arrived

Music: Tegan & Sara: The Con (2007)

I'm happy to report, after the expected delays, I'm returned to Austin. I'm so very happy I cleaned the house before I left: it's nice to come back to clean. The kitties seem fine but a little attention starved, and Jesús is sitting behind me in the chair dozing. It's a nice homecoming to needy animals.

Tomorrow it's back to the grindstone: three more graduate papers to finish up grading, article proofs to vet and return. Then it's a mad rush to put up the Christmas tree before New Year's Day, write some more cooking columns, and get a head start on promised co-authored essays and a book review. Down-time is good, but like most of you know, down-time with family is not really a vacation for many of us. I'm looking forward to a New Year's in College Station.

My compulsory "best of" 2007 music post is coming. I'm listening to one of the candidates.

Meanwhile, a new column is out. I promise this column will be welcome on New Year's Day for many of you. Bloodie Joshies are the bomb (although I must admit the Bloody Mary's at Opal Divine's here in Austin, the ones with the sun-dried tomato-infused vodka, are better). For those of you yet to return to Aus-Vegas, I wish you safe travels. May you arrive to our New Xanadu safely. And when you get here, let's have a Skate Party.