Happy New Year!

The holiday break went all to fast. One day I was languidly dreaming of how to fill all the open time and then it seemed as if the next day I was back at school. However, I was able to enjoy a few days of sleeping in late and taking afternoon naps.

I had a delightful Christmas. I drove down to Dallas to visit family and friends again this year. The Dallas Museum of Art had an excellent Van Gogh exhibition. It had less major works than the Impressionist exhibit in St. Louis a few years ago, but it was much better done. We did the traditional Christmas Day hot tub and then the polar bear dip into the icy pool. I also treated a group of friends to my favorite Texas eatery; Babes Fried Chicken. They only serve fried chicken, green beans, corn, mashed potatoes and gravy, and biscuits; all family style. The building may look like it’s falling down but it is truly comfort food; which is so dear to my heart.

Dulcinea went on to El Paso to watch the Mizzou Tigers lose a heart breaker to Oregon State in the Sun Bowl. On the way back she got delayed in New Mexico in a snow storm and almost missed New Year’s Eve back in Missouri; which we spent rather quietly at the Trouser Mouse in Blue Springs. The blues band was good; we drank too much and greeted the New Year with a bottle champagne.

I’m thinking about going to SXSW in Austin this spring. If anyone out there has advice on how to best enjoy the week, please let me know.