Ready for a little peace this Christmas eve. Yesterday I ventured to El Paso to test-drive a car, and it was a long day filled with way too much frenetic holiday traffic. And smog. We have clear calm weather these days and starry nights, but I feel sorry for anyone having to live in Hel Paso, there were visible clouds of poison in the sky and you could feel it in your eyes, nose, mouth.

I have tried to stop referring to it as Hel (had a hellish field camp there one summer), but when I was headed home after 7 hours, to find my major escape route was blocked by deppities, and had to turn back and backtrack many miles, I've decided the name is still appropriate. The best part--a trailer of acid turned over but was intact, yet they were going to block this road all night because the response team wasn't even going to arrive for '4-6 hours'. Just a wee bit of over-reaction? Or Texas' clever plan to centralize emergency response so as to be many miles and hours from any potential disaster?

Las Cruces had a quieter mall (everyone crowding up Walmarts instead), blessedly got in and out with minimum fuss, just one construction detour.

Today I am packing up to spend a couple days with friends and a pool. I will consult with one who is a retired car dealer before proceeding with the car quest.