Gluggagægir – Window Peeper
December 21st is when Window Peeper visits. While not as greedy as some of his brothers, Window Peeper still provides a fright. He peeps through the windows in search of something to steal. I cannot determine if he is better or worse. Slobbering the utensils is gross but petty theft really stings. I wonder if after he leaves treats in the shoes he swipes some of the knickknacks on the way out. I’ve never seen a troll with glasses; perhaps centuries of squinting through windows have marred his vision. If so, serves him right.
I just paused to read my 2019 winter solstice entry; it had such hopes of the new year. The Stoics made a distinction between ‘stupid hope’ and the type of hope that is resiliency. I am not feeling jolly good about 2021. Bad things will no doubt happen and they may be things as shocking/surprising as the ones in 2020. All the same, with resiliency we will persevere as we did this year and every year.
38 comments
December 21, 2020 at 1:09 AM
Mistress Borghese
If he peeps in my windows, he better be prepared for what he may see or witness!!!
I’m looking forward to winter. Once I get back from home I’m taking a nice blog break and un-plugging from things why it’s quiet. Even the BCSPCA is quiet.
December 21, 2020 at 6:40 AM
Urspo
that sounds quite sensible and soothing (although I shall miss you)
January is a good month for hibernation and keeping mum.
December 21, 2020 at 2:36 AM
Raybeard
Window peeper notwithstanding, it’ll be so good to see the back of 2020, a true stinker of a year in so many areas. Next year can’t help but be better, can it? (CAN it?)
December 21, 2020 at 6:41 AM
Urspo
We shall see. Meanwhile we prepare mentally and physically for the possibilities.
December 21, 2020 at 4:38 AM
David Godfrey
A little more light into each and everyday, I hope the peeper sees something entertaining,
December 21, 2020 at 6:41 AM
Urspo
Not as my house I’m afraid unless he finds ironing amusing.
December 21, 2020 at 4:43 AM
Pipistrello
When scrounging for some spare Xmas stamps to send a couple of extra cards, in the cupboard I found an unsent card from last year with the usual breezy and glibly optimistic hopes for All Good Things for 2020 and it suddenly dawned on me that for all the billions of similar wishes made at precisely the same time last year, it made not a jot of difference to this year’s destiny. Stuff will no doubt happen in the next and things will pass, and so it goes.
The Window Peeper can give my place a wide berth, thank you very much. A touch of home burglary would just be the icing on the cake for the year that was. I’ll stick with the gross habits of trolls in my kitchen. Just need to remember to wash everything before it gets used!
December 21, 2020 at 6:43 AM
Urspo
There are only a few more Yule Lads to come down from the mountains. It looks like a few will be back in the kitchen so keep your eyes open and the utensil drawer closed.
December 21, 2020 at 5:16 AM
Parnassus
I swear that most of the photos of the Yule Lads have not been appearing. Earlier this year I applied thick black plastic sheets over my windows* (my bedroom is almost all windows, and some go to ceiling level), so Gluggagægir will not see much if he tries to peek in.
–Jim
*It actually looks good with the aluminum frames, kind of Mid-Century Retro.
December 21, 2020 at 6:44 AM
Urspo
I am sorry the photos are not coming through – do you mean the ones I took of my own ornaments, or the ones I found on the internet?
December 21, 2020 at 8:02 AM
Parnassus
Hi again, The internet-derived photos all seemed to transmit intact, but I am sure that not even half of your ornament photos did likewise. I just checked all of them to date (a favor I would do only for the Great Urspo) and most of the ornaments are showing now, except for #6 and #8. Perhaps you can check those on a computer other than the one you used to write the posts (which might keep them in memory), and see what shows up.
–Jim
December 21, 2020 at 6:41 AM
Lori
I too will be lighting candles and reflecting on things. Happy Winter Solstice to you.
December 21, 2020 at 6:44 AM
Urspo
I shall think of you as I light my Solstice candle
December 21, 2020 at 6:42 AM
rjjs8878
Happy solstice!
December 21, 2020 at 6:44 AM
Urspo
And to you my remarkable friend
December 21, 2020 at 6:50 AM
anne marie in philly
#10 is a perv! be the light!
December 21, 2020 at 6:58 AM
Urspo
I suspect in the original tales Mr. WP was looking for naughty children to grab and drag back to the mountains for consumption. Nowadays he is looking to see if the coast is clear to put candy in the Keds – or wallets and cellphones to pinch.
December 21, 2020 at 7:02 AM
Debra She Who Seeks
Well, if you’re going to around peeping in windows, I guess the best time to do it is the longest night of the year.
December 21, 2020 at 7:29 AM
Urspo
I had not thought of that but this makes good sense. It is in the night where we fear the most ‘something is out there”
December 21, 2020 at 7:05 AM
Old Lurker
Gluggagægir may not have the most glamorous job, but it is an important one. Candy isn’t cheap. If these Lads are going to leave sweets in the shoes of children for 13 days straight they have to finance all that candy somehow, and gobbling Skyr is not going to cut it. If you find something missing today you should scour the Icelandic pawn shops.
December 21, 2020 at 7:30 AM
Urspo
I had not thought of that either. Where do they get the sweets? Maybe it is like Santa Claus viz. how does he get all the resources to make all those toys. Best not to think to much on these matters.
December 21, 2020 at 7:12 AM
Bob Slatten
Here’s to a brighter 2021!
December 21, 2020 at 7:31 AM
Urspo
Let us hope so my chum!
December 21, 2020 at 8:29 AM
Sam
Not sure I like the peer elf-creeps me out more than the thieving ones. With the solstice, the light will follow. May it be so for 2021.
December 21, 2020 at 8:44 AM
Urspo
Let us hope so!
December 21, 2020 at 8:32 AM
mcpersonalspace54
Thank you for this post. It allowed me to do some reflection and thinking. I think 2021 will be the year of resiliency.
December 21, 2020 at 8:45 AM
Urspo
Resiliency is the key word for 2021 – and every year. Good luck to you my dear friend.
December 21, 2020 at 9:04 AM
Frogdancer Jones
Summer solstice here – it’s been pouring with rain all day.
Looks like Christmas Day will be a bit chilly – only 19C/48F.
😦
December 21, 2020 at 9:31 AM
Urspo
Happy December solstice to thems down under!
December 21, 2020 at 9:08 AM
Fit Studs
Love, love, looove this time of the year! 🙂
December 21, 2020 at 9:32 AM
Urspo
So do I
I never feels jolly or in need to celebrate the summer solstice.
December 21, 2020 at 2:59 PM
Brian Dean Powers
His theme song?
December 21, 2020 at 3:43 PM
Urspo
Groovy !
December 21, 2020 at 4:55 PM
Linda Practical Parsimony
I love the winter solstice because from tomorrow forward there will be more light, albeit, little by little! It is my favorite day of the year.
December 21, 2020 at 7:27 PM
Urspo
When you live in Arizona the return of the light is not a jolly event. it means the heat comes with it. In contrast I love the solstice.
December 21, 2020 at 5:20 PM
glen
Happy Solstice to you!! Thanks for your thoughtful message. Wishing you lots of light and a healthier new year. Thankful for your blog….it is a daily read and inspiration.
December 21, 2020 at 7:27 PM
Urspo
thank you Glen; that is the nicest thing I received/happend to me all day.
December 21, 2020 at 8:37 PM
larrymuffin
Thank you for these nice end of year thoughts. I am hopeful 2021 will be a better year and if we cannot beat this virus at least control it with vaccination.
Wishing you a better and healthier year.