#NewThisDay Writing From My Photo Stream

Candle in snow

“It’s got all bulletproof glass, it’s got all drone — they call it drone-free roof, so drones won’t touch it. It’s a big, beautiful, safe building.” Donald Trump, quoted Dec. 30, 2025, Trump: New White House ballroom will have ‘drone-free roof’ by Ryan Mancini, The Hill

Overtired still. No ski. Out the door early for an appointment in Needham. It’s good to have a day off. Still cranky. But a good and positive day at appointments and errands. Such a bright blue sky. Sunglasses on. I also had poetry workshop from my car which went fine. Home late afternoon, a nap, some work online. I was pleased to get a last-minute invite to read at Black Fork Review’s AWP offsite reading on Wednesday night in Baltimore, where I head on Wednesday via train with my friend Jenny. I also am reading at Tupelo Press offsite reading on Thursday. It will be a very busy few days. As many of us are I am very worried and preoccupied and fiercely angry about the war in the Middle East started by a man who is preoccupied with the construction of his ballroom in the people’s house. I’m furious. I’m outraged. I’m sick to my stomach at the clowns. Oh dear, I don’t want to rant in my blog. My blog is not for ranting. How can I not rant? My son visited tonight as Frank and I had retired upstairs. He told us about a group he just ran online for Red Cross volunteers. It was a forest bathing retreat online! One of the things he did was have a candle in snow. I was intrigued. I fashioned my own candle in snow. Then Wave came in and asked if I had energy for fighting dinosaurs. Which I did not. But I said yes, because, of course. It’s the kind of war that feeds my spirit even if my body is tired. My adorable grandson, cheering me up. He agreed to look at the outfits for the wedding that Franci and I had picked out for him to try on. “Okay,” he said. “I’ll wear that.” Now if we can just get him to actually try them on!