Isabella decided I didn’t need to sleep in today. She woke me up way too early, and while that’s nothing unusual, I really wanted to stay asleep a bit longer and avoid the pain radiating down my leg. No such luck.
The good news is I took a vacation day today. The bad news—besides the pain—is that the only reason I took a vacation day is because of car trouble. I can’t get the car into the mechanic until tomorrow, and I don’t dare drive it anywhere else. So here I am, stuck at home, with no transportation except for that one hopeful trip to the shop tomorrow.
Honestly, with the way I feel this morning—leg pain and day two of a migraine—I probably could have taken a sick day. But since HR has managed to screw up some of my leave paperwork, I’m trying to be cautious. Until that gets fixed, I’m afraid my sick leave will get eaten up too quickly.
All I really want is to feel better. I’ve said that for years about my migraines, but at least with them, I’ve learned how to keep going and live my life. This back and leg pain is different. It makes even basic mobility a challenge, and that’s not something I can just push through as easily.
So today’s plan is pretty simple: hope the pain eases a bit, or at least that I can get some more sleep. That’s about all I’ve got in me for now.
I hope your Monday morning is starting off better than mine. Here’s to a smoother week ahead for all of us.
While my bosses refused to let me work from home for an extended period, I did at least get to keep my regular Friday work-from-home day—and I am so glad it’s here. This week has been a trying one, my first back in the office after my medical leave.
The first three days of the week, our parking lot was closed, which left me with two choices: park in a lot up a steep hill or park in one three times farther away but on level ground. On Monday, I tried the hill. Going down that morning was rough; going back up in the afternoon was pure agony. On Tuesday, I chose the level route—only to discover that the extra distance was even worse.
By Wednesday, I’d been told that the museum’s reserved spaces would be available because campus security was going to deal with the cars parked there that didn’t belong to museum patrons. I bet you can guess what I found when I arrived—the same cars, still in those spots. So, back to the hill it was. Going down wasn’t terrible, but going up… well, let’s just say I took my time. Once inside the museum, I had to sit before I could do anything else. By then, I knew what my body would and wouldn’t tolerate, so I paced myself.
Yesterday, the parking situation was finally back to normal. But the workday itself made up for it. A two-hour meeting in uncomfortable plastic chairs is never fun, but it’s worse with a pinched nerve. I switched to a padded chair after the first fifteen minutes, but it wasn’t much better. By the end, I was shifting around like I was sitting on a bed of nails. Lunch in the break room wasn’t an improvement—the wooden chairs are no kinder to my back.
Back at my desk, my chair finally let my leg relax, and I took my midday meds. The relief lasted until I had to get up to let someone into a locked room. That part was fine; what wasn’t fine was running into a talkative professor who’s also president of an arts organization board we both serve on. He asked about my back, and I told him about the pinched nerve. He had a similar problem before a hip replacement fixed it, and he went on to talk about the board meeting tomorrow—which I doubt I’ll make. Eventually, the pain got so bad that I had to stop him mid-story and say, “I have to go sit down.”
In short, I overdid it yesterday, and I’m paying for it today. My leg is in a lot of pain this morning, and I’m hoping my meds kick in soon. At least I can work comfortably today from my own couch.
And now, to send you into the weekend on a happier note—here’s your Isabella Pic of the Week. She’s sleeping peacefully—though she wasn’t quite so peaceful at 1 a.m. last night when she insisted I get up. Turned out her water bowl was low. I filled it, and she let me go back to bed without complaint. She’s lucky she’s cute, and even luckier that she’s the perfect Friday reminder to rest, recharge, and keep a little sweetness close at hand.
Here’s to a weekend with no steep hills, no long walks, no terrible chairs… and maybe just a few cat naps of our own.
So far, this week at work has been rough. I expected a lot of catching up after being out on emergency medical leave, but I didn’t expect the added challenge of my boss being openly—or at least quietly—hostile about it. It’s not always outright confrontation, but her demands and unwillingness to even discuss accommodations have been deeply disappointing. She’s also requesting documentation that, according to my physical therapist, should only come from HR. I’ll have to tell her that today, which I’m sure will be another fun conversation.
The whole situation has triggered a lot of anxiety and deepened the depression I was already feeling from the fact that my pain doesn’t seem to be getting any better. Part of that, I think, is because of how far I’ve had to walk from our temporary parking lot. Our usual lot is closed for repairs, and the longer walk from the temporary lots has been rough. The lot is supposed to reopen tomorrow, so I asked to move my work-from-home day from Friday to Wednesday to help reduce the strain. She refused.
When I tried to find another solution—asking her to address the problem of our two museum-reserved parking spaces being used by people who aren’t even patrons—she told me to take it up with her boss. It felt less like “couldn’t” and more like “wouldn’t,” but I did as she said. Thankfully, he actually took action, going out to take pictures of the cars parked there and contacting campus security. He’s dealt with severe back pain himself, though for him walking brought relief. I explained that for me, it’s the opposite—every extra step makes the pain worse.
There are other issues I could get into, but honestly, I’m too tired to go into detail. I just hope today is a better day, and I hope all of you have a good one too.
Today, I head back to work. My paid medical leave officially ended yesterday. Technically, it should have shifted from continuous leave to intermittent leave for the next two months, but the Human Resources Department at my university managed to botch the approval. They didn’t follow through with everything my doctor requested, so now I have to sort that out. I need to contact my doctor this morning to see if HR even sent him the paperwork needed to fix this.
I wish they had at least considered a work-from-home arrangement, but my boss refuses to even request it. So, that’s off the table. Instead, I’ll go into the office today and spend my time reading and sending emails—tasks I could easily do from my laptop at home. I have no appointments or meetings scheduled, and if I did, they’d be virtual. My boss seems to lack any sign of empathy or sympathy, but there’s no point in continuing to complain about her. It’s just not worth the energy. There’s nothing I can do except quietly keep an eye out for other opportunities. I’d prefer to stay in New England, but I might have to look farther afield. What I won’t do is move back to Alabama.
Sorry for the work rant, but it’s what’s on my mind this morning. Since I have to face the day regardless, I’m trying to focus on the positives—like how well things went when I ventured out yesterday.
Yesterday, I ran a few errands and—surprisingly—it went great. I had no pain, walked without a limp, and felt like myself again. The only odd moment was leaving the gas station, when my right leg suddenly got wobbly. It didn’t hurt; it just wasn’t cooperating. Still, I considered the outing a success. The only caveat: I never walked more than 20–30 yards at a time. We’ll see what happens today when I have to walk farther and sit in my office chair for hours.
This morning didn’t get off to the best start. I woke up with pain in my leg and had to sit down while my coffee brewed. Maybe the day will smooth out like it did yesterday, but honestly, with the way I’m feeling right now, I’m not overly optimistic. Still, I’m holding onto the hope that today will surprise me for the better—because I could use a day that ends with me feeling proud I made it through.
I still plan to post a poem today, but if I do, it’ll be later. I woke up around 3 a.m. with intense pain in my leg. After getting up to take some medication, I couldn’t fall back asleep right away. So, I made a cup of coffee and started searching for a poem to share.
Eventually, the pain meds kicked in and I managed to drift off again—but now it’s after 6 a.m., and I can barely keep my eyes open. Once I’m more awake (and a little more coherent), I’ll see about posting that poem. Stay tuned.
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
— Proverbs 15:1
In a world that too often meets difference with defensiveness and love with judgment, Proverbs 15:1 offers a quietly radical response: gentleness. The verse does not promise that gentleness will fix injustice or erase cruelty, but it reminds us that the spirit in which we respond matters—not just for those we face, but for the well-being of our own hearts.
For LGBTQ+ Christians, this verse takes on added depth. Many of us know what it feels like to be spoken to with wrath: accusations disguised as theology, rejection delivered in the name of “love,” or outright exclusion from communities that profess to follow Christ. When we are hurt or demeaned, the impulse is understandable: to defend ourselves with sharpness, or to retreat in bitterness.
But gentleness is not weakness. It is not silence in the face of injustice. Rather, it is strength under control. It is the choice to center peace in a conflict-ridden conversation. It is a way of saying, “You cannot define my worth, and I will not let your anger pull me into the same spirit.” In this way, Proverbs 15:1 becomes an act of resistance: refusing to mirror the world’s cruelty, and instead, choosing to reflect Christ’s grace.
When Jesus stood before Pontius Pilate (John 18:33–38), falsely accused and misunderstood, He did not return insult for insult. His responses were thoughtful, calm, and rooted in truth. Like the wisdom in Proverbs 15:1, Jesus demonstrated that we do not have to become harsh to be heard, nor cruel to be courageous.
James offers similar guidance for believers navigating tension and conflict. In James 1:19–20, he says: “Let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for human anger does not produce the righteousness of God.” This passage reminds us that our spiritual integrity is shaped not just by what we say, but by how we respond. Slowness to anger is not about complacency—it’s about choosing a response that is Spirit-led rather than ego-driven.
In today’s political climate—where cruelty is often rewarded and marginalized people, especially LGBTQ+ individuals, are targeted for political gain—these verses speak loudly. Many conservative politicians use outrage, dehumanization, and fear to rally their base. The question is not whether we should respond—but how we respond.
These scriptures do not ask us to sit back and do nothing. They call us to resist in a holy way: with clarity, conviction, and compassion.
Be Bold, Not Belligerent. Use your voice, but use it with dignity. When someone spreads harmful rhetoric, respond with truth and calm defiance. Gentleness doesn’t mean being a doormat—it means refusing to become what you oppose.
Channel Anger into Action. Righteous anger is not sinful—it’s sacred. James warns against reactive, self-centered anger, but the Bible is full of faithful people who got angry for the right reasons. Let your frustration move you to vote, protest, write, donate, organize. Let it be fuel for justice.
Guard Your Peace. The world wants to bait you into bitterness. Proverbs reminds us: you don’t have to play that game. Protect your peace by not giving cruelty the last word.
If you’ve been wounded by the Church or by people claiming to speak for God, know this: you are not defined by their wrath. You are held by a God whose first language is love and whose justice is always rooted in mercy.
Today, you may face questions, confrontation, or even condemnation. You may be misjudged or misunderstood. But you have a choice in your response. Let it be seasoned with gentleness—not for their sake alone, but for your own. Let it be a reflection of the Spirit within you. You don’t need to match fire with fire. A gentle word is powerful enough to turn away wrath—and holy enough to protect your peace.
Normally, I’d be saying, “Thank goodness, it’s Friday!” But honestly, the days have been running together lately. Being stuck at home with limited mobility and not much to do, each day feels pretty much like the last. The only reason I knew yesterday was Thursday? A new episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds dropped.
It was one of those quirky episodes, and I tend to enjoy when SNW leans into its weirder side. Star Trek, across all its incarnations, has often done quirky well—though sometimes it goes completely off the rails. Still, I appreciate the risk when it works.
I’ve gotten off on a tangent, but to be honest, I’m not sure I had a point to begin with. That’s kind of the vibe lately. I’m not sure what today holds. I probably need to make a run to the pharmacy, but that can likely wait until tomorrow. I should also follow up with my doctor’s office about the physical therapy referral. Other than that, there’s really nothing urgent.
Maybe I’ll just sleep the day away. I haven’t been sleeping well in general, but last night was an exception. I’ve figured out that I fall asleep most comfortably on the couch. Once I wake up from that first stretch of sleep—usually still groggy—I’ll move to the bed and sleep the rest of the night. If I try to start out in bed, I toss and turn for hours before inevitably giving up and heading to the couch anyway. So last night I skipped the middleman: I started on the couch, drifted off, then transitioned to the bed when I woke up. It worked.
Another thing that helps? Not wearing clothes. I know that sounds like an overshare, but anything with a waistband—no matter how loose—puts pressure right where the pain originates. It’s amazing how much relief comes from just avoiding that added tension. So I’ve embraced comfort and ditched the waistband altogether whenever I can.
If I don’t nap the day away, maybe I’ll read a little or find something to watch on TV—maybe a series to binge or a good movie to pass the time. If anyone has recommendations, I’d love to hear them. I could use something new and distracting.
That’s probably enough rambling for one post. I hope you all have a great weekend. I doubt mine will be entirely pain-free, but here’s hoping it’s at least a little less painful—and a little more restful.
I spoke to my doctor last night as he was preparing the paperwork for my leave request. Unfortunately, things aren’t improving as quickly as I’d hoped. I still can’t sit or stand for more than a few minutes at a time, and walking more than a dozen steps makes the pain nearly unbearable. I told him I was aiming to return to work on Monday, thinking I might finally have the right combination of medications to function again. He told me that was overly optimistic. Realistically, he expects I’ll be out at least two more weeks.
Today has already started off rough. I had a hard time falling asleep last night, and Isabella, ever punctual, wanted to be fed at her usual 5:00 a.m. breakfast time. She was somewhat patient and let me sleep until 5:30.
After feeding her and brewing a cup of coffee, I settled in with an episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. That might sound like a decent way to start the day—except I’ve also got a migraine on top of everything else.
At least I can sleep the day away if I want to. And right now, that’s probably the best plan.
Isabella Pic of the Week:
She’s been curling up on a black blanket lately—so well camouflaged that I nearly jump out of my skin every time the blanket moves. It’s her own personal cloaking device. Somewhere, a Romulan engineer is taking notes. 🖖🐾
Joe
The Closet Professor 