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Hide in the Pillows

Sometimes you just want to hide in the pillows. Yesterday was one of those day.other than teaching a class that went exceptionally well, I was fighting staying awake the whole day. I didn’t always succeed, but I got throug the day. Then I took my neighbor out for her birthday. She had had a rough day, so I’m glad I cheer her up.

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Winter Is a Drag

Each February, Vermont has a huge LGBTQ party called Winter Is a Drag Ball. Each year, there is a theme which people dress up to. This years theme is Broadway Bound, a mix of Broadway and BDSM. I have basically two outfits that I’m trying to decide from. The first is black and sequined. The second adds a little bit of color: pink and gold. I have a feeling that the pink and gold will not quite fit, so I think I will probably end up with the all black. The shoes are another subject. There are two pairs coming and I’ll have to decide which pair I like best. Particularly, which ones I can walk in. I’ll keep you updated.

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Winter-Lull

Winter-Lull

 by D. H. Lawrence

Because of the silent snow, we are all hushed

                   Into awe.

No sound of guns, nor overhead no rushed

                   Vibration to draw

Our attention out of the void wherein we are crushed.

 

A crow floats past on level wings

                   Noiselessly.

Uninterrupted silence swings

                   Invisibly, inaudibly

To and fro in our misgivings.

 

We do not look at each other, we hide

                   Our daunted eyes.

White earth, and ruins, ourselves, and nothing beside.

                   It all belies

Our existence; we wait, and are still denied.

 

We are folded together, men and the snowy ground

                   Into nullity.

There is silence, only the silence, never a sound

                   Nor a verity

To assist us; disastrously silence-bound!

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Date Night

 I had a date last night. Sorry, there was nothing salacious. I got in late, so check back and I’ll find time to write more about last night.

UPDATE:

I did have a good time. It was my first date with someone who performs as a drag queen. He was not dressed as a drag queen last night. I had seen him perform back in December, and when I saw him on Grindr, I sent him a message. I don’t usually do Grindr, but I will log in once every four or five months to see if anything has changed and it basically hadn’t. It was the same old people except for this guy. Come to find out, he was staying just up the road from me for the weekend. We chatted Saturday night, but he couldn’t get together then because he was going to a drag show that night. Lady Bunny was performing in Stowe. I hate that I missed it, but apparently, it was sold out. He had planned to be home by 10 but did not get home until around 4 am.

When he woke up Sunday morning, he texted me. We talked and made tentative plans to meet either that afternoon or that evening for dinner. It turned out to be dinner. I let him choose. The first place turned out to be closed, so I suggested a place that looked like it was open, only to find out that it was closed for a private party. So he made another suggestion, that place was closing as we walked in. So I made a suggestion, and of course, it was closed too. Finally, he googled to see what was open and we found a nice little restaurant that I had been to before to have dinner. Fifth times a charm.

We had a great dinner conversation and even stayed quite a bit after the meal talking. We talked about all kinds of stuff, including the upcoming Drag Ball. He asked me if I had decided what I was going to wear. Apparently, people get quite flamboyant in their costumes. The theme is a sort of mix between Broadway and BDSM. Any suggestions?

We hugged at the end and he said we should get together next time he’s in the area. Needless to say, a romantic relationship, this will not be. However, it may turn into a good friendship. He’s involved with a lot of LGBTQ stuff, so I should see him around. What happens next, I do not know.

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Your Favor

Show me a sign of your favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.  - Psalm 86:17

We all need signs from God every now and then to get through life. It's not just a sign for ourselves, but for other people to recognize. This, in turn, speaks to those who may not have a relationship with Him. When you turn to God for comfort in desperate times it strengthens your relationship with God. Remember, He cares. 

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Moment of Zen: Playing Catcher

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Friday

About a month ago, I had to have a chest x-ray and they made me take out my nipple piercing. I was unable to get it back in, mainly because I was so sick. I never did get it put back in and now it’s grown back together. I am off today, mainly because I have a doctor’s appointment this morning and I wanted another day to recover from last weekend. Besides, I want to get my nipple re-pierced and a three-day weekend is a good time to do it. So this afternoon I plan to get my nipple pierced. Then I plan to go and get some CBD oil that might help my headaches. If all goes well tomorrow, it should be a good day. I have a long list of things to discuss with my doctor but I’m hoping it will all lead to a good outcome.

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Headache

It’s been a while since I had a headache this bad. I went home from work early yesterday. I’ve taken all the meds I have and nothing has phased it. My neck and shoulders hurt as well. I’m just miserable. I hope a good night’s sleep will be the cure, but I haven’t been sleeping well because of the neck and shoulder pain. I even tried CBD cream, but it hasn’t helped that much. Here’s hoping I wake up this morning headache free.

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Back to a Winter Wonderland

We made it back just after midnight Sunday night. To say it was cold when we got back was an understatement. The flight up had been horrendous. We flew from Florida to JFK Sunday afternoon. Florida was so windy, the plane skidded sideways on the runway. Then when we got up in the air turbulence was so bad, knocking us sideways and up an down. It was this way for over an hour and a half. People were getting sick on the plane. Finally the turbulence settled down and it was a relatively smooth ride until we reached Atlantic City and circled it a dozen times because we couldn’t land at JFK yet. Then as we finally approached JFK, the turbulence began again and it was a bit of a rough landing. JFK to Burlington was relatively uneventful compared to the horror of the last flight. As you know from Monday’s post, it was late Sunday night so I stayed overnight at my coworker’s house. I finally made it home Monday morning and relaxed for the day. Yesterday, as well as today and tomorrow are work days. Friday, I am off and I’m looking forward to a long weekend.

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The Trumpet

The Trumpet
by Edward Thomas

Rise up, rise up,
And, as the trumpet blowing
Chases the dreams of men,
As the dawn glowing
The stars that left unlit
The land and water,
Rise up and scatter
The dew that covers
The print of last night’s lovers—
Scatter it, scatter it!

While you are listening
To the clear horn,
Forget, men, everything
On this earth new-born,
Except that it is lovelier
Than any mysteries.
Open your eyes to the air
That has washed the eyes of the stars
Through all the dewy night:
Up with the light,
To the old wars:
Arise, arise.

Edward Thomas was born on March 3, 1878. His books include Poems (H. Holt and Company, 1917) and Last Poems (Selwyn and Blount, 1918), among others. He died in battle on April 9, 1917, in Arras, France.

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Home, Almost

I made it to Burlington, but the roads were a bit treacherous, so I opted to stay at my coworkers house and go home in the morning in daylight. A lot of snow has fallen on Vermont, and to go from 70 degrees to -2 degrees is quite a shock to the system. I’m glad to be back though, and I can’t wait to sleep in my bed.

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Its Hinges

As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed. (KJV) ( Proverbs 26:14 ) 

Ouch! We're all guilty of hitting the snooze button and turning over. Of course, we take shortcuts in life. But do we ever filter through our behaviors pointing out traits of laziness? Are you cheating yourself out of God's best for you by taking an easy route? 

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Moment of Zen: Beaches

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Traveling

Last night and tonight, I will be packing for a trip to Florida. I leave early Thursday morning and return late Sunday night. A colleague and I are flying to Florida for a traveling exhibition that the museum is putting on. Eventually we will stage this show ten different times, and at five major galas. To me, this whole thing is kind of silly and a waste of money. The exhibit will be up for only a matter of hours in each place. Some places it will be up longer than at others, but for the galas, cocktail hour, which is set up so people can see the exhibition and mingle, is just for...wait for it...yep, you guessed it, an hour. Yep, thousand of dollars for the exhibit to be seen by 150 to 200 people over the course of an hour before they are all herded into dinner. After dinner, the whole thing will be taken down and readied for the next stop.

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Jose Cuervo

Jose Cuervo

Song by Shelly West

Well it's Sunday Mornin'
And the sun in shinin'
In my eye that is open
And my head is spinnin'
Was the life of the party
I can't stop grinnin'
I had to much Tequila last night

Jose Cuervo you are a friend of mine
I like to drink you with a little salt and lime
Did I kiss all the cowboys?
Did I shoot out the lights?
Did I dance on the bar?
Did I start a fight?

Now wait a minute
Things don't look to familiar
Who is this cowboy
Who's sleepin' beside me?
He's awful cute, but how'd I
Get his shirt on?
I had to much Tequila last night

Jose Cuervo you are a friend of mine
I like to drink you with a little salt and lime
Did I kiss all the cowboys?
Did I shoot out the lights?
Did I dance on the bar?
Did I start a fight?

All those little shooters
How I love to drink 'em down
Come on bartender
Let's have another round [Modulates]
Well the music is playing
And my spirits are high
Tomorrow might be painful
But tonight we're gonna fly

Jose Cuervo you are a friend of mine
I like to drink you with a little salt and lime
Every time we get together
I sure have a good time
You're my friend
You're the best
Mi amigo
(Tequila)

Jose Cuervo you are a friend of mine
I like to drink you with a little salt and lime
Did I kiss all the cowboys?
Did I shoot out the lights?
Did I dance on the bar?
Did I start a fight?

Jose Cuervo you are a friend of mine

Songwriters: Cindy Jordan

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New Strength

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (KJV) ( Isaiah 40:31 ) 

Come one, come all, everyone who is tired. If you are exhausted and feel heavy like you've been hit by a truck, there is hope. You will once again soar. It is time to look to the Lord and trust Him to rejuvenate you. Give rest to your body and He will give you the endurance you need to continue. 

When I was sick this past month, I often felt like I’d been hit by a truck. I knew though that there was hope. With the right medicine and rest, I was able to come though my illness. Faith in the Great Physician can help heal all wounds.

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Moment of Zen: Splash

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Health Update

I still have a wheezing cough, mostly when I laugh. I also get out of breath easily when I do strenuous activities, emphasis on the strenuous. The main residual pain seems to be my neck and shoulders where is strained muscles while coughing so much in the last few weeks. A coworker of mine gave me some mentholated CBD ointment to try. It seems to be working quite well. The muscle relaxer the doctor gave me helped tremendously but it made me drowsy most of yesterday. I had a hard time staying awake at work yesterday morning. I have a meeting this morning between 10 and 11, which I don’t need to fall asleep in, so I’m hoping the CBD ointment does the trick.

I need to be well because next week this time, I will be in Naples, Florida for our museums traveling exhibition. It will be a nice reprieve from cold, snowy Vermont. Instead, we will be at a beach resort in South Florida.

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Another Day

For about the last week I have either talked about being sick or talked about work. I’ve really kind of run out of things to say today. I’ll just leave it at that. 

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January

January

 by Helen Hunt Jackson

O Winter! frozen pulse and heart of fire,

What loss is theirs who from thy kingdom turn

Dismayed, and think thy snow a sculptured urn

Of death! Far sooner in midsummer tire

The streams than under ice. June could not hire

Her roses to forego the strength they learn

In sleeping on thy breast. No fires can burn

The bridges thou dost lay where men desire

In vain to build.

                                O Heart, when Love’s sun goes

To northward, and the sounds of singing cease,

Keep warm by inner fires, and rest in peace.

Sleep on content, as sleeps the patient rose.

Walk boldly on the white untrodden snows,

The winter is the winter’s own release.

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Being Quietness

And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. (KJV) ( Isaiah 32:17 ) 

There will be a day when the Lord will bring everlasting peace. Though that time hasn't come, yet, we can still have temporary peace. Call on the Holy Spirit to bring quietness to your soul. Take time to meditate on an uplifting scripture. Get some fresh air to ease your body. Be at rest with the Lord.