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

12/17
Looks like a quiet day. Looks can be deceiving, too. Imagine a maniacal laugh. Or, better yet, imagine a little Kona coffee, a fine cigar, and a little Country Music, acoustics provided by Don Walser and his Pure Texas band. It must be Thursday evening at Threadgill's.

12/18
And what are you reading right now? I'm reading (actively) England, England by Julian Barnes, a short list, Booker Award from, obviously, England. There's also an old copy of The New Yorker, and I'm reading the article about Cannibalism and the Indians in the South West. There's also a copy of Ulysses by Joyce here, but I slapped a bookmark into it after several hundred pages and have not been pursuing it. There's also a copy of Sarum by Edward Rutherford. It's also at a stopping point and won't get picked up until the holidays are over, I suspect. Rutherford's London was such a satisfying experience, I've gotten to the point that I really enjoy Sarum which might even be better written.

Xmas is that time when the town swells with non-natives. Looks like I've got a few friends in town. Going to be a busy weekend. But it's hard to beat last night's show at Threadgill's.

12/19
So yesterday was an Aries day, even if the moon was in Sagittarius. And today is a Sagittarius day, even if the moon is in Capricorn. And tomorrow is looking like a Leo day, even if.... even if I survive. This much activity, and I might change my attitude about the holidays.

12/20
Time is of the essence right now, and suddenly there ain't enough of it. Folks from far-flung locals are clamoring for my attention, and the local friends need me, too. Going to be an interesting few days. I just hope I can work in the right amount of time for my special Gemini friends. Gemini is always plural, you see. I did survive the Fire Sign weekend, but I might be a little scorched.

There's been a heavy fog on the ground, and down here at the lake, it's been really thick. It does impart a rather surreal look and feel to everything. Even shopping is more mysterious right now.

12/21
Today's topic: Texas Turkey. I ran into a fellow Sag who works at a restaurant known for its fine cuisine. He shouted with jubilant noise, as befits a Sagittarius (with a Scorpio Ascendant and Aquarius Moon), "Dude, I got a Turkey Fryer."

Deep Fried Turkey, can anyone come up with a better way to spend dining on the holidays?

Or better yet, how about this weather? 76 at noon time, but the weatherman keeps promising a cold front, Real Soon Now.

Real soon now was the rush hour. Temperature promises to be below freezing, and it might just be. As soon as the sun went down, as soon as it officially became winter,the cold front hit. Hit with all the subtly of a brick. Bet there's ice by the morning.

12/22
The cold weather did hit, and this wehere we get the comments about Texas weather from, it was 76 one minute and hour later the temperature had dropped by 30 degrees. Timed with the arrival of winter, by the astrology chart. I should make weather predictions.

But I despise the holidays. Good cheer? It seems that no one will consult his or her astrologer until after January 1. I've been in this business long enough to know that I'll get the sporadic broken heart, wishing for a romantic miracle, and other than that, business is really slow, really, really slow, until January 1. The way I see it, if you ain't got an Xmas present from me by now, you ain't gonna get one. Way it is. My "discretionary" income (read: indiscriminate) pocket change is gone until then.

It's not all bad, just because I'm digging through the plants on the patio, scrapping together the odd cigar butts, rolling them up in a newspaper (last week's paper, no less) -- I figure I'm getting a real unique blend of tobacco, a real cigar with Dominican, Honduran, the odd Cuban, and few other bits, I think one of them is from Sumatra, it makes for an interesting morning cigar. That's why I save the butts out in the plants, I know this is a thin time of the year.

12/23
Xmas Eve Eve. Yesterday, I had a helluva day. I'm pretty sure I'm in love. Happens every time I hop on over to Ruta Maya Coffee House and Tobacco Emporium. There's a special person behind the counter who can tickle the espresso machine like no one else. Long about the third double, I get a slightly glazed look, my pulse quickens, and I get a happy, foolish grin. Might be the coffee, might be Bubba Sean on a rant, might be the cigar. Who knows?

I also got to see W.C. Clark doing blues and stuff at the Top of the Marc, another unforgettable experience, something pretty much unique to Austin. If you get chance, two spots not to miss, afternoon coffee at Ruta Maya, and some Austin Blues in the night. But damn, I hate this arctic weather. Walking up to the coffee house, I had to expectorate. It bounced because it was frozen before it hit the ground. That's cold.

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