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the end

The best thing about 2022, besides it not being 2021, is that Mr. Corona in his current Omicron configuration, will sweep over us, leaving us at last mostly immune to further coronavirus. Ditch the mask, give your friend a hug, and enjoy the concert. It came to me there’s a way to make this happenContinue reading “the end”

Hogmanay!

You think we Yanks do a New Year’s blow out, check out what the Scots do! They’ve been celebrating Hogmanay this time of year since Mary Queen of Scots returned from Paris in 1561 (1). The church forbid public celebrations of Christmas, as it was seen as an appropriated pagan tradition which discounted the sanctityContinue reading “Hogmanay!”

cast

I’m sure you’ve realized by now I like to distribute Bobby McFerrin’s 1988 hit “Don’t worry, be happy” very frequently (1). I think it’s often the appropriate response to news I’ve just conveyed, like the latest on Omicron (2). One of my dear friends and faithful readers Sandy asked about the characters in the video. Continue reading “cast”

my mom the babe

My sister Jolene gave all of us a wonderful Christmas gift, a framed reproduction of a photo of our mom lounging on the beach – with her mom! – on Santa Anna Island (now Anna Maria) – a seven mile barrier island off the Gulf coast of Florida – where they used to escape toContinue reading “my mom the babe”

it’s over

It’s a good doctor who can explain things. I’ve been trying to do that with Mr. Corona for almost 2 years. But Dr. Ted Noel, a retired anesthesiologist/intensivist knocked it out of the park today (1). I’ve been emphasizing the high rate of errors coronavirus makes in replicating its RNA genome as source of allContinue reading “it’s over”

dandy dozen, revisited

Happy Boxing Day, my friends. In the U.S., only Massachusetts takes it as an official holiday, and the employees don’t even get to take it off. But those in the Queen’s realm are busy seeing that those who have served them over the year, and some of the poor, are getting their boxes of thanks.Continue reading “dandy dozen, revisited”

Lit’l Christmas Eve

Twisted how our Christmas traditions develop. Perhaps because they are so varied shows how rich and wonderful our traditions really are. Following a tradition we made years ago – nothing to do with Christmas – got us into a situation that tangled up our traditions and introduced us to some new possibilities. All of itContinue reading “Lit’l Christmas Eve”

…comin’ to town

I disagree with the message, but this is still fun: Ever the jerk to be sure, but Merry Christmas nonetheless

stew!

The sleet and ice falling on us Saturday morning sure didn’t get us dreaming of a white Christmas, but it did that magical Michigan thing of helping us enjoy the great indoors all the more. With the fireplace roaring and the lights on our 11’ tree twinkling, the hygge was like a scented oil engulfingContinue reading “stew!”

burn on

Here’s a look at our beautiful fireplace in all its glory, centerpiece of our living room and greatest source of the hygge we seek in these winter months. Whenever either of us is home, it’s burning. Both of us have always loved a fireplace, and I think the only times we didn’t live in homesContinue reading “burn on”