I finished listening to the audio book Ten Minutes from Normal by Karen Hughes on the way to Austin yesterday and on the way back today. Great book with what's going on behind the scene and also the insight into the decision she made to move her family back to Austin 18 months into president Bush's first term. I and my brother were going to stop by Jeffrey's for dinner but it was too late when we got there. The restaurant was already close. I knew Bennigan's opens late but didn't see any along the way back to the hotel so we ended up getting something at IHOP instead.

We woke up, checked out of the hotel, and went to church. Had lunch at church after the worship, hanging out and chatting with the young adults before heading over to the governor's mansion for the Christmas holiday open house. We got there early and had no trouble finding a parking spot on 10th street right at the corner of Colorado street. Inside, I was so clumsy that while taking the picture with the governor and Mrs. Perry, I brushed against the Christmas tree and caused one of the ornaments to drop to the floor. It was a Santa Claus figure made of clay but thank God it didn't break. It was embarrassing but Mrs. Perry was so kind and gracious, told me not to worry about it at all. Got to meet Jane Burch's mom, sister and brother-in-law. We went outside, took some pictures around the water fountain in the back and some more pictures at the small wooden model of the mansion on the lawn. We then took off and went back to Hillsborough and shopped at the Prime Outlet Mall there for some dress shirts, pants and belts before finally made it home.