I have an appointment on Friday, so I switched my work from home day to today. I like having the longer weekend at home, but I can focus most of my day on preparing for my class tomorrow. My class is a 75 minute class, and if I had given the full lecture I had planned, it would have been about a 90 minute lecture. I had to hurry through one part of it, but I had purposely put it at the end of the lecture so that I could skip it if necessary. Several of my students have remarked about how they are enjoying the class. They said they knew it would be an art history class, but they found it interesting that it was also a class about travel. I hope they continue to feel that way at the end of the semester. This class is a lot of extra work, but so far, I am enjoying it. I’m glad that I have today working from home so I can work on it without any interruptions. It also means that if I want to take a nap after lunch, I can.
It was very difficult to wake up and get out of bed this morning. It’s mornings like this that make me thankful that Isabella is so insistent about being fed early in the morning. If she had not been telling me to get up, I might still be asleep. I’m not exactly sure why I have been experiencing so much fatigue the last several days, but I felt exhausted on Saturday, and yesterday, I took a nap that lasted a good part of the afternoon. Hopefully, I can become more awake and have a productive day at work because I have a lot I need to do and much of that is preparing for class tomorrow. However, I wish I could just go back to bed.
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.
Joe
