Hit the switch for holiday spirit.

When I broke my camera, I only actually broke the screen. So while I can't see what I'm taking pictures of, I can still take pictures.

Thus, I bring you, the blind, mostly flash-less, and slightly edited photographic rendition of Christmas on Congress:

The actual tree-lighting was anticlimactic. First, the lights were off, and then there was a countdown, and then they were on.

That's it. Well, and then everybody sang "O Christmas Tree."

The more exciting part was finally finding my friend Emily in the crowd.

Since nothing else was happening at the Capitol, we wandered down Congress. We heard some great live music of various flavors (including an accordion, which Emily was super excited about), watched some dancing, and got free spiced cider in front of The Hideout Coffeehouse.

We didn't actually know what we were getting, and we both thought it would be hot cocoa. Spiced cider tastes funny when you're expecting chocolate.

It was a beautiful night, and there was plenty of entertaining people watching. A dance party that busted out around the band playing Colombian music, and there was an entire family in matching sweaters and hats. We also laughed at the mother who, in response to the cool wind, remarked that a cold front had blown in (or it's just 9:30 at night, lady).

Then, as we headed back to my car, we examined the Capitol tree.

It's pretty.

But it's not actually that big.

I mean, it's big. Especially for a cut tree.

But I feel like I've seen bigger.

I thought everything was bigger in Texas.

Christmas trees should be no exception.


...


Okay, I can't figure out how to recover that so this post doesn't end on a sour note. Instead, I'll change the subject and tell a funny story:

Thursday I went to see It's a Wonderful Life at the Alamo Drafthouse. I took Mo-Pac home, and a van passed me with a menorah on its roof.

A menorah. WITH LIGHTS. In fact, with the proper number of lights lit up (I assume). I'm glad nobody else was on the road because I probably swerved a little laughing and reaching for my phone to take a picture before I thought better of it.

A menorah. That lit up. On a van.

Maybe you had to be there.

Mmkay, that's all I've got.

(Merry Christmas!)