To our friends Rolph and Rebecca, who brought Betty-ness into our lives, a gingerbread salute in the photo below.
How are the rest of you holding up, the end of the year? My mind is blown but my powder’s dry.
I’ve removed the paywall from all my recommendations for the end of the year: music, movies, and books. Enjoy!
And for those of us with frost on our minds — it’s even in going to freeze in my Santa Cruz patch tonight — here’s a little careless fun:
I’m contemplating my 2025. Really, this past year was filled with so much old-fashioned crap health1, I’m giddy with the prospect of starting off a new year without one of my limbs wrapped in immobilizing goo. Imagine all the things I could do! Let’s go dancing!
I went to Yosemite for Christmas, a favorite place of mine since I was a kid. The thrill of snow on the ground, and bright sunny sky. The waterfalls are going OFF already. There’s nothing like it up there.
The photos that look like a tiny prison — correct! On the southern route, the Wawona side, there’s an old powder keg that was transformed into a pokey. Nice lodgings, eh? I told a couple of children passing by that if their parents acted up, we’d have to lock them in there.
How are you doing, these last days? I know it’s been a lot. Some rays of light, lots of moments where our footing has been unsure. Let me know how you’re doing, and I’ll be writing much, much more, in 2025!
Broke a bone in my hand, and quite separately, one in my foot. Covid twice. But they’re almost all better now, it just took endless months!
I'm not so good. I got a cyst, 3 in in diameter, on a very private area of my butt. Couldn't get in to my Dr and had to go to Prompt Care and I got a young guy I had to show it to. I am 77 years old and so is my butt. I was sure he would go back to school for engineering or something. I got an antibiotic, makes me nauseated. Want to go to fireworks tonight, but probably won't. Happy New Year!
First of all, thank you for this video! I am going to get some bubbles for when it gets cold this week!
I share your excitement about starting a new year in good health. I've decided to call this fall the "hard reset" and treat it as such. To a healthy new year!