These mysterious frames appeared along the Paseo de Montejo recently. What will go inside?

Tree at Noche Mexicana, a once-weekly celebration of Mexican culture with food, art, song, and dance. This was our first trip.

Crowds and joy at Noche Mexicana on Christmas Eve.

On stage, singers sing and dancers dance.

Then, it was back to the homestead for some late night imported Cuban rum. Eat it, trade embargo.

Christmas morning, and Jillian gave me a vihuela, a sort of old-fashioned short-necked Mexican guitar with five strings and four frets, with mother of pearl inlay. It is gorgeous.

Jillian also got me a totally unexpected, very cool folding bicycle, which means I can ride to McDonalds for a McNifico any time I want one. I don’t even need to ask for permission or ANYTHING.

It was wrapped very tightly in 75 pounds of plastic.

With the present time over, Jillian prepares to cook me breakfast. Not pictured? The new comforter and pillows I got her to try and make our bed more comfortable. Also not pictured? Jillian saying, “I look like such a NERD in my glasses!”

Breakfast of Mexican champions. Also fatsos. Fried eggs, bacon, cheese, and hot sauce, all wrapped in tortillas. It is the fastest possible way to get bacon and eggs into your bloodstream, and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

After breakfast, I took some time to learn how to play the vihuela. I am pleased to report that I am already an expert.

I also learned to fold my new bike.

We spent the rest of the day playing with all of our new stuff. I sculpted a monkey out of this cool clay that turns to rubber when you bake it. Jillian made the rubber carrot, which wasn’t something I knew I had always wanted until I had one.

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