It was nice to stand outside next to a barbecue. We met temps in the 30’sand 40’s while traveling through the southwest, so the mid-50’s felt like spring break. Cousin Monte turned honey coated flank steaks as we sipped wine. He and Heather invited us to spend New Years Eve with them and their adorable daughters Abby (7) and Jesse (5). We planned to arrive at their lovely San Antonio home on New Year’s Day, but sprung ourselves on them a day early –at dinner time no less – so they graciously prepared a scrumptious meal of barbecued flank steak, grilled veggies, and almond rice which was delicious and the perfect way to spend New Years Eve. I’ve fallen asleep every year since Dick Clark died and we had excelerated two extra hours, so midnight seemed like ten. 
Everybody was perfectly happy to watch the local San Antonio celebration on TV which was essentially a chamber of commerce mixer that was broadcast live from a stage. Yeah, real exciting. No dropping ball or anything like that. When the big moment came a camera focused on what looked like science project cardboard spelling out the number 2015. Suddenly and a pair of hands came into the shot and replaced the 5 with a 6. Thousands showed up for this event, but it wasn’t much of a show – No local sports heros or celebrities. The camera caught lots of people yawning.
We spent New Years Day enjoying the Mexican Food of Texas at Pearl Brewery complex. This once massive brewery looked more like and ivy-league college campus. The abandoned compound was transformed into a shopping and restaurant center. 
We escaped the rain and found a table inside the warm and dry La Gloria, a lively and colorful place that specializes in the street foods of Mexico. 
As the girls gazed longingly at the outdoor tables where they wanted to sit, we grown ups ordered the house specialty – a mango margarita that looked to pretty to drink and tasted like it should have been dessert. Monte and Heather recommended we order a bunch of items to share. 
The Molcajetes Puerco en Chiles arrived – basically a stone dish filled with stewed pork and served with home made corn tortillas. I could have been perfectly happy eating that – then the enchiladas came – the cheese oozed out during cooking and was slightly grilled. This was heaven. The Elote bowl was delicious – you might see the Mexican vendors selling corn on the cob covered in cheese – this is that same thing but easier to eat.
The pouring rain and crowds in town for the bowl game kept us from the River Walk so we didn’t get a a chance to enjoy Queso Con Carne at the historic Casa Rio – but, we did get to see The Alamo it all its glory. 