starting 11/12, starting 11/19, starting 11/27, starting 12/3, starting 12/12

12/12
I did a quick overnight trip to Dallas Thursday/Friday. Getting home to my cat is always wonderful, especially when the weather is cool. She gets all "friendly" and keeps the bed covers warm when I'm typing away.

The news from the doctor was truly great. Seems like I'm back in shape again. Full blood thing was back to normal. In fact, better than normal. Of course, that was the whole problem to begin with but it looks like the trenchant wit is back in full force. And now that Mercury is no longer retrograde, I might actually get some work done.

I did get a chance to finish reading Distractions by Bruce Sterling. I'm always amazed at how such a regional writer can incorporate a little bit of Texas into his every work. Maybe not everything, but, as usual, there's a little spot of Texas which figures in the story, pretty prominently. East Texas. There's a line from the book, something like, "Everything but East Texas. East Texas is absurd."

Couldn't have said it better myself. I mean, whenever I go to Dallas, I have to subjugate myself to a little time in a trailer in East Texas, right at the edge of the Pine Curtain. It's a frightening place, if you're not accustomed to it.

"Most of the folks don't have all their teeth -- they're just that kind of people," as my abductor always points out.

My kind of folks.

Then again, there's all that "civilization" which Dallas offers, too. Starbucks has a new flavor, a seasonal favorite with me: egg nog latte. It's a recommended treat, even if it comes from the evil empire country of Seattle.

I took a stroll down the avenue, that would be South Congress Avenue, out to get a bite of breakfast. The sidewalks wee teeming with typical Austin patrons. It seems that somewhere, some how, the South Austin Curse has been lifted a little. From a place where there were frankly odd ball businesses, it now seems that the term "eclectic" seems to apply. It's a subtle change, but it's different. Of course, I wonder if this has anything to do with the fact that there is now a real coffee place in South Austin, a place where you can actually get the real thing, a pressure cooked cup of coffee. By my reckoning, there's at least four coffee places in this square mile, there's Little City coffee, up Congress, close to the capital building. Just a block or so down, there's a Starbucks. Over in the warehouse district, is the incomparable Ruta Maya, by far, the very best of the spots on the north side of the river. Then there's Jo's. It's new, it's also in keeping with the proper outdoor atomsphere of town. Because it's south of the river, I'm happy with it.

12/13
And the winner is....

"I am a bartender in Albuquerque, New Mexico, here is my favorite eggnogg recipie, it serves quite a few people, Don't worry about using too expensive a liquor, the eggs and milk will drown out anything with a very delicate flavor, but as with all things, you get what you pay for. Try using a nice spiced rum like Captain Morgan's..."
Brandy Eggnog (punch)
1 fifth Brandy
3 oz. Rum 8 Eggs
1 pint Heavy Cream
1 quart Milk
1/2 pound Sugar

"Beat yolks and whites of eggs seperately. Add sugar to egg whites and beat until stiff. Combine yolks and whites and mix thoroughly. Add Rum and Brandy. Beat mixture. Add cream and milk. Mix. Chill well. Serve with a light sprinkling of nutmeg Spiced rum, like Captain Morgan's Enjoy! "

It's the winning egg nog recipe from Albuquerque, NM. From my less than objective experience, the bartenders always seem to know the best way to mix it up.

The other question which has been bothering me for a while is Xmas packages. I dropped off a suitcase full of unwrapped presents at my folks place, just so I don't have as much to haul up there next week. Of course, leaving a note that says, "Do NOT Open!" is a direct invitation to Ma Wetzel to take a peek. What are the odds that a good Scorpio Mom doesn't peek?

12/14
Ever have one of those extra long days that's barely over at 6:00 PM? I mean, with the nice weather (again) I was all over town on foot. Up Congress Avenue to get some Egg Nog Latte. Around the corner to the bank, down to the lake and then up the other side to Magnolia for some lunch. Then one last stop at Jo's for more coffee. There was some Amy's Ice Cream in there, too... the best kind, the butterscotch was caramelized, cooking down in the vat... no wonder folks are moving here from all over.

12/15
There are days that no matter what I do, it seems like I'm just paddling to stay in one place. Best thing I found today was an article about Bruce Sterling in the local paper. It was one of those long, in depth, personal interest stories, more about him than his work. He had a quote about feeling like he was 20 and had been on a bender the night before. That's what it's like to wake up when your 40. I had a lot of sympathy for that statement. I understand, perhaps all too well.

12/16
It started out as one of those days when I just couldn't get out of bed. But the sun is shining, the moon is in Sagittarius, and the cat is hungry. Nothing works better than a 20 pound cat sitting on my chest to suggest that it's time to get up and feed her. She seems to panic when she can see the bottom of her food dish. She did let me sleep in, a rather magnanimous gesture, or so she says.

And it's too nice of day not to go for a long walk. I had meant to get my boots shined up for the holiday, but that just didn't work out because it was another day for wearing sandals. It may be weird weather, but I'm loving it.