I think I’ve got the year-end blahs. I’m just plumb all-tired-out. It’s been one long-ass year, it has. So tired, in fact, that I dragged the girl-child down to Deep Ellum waaaaaaaaaaaaay too early on Saturday night. We stopped by Space so’s I could show her off to anyone hangin’ about, ate dinner at Monica’s, drove ’round and ’round looking for Sloppyworld, and by that time it was only 6-friggin’-30 or so. We were both under-dressed for the cold winds that blew through town that night, so we decided to make the trek back to North Dallas to change, and return at a more decent hour…ya know…like when Sloppyworld was actually open, and/or when the art shows were actually starting.

Our goal was an 8 PM departure. I awoke on the sofa, fully dressed, at midnight. The girl-child “didn’t want to wake me up.” So instead she borrowed my car and went to a party full of folks her own age. Sigh. So I missed the biggest performance (in my opinion) of the year. Sorry Jeff. I suck.

Both Sunday and Monday I was still down for the count. There’s still an ass-print on the left side of the sofa. So I guess the bottom line is, I got nuthin’ much to say. No photos to display, no concert rehash. Nuthin’. Unless you want a break-down of the 20 or so Tivo’d episodes of The Office and Curb Your Enthusiasm I embraced over those 48 or so hours.

Yesterday I dropped the girl-child off at Northpark so’s she could Christmas shop. I can’t believe how much that place has changed. I haven’t actually been inside for years. I spent many many many years there as a kid, then as a young “lady” and with my own kids. But I gave up malls years ago.

But enough about me.

Thankfully Chelsea (and her merry band of DC-9′rs) where out and about all weekend. Those kids and all their non-sleeping ways. This included some fun at Festivus. Sigh….

Zac just hipped us to the whaddup-world of Josh Venable. Just when my campaign began to bring Jeff Liles back to Dallas for good, Josh, it seems, took a job in L.A. Sucks for us. Doesn’t suck for La-La-Land. Congrats and God speed, my friend. Details on when, where and how you can bid your farewells can be found here.

If you visit the KERA Arts+Culture Blog, you’ll find a rather divine short film about the glorious tree situated over around Preston and Armstrong in good ol’ Highland Park. I’ve stood under that tree on many, many a chilly eve to watch it light up for the Holiday season. I’m a tree person, so I have formed a particularly loving relationship with this tree, even when it’s not the holiday season. Go watch it.

While I was sleeping? Huh? Really? The Eagle is back? Wilonsky says it’s so.

I always find myself cheered-up upon entering through the doors of The Sub-Rosa. So I stole the above photo Alison posted because I really, really, really love it. Fred took it. My birthday is this week. The only thing I’m asking from my children is that they attend the show at Space on Saturday, just 2-measly hours of their time. It’s important to me that they meet Fred. And that he meet them.

Details: (more forthcoming)

Here’s one particularly pleasing memory of 2007…’twas Jayson Bales, The Slack, Radiant* and Salim Nourallah live at Jovita’s in Austin…

Gavin Nourallah Performs with Jayson Bales – Live at Jovita’s (Recorded by The Fine Line)