Christmas Season 2025/2026 -The Eighth Day of Christmas: New Year's Day

 Thursday, January 1, 2026

Happy New Year. I gave up a long time ago saying the new year couldn't possibly worse than the last one. Maybe someday I'll be pleasantly surprised. I guess I could say the silver lining to 2025 is that I along with millions of other Americans started to push back against bullshit in a way we hadn't before. I'm planning on more of that for 2026. 

Read a version of The Night Before Christmas from my childhood. The illustrations are charming. The verse is lilting and rhythmic and its familiarity is comforting. 

Still not well enough to visit Mom in the hospital. Dale said she was feeling and looking much better. They'll be getting the ball rolling soon to get her set up for a transitional care unit. Looks like she won't be discharged until Sunday. We'll know more soon. 

Christmastide 2021/2022 - 2nd Day of Christmas: Books of the Day

Sunday, December 26, 2021

Pulled a couple of old favorites off the shelf today. One was 'Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore which I've heard just about every year since I was born. The poem is also known as "A Visit from St. Nicholas" and "The Night Before Christmas." It was originally published anonymously as "Account of A Visit from St. Nicholas" in 1823. Clement C. Moore is said to have claimed authorship in 1837. The poem is often credited as responsible for the modern conception of Santa Claus in the United States and much of the world. The edition I read today is a reproduction of the version with illustrations by Jessie Willcox Smith which appeared in 1912. I obtained my copy of this rendition at the gift shop from the Alexander Ramsey House in St. Paul. Noel and I took a tour of the house of the former Minnesota politician two or three years ago. 

The second book I revisited is Santa Mouse by Michael Brown with illustrations by Elfrieda de Witt. This story didn't appear until a 146 years after 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. I had this book as a little boy and reading it now brings back early Christmas memories of me in my room at the house on Stevens at Christmas time. It's about a lonely little mouse who befriends Santa Claus after selflessly giving a gift to the jolly old elf. My original copy of the book is long gone but about 20 years ago I spotted a copy at Barnes & Noble and snapped it up for the sake of nostalgia. One of my favorites. 

Christmas Season 2014/2015 - More Christmas Picture Books

Spent a little time today looking at some Christmas picture books I've encountered over the years. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1957), The Night Before Christmas (1949)and Santa Mouse (1966) were read to Sam, Pete, and me by Mom years ago. The Polar Express (1985) was a books I encountered in my early teaching years. It brought back a lot of nice memories to look through them today. It also helped ease me into accepting the end of a wonderful Christmas vacation. I start back to school tomorrow.

Top left: The Polar Express by Chris van Allsburg

Top right: Santa Mouse by Michael Brown, Illustrated by Elfrieda de Witt

Bottom left: The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore, Illustrated by Leonard Weisgard

Bottom Right: How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss