Howdy, 12 of 12ers!  Happy New Year!  I hope your new year is off to a good start.

12 of 12 is Chad’s idea – all hail Chad.  He claims this is the last year, but maybe if we collectively whine loud enough …

If you’re really into all out geekiness, check out my 365 photo project that I started on January 1!

Anyway …

8:53 am: Kahve Içmek Istiyorum

I’m a late riser today—I’m driving out to San Angelo, Texas, in the afternoon and see no pressing (no pun intended) need to go into the office first thing.  Ray is home, too, as he got laid off last week (more on that if you’re curious).  We’re doing fine – he’s signed up for extra classes this semester, and we’ve got enough to tide us over for a while.  It’s just, y’know, a completely sucky situation.

9:28 am: Today’s Gratuitous Picture of Mocha

I know better than to try to run a set of 12 without one

9:50 am: Packing

These are the clothes that have been ordained for tomorrow …

11:40 am: Lunch

It’s a buffalo chicken panini from a place that does flatbreads.  Makes a nice break from what we have in the pantry.

12:55 pm: My Nemesis

This is Chloe.  Chloe is Natalie’s cat.  Chloe has significant disdain for everyone who is not Natalie, and is generally homicidal toward anyone who is not Natalie and also male.  Chloe hates me, and has tried on more than one occasion to kill me.  (It probably has something to do with the fact that Chloe usually sees me when I’m coming to pick Natalie up for a business trip, meaning that I’m the reason that Chloe will be alone for a while.)  If you are a cat person and making, “Oooh, lookattheprettykitty” noises, please know that Chloe will eat you alive if given the chance.

This is her innocent look, which is supposed to lull you into coming close enough for her to pounce.  Don’t let her fool you.

2:45 pm: Pontotoc

Between Llano (that’s “lan-o” – never mind how it should be pronounced) and Brady on the way to San Angelo is this little ghost-town-in-the-making (seriously: three quarters of the buildings are either derelict or boarded up) called Pontotoc.  It has this little old stone farmhouse that has no roof walls or floor, but it’s always intrigued me, so I stopped to take photos.

This is the view from Pontotoc.

5:12 pm: Hotel Sweet Hotel

Never mind that I had to sit in the lobby while they cleaned my room before I could check in … at 4:30 pm.

5:40 pm: You know you’re in the Bible belt when …

Is it me, or is there something contradictory about it being “Bible” automotive and having computer diagnostics?  Either you’re receiving Divine guidance or you’re not, folks…

5:50 pm: Wine

Happily funding the local economy at San Angelo’s only wine bar.

6:56 pm: Nothing says Mexican food like a smoking Buddha.

… kinda speaks for itself.

7:06 pm: Dinner

Decor aside, the food at Armandita’s cafe – which is the sort of place you’d probably drive right by without blinking – is good.  How do I know this?  Most of the clientele spoke Spanish.  This is always a good sign for a Mexican restaurant.  Oh, and the handwritten note from Bobby Flay extolling the virtues of the meal he had there helps too (although it does make me wonder what the heck Bobby Flay was doing in San Angelo, Texas.)

… and now I’m in my hotel room editing photos. How was YOUR 12th?

Tags: 12 of 12, Bible, cat, coffee, driving, food, Home, Mocha, photography, Photos, texas, Travel