January Weekends

Friday the 7th, Tracy came over after work with little Rygel.  I cooked a pork roast, we decided to eat in and relax after a long week.  We did manage to get some brain activity in, she downloaded an app for Scrabble on her iPhone and we played for a few hours. 

Saturday the 8th, Tracy and I had breakfast at the diner near my place.  It was snowing most of the night and continued this morning.  Tracy decided to head back to her place before it got worse. I took it easy the rest of the day.

Friday the 14th, I went to the Slapinski's for dinner and just to hang out for the evening.

Saturday the 15th, I headed over to Jersey to see what kind of beer selection they have to offer.  Ended up with several different Barley Wines and I found more of the Sam Adams Imperial Series.  Then headed to the Hulmelville Inn for lunch.  In the evening I went over to the Slapinski's.  It was JT's birthday.   Joe's parents had drove down.  It was a nice get together.

Sunday the 16th, Headed to the Iron Abbey for lunch.  Caught the end of a Barclay football match, then watched the Fliers game.  In the evening I went over to the Slapinski's again.  Three days in a row.

Thursday the 27th, Joe and I went to the Home Brew Club meeting that was formerly the Gen. Lafayette brew club.    It was a bit of a challenge because Wednesday the big snow storm came through.  Bad enough that I could not get to work that day. 

Saturday the 29th, I took off around 9AM for the DFH brewery in Lewis, Delaware because a friend from work said that they had a limited supply of the Raisin D'Xtra 2007 vintage.  I have been searching this brew out for over two years.  A very rear brew because they last made it in 2009.  I grabbed 2-4packs (the limit).   Then off to the brew pub in Rehoboth Beach, DE.  They had four vintage brews to choose from. 

• 2008 120 Minute IPA
• 2008 Immort Ale
• 2006 World Wide Stout
• 2007 Fort

I had lunch then purchased the 2008 120 Minute IPA and the 2006 World Wide Stout to take home.

I went to the Slapinski's for a movie, I brought over a few of the Raisin D'Xtra and World Wide Stout. 

Sunday the 30th, just did some shopping in the morning.  Then took it easy the rest of the day.

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Christmas 2010

I left for Jacksonville on Wednesday the 23rd at 7:40AM flight out of Philly.  We boarded on time and left the gate right on time.  We had no delays heading for the running and were the first flight to take off.  We arrived around 9:45 which was 15 minutes early.  Since the flight arrived early, Mom was not waiting for me.  I ran into her as she was walking towards the meet-and-greet area.

We picked up Dad and had lunch at a new brewpub on Beach.  they just opened and had not installed the brewing equipment yet.  The food was good and they had an excellent draft craft beer selection.

Flagler College

On Christmas Eve we drove down to St. Augustine for the morning.  We took the scenic route down A-1-A.

Mom and Dad

St George St.

We ventured down St. George Street popping in and out of shops and boutiques.   We ended up having lunch at the Columbia Restaurant, a famous restaurant in old town.  Very good Cuban and South American food.

St Augustine Lighthouse

After lunch we drove over to Anastasia Island so I could see the Lighthouse.  The problem was that we arrived when the place was closing for the day.  A schedule snafu.  Oh well there's next year.

Me with big knife

Christmas, here I am with my new chef's knife.















The Jaguars were playing a home game on Sunday the 26th and as usually Scott had tickets and wanted me to go to the game.  This was a must win game against the Redskins.  They were favored and the Jaguars have never lost when I was in the stadium, Never!  Well, it was one of those nasty winter days in Jax so I decided to watch the game at home with Mom and Dad.  So, the Jags lost and Scott blamed me.  Ha!  Any who, I went over to his house to watch the late game, Vikings at the Eagles.  Unfortunately the game was postpone until Tuesday because of the blizzard in Philly (which I missed, ha ha).  So I just hung out and visited.  Gina's sister was in town with her husband who is a pro soccer player.  They had the flu so I did not get a change to chat with him much.  Scott and I did our usually thing, listen to music and watch videos (add drink beer).

Monday nothing much other than we went to a movie and saw the latest Harry Potter movie.  Mom and Dad were good sports since they have only seen one other Potter movie.  I enjoyed it and can not wait for the last movie.

I left on Tuesday the 28th around 11AM and got back to Philly around 1PM.  I watched the rescheduled Eagles game which was a disappointment.  

December Weekends

Had my first date with Tracy after returning from Libya on Saturdaynight the 4th. We met at the Market East train station downtown.  Then we took the "EL" down to 2nd street where we walked to Restaurante' Primavera for wine and cheese flights.  We sat at the same spot we sat at the first time we went there.  Had a great time getting caught up on stuff.  After dinner we walked towards town, it was a bit chili but we did not notice.  We went into the old Wanamaker's (now Macy's) to see the Christmas display but it must had been too late.  So we walked over to the Comcast Center to see their Christmas display but it was not on, strike two.  Then I suggested we go the Max Brenner's for some hot chocolate.  The place was packed but we got a small table and enjoyed the snack.

Got together with Tracy on Saturday the 11th she came by in the morning.  We went to the new German restaurant in Fox Chase.  Not bad the food was pretty good. We order different wurst plates so we could sample their inventory.  We both had Riesling wine.

Friday night the 17th I headed over to the Slapinsky's.  Had a great time socializing and carrying on.   Joe had just receive a new Samsung Galaxy Tablet in the mail just before I arrived.  Cool device, I may just get one.  He had a neighbor come by who is in the music industry.  A bass player who has played and recorded with many big groups.  We had a gaming geek fest with "Angry Birds" a very obsessive game.  We had fours devices going at once.

Saturday the 18th  I went to my beer distributor and found a case of the Weyerbacher Riserva. I’ve been looking quite awhile for this brew. The price was very steep but should be worth it. Will not know for some time because this brew needs to age for at least a year before consuming, I my opinion.
After my shopping excursion I drove up to the Iron Abbey for lunch and to watch the Fliers game. They had an excellent selection of Christmas beers. I ordered a flight because there was no way I would be able to consume four full Christmas beers in one sitting. (See my beer blog site for a detailed report).

On Sunday the 19th I chatted with Tracy most of the morning she was doing her Xmas shopping today with plans to get together in the evening. I did some shopping myself before the Eagles game. Speaking of the Eagles game, one of the best come backs of all times. They were playing the Giants in their stadium, I think.  Down 31 – 10 with 7 minutes left in the game they scored 4 unanswered touchdowns, with the winning touchdown off of a punt return with only 14 seconds left in the game.

Wrapped up the weekend at Tracy’s place.

Happens during the month.....November 2010

On Saturday the 13th, I joined the Philly Craft Beer Express.  An organized bar hopping event.  See my Best Brew Blog for details.

I decided to replace the window "fluff" in my house.  One of those home projects you just never have time for.  I went out to Loews and bought replaced window treatments.  I started installing the window treatments this month.  What a difference.

Tracy and I had been trying to schedule a date for some time after Thanksgiving.  We have not seen one another since May during one of my trips back from Libya.  We stayed in contact with each other via email.  She wanted to get together on Friday the 26th but I was traveling back from Miami that day.  Saturday was a no go so we decided on Sunday the 28th.

Happy Hops Giving Festival - IPA beer fest at the new Union Jack's with John and Mary on Saturday the 27th.  I met up with them around 2PM.  The place was packed.  They had a great selection of IPA's from around the country.  We had a late lunch and flights of the IPA's.  After our meal we went into the bar area where Mike was just tapping a frikin of DFH 75 Minute IPA, which came with a free DFH glass.  Cool!  I've been wanting to try the 75 Minute but it's hard to get because they don't bottle this brew.  Back at John and Mary's house we hung out and listen to old Xmas music, hung out and had a good time.

My date with Tracy on the 28th  was postpone until next weekend.  Had a conflict with the insurance adjuster.  We rescheduled for next weekend Saturday December 4th.

Thanksgiving - Miami 2010

My first Thanksgiving with the family since 2007.  Thanksgiving 2008 was in Libya at our Guest House, yours turly was cooking for 50 or so employees.  Thanksgiving 2009 was with Tracy in Vienna, a local brew pub (the 1516) was offering a traditional Thanksgiving.  It was very good.

I took Monday off from work thou I was leaving Tuesday.  The flight from PHL left before 8AM on the 23rd. (I had to get to the airport by 6AM).  I arrive in MIA at around 11AM.  The rental car center is located off of the airport so I had to take a shuttle.  When I arrived at the Avis desk my name was not on the marque.  I went up to the counter and they could not find my reservation.  It was not in the system, and I had to pay a much higher rate than normal.  That sucked!  Later this day I search for my reservation and could not find it, I must have forgotten to do it.

I arrived at the Urbano hotel just before lunch time.  A nice hotel just before the toll gates going into the causeway to Key Biscayne.  Aunt Karen found this hotel for me.  Great location but in hindsight I should have stayed at the Crown Plaza.  I was the first to arrive, Mom and Dad were still on the road, Uncle Bill is flying into Ft. Lauderdale and Aunt Karen is golfing.  I went to the lobby bar and ordered some wine and a appetizer. I called Mom they were getting close, they had a hard time finding my hotel so they just drove to Aunt Karen's.  I arrived shortly after.  We had dinner at the Yacht Club.

Wednesday, I located a DD about 3 miles from the hotel. I'll be coming down here every morning, that's a fact. In the afternoon we started prepping food for tomorrows feast. I made a wine based sauce for the steaks tonight.

Thursday, I receive a Happy Birthday email from Tracy this morning. We met up at Aunt Karen's around 10ish. She had been working in the kitchen on the meal. We ---more to come---

Tracy texted saying that it was snowing in Philly, that's way too early for snow. I checked my Facebook and received Happy Birthday wish from my FB friends. In the afternoon I went to print out my boarding pass when I noticed I had a seat upgrade to first class, very cool! 
We had Thanksgiving dinner in the backyard, which was very nice. 

Friday the 26th, last day in Miami.  For lunch we went back to the Yacht Club then walked around the property taking pictures. We then drove down to the end of the causeway so we could take pictures of the group with Miami in the background.  Bill and Maria are heading to Key West for the remainder of the weekend.  Mom and Dad are driving back up this afternoon and my plane leaves around 4PM. I dropped off the rental car and hopped on the shuttle back to the airport. I flew back to Philly.  The flight took off around 4PM and landed about 7PM.

Windstorm - November 2010

Around 3AM on the 16th I was woken up by loud wind gust.  I looked out the window and rain and tree leaves were blowing by.  Went back to bed and another very loud gust came, it felt like the house was moving and I heard crashing sounds.  I got up to check things out.  I heard sirens in the distance the street looked like a tornado had come through.  Two house just down the street had a tree fall throw their roofs and shingles were missing from most of the homes.  I noticed there was a 50' piece of aluminum roof cap in the tree in front of my house.  The cap had ripped in to two pieces.  At the time I did not know which roof it came from.

When I came home from work I still could not tell which roof the cap blow off of.  I went ahead and contacted the insurance company a few days later just in case.  The adjuster could not make it out until one of the days when I will be in Miami so I scheduled for the 28th, Sunday.

Weekend in Harrisburg - November 2010

I decided to get out of town for the weekend.  On Friday the 5th I hopped on the 3:45 PM Amtrak train to Harrisburg.  I arrived at 5:30 and walked down to the Crowne Plaza.  This my first time using my Platinum status with my point system.  After I checked in I walked through downtown looking for the cool hangout spots.  I ended up at a place a few blocks from the hotel.  The had the Troegs Mad Elf on draft, which was awesome.  Had dinner and hung out a bit before calling it a night.

Saturday, I got up early and went searching for a Dunkin Donuts for my morning fix.  I found one not too far from the hotel.  I had my small camera with me so I went down to the river to check out that scene.  I arrive just as the sun was rising.  I took some good shots from the pedestrian bridge.  It was pretty chilly so I headed back to the hotel to warm up a bit before lunch and headed to Troegs. 

For lunch I walked down the street and found a great beer bar.  I had lunch and a few micro brews.  I then walked down to the Troegs brewery for the tour.  They have a large tap room to sample their line while you wait for the tour to begin.  The tour was about 45 minutes long, afterward I pick upped a few items in the giftshop then headed back to the hotel.  I chillied out for a few hours.

For dinner I walked over to the Appalachian Brewing Company.  They have a nice brewpub.  I hit it at a good time.  They had 20 brews on tap including a barleywine.    Had dinner a sampled most of their brews.  I ended up sitting next to a guy who worked for the Fliers.  Small world.  Headed to the hotel and hung out at the hotel bar for a bit before calling it a night.

Sunday morning I took the Amtrak back to Philly.
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