🎶Back to work / Back to reality🎶 I’m only about 80% healed, but I’m not sure I can afford to miss any more days. Besides, the fever fog has finally lifted!

Goodbye, Bela Tarr.

I’m home sick, so no poem today.

I was raised a good little evangelical Republican. When I was in high school and read about Reagan’s immoral acts in South America, I changed. These were not actions my God approved. I hope there are MAGA teens right now having the same awakening.

America does not want to wage war or to steal the oil from Venezuela. We demand Congress and courts stand up to our President acting as the sole power in our government.

To no one’s surprise, Richard Grenell’s interview on PBS Newshour proves him a loud, obnoxious, Trump wannabe moron. He patronizes, lies, doesn’t answer questions, and loves ad hominem attacks. Throw this guy in the garbage. He’ll be at home. The Kennedy Center’s now a joke, a bad one.

“Last week You swallowed my lower lip And swore me little more than chocolate, A major, if occasional, indulgence.” thepoetryshack.blogspot.com/2026/01/choc... #poet #poetry

To prove my unfathomable shallowness, I will again use this important occasion to make this vital statement. Congratulations, New York City! You now have the hottest First Lady of any place in history.

Let’s hear it for the bizarre oddity of the one-day work week! (I mean, I did work Monday through Wednesday, but today definitely seems a different week (year?) from that silliness…)

There must be loads of resolutions forged this new year, because there suddenly are so many more promising people on the dating apps today.

My poem from one year ago today (because why the hell not?)… Convalescing Shot down Sleepless, Dreary caring for the reasons Lathered lips have fled, Weary staring down the demons Gathered round my bed. The ceiling tells no secrets. How long can helpless fools Long? - 12/31/24

“Midnight's a digital glow of changing numbers, Strangers on the television kissing To loud music by the bands once famous…” thepoetryshack.blogspot.com/2025/12/1231... #poet #poetry #newyearseve

Here a novel idea, let’s let the survivors redact the Epstein files.

“You have a way of breathing in my name, Exhaling me until I settle Burning on my tangled chest. I'm heavy on the earth…” thepoetryshack.blogspot.com/2025/12/jimm... #poet #poetry

How did I only tonight learn of Trader Joe’s divine Bomba sauce?

Hey, “President of Peace!” We do not want a war with Venezuela!

“I have cast my brightest leaves Across the blasted land. My broken bark and battered limbs - The birds won't come To sing so sweetly Anymore.” thepoetryshack.blogspot.com/2025/12/late... #poet #poetry

Back to work! 😀

It nearly hit 60 today, and there are so many women wearing winter sweaters. I’m not saying a word.

Okay, the movie’s coming out soon. I guess I should try to dash through Wuthering Heights.

Despite the holidays, I still managed to do my laundry Wednesday and my grocery shopping today. I’ll be trying out my air fryer for the first time this week. Wish me luck! 🤞🏻

Christian Churches December 26 “How was Christmas? Is everybody happy? Great! Sit down. Today is the festival of St Stephen, and we’re going to celebrate his life and talk all about his grisly, horrific death. Tabitha, you might want to put down your doll and grab that box of tissues, dear.”

There may well only be one film this century living up to the holiday classics from the last. Leave it to the Wallace and Gromit folks…

You’re a hardcore film lover when one of your favorite Christmas movies is The Dead.

Okay, I stayed up till 1:30 to watch my first holiday specials, A Charlie Brown Christmas and the real Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! from 1966. The Christmas season can now officially begin. I’ll tackle some movies tomorrow…

Dear You-Know-Who-You-Are, I’ve been elected spokesperson by the rest of the entire world to deliver you this important holiday message. We no longer care if Die Hard is a Christmas movie or not, and we sure as fuck don’t want to hear a list of all your reasons either way. Season’s greetings.

I don’t visit businesses on Christmas Eve or Christmas, so on a whim, I treated myself to a nice dinner last night. I walked there, and it’s oddly warm, so I hit the restroom to throw a little cold water in my face. It was there, in that restroom, ladies and gentlemen, I was finally Whammed.

Whenever an old guy says, “This is something most people don’t know,” there a 30% you’re going to get some rare wisdom or knowledge and a 70% chance he’s about to spew some conspiracy bullshit.

“I sacrifice my life an empty vessel For You to fill it merely halfway up. He spends more time inside his lustful women Than a church.” thepoetryshack.blogspot.com/2025/12/anto... #poet #poetry

“Chapping lips and flushing cheeks, We knew it'd never last forever, But we, breathless, kissed as if The gods awarded a stay, Loving under avalanches.” thepoetryshack.blogspot.com/2025/12/stat... #poet #poetry

Tonight, I had my first experience with BJ’s. It’s a restaurant, but yeah, I giggled, too. (It was pretty bad.)

I realized today my memory conflated Say What? with The Rap’Sures. If this means anything to you, we had the same childhood. (but it doesn’t)

I get the feeling they don’t spend much time on spelling at Lander University…

I’ve been thanked in the foreword of two published books. Both times, my name was printed wrong.

“She fell sick at sixty-six, A couple of seasons After finally discovering the one.” thepoetryshack.blogspot.com/2025/12/temp... #poet #poetry

I find it hilarious that there are three major film releases this weekend, Avatar: Fire and Ash, The Housemaid, and… The SpongeBob Movie, which has the highest Metascore of the lot.

My friend who does security at work informed me my shoes mean I’m in a gang. When I doubted, she asked three women exiting the building. They confirmed. Yup. I’m gangsta.

Democrats’ greatest enemy is all too often the DNC. The DNC defends the DNC machinery at any price… …even the Presidency. That’s exactly what happened last election. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/u...

“You loved me shoving you On top the tire swing, Your feet stampeding clouds On days of summer weather. I loved the way the broken leaves Would nest about your sweater A season later. You hadn't a clue.” thepoetryshack.blogspot.com/2025/12/tree... #poet #poetry

My Scorching Hot Take of the Night Chris Columbus never directed a good movie.

Today my new work crush stopped being my work crush. I’m now flush out of crushes, which is a bummer. Life’s awfully grey without a crush. 😔

“This heater will kick in soon. I see outside as I see life and god, So little And enough.” thepoetryshack.blogspot.com/2025/12/cocy... #poet #poetry

The majority of me believes it is Friday. This week is driving in the direction of dire disappointment.

Lisa Desjardins is a cold stone monarch.

“It's a starry night But not one by Van Gough. The stars are crisp and calmly sharp Inside the black and coldest air.” thepoetryshack.blogspot.com/2025/12/star... #poet #poetry

One of my favorite Christmas movie trivia questions is, who directed Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas?

“We once were making love, But now we shipped those jobs to India.” thepoetryshack.blogspot.com/2025/12/gemi... #poet #poetry

Too much terrible news this weekend. That’s it, world. We’ve hit our limits for the year. Put your knives, guns, and hatred away.

Everybody here logged on to Netflix this weekend to watch Wake Up Dead Man, and I’m the only weirdo who watched Jay Kelly.

As somebody whose list of favorite films includes the brilliant Broadcast News, I want Ella McCay to be amazing. Is it truly that bad?