Trying to stay in HappyLand over here

Yesterday was — I don’t know — a challenge?

I don’t want to say it was a bad day. But I’m hoping today will be better.

Things with my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man were quite beautiful, but he is still declining. But he is making such an amazing effort to communicate with me. Things he wants me to know before he “goes upstairs”. It is such an incredible spiritual gift.

Today, I have decided to ask him if I can have his Bible. He doesn’t read it anymore but he cherishes it. It was given to him by a friend of his in NYC — his mechanic, actually — back in October of 1951.

I feel 100% absolutely certain that his family will simply throw it away when the time comes. And that would break my heart. So I’ll see what he says. But I want to make sure he understands that I want to take it and not bring it back.

Meanwhile — our sashimi and sake went splendidly yesterday. And here were our fortunes. The top one was his — and he read it and nodded his head, and said, “Yes.” (Mine, below that, was sort of the story of my life.)

**************

Okay.

So the New Testament Conference began last evening — this year’s topic is the Historical Jesus. And as you know I have been really looking forward to it, since that is probably my most favorite topic of all time.

But I was so disappointed in last night’s opening speaker — Elaine Pagles, whom I usually love. I just felt like her presentation was about the theological Jesus — known as Jesus Christ — and not about the historical Jesus at all (Jesus of Nazareth). I found it so frustrating.

I was actually even a little depressed when it was over because my hopes had been so high.

Today’s speakers are happening primarily during my shift, so I won’t be able to access the replay until they release it in a couple of days.

And the same goes for tomorrow — James Tabor’s presentation will be during my shift with the retired Minister and his wife.

But on we go.

***********

I was also really frustrated with Phil’s livestream last night.

I’m reasonably sure he’s still doing this on purpose– because of new followers, people who are just starting to wake up to what’s really going on out there in the world. And he probably doesn’t want to scare them off.

But I just find it so frustrating. I miss the days when he could just come out and say stuff.

However, if you missed it, here is the replay.

***********

And Here’s this!

From this morning, when I was having my coffee in bed — and this doesn’t count Saffie, who was at my left shoulder, and Cuddles, who was at my right shoulder (those are my legs down in the middle of all that):

*************

If you want to contribute to a fundraiser for BigCityLit Magazine in NYC, you can visit here:

“The eclectic online literary journal BigCityLit has been publishing outstanding poetry, short fiction, and creative nonfiction from a diverse community since 2000. The founders, Nick Johnson and Maureen Holm, had carried the entire financial responsibility of keeping the journal afloat. Now that they are both gone, we are appealing for renewed support.

With the money you donate, the editors will be able to pay for webmaster fees, domain renewals, web hosting, and the maintenance of the website….”

************

And I think that’s it for today.

I’m hoping to get some work done on the novel tomorrow, before heading out to my shift with the retired Minister and his wife.

Even a paragraph would be nice, since it’s a new chapter and I’m almost at the end of the novel. So a paragraph would at least give me a sense of where it’s going. Well, I know where it’s going, I just don’t know yet exactly how I’m going to get there!

But as of now, I have 3 days off this coming week. So I hope to take full advantage of that and be planted at my desk.

**********

And that’s it for now.

Enjoy your Saturday, wherever you are in the world.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

**********

I leave you with this!

I decided to play the playlist of songs I was listening to in 2022!!

Quite eclectic, I must say!!

I’ve decided to post the Top 3 songs I was listening to that year, because they could not be more different from one another. But I love ALL of these songs, still! Enjoy, gang.

At the top of the playlist!!!

“Fleeting Love” 2008, from B-Sides & Rarities Part II (2021), Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds: