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!