I don't even know where to begin…
Since our last visit together, I've been busy–big surprise, huh? Well, it was a good busy, for the most part. We took a trip and visited my mother in Ft. Lauderdale. While we were there, we got some pictures. The houses are all in the neighborhood where I grew up–it isn't as nice as it once was, and I had traffic behind me, so the photos are the best I could do given the circumstances. I simply started popping away with the camera while I drove–much like an RF-4C over Route Pac 6, I didn't dare stop:
The lot where 5446 NW 18 Street used to stand, the duplex we lived in when we first moved to Florida in August 1971. It looks like the city is doing some cleaning, and the two duplexes at the end of the block were demolished.
1631 NW 55th Avenue. We lived in this house from February 1973 until November 1989. Other than the new roof, reconfigured driveway, and the coconut palm in the yard, it looks much the same as it did when we lived there. The circular part of the driveway was just that, semi-circular, when we lived there, it looks like the owners extended it a bit near the house.
1641 NW 55 Avenue, our neighbor's house to the North. It is looking pretty sharp here–which wasn't always the case. A few years ago, it had bright purple trim. There used to be a huge black olive tree in the front yard, right about where the fountain is now…
1611 NW 55 Avenue, two doors down to the south. I remember when that siding went on the house in the early 1980's. I believe the same man still lives there…
1741 NW 55th Avenue, the last house to the north before you got to the duplexes, triplexes, and quads that still apparently are the center of some not-so-nice activities.
We also did some running around town on one of the days we were there. Lunch at Char-Hut is always required, and we always try to stop in at the hobby shops in the area. Here's Warrick's Hobby Superstore, on University Drive south of Peters Road:
There used to be a Sound Advice store to the left in this picture, but since their demise, the hobby shop has expanded all the way to the end of the building, taking over the vacant space. They actually had more esoteric stuff that I figured they would, but largely the selection is Revell, Trumpeter, Tamiya, Hasegawa, and Airfix. Still, not bad considering what it looked like four years ago when there wasn't a geed selection on the shelves…
We had to visit Chuck at RC Hobbies in Tamarac, too:
Same store, and Chuck usually has a pretty good kit selection. He's rearranged the inside of the store since our last visit in 2007, but he still tries to have some of the less-popular stuff in stock.
We spent about a week with my mother, then made the trek home. We stopped in Daytona Beach both on the trip down and the trip home, and on the way home we had a few hours to check the place out. No pics, sorry, but I can tell you this–Daytona changes from year to year, it seems. We were there last for the 2008 Rolex 24, and at the time, the new ISC HQ building was under construction. It is complete now, a monument to themselves. The area around the Speedway is much the same, though, and ARCA testing was going on when we stopped on the way down. Soon, the area will be abuzz with Sports Cars and the Rolex 24. We're not going, again this year–a 3:30 PM start on Saturday pretty much kills the deal for us. Grand Am, are you listening? What happened to the 12 Noon start, so everyone could get a stint in the car when it was light outside?
Once we arrived home, I had no time to rest. I do a lot of baking for the holidays, most of which goes to the in-laws when we visit. With no time to spare, I was able to get it all done:
The first of two cheesecakes. I'd be disowned if I didn't bring them with me. I use Alton Brown's recipe, for those who are interested…
Good, old fashioned, Nestle Toll House cookies. Why mess with a good thing? I don't deviate from the recipe on the bag of semi-sweet chips…
A batch of Quaker Oats' Disappearing Oatmeal Cookies waiting to go in the oven. The recipe is on every tub of Quaker's Old Fashioned Rolled Oats…
Spritz, ready for the oven.
Pizzelle batter and pizzelle iron on deck. I didn't get any pictures of the finished product. Rats!
Something new for me this year, I made Italian Bowknot Cookies. I tried these last year, and they didn't work too well. I think I'm getting the hang of these now…
Another new item, Nutella Ravioli–a Giada DiLaurentiis recipe. They were good, but next year I may reduce the size of them–they're awfully good, but they're awfully rich, too. I didn't follow the recipe exactly, so that's part of the issue. I'll do it proper-like next year and see…
The only holiday baked good that I don't make (nor do most Italians)–Panettone. It is a sweet bread, full of candied fruit and raisins. We made French Toast from ours this year, and all I can say is that you need to try it. Very good, indeed!
As for Christmas, we had an enjoyable time. We spent most of the day at the in-laws, where we were treated to good food and good company. What more can one ask for? I did manage to get a few kits–Anigrand's 1/72 scale XF-103 and XF-108 kits. I guess I can stop scouring the Internet for the Ken Rymal vacuum-formed versions…
We spent New Year's Eve watching the "Big Bang Theory" marathon on TBS. Why I hadn't discovered this show earlier is beyond me–I started watching it when I was in Dallas, and it is a hoot. We switched over to ABC so we could be welcomed into the New Year by Dick Clark and see the ball drop…
As we usher in 2012, I would like to wish all of you Health, Joy, and Prosperity for the New Year.
Thanks for reading. Be good to one another, and I bid you Peace.