Guitars & Cadillacs

I enjoy coming home to Abilene to see my family and friends and especially enjoy it around the holidays because that means a lot of close friends are in town as well. The friends and I will get together to catch up on what's been going on with each other and for this there aren't too many places one can "go out" in Abilene. Let me rephrase - there aren't too many places you would want to "go out" to in Abilene. However, there are a few staples we like such as Buffalo Wild Wings, but when we are feeling really adventurous we go to Guitars & Cadillacs. Yes, the name says it all. It offers everything from cheap drinks and great people watching to both country and hip hop dancing.

So on Saturday night, a few of us gathered before heading back to our respective cities and we felt the need for a little Guitars & Cadillacs. It was everything we hoped for and more so here are a few highlights from the night.

• We were lucky enough to sit next to a bachelorette party.
  
• I was asked to dance and I'm pretty sure I twisted my ankle due to the attempted "dip" by my dance partner.
• Witnessed some serious break dancing during hip hop hour by some cowboys. Can you imagine it?
  
• The sound of the cowbell is forever ingrained in my head thanks to the waitresses' tradition to ring it every time they get a tip.
• Waited 45 minutes at Whataburger for a breakfast sandwich and it was the worst sandwich ever. I want my $3 back.
  

The bachelorette and her accessories
Kelan gives it two thumbs up

Kelan and I with the biggest dance floor in Abilene in the background

Merry Christmas!

The Johnson family has enjoyed the day with food, presents, mimosas and more food. Santa was great to everyone in the family and even brought Mom into the 21st century with her very own iPod. He has asked Lauren the Elf to teach Mom how to use it so this should be entertaining.

We enjoyed our first Christmas with Scout as well. He was very good and didn't destroy any of the presents like we were sure would happen. He did manage to chew one little bell off one of the ornaments, but given his record we considered that a success.

As they say in Texas - Merry Christmas Ya'll!

Scout and I in front of the Christmas tree

It's a Book Club Christmas!

For the past few years I've been apart of a book club with a few girls I went to SMU with. I actually only knew two of the girls in the group while at SMU so its been great to get to know the others I met through this club. We always have such a great time together and for Christmas started a tradition like Secret Santa, but instead of buying a gift you bring your favorite book from your personal collection to pass on.

It was also a mini celebration for one book club member in particular, Charlotte, who recently got engaged so it was great to catch up with her and get the scoop on all things wedding related.

So, it was a great night of good food, a little vino, new books and Char's engagement!

Our book club - Jessica, Jenna, Charlotte, Stephanie, Emily and me
We were missing Harley, but she was with us in spirit

The new book I got - "And the Band Played On"
Jessica promised its a good one, but definitely a heavy topic so as she said I'll have to be prepared.

It's a Major Award....

My favorite Christmas movie is A Christmas Story and its one I could quote line for line, but I won't torture you by doing so. One of the best parts of the movie is when the Dad wins his "major award" - the infamous leg lamp.

My friends Kelan and Laura threw a Christmas party where of course we had a white elephant gift exchange - they are a common thread among Christmas parties these days and are always good fun. So this year my major award was an orange hedgehog candle. "What a great hedgehog candle!"

Kelan and I

Group pic of everyone with their major awards

Sweet Scout

Every now and then I'll post something about my parents' dog Scout. He is quite the character and provides good laughs for all of us. When he isn't going 0 to 60 in .23 seconds and wants to finally calm down he is really sweet. He takes about 10 naps a day and loves to snuggle! One of my favorite dogisms that he does is that when he is tired he will rub his face with his paws. I swear he is really rubbing his eyes.

First Time for Everything

In the movies I always see people getting engaged in restaurants. The ring magically appears ontop of the dessert, the boy kneels, the girl starts to realize what's happening, the boy asks the "big question", the girl says yes (we hope so) and congrats to the couple from all those around them.

I have never seen this before done before in person and while at dinner with my Dad last week I finally saw an engagement occur in a restaurant. Now before I go on the restaurant engagements I think of always take place in a nice restaurant and everyone in their fancy dress. Well, the engagement we witnessed happened at Babes. Babes (see image below) is a down home cookin' comfort food restaurant that basically gives you the option of chicken prepared in a variety of ways (fried, steak, tender, roasted, etc.) and then you're given a ton of sides served family style. It's very good and definitely one of those meals where you have to undo the button on your jeans in order to breathe once you've finished. However, I would not choose this place to be proposed to and I understand to each his own, but note to the man out there that asks me the "big question" - please don't ask me at Babes while I sit in discomfort from eating too much.