Pic of the Day

Almost Over

This week has felt like a long, never ending week, but now it’s almost over. Today will be busy, but hopefully, not as stressful as the rest of this week has been. I have classes to teach today, but that’s not a big deal. It’s just that I try not to schedule multiple classes on the same day for different professors. These classes were easy to prepare for, so that’s not the issue. It’s more of a time thing. I have to pull the objects out of storage, so when it’s two different classes, that can be a lot of objects. After the classes are finished, I also have to put everything away. That might not sound like much, but the classes are in two different rooms on opposite sides of the museum with a small window of time between the two classes. Oh, and there is a third class going on at the same time as my second class, so I had to teach a coworker how to teach it.

When I leave work today at 4 pm, I will be ready for a relaxing and stress free weekend. 🤞

Pic of the Day

Botox

Other than teaching my regular class today and setting up the classroom for two classes tomorrow, I’m not overly busy or stressed about today. Yesterday was the hump I had to get over this week, and everything went just fine. In fact, it went much better than I expected. 

Today’s bigger task is heading down to Dartmouth’s hospital to get a Botox treatment for my migraines. Usually, I go to their outpatient clinic, but my nurse practitioner who does my Botox did not have an open appointment at the clinic. She knows the Botox tends to wear off after 10 weeks and doesn’t last the full 12 weeks, so she did not want me to wait any longer than 12 weeks. (Insurance won’t pay for it unless it’s at least 12 weeks.) So, she had the person scheduling appointments to see if she had any appointments open at the hospital. She actually said, “If you can’t find an appointment, just schedule him for my lunch hour.” I thought that was very nice of her. The Botox appointments usually don’t last more than 10 minutes.

Pic of the Day

Busy, Busy, Busy

I know I promised Wednesday posts about male nudes in art throughout history, so I apologize that there won’t be one this week. I have been swamped at work all week and too exhausted when I get home to spend the time preparing a post. It’s been the week from hell, and nothing seems to be going like it should. It’s getting to me mentally too, as I’ve been feeling depressed and anxious. I have an event that I organized  happening today, and it seems like everything associated with it has been made more difficult than it should have been. Once today is over, I can breathe a little easier, but the rest of the week is just as busy as the week has been so far. I can’t wait until Saturday when I’ll finally get a day of rest.

Pic of the Day

Life

Life
By Edith Wharton

Life, like a marble block, is given to all,
A blank, inchoate mass of years and days,
Whence one with ardent chisel swift essays
Some shape of strength or symmetry to call;
One shatters it in bits to mend a wall;
One in a craftier hand the chisel lays,
And one, to wake the mirth in Lesbia’s gaze,
Carves it apace in toys fantastical.

But least is he who, with enchanted eyes
Filled with high visions of fair shapes to be,
Muses which god he shall immortalize
In the proud Parian’s perpetuity,
Till twilight warns him from the punctual skies
That the night cometh wherein none shall see.


About the Poem

Edith Wharton’s poem “Life” is a reflective and philosophical piece that explores the nature of human existence, fate, and the passage of time. Wharton, best known for her novels that critique societal constraints, brings a similar depth and introspection to her poetry. The poem suggests that life does not unfold according to human expectations or desires. Wharton explores the contrast between human ambition and the unpredictability of life, a theme echoed in her novels like The House of Mirth.

There is a tone of resignation, as if the speaker has come to terms with life’s unpredictability. This reflects Wharton’s broader worldview—one shaped by personal loss, societal constraints, and the limits imposed on individuals, especially women. The poem may express skepticism about human agency, similar to existential or fatalistic themes. Wharton often wrote about characters who struggled against their circumstances, much like the speaker in "Life".

Wharton’s “Life” is a poignant meditation on disillusionment, fate, and the passage of time. The poem’s reflective tone aligns with her broader literary themes—the limits of personal choice, the illusions of control, and the inevitability of change.


About the Poet

Edith Wharton (1862–1937) was an American novelist, short story writer, and poet best known for her incisive critiques of Gilded Age society and her exploration of themes like social class, gender roles, and personal freedom. Born into New York high society, she was well-acquainted with the restrictive customs of the upper class, which she later dissected in novels such as The House of Mirth (1905) and The Age of Innocence (1920), the latter of which won her the Pulitzer Prize, making her the first woman to receive the award for fiction.

Beyond her fiction, Wharton was also a travel writer, designer, and war correspondent during World War I, for which she was honored by the French government. Her works often compared European and American cultures, reflecting her life as an expatriate in France. Though primarily known for her novels, she also wrote poetry, including works like “Life” and “A Meeting,” which explore existential themes with the same elegance and restraint found in her prose. Wharton’s legacy endures as one of the most significant literary voices of early 20th-century America.

Pic of the Day ☘️

Green jockstraps count for wearing green on St Patrick’s Day.

Busy Week

I have a very busy week ahead and am not looking forward to any of it. I have tours, extra classes, a luncheon event, and Botox. I rarely have more than one of these things each week, but all of this means I won’t be able to have a work from home day this week. I’m just trying to stay calm and carry on.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day.☘️ Traditionally, at least where I’m from, people wear green today. St. Patrick’s Day is a bigger event up north than it is down south, although there may be celebrations in New Orleans, which had a lot of Irish immigrants. I think New York and Boston have major events. There is even a parade in Vermont. The holiday is generally seen as a day for Irish pride. 

My week may be busy, but I hope all of you have a wonderful week!

Pic of the Day

You Are Never Alone

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

– Romans 8:28

Life’s journey is often filled with joy and beauty, but it can also be marked by pain, rejection, and uncertainty. For many in the LGBTQ+ community, this path can feel especially lonely at times. Struggles with acceptance, identity, and faith may weigh heavily on your heart. But Romans 8:28 reminds us of a profound truth: God is always at work, shaping even our hardest moments into something beautiful.

You are not a mistake. You are not forgotten. You are not alone. Psalm 139:13-14 declares, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” God lovingly and intentionally made you just as you are. His love for you is not conditional—it is unwavering, steady, and eternal.

Footprints

One night I dreamed a dream.

As I was walking along the beach with my Lord.

Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.

For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,

One belonging to me and one to my Lord.

After the last scene of my life flashed before me,

I looked back at the footprints in the sand.

I noticed that at many times along the path of my life,

especially at the very lowest and saddest times,

there was only one set of footprints.

This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it.

"Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,

You'd walk with me all the way.

But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life,

there was only one set of footprints.

I don't understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me."

He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you

Never, ever, during your trials and testings.

When you saw only one set of footprints,

It was then that I carried you."

This message of God’s presence and faithfulness is also reflected in the famous poem “Footprints.” The poem describes a person looking back on their life as a walk alongside God, represented by two sets of footprints in the sand. However, during life’s most difficult moments, only one set of footprints appears. The person asks God, “Why did You leave me when I needed You most?” But God responds with a powerful truth: “During your times of trial and suffering, when you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”

How often do we feel abandoned during life’s hardest moments? Yet, just as in the poem, God never leaves us. Isaiah 41:10 reminds us, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Even when you feel unseen, unheard, or misunderstood, God is carrying you. His love is the foundation that holds you up when everything else feels shaky.

As you continue on your journey, take comfort in knowing that God is not distant—He is right beside you. He has called you with purpose, and nothing can separate you from His love (Romans 8:38-39). When challenges come, remember that your life is a masterpiece in progress, and God is weaving every experience—both the joys and the struggles—into something beautiful.

If you ever feel weary or unsure of your place in the world, reflect on “Footprints.” Know that when you see only one set of footprints in your life, it is not because you have been abandoned, but because God is carrying you forward in love.

God always walking with us, even in the times we cannot feel Him. Sometimes, we may feel lost, but we must trust in His plan, knowing that He is working all things together for our good. When we feel alone, remember that God is carrying us.

Pic of the Day

Moment of Zen: Hot Showers

To see the rest of this last picture and another bonus picture, click “Read More” below.