Happy New Year!

Uh, somewhat belatedly, I guess. We're a good three weeks into 2009 already, and so far it's been a pretty decent year. I am no longer under the misrule of the Texan, the science shit is shaping up, and the weather has been fantastic lately. I've actually been out climbing without my shirt on (seems the Palace is good for something), and Vedauwoo has been at least bareable this last week.

The weather and the climbing haven't been that fantastic ever since Thanksgiving, though. High-falutin' plans to spend a Week at the Creek were totally demolished by a storm system that conspired to drench five states in snow, hail and ice at the end of November. The pictures I've seen make me pretty happy I didn't go, but nonetheless I'm 0/2 for trips down there... Oh, well, there's always March.

Then there was the matter of my second Christmas in the US. I was somewhat non-psyched about it, since Christmas is one of those really important family holidays to me. I'm big into the whole traditional aspect of Yuletide, as well, and there was little hope of Swedish orthodoxy creeping into American holiday celebrations. Fortunately, Amanda had invited me to spend Christmas with her parents in upstate NY, and that turned the whole thing around. I admit to dreading the visit a little bit (who wouldn't?), but it turned out great. I got along well with her relatives (they're a hoot!), there were plenty of Christmas traditions to enjoy, I got to eat the better part of a whole pig, and generally had a good time hanging out in a peaceful and snowy Hudson Valley. Pretty cush accomodations:



And White Christmas vibes aplenty:



We also made a blitz visit to the Big Apple, complete with staying in a crack neighborhood (don't go to Franklin Ave if you can avoid it), going to some cool museums, and eating really tasty ethnic food. Not so ethnic, or at least not accurately so, was this breakfast restaurant:



New York was much as I remembered it, minus two skyscrapers. A copious number of cabs:



Awesome architecture (I'm a big Neo-Gothic/Art Deco fan):





And surprisingly, Swedish coffee shops:



After a boring and drawn-out trip back to Wyoming (Nebraska sucks), I re-loaded for New Year's. It's one of these events that always turn out to be boom or bust for me: either I go to bed at 12.30, or hit it hard. 2008 ended up in the latter category. I went to see Widespread Panic play a gig in Denver with Tom, Corey and Emily, and their buddy Julia (who graciously provided floor space to crash on). We started at breakneck pace and then revved it up from there. Widespread gave it all they had, and most certainly outlasted us - by 1.30 AM we were fading but they stayed to play another hour.

The less said about New Year's Day, the better. Not very surprisingly, the flu then decided to strike me down and I basically stayed in bed for a week. I'll take it as a symptom of a night well spent.

Next up on my social calender is a visit to the Old Country, and the first wedding (of many, I'm sure) starring people I went to high school with. This semester of school/work also entails going through prelims (preliminary exams). That is another one of my yearly chances of getting fired and sent back to Sweden, so I'll be quite preoccupied with keeping my job over the next couple of months. Rest assured that you'll know ASAP how it went - I can spare half an hour to type something up before I start celebrating/drowning my sorrows.