Pic of the Day

Moment of Zen: Christmas Lights

Pic of the Day

Cooking Breakfast

I don’t often get up in the morning and make much for breakfast. I always eat breakfast, but I usually only have time to pop something in the toaster or microwave, but occasionally, I get in the mood to make more. I’m will sometimes make biscuits and gravy or cheese grits. If I am feeling particular energetic, I might even fry up some bacon, dice some potatoes and cook them in a bit of the bacon grease, and scramble some eggs. I feel like doing that this morning. I’d love to have someone here to cook for and share a nice breakfast with, but it’s just me and Isabella, who would prefer her salmon for breakfast. This morning, I am feeling somewhat energetic, and I got some bacon at the grocery store yesterday and when I finish writing this, I plan to fry up some bacon, eggs, and potatoes. I’m working from home today, so I have the leisurely ability to do so. However, unlike the guy in the picture, I put on a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt to cook in. There is one rule of cooking to always keep in mind, don’t cook bacon naked. Bacon grease is going to pop out of the pan, and you do not want a grease burn on a sensitive area. At least the guy above put on an apron.

Have a great weekend everyone! I have nearly two weeks off work for the holidays. One of those weeks will be spent in Alabama and the other at home recovering/relaxing. I will send some updates while I am in Alabama, but most of my posts will be set up before I leave. Internet can be unreliable where my parents live, but I’ll do my best to let y’all know how I am handling being back in Alabama.

Pic of the Day

Half Day

We were expecting 3-5” of snow last night, but it seemed to have been more of a rain event. It was raining when I went to bed last night and when I woke up this morning, we had less than an inch of snow. I’m hoping that the small amount of snow we’ve received is not hiding a layer of ice. I hate when there is a layer of ice below because it makes it deceptively slippery when walking to my car, and it will make it much more difficult to clean the snow off my car so I can actually drive to work.

I’m only working half a day today. I have an audiology appointment this afternoon. Tomorrow, I will be working from home, so this morning is the last time I have to go to the museum until we return from the holiday break on January 2. I need a break from the museum, but I am not sure that next week, which I will be spending in Alabama, will provide the necessary rest (mentally and physically) that I need right now.

Putting all that aside, I owe y’all some Isabella pics. Yes, I said pics, as in more than one, because here are a few Isabella Christmas pictures. The first two pictures are from her first Christmas, which she spent with a coworker while I was in Alabama. The other two are from a few years ago.

Pic of the Day

The Drones 🛸

 

***This post is meant to be tongue-in-cheek. Do not take it seriously.***

 

If you have been following the news in the United States, you have no doubt heard about the drones that are appearing in the skies. If you are not familiar, here is a little background. A large number of mysterious drones have been reported flying over parts of New Jersey and have been spotted in recent days across the eastern U.S., sparking speculation and concern over where they are coming from and why. Dozens of witnesses have reported seeing them in the state since mid-November. At first they were spotted flying along the scenic Raritan River, which feeds the Round Valley Reservoir, the state’s largest aquifer, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) west of New York City. But soon sightings were reported statewide, including near the Picatinny Arsenal, a military research and manufacturing facility, and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster. The government has stated that a review of the reported sightings shows that many of them are actually manned aircraft being flown lawfully, echoing the opinion of officials and drone experts. The Homeland Security and the FBI also said in a joint statement they have no evidence that the sightings pose “a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus.” 

 

Conspiracy theories are going wild. Here is my theory: they are a precursor to an alien invasion. If you have read this blog for a while, you no doubt know that I am a fan of science fiction, especially Star Trek. I also find it hard to believe that the people of earth are the only intelligent beings in the universe. Astronomers have discovered planets in the known universe that are in what is known as a "habitable zone," region around a star where planets can receive the perfect amount of heat to maintain liquid water on their surfaces. The theory being that planets in a habitable zone may also be planets capable of supporting Earth-like extraterrestrial life and intelligence. It’s hard for me to believe that we are the only ones out there. What has not been figured out by scientists on earth is how to bend the laws of physics to allow interstellar space travel like we often see in science fiction. However, that does not mean that someone else out there has evolved enough to make this discovery.

 

In 1947, the United States Army Air Forces balloon debris recovered near Roswell, New Mexico, was actually a crashed extraterrestrial spacecraft. Operated from the nearby Alamogordo Army Air Field and part of the top secret Project Mogul, the balloon was intended to detect Soviet nuclear tests. After metallic and rubber debris were recovered by Roswell Army Air Field personnel, the United States Army announced their possession of a "flying disc". This announcement made international headlines but was retracted within a day. To obscure the purpose and source of the debris, the army reported that it was a conventional weather balloon. While this has always been a fun conspiracy theory (though there are those who will believe anything), what if that crashed “weather balloon” was really a crashed extraterrestrial spacecraft? The government and the military has been known to lie to cover up different things, so this could be one of them.

 

If it was an extraterrestrial spacecraft, why have they not made contact since? It could be that they looked at the geopolitical state of the Earth, the Cold War, and the potential for nuclear war as a reason to “wait and see what happens.” The people of Earth might destroy themselves with nuclear weapons and either make the planet uninhabitable and thus useless or with the advances in technology available to an advanced species, they could rid the planet of deadly radiation and colonize the planet with no resistance. So, they waited. What they saw was a planet of people who were constantly at war, but that one country had developed an overwhelmingly powerful military industrial complex that might be able to make an invasion difficult, but probably not impossible. I am talking about the military industrial complex of the United States here if you had not realized that yet. Then in early November 2024, the country with the greatest military known in human history proved that more than half the country is fucking stupid enough to elect an old, fat, stupid, and senile rapist, convicted felon, and lifetime conman to be the leader of this country. Then they have watched as he appoints people to his government who are drunks, child traffickers, other rapists, and just plain evil/stupid/crazy (use whichever adjective fits) people. They would have realized by now by watching right-wing news media and the Republicans in Congress, that this proposed cabinet and loyal followers this orange idiot who was elected president love conspiracy theories and will get whipped up into hysteria quite easily over nothing. So, by sending a few low tech observation probes to scout the United States, they can get these blithering idiots (and to their surprise and delight there are many Democrats who are also falling for their scheme), they can distract the people of the United States into now seeing the big picture, which has always been apparent throughout the nation’s history.

 

In other words, if you are going to strike when the iron is hot, defeat them at their lowest weakest moment, NOW is the time to do so. By January 20^th, all three branches of the United States government will be controlled by some of the stupidest people to ever exist in the country. These extraterrestrials probably have realized that China could pose a problem but could be dealt with effectively. The country is already ruled by fear and a corrupt government, they could probably be bought off and convinced to surrender because the extraterrestrials would take care of their largest competitor, the United States. Easy-peasy. Hell, COVID-19 could have been their first strike to weaken the planet, and they got lucky (we got unlucky) when stupidity won the 2024 presidential election.

 

So, the drones could be observation probes sent by extraterrestrials to scout out the planet, or…it could be a group of people who think it’s hilarious to freak out the United States like the so-called “killer clowns” in 2016. Then again, it could be some nefarious foreign government behind the drones. Maybe they started “innocently” by appearing over the Raritan River in New Jersey, then moved onto military complexes, major cities, and an orange idiots golf course. I don’t think they would be gathering intelligence for an invasion, there are much better ways to do that, but they may be scouting potential terrorist targets. A large percentage (though not a voting majority apparently) of the United States and the rest of the world know that form January 20, 2025 until at least January 2027 (if the Democrats are able to take control of Congress in the midterm elections), the United States will be in utter chaos as the patients have been chosen to run the asylum, or more appropriately in this case, the inmates have been given control of not just the prison, but the government as well. 

 

Regardless, the United States is fucked for at least the next two years. Honestly, if there are extraterrestrials scouting out the United States, they have at least proven that they have a far greater intelligence than the inhabitants of Earth and might actually be benevolent beings who could save us all. Live Long and Prosper!🖖 

This post is brought to you by me being bored at work and having too much time for my mind to wonder about senseless things. Luckily, you will be spared another set of similar musings because I will not be at work today and instead will be going to Dartmouth for my next Botox treatment for my migraines.

Pic of the Day

Christmas Light

Christmas Light
By May Sarton

When everyone had gone
I sat in the library
With the small silent tree,
She and I alone.
How softly she shone!

And for the first time then
For the first time this year,
I felt reborn again,
I knew love’s presence near.

Love distant, love detached
And strangely without weight,
Was with me in the night
When everyone had gone
And the garland of pure light
Stayed on, stayed on.

About the Poem

 

May Sarton’s poem “Christmas Light” reflects on the quiet, introspective beauty of Christmas, focusing on themes of renewal, solitude, and connection. The poem captures a serene, contemplative moment during the Christmas season. Sarton emphasizes stillness and light, creating an atmosphere of peace and introspection. The “light” in the title symbolizes hope, warmth, and spiritual illumination, often tied to the Christmas season.

 

Sarton often wrote about the complexities of solitude, and this poem is no exception. She portrays solitude not as loneliness but as a space for reflection, renewal, and connection with the divine or the self. Christmas, typically a time of communal celebration, is reimagined here as an opportunity for personal insight and inner peace. The poem explores the idea of Christmas as a moment to pause and take stock of life. The light symbolizes a guiding force or clarity that emerges in this reflective time, offering a sense of renewal and hope for the future.

 

While the poem emphasizes solitude, it also subtly evokes the interconnectedness of human experience. The light of Christmas is a universal symbol that transcends individual experience, linking the solitary reflection to a shared sense of wonder and meaning. Sarton’s “Christmas Light” ultimately invites readers to find meaning in simplicity and stillness, encouraging them to embrace the quiet moments of the season as opportunities for growth and understanding. It’s a gentle reminder of the spiritual and emotional renewal that Christmas offers.

 

 

About the Poet

 

May Sarton (1912–1995) was an acclaimed American poet, novelist, and memoirist known for her deeply introspective and lyrical works. Sarton was born in Wondelgem, Belgium, but her family fled to the United States during World War I. Her father, George Sarton, was a pioneering historian of science, and her mother, Mabel Elwes Sarton, was an artist.

 

Sarton began as a poet, publishing her first collection, Encounter in April, in 1937. Over her lifetime, she published over 50 works, including poetry collections, novels, and memoirs. Much of Sarton’s writing celebrates the creative and restorative aspects of solitude, though she also explores its challenges, particularly in later years.

 

Her works reflect her identity as a lesbian and explore the complexities of romantic and platonic relationships. Sarton was deeply attuned to nature, which often served as inspiration for her poetry and prose. Her later works, particularly her memoirs, provide an unflinching exploration of aging, illness, and mortality.

 

Sarton was open about her identity as a lesbian at a time when it was not widely accepted. She never settled into a long-term partnership but had meaningful relationships that influenced her work. She spent much of her later life in York, Maine, living alone and finding inspiration in her surroundings. 

 

May Sarton is remembered for her emotional honesty, lyrical style, and ability to capture the nuances of inner life. Her works continue to resonate with readers who seek insight into creativity, self-discovery, and the beauty of ordinary life.

Pic of the Day

I usually find the “Elf on a Shelf” annoying, though little kids love the whole thing. However, this is my kind of elf on a shelf.

Slept Late

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Pic of the Day

Finding Hope and Belonging at Christmas

“And she gave birth to her firstborn son, wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

—Luke 2:7

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

—Romans 8:38-39

As we approach the Christmas season, it’s easy to get caught up in the lights, gifts, and festivities. While these traditions can bring joy, for many in the LGBTQ+ community, Christmas can be a season of mixed emotions—one of longing and love, but also one of hurt and exclusion. While some are warmly welcomed home, others face rejection, strained family relationships, or the sting of feeling unwelcome in spaces where Christ’s name is worshipped. I have my own issues with my family, and I’ll be completely honest, I am dreading going home next weekend. My family welcomes me back, but there is always tension, partly because of my sexuality and partly because of my liberal politics. I never feel completely welcomed amongst my family.
 
So, while many in the LGBTQ+ might feel excluded from Christian celebrations of Christmas, the truth is that Christmas is for everyone. The message of Jesus’ birth is one of inclusion, radical love, and hope. If you’ve ever felt excluded, take heart—Jesus Himself was born into a world that had no room for Him. Today, let us reflect on how we, as LGBTQ+ people and allies, can find belonging, healing, and purpose during this sacred season.
 
The Christmas story begins with rejection. Luke 2:7 says, “And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Jesus, the Savior of the world, was born in a manger, a place reserved for animals, not royalty. Jesus’ life began with exclusion and hardship, and He grew up in a society that often misunderstood Him. When you feel excluded—whether by family, church, or community—remember that Christ understands your pain. He, too, lived on the margins. The beauty of Christmas is that God chose to enter the world in humility. Emmanuel—God with us—means that no matter where you are or how the world treats you, God is with you, fully present in your pain and joy alike.
 
At its core, Christmas is a story of radical love. In Luke 2:10, the angel declared to the shepherds, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.” The shepherds were outcasts—rough, overlooked, and considered unworthy by society. Yet they were the first to hear the news of Jesus’ birth. This reminds us that God’s love and grace are not limited by human prejudices. The same good news proclaimed to the shepherds is for you, no matter what others may say about your identity or worth. The story of the Magi (Matthew 2:1-12), the wise men from the east, further highlights that Christ’s birth was a global event meant for all nations, all peoples, and all identities. God’s love transcends the boundaries we create, embracing diversity in its fullness.
 
If this season feels heavy, know that you are not alone. Jesus redefined family in Matthew 12:50, saying, “For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” If your biological family cannot fully embrace you, lean into your chosen family—those who see you, love you, and walk with you in faith. Create spaces where love and affirmation abound, whether through gatherings with friends, support groups, or faith communities that celebrate your full identity. The world’s rejection can never outweigh God’s acceptance. Romans 8:31 says, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Paul reminds us that nothing—nothing—can separate us from the love of God. Meditate on this truth when you feel unworthy or unwelcome. Psalms 139:14 says, “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.” We are created in the image of God and deeply loved. Jesus calls us to be salt and light in the world (Matthew 5:13-16). Even in times of hardship, you have the power to embody the love of Christ. Volunteer, give, and reach out to others who may be struggling this season. Your light has the power to inspire and heal.
 
The manger scene—simple, messy, and unexpected—is a symbol of God’s open arms. John 14:3 says, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” The good news of Christmas is that there is room for all in God’s kingdom. At Christmas, we remember that Jesus came to break down barriers and build a table where everyone has a seat. The barriers that mainstream Christianity has created—against LGBTQ+ people, women, people of color, and others—are human constructs, not divine. God’s table is wide, and God’s love is unconditional. Don’t let anyone convince you that you are anything less than a beloved child of God. This Christmas, claim your place at the manger, knowing that Christ came for you, just as you are.
 
As we celebrate the birth of Christ, let us remember that this season is for everyone. If you’ve ever felt excluded, take heart—Jesus Himself was born in a stable, surrounded by the forgotten and the overlooked. His birth is a reminder that God’s love reaches into every corner of the world and every heart, no matter how marginalized or broken. So, this Christmas, hold onto the hope that Christ brings. Lean into the love of God, the support of chosen family, and the knowledge that you are wonderfully made in the image of the One who came to save us all.