Spanish. We'll see how that goes. I'm curious to hear Spanish with a Scottish accent.

Last week, a visitor from DC came and introduced me to a transplant who had worked at the Kennedy Center. We met for drinks and dinner -- and generally a great night out on South Beach on a Tuesday night. Look at me, thank you very much! Anyway, as a result... I am going to see Paul Taylor Dance Company tomorrow at the new Arsht Performing Arts Center. I've never been there so I'm excited. Not so much theatre... but I'm learning. Come visit. We'll go exploring.

My weekend's adventures

I was wrong. I'm big enough to admit that. I was wrong. It seems that Miami is not devoid of culture at all. Its just devoid of great theatre. Oh fine... even that may not be true but I digress.

First was the book fair. An amazing huge event with speakers and authors filling every hour of a week of events. It was amazing. This past weekend was Art Basel. Its a contemporary art show that is a spinoff of the original in Switzerland. Supposedly its the largest contemporary art show in the US. The show itself was at the convention center and had an entrance fee of $35 so I went to one of the free parts. There were related events all over the place. This one was called Art Position and it was on South Beach. They had up and coming artist show in containers. Huge shipping containers like you would see on a freight train. Each artist had a container that they could do with what they wanted. Some were carpeted, some industrial... some were plain weird. My favorite was one which looked like it had been sliced with spaces in between the slices. cool. What rules? Its all in how you interpret them! I figured out how to put a photo or two on here... see the containers above?

the sliced container is to the right.

Then there was this funky thing on a stage area. I read somewhere that it was supposed to represent sound waves. Cool. It was made of styrofoam.

Okay, so while I was at South Beach I thought I would take a stroll on the beach. It was bout 5 or 5:30 and it was just beautiful. Miami has some seriously amazing sky. No matter east or west... morning or evening... the sky is just beautiful. Beautiful clouds, amazing color. I couldn't resist a few snapshots. I'm not gloating. I'm sharing. Although I can't complain about having my toes in the ocean while its freezing up north.

okay so somewhere along the day I went to Espanola Street and Lincoln Road and wandered those streets. Both are filled with restaurants galore and shops thrown in for shopping in between bouts of eating. I came upon a flower vendor with beautiful flowers. I saw one that really caught my eye. Its called Gangling Heliconia. It sort of looks like a bird of paradise that grows downward.

While shopping on Espanola, a store owner told me about an open house over on Collins Avenue that was open in honor of Art Basel. It was closed when I first went over, but on my way home after the beach, I was driving down Collins -- which is the very heart of South Beach -- and the door to the house was open. I scooted in for a quick peak. While I have to admit I just understand or relate to most contemporary art, this house was drop dead gorgeous. I'm sure the art was nice too.

Here's the front of the house. Its nestled between a hotel and who knows what. But you'd never know what's behind that gate from the front! Here's the courtyard you seen when you come through the entrance gate. Billiard room is first door on right. Living room is first door on right.

The first door on the left is the living room. I opened that door and saw a most amazing thing. a truly beautiful spiral staircase. I think it was mahogany. double wide. Nice.

I was a little awed by this house and being there alone.. no other spectators had wandered in.. so I didn't go upstairs. Back out side I wandered along the courtyard and came upon a beautiful pool or pond on my right. Wow. Following further along was a magnificent open living area. At the very end was the bedroom "building." wow. it was an amazing place just tucked into the chaos of Collins Avenue. There's plenty of ostentatiousness in South Beach, but this was a beautiful place. How kind of them to share it with me. Oh and the art looked good too.

Thanksgiving come and gone

There is nothing like moving 1200 miles from your family to make them more appealing. For the first time in a long time I was actively looking forward to going "home" for Thanksgiving. Maybe its because I'm having a bit of trouble with where home is. when I talk about Washington, I refer to it as home. But I need to remind myself that Miami is home now. But home is where the heart is not where the mind assigns. I'm sure in time, Miami will become home but for now there's DC which has been my chosen home for quite some time and good old Philly which will always represent home.

Thanksgiving was great. visiting my mom was fun. I made two key lime pies to carry the spirit of FL up to Philly with me. they were a great hit. the food was all good. I love our new way of everyone contributing. I think my sister thinks its a sign of her not being able to handle it all -- but I love it. It lets all of us contribute and be a part of creating the meal. It makes me feel like I participate more than just attending.

Speaking of my sister she completely outdid herself. she made me quilt that is so amazingly beautiful that it made my cry. It will look spectacular in my new apartment. It is bright and sunny and just so beautiful. I swear she channels Martha Stewart. I'm not sure how, and sometime I wonder why -- although not this time!!!! I am more than happy to be the recipient of her talents. It will bring a very personal touch of family to my far away apartment.

Speaking of apartments, home is also where you hang your hat. Or lounge on the sofa and watch tv. According to that definition, my apartment becomes a home tomorrow. Or so they say. My sofa is supposed to be delivered tomorrow. I'm excited. I think Max will like it too. He and I got used to sitting in Loretta's most amazing recliner together. I was his human barcalounger. I know he misses that. I do too, but don't tell him. Right now the living room looks more like a panel discussion set-up than a comfortable living area. Hopefully tomorrow's arrival will change all that.

Today was a good day work wise. We had a day full of meetings that yielded tons of information. We visited the Pritikin Longevity Center. wow. Gorgeous. Then we visited Cenegenics, an age management clinic. Amazing in a totally different way. Who knew these things existed? Two similar models with very different executions, outcomes, philosophies. I am learning more and more everyday and realizing how much more there is to learn. How to Open a Medical Clinic 101 is harder than expected. But the adventure is fun in and of itself. We have met with folks everywhere on the spectrum of people who have had their own medical businesses and some are quite the characters. Putting it all together and taking the best from all of them should net us some useful information. We'll see.

Of only one thing I'm sure. We are on the way to something really good if we can get there. The journey continues, that's for sure!