The students are back on campus, and classes start today. Because I’m teaching a Tuesday/Thursday class, today will be my first day of class. I think my university has the strangest schedule. It seems ridiculous to start classes on a Thursday. I know they have to have a certain number of class days, but they could have started on a Monday and extend the last day of class two more days. It’s also odd that they have exams every day of the week, including Saturday and Sunday. In fact, my final exam is scheduled for a Sunday morning.
I’m nervous about my first day of class, but I always am, no matter what I’m teaching. I pray it goes well. I plan for the first day of class to be a get-to-know each other discussion, and I’m not the best at leading discussions. However, I feel like this is the best way to introduce them to the subject of the course. I just hope I can get them to talk. That’s always the hardest part. I think it will help that there is no right or wrong answer. I’ll see how it goes.
Because of appointments on the next two Friday, I changed my usual work from home day from Friday to Wednesday this week and the next. I have a virtual meeting this morning, so I can’t spend my WFH day like the guy above. I’ll actually have to get dressed, but after that, I can have a more relaxed day. I’m really happy I’m working from home today because I woke with a migraine this morning. Also, the heat at the museum hasn’t been keeping up with the outside temperature since we got back from break, and I’ve been freezing in my office this week. I’m looking forward to a day when I can be comfortable in my surroundings. Anyway, that’s it for me today. At least the week is halfway over.
Thank goodness, I am working from home today. We got more snow last night, and I really don’t want to get out in it. Plus, I went to bed early last night because of a bad migraine. I was actually on the couch watching Jeopardy, and I fell asleep before seeing Final Jeopardy. I love watching Jeopardy, so for me to fall asleep during it, it should be a sign that I was really feeling awful. I still have the same migraine this morning.
I have a few work things I need to do today, but it’s mainly to answer some emails. However, I also need to complete some final preparations for my class that starts next week. I am both excited and anxious about my class. I have taught World History, American History, and Art History, but I have never taught a college class that I have designed myself, and especially one without a textbook. No textbook exists for what I am teaching. I have created classes from scratch for high school classes but not for college and especially not for a mix of undergraduate and graduate students. It’s a subject I know a lot about, and probably one of the few experts today on this particular subject, but it’s all rests on me. It’s a new experience and while I know my subject, I think most of us can agree that a fair amount of anxiety goes with all new experiences.
One last thing, my visit with my doctor went well yesterday. There were several things I wanted to discuss with him, and it all went well. There was a new medicine I was hoping to talk to him about for my sleep apnea, and he actually brought it up first. I have trouble with waking up with a headache due to my CPAP, so I would love to be able to sleep without it. Also, I have had shoulder pain for several months. He told me it was a rotator cuff injury, but not a tear, so it won’t need surgery (this was my biggest fear), just physical therapy and a possible injection if PT is not enough. We also discussed my mother’s dementia. He understood what I was going through because he is going through a similar situation with his own mother. All in all, it was a good visit. My A1C, heart, and lungs are all good. I did not have a comprehensive metabolic panel done, but that will be done at my next visit in four months.
I forgot to add this to yesterday’s post, but here’s your Isabella pic of the week:
I have to go back to work today. I am not ready and wish I had a few more days off, but I’ll be the only one there today, so I don’t have much of a choice. Besides, I have a doctor’s appointment today. It’s a regular check up. I had been forced to reschedule because I had COVID when my original appointment a couple of months ago. I have several things I want to discuss with my doctor, so I am eager for this appointment.
Going to work today might not be so bad if we weren’t having a snow storm today, though looking outside, it doesn’t look like it’s as bad as it was expected. We’ve probably gotten about an inch so far, but we are expecting up to 8” today. I doubt we’ll get that much snow. It really shouldn’t (🤞) affect my commute to and from work. The worst should come after I get to work, and when I head home, whatever snow has fallen should have been cleared from the roadways.
For a little bit of humor this morning: as I was typing the title to this post, my predictive text kicked in and when I had “Back to the G” typed, predictive text suggested “Grindr.” I guess this phone (I typed this quickly on my phone this morning) knows it’s owned by a gay man. 😂🏳️🌈
As we welcome a brand-new year, let’s take a moment to celebrate the journey we’ve all shared and the opportunities that lie ahead. May 2025 bring you joy, growth, and countless moments of inspiration.
This blog continues to be a place for thought, connection, and learning because of readers like you. Thank you for being a part of this wonderful community. Here’s to another year of discovery, reflection, and love!
Wishing you all a year filled with happiness, health, and success. Cheers to 2025!
Stars Fell on Alabama Composed by Frank Perkins with lyrics by Mitchell Parish
Moonlight and magnolia, starlight in your hair All the world a dream come true Did it really happen, was I really there, was I really there with you? We lived our little drama, we kissed in a field of white And stars fell on Alabama last night. I can’t forget the glamor, your eyes held a tender light And stars fell on Alabama last night.
I never planned in my imagination a situation so heavenly A fairy land where no one else could enter And in the center just you and me, dear My heart beat like a hammer, my arms wound around you tight And stars fell on Alabama last night. We lived our little drama, we kissed in a field of white And stars fell on Alabama last night.
I can’t forget the glamor, your eyes held a tender light And stars fell on Alabama last night. I never planned in my imagination a situation so heavenly A fairy land where no one else could enter And in the center just you and me, dear My heart beat like a hammer, my arms wound around you tight.
The image above made me think of the song “Stars Fell on Alabama,” with its magnolias, starlight, and field of white. This is not a scene you’d see in Alabama, but it’s a scene I could imagine a guy from Alabama witnessing on a snowy New Year’s Eve in Vermont.
Happy New Year, Everyone!
🍾 🥂 🍾
I hope we all have a happy, healthy, safe, prosperous, and joyous
Christmas has come and gone, leaving behind memories, lessons, and perhaps a mix of emotions. Whether this Christmas was full of joy, challenges, or something in between, now is a time to reflect and recharge.
To those who spent the holiday surrounded by love and acceptance: cherish those moments and hold onto the warmth they bring. To those who faced difficult dynamics or loneliness: know that you are not alone, and brighter days are ahead.
As we move forward, let’s carry with us the spirit of the season—kindness, generosity, and hope—but also remember that it’s okay to rest, to heal, and to embrace a fresh start.
Here’s to turning the page and stepping into the new year with renewed strength and self-love. Whatever this holiday brought your way, you made it through—and that’s worth celebrating.
Take a deep breath, take care of yourself, and know that you are worthy of love and happiness. Always.
Early one May at the North Pole, one of Santa’s reindeer gave birth to a little reindeer. When the little reindeer stood for the first time, he fell forward, directly into a pile of glitter meant for Santa’s toy shop. Everybody laughed at the little fella when he stood back up on shaky legs and his nose was covered in glitter. His mother decided then that she would name the boy Glitzen a portmanteau of her father Blitzen’s name and the glitter he fell into. As Glitzen began to grow, everyone noticed that his nose continued to sparkle. It seemed he never could get rid of all that glitter that was his first encounter in this world.
All the boy reindeers used to laugh and call him names. Glitzen knew he was different. Instead of playing reindeer games with the other bucks, he preferred to prance and dance around with the does. He always had a great time with the young does, and he always felt more conformable with them. They never laughed and called him names, and he always seemed to have the best ideas on how to make the does more fabulous. Glitzen had a natural instinct for fashion and decorating. He knew just how to make anyone, and everything seem more fabulous. The young bucks refused to have anything to do with him. His parents loved him, but his father was always a little embarrassed by his son. His mother knew her son was different, but she loved how confident he was in himself, even when the other reindeer bullied him.
One year, the world seemed especially gloomy. A pandemic had swept over the Earth. Santa’s elves just didn’t have the spark they usually had. The toys didn’t sparkle, and the wrapped packages were drab. Santa was so disappointed, but he understood that when the world was gloomy, the North Pole was always gloomy as well. Everything in Santa’s Village at the North Pole fed on the energy of the world. When the world was unhappy, Santa’s Village was unhappy too. Santa was blue too, but he tried to keep his spirits up for all those at the North Pole. Santa decided to walk around his Village to try to cheer everyone up and maybe get some spark back around the place.
As Santa walked around, he noticed that the reindeer were not playing any games, just moping around. The elves had no pep in their work making toys, and it showed with the toys they were making. As Santa continued to walk around, he heard laughter and singing from somewhere. Santa immediately perked up because someone was obviously having fun. Santa followed the sound to see where the joy was coming from. He entered the barn to see a fabulous sight, a group of young reindeer were dancing and singing. It looked like they were being led by a young reindeer with glitter on his nose and a string of lights in his antlers. The young buck’s bells were making the most wonderous noise, and all seemed to be enjoying themselves.
Santa said, “Everyone outside and in the toy shop was so gloomy, what happened in here to make everyone so festive?” All of the reindeer just laughed and pointed to Glitzen. Santa said, “Glitzen, my boy, how are you able to be so cheerful when everyone else is so gloomy?”
Glitzen looked at Santa and said, “Santa, we can’t all be gloom and doom. Someone has to get the Spirit of Christmas in the air. A little glitter, some lights, and bells can make the world a bit merrier again. I just wanted to show everyone that we need a little Christmas right now.” Then, Glitzen began to sing:
Haul out the holly Put up the tree before my spirit falls again Fill up the stocking I may be rushing things, but deck the halls again now.
For we need a little Christmas, right this very minute Candles in the window, carols at the spinet Yes, we need a little Christmas, right this very minute Hasn’t snowed a single flurry, but Santa dear we’re in a hurry.
Santa joined in singing:
I need to climb down the chimney Turn on the brightest string of lights I’ve ever seen Slice up the fruit cake It’s time we’ve hung some tinsel on the evergreen bough.
Before anyone realized what was going on, the cheer seen in the barn had spread throughout the North Pole. Everyone began to sing:
For I’ve grown a little leaner, grown a little colder Grown a little sadder, grown a little older And I need a little angel sitting on my shoulder Need a little Christmas now
For we need a little music, need a little laughter Need a little singing ringing through the rafter And we need a little snappy, happy ever after We need a little Christmas now.
When the song died down, Santa said, “Yes, we do need a little Christmas now. Glitzen thank you for bringing Christmas cheer back to the North Pole. We need to spread this through the whole world. Glitzen, can you do two things for me?”
Glitzen said, “I’ll do anything I can Santa. What do you need me to do?”
“Glitzen, I need you to help get the elves and the other reindeer in the Christmas spirit again,” said Santa. “Then, on Christmas Eve when I go out to deliver presents to all the boys and girls, I need you to spread this Christmas spirit around the world. People may be on lockdown or quarantined. They may be away from their family for the first time, but they need to know that the joy of the Christmas season can still be felt. We can’t let this pandemic get us down. Will you do that for me, Glitzen?”
Glitzen nodded his head, and he and the girls began to go around covering everything with glitter and tinsel. They sang Christmas songs to get everyone back in the mood for a joyous Christmas. All of the young reindeer, including the young bucks who’d made fun of Glitzen, got into the spirit. The elves had their spark back and the toys shone with glee. The packages they wrapped under Glitzen’s direction were some of the most fabulous to ever come from the North Pole.
On Christmas Eve, Glitzen led Santa’s sleigh spreading glitter and joy throughout the world. While the world still woke up to a pandemic on Christmas Day and many were still separated from each other, there was a new cheer in the world, a fabulousness that it thought it had lost. The Christmas lights on the trees seemed to sparkle just a little more brightly that morning. The tinsel seemed to almost glow on the trees. People went to their windows and threw open the sash. They all sang in unison, no matter their language. They sang “Santa Baby,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” and “All I Want for Christmas is You.” It was a gay old time and the most fabulous Christmas anyone could imagine.
Santa and all the reindeer congratulated Glitzen on not only being the most fabulous reindeer of all, but for making it the most fabulous Christmas of all.
Merry Christmas, Everyone!
May you all have a fabulous Christmas, too, and if you wake up with a bit of glitter everywhere, then maybe Glitzen has been with Santa to your house this year.
P.S. I know this is a silly story, and I posted it once before a few years ago. However, I wanted to add a few illustrations to it this year. The story came about because I was listening to “Rudolph, the Red Nose Reindeer” on the radio, and I thought of the words, “All of the other reindeer / Used to laugh and call him names / They never let poor Rudolph / Join in any reindeer games.” How many of us growing up as little gay boys had others laugh and call us names? How many of us were never allowed to join others in their games? Rudolph could have been many of us growing up, but instead of having a red shiny nose, ours was a metaphorical glittery nose. We are all fabulous in our own way, and it’s time we recognize just how fabulous Christmas is because of all the gay people out there.
I did something I have never done with a post before and used all AI created images. It’s amazing what ChatGPT can come up with when you ask the right questions.
We were expecting 3-5” of snow last night, but it seemed to have been more of a rain event. It was raining when I went to bed last night and when I woke up this morning, we had less than an inch of snow. I’m hoping that the small amount of snow we’ve received is not hiding a layer of ice. I hate when there is a layer of ice below because it makes it deceptively slippery when walking to my car, and it will make it much more difficult to clean the snow off my car so I can actually drive to work.
I’m only working half a day today. I have an audiology appointment this afternoon. Tomorrow, I will be working from home, so this morning is the last time I have to go to the museum until we return from the holiday break on January 2. I need a break from the museum, but I am not sure that next week, which I will be spending in Alabama, will provide the necessary rest (mentally and physically) that I need right now.
Putting all that aside, I owe y’all some Isabella pics. Yes, I said pics, as in more than one, because here are a few Isabella Christmas pictures. The first two pictures are from her first Christmas, which she spent with a coworker while I was in Alabama. The other two are from a few years ago.
***This post is meant to be tongue-in-cheek. Do not take it seriously.***
If you have been following the news in the United States, you have no doubt heard about the drones that are appearing in the skies. If you are not familiar, here is a little background. A large number of mysterious drones have been reported flying over parts of New Jersey and have been spotted in recent days across the eastern U.S., sparking speculation and concern over where they are coming from and why. Dozens of witnesses have reported seeing them in the state since mid-November. At first they were spotted flying along the scenic Raritan River, which feeds the Round Valley Reservoir, the state’s largest aquifer, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) west of New York City. But soon sightings were reported statewide, including near the Picatinny Arsenal, a military research and manufacturing facility, and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster. The government has stated that a review of the reported sightings shows that many of them are actually manned aircraft being flown lawfully, echoing the opinion of officials and drone experts. The Homeland Security and the FBI also said in a joint statement they have no evidence that the sightings pose “a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus.”
Conspiracy theories are going wild. Here is my theory: they are a precursor to an alien invasion. If you have read this blog for a while, you no doubt know that I am a fan of science fiction, especially Star Trek. I also find it hard to believe that the people of earth are the only intelligent beings in the universe. Astronomers have discovered planets in the known universe that are in what is known as a “habitable zone,” region around a star where planets can receive the perfect amount of heat to maintain liquid water on their surfaces. The theory being that planets in a habitable zone may also be planets capable of supporting Earth-like extraterrestrial life and intelligence. It’s hard for me to believe that we are the only ones out there. What has not been figured out by scientists on earth is how to bend the laws of physics to allow interstellar space travel like we often see in science fiction. However, that does not mean that someone else out there has evolved enough to make this discovery.
In 1947, the United States Army Air Forces balloon debris recovered near Roswell, New Mexico, was actually a crashed extraterrestrial spacecraft. Operated from the nearby Alamogordo Army Air Field and part of the top secret Project Mogul, the balloon was intended to detect Soviet nuclear tests. After metallic and rubber debris were recovered by Roswell Army Air Field personnel, the United States Army announced their possession of a “flying disc”. This announcement made international headlines but was retracted within a day. To obscure the purpose and source of the debris, the army reported that it was a conventional weather balloon. While this has always been a fun conspiracy theory (though there are those who will believe anything), what if that crashed “weather balloon” was really a crashed extraterrestrial spacecraft? The government and the military has been known to lie to cover up different things, so this could be one of them.
If it was an extraterrestrial spacecraft, why have they not made contact since? It could be that they looked at the geopolitical state of the Earth, the Cold War, and the potential for nuclear war as a reason to “wait and see what happens.” The people of Earth might destroy themselves with nuclear weapons and either make the planet uninhabitable and thus useless or with the advances in technology available to an advanced species, they could rid the planet of deadly radiation and colonize the planet with no resistance. So, they waited. What they saw was a planet of people who were constantly at war, but that one country had developed an overwhelmingly powerful military industrial complex that might be able to make an invasion difficult, but probably not impossible. I am talking about the military industrial complex of the United States here if you had not realized that yet. Then in early November 2024, the country with the greatest military known in human history proved that more than half the country is fucking stupid enough to elect an old, fat, stupid, and senile rapist, convicted felon, and lifetime conman to be the leader of this country. Then they have watched as he appoints people to his government who are drunks, child traffickers, other rapists, and just plain evil/stupid/crazy (use whichever adjective fits) people. They would have realized by now by watching right-wing news media and the Republicans in Congress, that this proposed cabinet and loyal followers this orange idiot who was elected president love conspiracy theories and will get whipped up into hysteria quite easily over nothing. So, by sending a few low tech observation probes to scout the United States, they can get these blithering idiots (and to their surprise and delight there are many Democrats who are also falling for their scheme), they can distract the people of the United States into now seeing the big picture, which has always been apparent throughout the nation’s history.
In other words, if you are going to strike when the iron is hot, defeat them at their lowest weakest moment, NOW is the time to do so. By January 20th, all three branches of the United States government will be controlled by some of the stupidest people to ever exist in the country. These extraterrestrials probably have realized that China could pose a problem but could be dealt with effectively. The country is already ruled by fear and a corrupt government, they could probably be bought off and convinced to surrender because the extraterrestrials would take care of their largest competitor, the United States. Easy-peasy. Hell, COVID-19 could have been their first strike to weaken the planet, and they got lucky (we got unlucky) when stupidity won the 2024 presidential election.
So, the drones could be observation probes sent by extraterrestrials to scout out the planet, or…it could be a group of people who think it’s hilarious to freak out the United States like the so-called “killer clowns” in 2016. Then again, it could be some nefarious foreign government behind the drones. Maybe they started “innocently” by appearing over the Raritan River in New Jersey, then moved onto military complexes, major cities, and an orange idiots golf course. I don’t think they would be gathering intelligence for an invasion, there are much better ways to do that, but they may be scouting potential terrorist targets. A large percentage (though not a voting majority apparently) of the United States and the rest of the world know that form January 20, 2025 until at least January 2027 (if the Democrats are able to take control of Congress in the midterm elections), the United States will be in utter chaos as the patients have been chosen to run the asylum, or more appropriately in this case, the inmates have been given control of not just the prison, but the government as well.
Regardless, the United States us fucked for at least the next two years. Honestly, if there are extraterrestrials scouting out the United States, they have at least proven that they have a far greater intelligence than the inhabitants of Earth and might actually be benevolent beings who could save us all. Live Long and Prosper! 🖖
This post is brought to you by me being bored at work and having too much time for my mind to wonder about senseless things. Luckily, you will be spared another set of similar musings because I will not be at work today and instead will be going to Dartmouth for my next Botox treatment for my migraines.
Joe
The Closet Professor 