Friday

A breezy, sunny day enjoyed by all.

Wind and waves = Lots o' Portuguese Man of War washed up on shore.

Camo-Iguana

Palm peek-a-boo

And the view from work on this beautiful day...

How Cold Was It?

You'd be surprised how cold it can get down here. Mostly cause houses don't have a little thing called "insulation".

Trying to close swollen windows with gusting cold winds can be an exercise in madness which as I found out can be easily relieved by beer and a outdoor propane flame heater placed in the living room.

Exactly how cold was it?

Cold enough that iguanas were falling out of trees in a comatose state. I didn't get to see this personally happen, but felt like I experienced it when I went to the DMV this week trying to get a replacement drivers license.

Seeing your breath in the air was a freakish occurrence everyday.

Locals looked homeless. Two weeks of just trying to keep warm and you really don't care at some point what looks good with the one sweater you own.

Pythons were laying out on the highways trying to get some warmth.

Fish were going belly up.

Most of all after the cold went, you're just so damn grateful not to live it in anymore. Don't know how I used to be cooped up for 6 months vs the two weeks that just happened. Hellooooooooo Sun!

Philadelphia - It's Amish Time!

Philadelphia! Got to head up and check out Paul's hometown for Christmas. I guess you could call it the "Philadelphia: I Ain't Afraid of No Carbs" tour as we grabbed delicious food left and right. From farmer's markets, Italian markets to his Aunt Grace's kitchen, it was everywhere and it was good. REAL GOOD.

First day in and we visited Booth's Corner. An indoor farmers market that has lots of homemade Amish goodies. One side is homemade pastries, cheese, meats from local Amish farms and the other side is your general American random garage sale crap. Quite the dichotomy and so much fun.

Philadelphia - It's Amish Time!

Paul, Zeb and shoo-fly pie.

Off to the orchard for apple cider. So fresh you could smell the rind in the bottle.

Jam, anyone?

Pretty trees.

Moss and icicles!

Philadelphia - Mutter Museum and Italian Market

Paul, Laura and me all went downtown Christmas Eve day to check out some pickled oddities and bread. What does that mean? Well, it's a morning trip to the Mutter Museum to check out skulls, siamese twins, shrunken heads and disturbing things in a jar - then pizza and fresh bread at the Italian market.

Pre-med Laura reveled in the medical monuments and knew some crazy cool stuff about brains.The museum was good but when it began to impair my ability to eat more, I had to take a break near the shrunken heads. A very fun day downtown.

So cold, even Santa needs a coat.

Philadelphia - Mutter Museum and Italian Market

Awesome mural of a bad-ass Philly mayor.

Laura and Paul post Mutter Museum finished with brains and ready for bread.

Sarcone's Bakery and some damn good pizza. The ladies who worked the counter kept calling everyone, Honey. "What else you want, Honey?"

The bread we picked up was probably the best bread I've ever eaten and as I held the bag while eating my pizza, it kept me warm.

Philadelphia - Mutter Museum and Italian Market

Skyline outside of Sarcone's Deli

Paul waiting on his seven hoagies.

Pondering the meaning of Christmas in the hoagie waiting room. Either that, or it's the beginning stages of a bread coma.