Christmas 2008

Today is Christmas Eve and up to this point Christmas has been a bit different than all previous Christmases.............in many ways............I suppose this is part of a normal progression. Time has a way of changing everything. Ordinarily, at this stage of Christmas there would be several gifts jammed under the tree.........but not this year. Now don't go thinking that Ole Signtopia has hit hard times.............sure, times are harder for everybody but this is not really the case here. It has been a great year for me......much has been accomplished and enjoyed. As time passes along, you realize that all of those previous Christmases still remain in your mind and there is no possible way to outdo what you have previously done. It is impossible to ever equal them. Each Christmas now needs to be a time of reflection. Every Christmas from this point forward needs to be a venture into areas unexplored before..........time to be a bit different.

I was asked..."What do you want for Christmas?". I responded jokingly "To wake up on Christmas morning." But it isn't really a joke at all. What more could I ask for? With each day that I wake up I am blessed and I should not be so greedy to expect more than that. I cannot think of a better gift. I could only hope that by my getting such a gift, that others experience some sort of benefit from it. Yep, this is a different Christmas this year............my children have all grown up and Christmas had always been about our kids. Me and Supernurse always put our kids first. I can say without one doubt that we had spoiled our kids beyond a reasonable level. If they wanted it, they pretty much got it. If we wanted it, we did without it so the kids could have stuff. But today, there are no little kids running around and poking through presents. Our "kids" today are our grandchildren and they are at their own homes poking around the presents in anticipation of Christmas morning.

Time is sure flying by. Here's a picture of Signtopia Expansion Pack 2.1
Before we know it, he will be driving. He's cute as a button.........then again.......when has anyone ever went into a JCPenney's, walked over to a rack of shirts and said "Look at those cute buttons!"...........seriously though, Expansion Pack 2.1 is one good looking boy. I am gonna have to rely on pictures and videos of his Christmas in Texas.......hint, hint. .......but who am I to complain? I am positive that he will have a wonderful Christmas.

It has been kind of a tradition in the Signtopia household to have some grandkids come decorate the tree and this year has been no exception. Princess Fartknocker and her brother, the Mayor Of Simpleton, did a great job cramming our tree with ornaments. I, of course, put the lights on the tree first. Our tree is beautiful thanks to them.

Time has sped along rapidly this year and I know that it isn't just me that feels that way. It seems like yesterday that I was in Florida having Thanksgiving dinner with the rest of the gang. Because of the great expense that me and Supernurse went to for the accommodations in Florida, we had told our kids that it was a huge part of their Christmas gifts. Stuff like that, you cannot wrap and put under the tree. Today being Christmas Eve, we will all gather together and have dinner.......except for small contingent in Texas. It will all be good. Gifts will be exchanged, grandkids will be excited, and bellies will be full. There are many people on the planet that won't even have that experience.................what more could we ask for?

There will be gifts under the tree this year in the Signtopia house.......maybe not nearly as many as before.........but there will be something there.............but that is not what is important.......nor is it as special and memorable as the gifts we have been given that can not be unwrapped. For those, I am eternally grateful.

Merry Christmas Everybody!

Crabs For Christmas

This song is a necessity at Christmastime here in Baltimore.

Enjoy!

Courage - Todd Rundgren

Todd Rundgren has a new album entitled "Arena". There is not enough radio left to ever play it these days. There is a HDNET special coming really soon and Todd will be on the Letterman Show on Dec. 22nd. It's about time that the rest of the world joins us Toddheads and enjoy a true wizard and a true star.

Holy Smoke!.......It's Almost Christmas!

Time is flying by quickly. I suppose that the busier you are, the faster time goes........and I can safely say that I have been very busy this past year. Alot has happened in the past year and I can see where it is possible that even more stuff to do will enter the picture next year. I am not complaining.........life should be lived to the fullest......within reason.

Just a few thoughts.............well.......maybe a few of those signs of the end that most people haven't noticed...........

We somehow managed to elect a man named Obama to be President of the U.S..........hmmm....does this mean that we will now have an ObamaNation for a country?.............you must admit that alot of folks already know that the whole enchilada is an "abomination".

It doesn't sit right with me that our new President's middle name is Hussein......this cannot be a good thing.

Is it a coincidence that Obama was touted as some sort of new messiah?.......he has been called Obamassiah by some radio show hosts............and who does Obama select to be his Chief Of Staff?...........none other than someone named Emmanuel........go figure.

The price of gasoline dropped and I haven't heard any reports that there was some sort of sudden increase in the amount of oil in the earth.......what is up with that?

They remade the movie "The Day The Earth Stood Still"..........as if the first one was so bad that people demanded it be done over.............Keanu Reeves as Klaatu?.......you got to be kidding me.

The late news is now an hour earlier. Imagine that. If they start saying that the early news is now an hour later.....look out.......it's almost over folks.

Bob Turk is still mumbling the weather at WJZ TV in Baltimore.

The Ravens had the Steelers beat.......but the officials managed to make some "corrections" and turn things around.............this is no surprise.

Hillary Clinton, instead of becoming President, accepts a job as a Secretary........go figure.........and the Pro-Women's groups are not outraged.

Oh well...............it is time to get ready for Christmas..........

........does this mean that I can expect Jehovah's Witnesses to come knocking this week?

If they do..........I am prepared for that.............but they are not.

Stay tuned everybody........all ten of you.......hehehe.

This One Made Me Smile

Florida Trip Part Five - Daytona Beach

Sometimes it is good to revisit the past and maybe sometimes it is not. The space of time between time past and time today increases the chances that your fond memories of your experiences in the past are dimming and being chipped away.....piece by piece......until you get to the point that all you are left with is the memories in your mind and no physical landmarks in existence to even refresh those memories. Time can be a good thing and yet time becomes an enemy.........and time, however you have spent it in the past, marches forward as we, and in this particular instance.......I.........look back into that time that had been spent. Ahhhhh.....there is that word "spent"............maybe we should look at things that way........as having been "spent". Once things are spent, you cannot spend it again............or can we?

There I was............it was decided that while in Florida, I would find my way to visit Daytona Beach. Daytona Beach is a part of my past times..........and I have lots of good memories of this place. On this day, I was with my number two son, Boo-Boo, and his buddy, Dave's Not Here. This little fact has a certain level of irony which I will explain later. It was Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, and as it just so happened.....was the second day of a four day event in Daytona entitled the Turkey Run. As we approached Daytona, we kept seeing all sorts of old, classic cars on the road.......everywhere........every other car on the road was a classic car.......it was like going back in time............I saw many of these cars on the road, on a normal basis, when I lived here in Daytona Beach back in 1975-76. This was an unanticipated surprise.

If you ask me, they should go back to making these cars again. They look better, they ran better, and were safer........not to mention how large the trunks were.

There were hot rods, vans, trucks..........all sorts of vehicles on the road..........and no two cars looked the same or had the same color..............ahhhhhh the good ole days.

I drove along Atlantic, cruising right along with those classic cars..........and reached Ora St. and made the left turn. These days you can't make a right turn here unless you want to crash into a high-rise. Yes.....in the old days.....Ora Street ended right out into the beach behind the bandshell.

I found the place where me and my buddy, Ted Springstone, lived............the infamous garage apartment. There it is..............at the back of the driveway. I was surprised that it is still there. The difference today is that it seems to be less secluded than it was back then. Back then, there were alot of trees and bushes surrounding that driveway.

I can see where cars can park to the left of the driveway now......that wasn't like that in 1975.

We had stumbled across this place back in the old days. A dude named Scott sublet the place to us. I won't dwell on the story here, but we eventually discovered that Scott was a thief and a vulture. Oh well....it was what it was.......an adventure.

I get all sorts of imagery in my mind from being here.............mostly good stuff...........it was a far simpler time then. We then headed away from Ora Street and went directly to the beach.

My how things have changed. I have mixed emotions about change. Our new president-elect ran on "Change" and I am not so sure that all change is good. Sometimes change is to our detriment, and sometimes change is an improvement. I question though, is it really an "improvement" to remove historical landmarks? Well.............the main entrance to the beach is still there......thankfully, although I could see where it needs to be tended to a bit.

I don't know if you can call it a "boardwalk".....there are no boards..........and there were no boards back in 1975 either. Maybe it is a promenade. Boy has this area changed over time. I hung out right here at the starting point of the promenade.........in fact, all sorts of people hung out right here..........homeless hippies......drug dealers......babes and more babes.........and a Charlie Manson creature that was always there. There were no palm trees lining the walkway back then.

We walked toward the bandshell............it was stunning at how mostly everything leading up to it had changed along the way.

The clock tower is still there, but it is dwarfed by a huge hotel.

Cheerleaders practiced in the grass in front of a hotel..............now this would bring back memories of a visit to Daytona in the late 1990's. One of my daughters was a cheerleader and we attended a college cheerleading competition here that was held at the bandshell.

And there it is........the famous Daytona Beach Bandshell. It looks like they really take care of it, too. The area that surrounds it has all changed..................now this really sends up some old memories.


These are hallowed grounds.................for many reasons..................I am fortunate to be here once again.

It would be so cool if the Uncle Murray Band were on that stage..................ahhhhh such dreams.

I have tread on this beach numerous times...........imagine a light blue 1966 Ford Econoline Van, parked on the sand and two Baltimore dudes cranking out the 8-track player in full glory to the extent that the lifeguard had to ask for it to be turned down........we were ahead of our time.....hehehe............ahhhhhhhhh. Today.......no vehicles on the beach. I asked a police officer why............he said that they still permit vehicles on the beach but today it was closed because of the water on the beach. It's a tide thing.......cars can get stuck. But I don't remember that kind of thing.........there were always cars on the beach.....morning, noon, and night.......every day of the week...........regardless of tide. The problem today is erosion..........now water accumulates in the middle of the sand. Tropical storms and hurricanes have taken their toll.

I see my son walk towards the cold water's edge............I picture myself...........back in 75...........

Gee.......look at all of the water covering the sand................it ain't a pretty sight.........I am disappointed.

The buildings are taller and filling in all of the spaces. Most of the small motels are gone.

Not many people here.........it is too cold and windy...........

.........except for the birds.............I always loved watching the birds on this beach.

In 1975-76, Signtopia and his buddy,Ted Springstone, stood right here.
On this day in 2008, Signtopia's son and his buddy stand there and look at the pier.
What are the odds of this ever happening?........it is practically an homage to history!

Looking back from the beach at the entranceway.


Things have really changed here.............

I wonder what ever happened to that speed limit sign that we absconded with back in the old days........................ahhhhh......they never missed it.......hehehe.

I don't recall this ever being there before.........it must be something "new" in the last 30 years.....hehehe.

Two buddies..........sitting at a table......on the "boardwalk"......in Daytona Beach.......drinking beer...................is this some sort of deja vu or what?

It looks so different now............a few of the smaller old buildings remain...........gone are the amusement center, pinball places and other souvenir shops.

The pizza was good..........

.........and the birds know it. This one bird perched right next to me.......I fet sorry for it.....it was a cripple. Its left foot was messed up and he could not use it. Of course.....I violated the rules and fed him.

This was pretty good.................I have a new memory now.........to add to all of those old memories. This time it includes one of my sons.

I must admit........this is definately an improvement.............the trees are a nice touch to the boardwalk.


You can go back............but it won't be the same.

So we began to leave the boardwalk area and headed to where we were parked..............see the blue building?......right behind it was the Krystal burger place..........but not any more.........it is a municipal parking lot now.

Across from that blue building on the corner was once a two story building with a Burger King. It is gone now.......replaced with a park.

They have Christmas decorations up.

The park has a fountain/play area..........and bathrooms.

This area is well kept and tidy now........it looks good.........perhaps it is progress.

See the space between the trees and the big building?............it won't be long before another two high-rises fill it in.

The Krystal burger place was kind of a landmark.......I don't know why it is gone but I imagine that they wanted to get rid of the seedy characters that hung there at night.........maybe it became a big problem over the years.............but I really felt hurt to not see it there.

So what can you do about it?............nothing.......just park there where the Krystal once was.

Oh........I forgot to mention the beach volleyball court in the park.

So we took a stroll down the street to see this.......

............and it isn't there anymore..........it's gone! Okay....so what was supposed to be there?
Back in the day, this was where the Sanibel Inn was. I worked as the night desk clerk/auditor there. Part of my pay was a room with two beds and a kitchenette...........me and my buddy lived right here for a time..................but now it is gone........demolished.

They might demolish the physical stuff but they cannot take away the memories of what was once there. I was sad...........it hurts your heart to see this kind of thing........but I am glad I was here. To smell the air................they can't take that away.

We walked around a bit more and watched the cars..........

.........and watched some of the people that watched the cars..........hehehe.

It is odd that some things can go back in time...................but maybe I should say that some things can reappear.................just as I had reappeared in Daytona Beach.

I now have more memories than I came here with........and this is a good thing. This day trip was filled with all sorts of emotions..............but worth it. I don't know if I will have the opportunity to do this again.........and I hope I can.......but I know one thing for sure. Personal experiences can never be taken away from you..........ever. No matter what.