You are currently browsing the daily archive for December 31, 2025.
What’s top of my mind: The new year. Janus-like I look back on the old year and look forward to the new. 2025 had some lows and highs: it was a sad year for deaths and losses but a good for finances. I know many people who think 2025 was overall a stinker, what with national and world events, but they have hope 2026 will be better. Perhaps The Felon will finally take one outrageous and/or corrupt step too far and finally fall. Who can foresee these things really. I hope 2026 sees a lot of house projects and travels.
Where I’ve been: The gym. Now that I am over the flu and Christmas is passed, I am regularly back at the gym. I get a little peeved when I cannot work out – does this make me a bona fide gym rat I wonder? Thems who go regularly to the gym we chit-chat a bit between reps. We are in agreement the relatively empty building will see a full house come January. This happens every year as resolutions are made but by mid-February it has dissipated back to the regulars, again.
Where I’m going: Nowhere tonight that’s for sure. It is custom at year’s end for Urs Truly to go to Michigan (Land of Perpetual Snow and Ice)to housesit while Brother #3 and family can have a vacation. I spend my New Year’s Eves care-taking Father. He died in January, so for the first time in years I am at home. What does one do on New Year’s Eve I wonder? An ongoing survey of friends and peers all tell me they do nothing. Even SIL#2 whose birthday it is never goes out the feast day of her nativity, ‘not in all of that nonsense’, she states, and I don’t blame her. I guess I will watch the ball drop in Times Square, 10PM local time, and call it the new year, and go to bed – only to be rudely awaken at local midnight but fools shooting off their guns.
What are you doing this evening?
What I’m watching: Cooking tips and hacks on The Tube of Yous. There are no lack of chefs and know-it-alls online who will tell you the best way to cook an egg or make pasta or slice vegetables. What I like are the hacks and tips on kitchen skills. For example, some great expert suggested I take purchased herbs, wrap them in paper towel that is slightly dampened, and place them in a plastic ziplock bag before placing them in the fridge; this is on the grounds they will keep better. I’ve tried this and it seems better than just putting them in the vegetable drawer.
What I’m reading: ‘I am half-sick of shadows’ and my2025 Journal. I am not a great murder mystery fan, but a friend introduced me to the ‘Flavia de Luce series’ and I on the fourth book. She is a precocious little girl living in post WWII England with her reclusive father and two older sisters who make Cinderella’s stepsisters seem charming. Flavia solves murders and crimes using her keen sense of observation and knowledge of chemistry – particularly poisons. Jolly good fun!
I will also read my 2025 journal to remember what happened. What I remember most are the losses. This year I lost my father, a friend, my godfather, my dog, and soon my boss. I hope the journal reminds me there were good things too.
What I’m listening to: Several new podcasts. I don’t know what is worse: my accumulation of books to read or podcasts to hear. Both piles grow larger all the time and there are not enough hours in the day to do them all. May I suggest?…..
Doomsday: history’s most dangerous podcast. Clever man gives histories of forgotten disasters and how they came to happen and their aftermath. He adds advice on what you can do if you should be so unfortunate to be in one of them.
The infinite monkey cage. From the BBC, a science show where a scientist and a comedian invite professors to talk about a science matter. It’s a great way to learn about things as the science is mingled with British wit. Eric Idle sings the theme song.
Merriam-Webster’s word of the day. A must-hear every morning while driving to work to learn the origin of a word and how to use it.
Story time for grownups. Faith Moore does a great job reading novels chapter by chapter. The shows start with a summary of last episode’s chapter, then she reads and responds to listener emails on the what’s going on. She soon starts “David Copperfield” and Urs Truly is quite excited.
Do you have any podcasts to recommend?
What I’m eating: Black-eyed peas. Someone says black-eyed peas must be eaten on 1 January; do not dare to question this. This year he’s being clever by making a chili, substituting the kidney beans with black-eyed peas. We are more likely to eat the lot this way, rather than just the spoonful ‘no thank you’ helping with the rest going to waste.
Do you eat black-eyed peas on New Years Day?
Who needs a good slap: The cat outside the PHX office. The Yule Cat (as I have christened it) regularly comes by the PHX office and wants in, particularly to sit on my lap as I work. It’s a playful thing but it bit me rather badly the other day, not in anger but in play. All the same this drew blood and my hand is still painful.
On a scale of 1-5, I give Jólakötturinn one slap.
Who gets a fist-bump: Spo-fans. Whether you be near or far; man or woman, well over or under four feet: you are all dears for stopping by to read my scribbles. Every writer wants their scribbles read. It gives me a shot of oxytocin to read each comment. Thank you. Come with me into my twentieth year of blogging why dontcha.
What I’m planning: Resolutions. Every year Urs Truly makes a handful of resolutions and in his defense he makes most of them.* A podcast pundit suggests not making resolutions but giving the new year a ‘theme’, such as ‘this is the year to get things done’. It is not a bad approach. I think I do better with scheduled things and times to do them in. To be determined.
What’s making me smile: Lisa Czanko. In college my mother’s best friend was Judy, a sorority sister of hers. They kept in touch and their families would get together from time to time. Mr. and Mrs. Czanko had two children, Lou and Lisa. The Czankos had a Boston Terrier named Miggs. I had never seen this breed before and I thought the name Miggs hilarious. This was decades ago. Lisa Czanko recently found me via The Book of Faces to tell me her mother had died and she heard my mother had died as well. I told her to this day whenever I see a Boston Terrier I still call them “Miggs dogs”. She got a kick out of this; she still has Boston Terriers. We think our late mothers would be pleased as Punch to know we will keep in touch from now.
MIGGS Dog
*For thems interested in how I did, here’s the list:
Resist the urge to hurry. MET 😊
Do some sort of exercise more days than not. I did 2/3 days. MET 😊
This one is kept blank lest family is reading. MET 😊
Read thirty books. MET 😊
Regular stretching and core strengthening exercises. MET 😊
Stop shrugging my left shoulder. NOT MET 😦
No phone by the bed side. NOT EVEN CLOSE MET. 😦
Spo-Reflections 