From Marvin Martian & Commander K: This week we observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a time that calls us to reflect on something greater than ourselves…. Thus, our topic “A Higher Calling.” Imagine a postmarked letter as a catalyst: open it, read between its lines, and allow your thoughts to wander freely. Come join us at Blogophilia, the place for blogging, fun and friendship for 17 years!
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Prayer for Serenity
In times going downhill, we need A Higher Calling but it seems people are going in different directions on this. I’d like a postmarked letter detailing how everything will be fine, but, it’ not that easy. One who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as one who helps to perpetrate it. One who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.Martin Luther King, Jr.
Marvin Martian asks: Do you find yourself wanting to nap or sleep more in the wintertime? Do you have colorful dreams or chilling nightmares? This week, let’s explore your experiences when “Mr. Sandman” pays you a visit. Join us at Blogophilia, for blogging, fun and friendship for 17 years!
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Hard Bonus: Use each of these words: peak, peek & pique Easy Bonus: Include yarn or something made with yarn
Sleeping Wisely
Waking hours of the morning always come too early, especially when Mr. Sandman skips your house regularly… At the peak of exhaustion, ready to say eidelweiss but no, my mind piques and every neuron fires… Who let the dogs out, anyway? La La Land is more like Alice in Wonderlandpeeking from my dreams than the other way around. Crocheted hats & scarves are the best.
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Hard Bonus: Incorporate a song title by Yanni Easy Bonus: Include crystals
Winter of 78/79
Winter in Wisconsin usually has a White Abundance of snow. We’ve had warmer winters, but this one is particularly abnormal, with things melting. Snow crystals can be quite beautiful as they fall, adding an extra layer of quiet. Before the Night Ends, remembering the good times… (DVD by Yanni)
From the House of Marvin Martian: Greetings, Dear Earthlings and Fellow Blogophilians!! WELCOME to SEASON 3 of Year 17 in Blogophilia. It’s Week 27.17 and we are also ushering in 2026!
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Hard Bonus: Quote Aristophanes, an ancient Greek comic Easy Bonus: Mention hors d’oeuvres
With 3 days left to the year, we have the choice to procrastinate these last ones, or just go for the New Day, New Way. Sometimes I put off for next week, what I should have done last week. I often regret that, but try to remember the years I was up & go, go, go.
My personal 2025 wrap up:
Hoping my new PCP will take me serious & able to put the correct diagnoses, so insurance isn’t denying stuff for wrong parts getting treated. He’s internal medicine, but he’s dealt with patients with several ailments, many which I have, even though I have a few not on his list.
Going back to my previous pulmonologist now that his nurse went to a different facility (where my current one is, and don’t want to deal with her, in case she’s now in that department). My son has him now.
Getting a new rheumatologist, now that my son is established, I think it helps that we have the same specialist for our immune disorders, even if different.
I’m back with my ortho, now that my left shoulder is bad, and need to go to PT/OT 1st before I can move on to MRI & possible surgery.
I have an interventional pain management doctor, who is a dear. But the pain levels in my back might be beyond what he’s capable of, since it’s definitely worse. So are my knees.
My PCP has access to other pain management doctors, so hopefully they’ll be able to refer me to the right people, even if it means neuro/spine surgery.
My cardiologist has me in for once a year, unless I have an issue, then can come back sooner.
Endocrinology appointments are still quarterly until my A1c is stabilized, which might not until pain levels are down enough to be able to exercise, even if just walking.
Not looking forward to it, but if I get surgery on my shoulder, will have to go back to the podiatrist. OT is making it hard…
I played most of the summer with the Kenosha Pops Band, and able to play a couple of times with the Racine Concert Band. Please consider donating to keep free local music going. Both are entering 104th year of quality music brought to their respective communities.
UW-Parkside has an excellent music program for their students & community members who just want to play music. I’ve been active with the Community Band and it looks like I might be on the injury list again… Boo.
My son has health issues, so he’s been going to almost as many doctor’s appointments as I have, with specialists, infusions, and more. While he’s not energetic enough to work a restaurant job that he’d like, he’s the main cook at home, and hopes to get a virtual job.
My husband had spine surgery, is still on the mend, and is going to get his IT certifications so when he’s done, he can get a much better job. for now, the positions he’s qualified for is outside of his physical capacity.
After decades of trying to find a regular job I can do, while also keeping up with my appointments, seems to be moot; I’m trying to reinvent myself as a gig worker. Wish me luck… So far it’s just pocket money, not bill money. It could happen…
I’m still an advocate for one agency, and still writing my elected officials about a lot of things… I guess I’m a troublemaker, and I think some of them don’t take me seriously anymore. I’m still pestering them.
My 18 year old cat is ailing, and we're just trying to make her last days count as much as we can.
“Look at the orators in our republics; as long as they are poor, both state and people can only praise their uprightness; but once they are fattened on the public funds, they conceive a hatred for justice, plan intrigues against the people and attack the democracy” (Assemblywomen 206-208). Aristophanes
*sigh* I did an eggroll fundraiser for myself. Half of the people didn’t respond about their orders, so I’m hoping… So, for dinner tonight, hors d’oeuvres. Can I just say appetizers instead? Anyway, it’s eggrolls… Seafood mix with veggies & veggie to sell, leftover pork from a previous time, plus a sampling of what we made to sell for dinner tonight.
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Hard Bonus: Incorporate a gift or gifts that have special meaning to you or someone you care about Easy Bonus: Mention a Christmas or holiday cookie
Catmas Present
Aside from having a warm house to live in, Christmas Comforts (or any holiday comfort) include having good food to eat, especially when it’s cold out, to be able to serve hot meals to warm the body & soul. We can’t do surf & turf, but we can make do with what we have. Holiday meals include cooking the traditional foods on the eve, because that’s when people come over, and then something not so traditional for us, to make it a real treat. Things like tempura, lasagna, shish kabob, sukiyaki, things like that. We only buy things on sale, but figure out ways to make it happen. I guess I’m simple about cookies. Everyone loves chocolate chip & peanut butter cookies, which are great any time of year. Maybe do peanut blossoms to be fancy, but a simple butter cookie (with M&Ms on top) is a real treat since we don’t make them.
Of course, we have our cat, who is elderly & 18, so we’re fortunate to still have her. I think the other cats from her litter are over the rainbow bridge. A nice gift was from my son, who bought me a heart necklace & earrings when his school had a sale, and the kids got to pick things out for others. I’d let him know that he can pick out something for his dad, teacher & assistant, but I was the one he bought for in 2nd grade. I haven’t worn them yet, but I’ll have to at least do the necklace since my ears closed up for the earrings.
Happy Hanukkah, Kwanza, Winter Solstice, Shab-e Yalda, Maidyarem Gahambar, Bodhi Day, Vaikuntha Ekadashi, and more! Stay warm, healthy & at peace with yourself.
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Marvin Martian says: We just want to take this opportunity to thank ALL of our Blogophilian friends for joining in the challenges each week! WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU SO MUCH! And to former Blogo writers, we sincerely invite ALL of you to return to Blogophilia and write with us again – we miss reading your amazing writes. Remember that it’s never too late to start writing again!! I’d like to add that new writers are also welcome to start.
Hard Bonus: Incorporate a lyric from The Verve Easy Bonus: Include snowfall
Snowball Camp
Marshmallows roast over an open fire in the snow… I hope the snowmen don’t melt; it’s a Winter Symphony out there. As the snowfall dampens the sounds into a mesmerizing visual meditation, the snow crunches under our feet. Lookin’ back on my life – You know that all I see – Are things I could of changed – I should have done. This Time ( 1997 Urban Hymns album, The Verve) let’s persevere together.
In case you need a reason to celebrate something… Because you can:
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Hard Bonus: Include a song title or lyric from The Spinners Easy Bonus: Incorporate a formula (the word or any type of formula)
Healing Circle
Many things Speak To My Soul. I wish I could say, “Some day, We’ll put it together and we’ll get it all done” (The Spinners: Ooh, Child 2nd Time Around album), but everything seems bleak, even during the holidays. We are the sum of our entire experiences, not just what we do, give, or receive. My grandfather’s formula on life included these: 1) Be positive. 2) Just keep smiling, and everything will be just fine. I always say that being positive is in my blood (I’m B+), though I think being from The Greatest Generation, he saw the economy crash, WWII break out, and saw the economic boom happen… When I became an adult, the economy never quite recovered from the recession from when the Millennials were being born, and I’ve watched it all go downhill since then… Maybe being Gen X, I’m part of a jilted generation. I never quite found my niche in societal expectations for people my age. At this point, to keep trying is insanity, so I’m taking a page out of theirs & Gen Z to get into gig work. So far, that seems to have a better outcome for the efforts I’ve put out so far.
Mark your calendars for A KENOSHA POPS CHRISTMAS: Saturday, December 13 – 7:00 pm – Siebert Chapel – Carthage College.
Please note: the concert will NOT be live-streamed this year.
Join us for this beloved holiday tradition since 2002. A great way to usher in the holidays with the entire family.
Stay tuned for more updates. In the meantime, please check out my creative page, Personal Sewing Services, either on Facebook or on Nextdoor. Not only can I make something for you, I can do hemming, fixing some things, and more. I also write resumes that get seen. Or I can provide a quiet music show in the corner of your office or home party, and lessons to beginners through intermediate on clarinet, beginner to intermediate on saxophone, beginner flute.
