12/31/2024

"Baby it's cold outside!"

13° and holding . . .

Actually, 13 is such a

magickal number . . . 

 . . . and yes, there are 

those who will understand 

that additional "k"!

Methinks, I got all mixed

up as I tended to think that

autumn was winter and we

were about to enter spring.

Poor winter, I was dissing

it completely.

Going to think about all the

good things winter brings . . .

-snow, much needed moisture

-a time of rest for the land

-a stay at home time for us

-sitting in front of the fire

-hot drinks, no alcohol needed

-visits from those crazies who

  need to get out

Here's wishing you a cozy

day. So hope you don't need

to go out.

 - - -

Baby it's cold outside!

Written by Frank Loesser

in 1944 and popularized 

in the 1949 film Neptune's

Daughter.

12/30/2024

What are friends for?

Obviously, for both the

good times and the bad

times! And the true friend

will remind you when you

are getting off the mark.

I received a note from my

friend this morning, telling

me to get off my suicide 

kick. She's been there, done

that and doesn't want to hear

about it anymore.

I sooooo needed to hear this.

As I suffer from SAD, seems

I go on and on about suicide

all winter. I can't even imagine

just how old that must get.

She's absolutely right. Time

to man up and live right. Tis 

the season to be jolly after all.

   I'm alive!

   I'm healthy!!

   I'm content!!!

Sooooo, get off it already . . .

I don't think Mr. SAD is going

away, but since it's a yearly do,

I need to get over myself and

enjoy the good things.

My thanks to my friend, for 

the courage to reprimand. I

needed that.

12/29/2024

"I've got a lot of life left in

me, but I am moving closer

and closer to the, Best used

by this Date, designation.

Zen to Zany

I'm 175 . . . okay, 75 . . .

 . . . and I guess, doing still

quite well for all of that.

I stand tall, walk straight, 

have a lengthy stride . . .

and all of that makes me 

feel good about this whole

aging process.

On the other side of all this 

entire debacle, I can't recall

what my good friend told 

me yesterday!

Have I taken my vitamins? 

Did I wash today's dishes?

Sooooo need to sweep the

kitchen, but it's too cold,

below freezing, to shake 

the rugs!

I like to think that it's not 

that I am forgetful, but that 

my brain is full and only

pays attention to the most

important!

As the new year approaches,

I'm trying to figure out how

to get rid of some of the 

mundane so more things will

fit in my brain.

Anybody have any ideas? 

Guess not! So, I may as well

open that New Year's Eve

bottle of champagne as surely

today is the 31st. 

Right?!

12/28/2024

We approach 2025, hopeful!

Yet, we find ourselves still

overwhelmed with grief for

the loss of loved ones; fam

and friends.

Other losses matter as well;

jobs to keep our families in 

food and a roof over, as well

as the actual loss of hearth

and home.

How can we possible remain

positive, look forward to the

new year, when so many are

not even coping?

Truly I have no answers. The

questions; too vast, too many.

One thing that occurs to me

is concentric circles. They're

everywhere. The surround us.

If every person in the entire

universe, would tend to those

within their concentric circle,

the world would be a happy

place.

Obviously, not going to be.

So many love to hate, like

their wars, and need to feel 

superior.

Methinks 'tis time to lose

the guilt, define our own

concentric circle and serve

as each best can.

For some, it will be sharing

a bit of food. Others will

write letters. Still, there are

those who will find coats

and blankets to share.

We need to stop worrying

about that which we cannot

change and do what we can

around us.

Trust me, it will indeed make

a difference!

12/27/2024

Had a teacher dream this 

early morn. Anyone who is 

a teacher will know exactly

what I'm talking about!

It was the last class of the

day and the last class before

vacation. Final exam time!

The kids walked in halfway

on vacation already and got 

the rest going once in front

of the test.

I couldn't remember their

names . . . sooooo not moi!

They scooted their chairs

around, huddled in groups

and played music rather 

than taking the final.

I picked up radios, phones,

until my arms were full.

Couldn't find my key to 

open the my locked cabinet.

How could all of this be?

How could it have happened?

All of my students have ever

liked me, respected me and

I've always loved them.

Having given up on the entire

mess, I took a good look 'round.

No wonder I didn't know their

names. They weren't my kids!

My own adorable students were

Mexican kids learning English.

I had no idea who these little

monsters were.

Praise whatever woke me up,

but I had a good laugh rather

than a good cry.

Sooooo love, like, adore, all 

my students from 40 years of

teaching in two countries! I

much enjoy following them

and their stories on FB. A few

have even come to visit.

Many wondrous memories

and a dream is only a dream

after all . . .

12/26/2024, Ode to Joyce

I got a call last night at 9:30

informing me that we had 

lost Joyce.

The comments and accolades

she received on her post would

have much pleased her.

Joyce and I taught together at

Adams City 23 years. We had

morn coffee, FACd, and shared

student concerns and stories.

We were friends out of school

as well and had good times. In

common, we both had purple

in our hair, adored our students

and loved to party. Methinks

'twould be well if I didn't tell

on us; we might need a good

spanking!

Joyce liked to come over to the

cabin for crafting and a good

catch up. Naught was ever dull

when Joyce was around.

She was also part of my spiritual

circle and for that I am thankful.

I can't believe she's gone. I want

someone to tell me it's all been

a mistake. I still have her x-mas

card up on the mantle . . .

Well loved! Well remembered!!

Well enjoyed!!! No finer epitaph

for an amazing woman, teacher,

friend . . .

Here's hoping the heavens throw

you a party at your arrival!!!

Missing you already . . .

12/25/2024 - Christmas Day

'Tis o' dark thirty and I 

am left wondering what 

this x-mas will bring to 

one and all.

And, even though I'm of 

the Yule ilk, rather than 

the Christmas, I have so 

many friends and family

who celebrate Christmas. 

I just know I love all of

us no matter which days

we choose to celebrate.

Today holds a bit of mystery

as we have nothing planned.

We do know one of the kids

is coming over for a while.

I'm looking forward to it!

'Twill be most interesting

to see what happens through-

out the day. I'm sooooo open

for surprises!

Merriest of all Christmas

moments for those of you 

who celebrate this wondrous

time.

Do enjoy every minute!

12/24/2024 - Christmas Eve

I have such fond memories

of x-mas eve w/my parents.

Somewhat impoverished,

our eves were small, but

most wondrous.

The usual unders, a new

book to read and a doll

for me. I've shared before

that I was expected to share

my old doll the following

day. And, if it wasn't as 

nice as the new one, then

I was to give the new doll.

Trust me, I took good care

of my dolls.

I so enjoyed reading my

new book! I was actually

given license to read thru

the night. Fab memory.

We'll begin readying the

cabin for the New Year

today. I find, I'm well

pleased that I'm looking

forward rather than back.

Have a delightful x-mas eve

and here's hoping you get

more than unders!

12/23/2024

Part 1

Sooooo strange . . .

Woke up this early morn at 

quarter to two. The sense of

foreboding was incredible.

Quite frightening actually!

Not sure where all this came

from. It might just be SAD

in action.

I ask myself yet again, how

to cope? I tend to forget all

remedies when in the midst

of a SAD attack. So, I keep

a list . . . and check it twice.

Ha!

Methinks, 'tis off to bed I go

again and see if I feel better

in the morning . . .

 - - -

Part 2

Awoke again around 9:00

this morning and indeed I

feel much better.

I may owe it to a brisk walk

out to the mail box with my

thank you notes. It's 33.3°

so when I say brisk, 'tis

exactly what I mean.

Think I'll spend a few hours

putting away Yule and setting 

up my annual altar for dear

Saint Brighid.

'Tis off to work I go . . .

 - - -

Saint Brighid of Ireland is the

patroness saint of Ireland. She

was the abbess who founded

the abbey of Kildare, as well 

as several other monasteries.

Died Feb 1 525 AD, Kildare.

Wikipedia

12/22/2024

'Tis morning of the day after,

alas!

This particular Yule Eve and

Yule were both phenomenal.

We were lucky enough to 

spend them with friends and

family. And, these are my two 

favest days of December!

Sooooo, where to go from

here?! How will I cope with

these upcoming days of dark

December?!

Perhaps first of all, I simply 

must remember that today, 

the light begins to return, 

just a tiny bit each day.

I so love postcards. Might be

fun for me to send as many

as I can during the upcoming

days . . . might even get an

answer to one or two.

I need to make an effort to

sit by the fire as it feeds my

soul and comforts me.

If outdoors is just too cold to

deal with, the porch for a few

moments each day should do.

I should make more of an

effort to cook. Especially 

in winter, I tend to open the 

fridge to see what falls out

rather than preparing a meal.

Bottom line, I'll be doing all 

of these and any other I can

come up with.

 Here's to growing light . . .

12/21/2024 - Yule

Yule has finally arrived . . . 

Methinks that little kid within

my soul has been waiting for

ages, but truly, we're only 

three weeks into December.

Yes, today is known as Yule,

but it is also called the Winter

Solstice, and 'tis the first day

of Winter.

We're gathering with family

today. So excited to see every

one. Our co-in-laws have

traveled far to be here with 

us as they do every year.

Seasonal celebrations ahoy . . . 

Yule, Christmas, Hanukkah!

Enjoy yours!!!

- - -

Yule is one of the oldest Winter

Solstice festivals in the world,

with origins among the ancient

Norse. It was later incorporated

into the Christian holiday of

Christmas. Today, Yule is

celebrated by many Pagans.

~Al Overview

12/20/2024 - Yule Eve

For moi, the Winter Solstice

is the most wondrous part of

winter . . . kicking it off to a

good start!

And, although I have personal

issues with winter, I simply

adore this holiday, thus starting

the celebrations on the eve.

If you're not familiar with Yule,

and/or Yule Eve, 'tis the first

day of winter. It is celebrated

similarly to Christmas Eve,

which celebrates the birth of

the Christ child.

Meeting with family, friends,

preparing special foods and

gifts, holiday decor all 'round.

This is Yule Eve.

My guy and I intend to sit

before the fire in our lessers,

and simply enjoy each other

and the eve.

Happy Yule Eve to one and

all . . . may light join us as

the days shorten . . .

 - - -

Yule Eve is the night before

the Winter Solstice, Pagan 

holiday celebrating the rebirth

of the sun and the return of the

light and warmth. The Winter

Solstice is the shortest day and

longest night of the year.

~Al Overview

12/19/2024

I imagine this is the time of

year that brings on pondering.

Seems my mind can barely

keep up with all the things 

I find myself thinking about.

The increase in traffic outside

my window makes me think

of hard working families. The

school bus stops for a young

lass every morning just outside

the cabin.

So, why is this so important?

'Tis the darkest time and the 

coldest of days . . . and it isn't

even winter yet.

I think about the holiday 

shoppers; their hurry, their

spending and their exhaustion.

I find myself thinking about

the people I would love to see.

Then, I look outside . . . piles

of snow and sleet everywhere. 

Ever so glad to be retired.

None of this is negative; it

simply is. I am determined to

get through these cold dark

months of SAD with the best

attitude I can conjure. Still

glad for my happy pills though.