And even though I have to go back out into it all today, I don’t mind. I had the best Christmas, gang.

Oh, and St. Stephen is my Patron Saint — he’s the Patron Saint of Ministers (deacons, etc.). So this I guess is my day! Yay!

(And yes, I have a minister’s collar just like that one above — I got it when I got my Ministry Degree from Ohio Christian University and then got ordained. But I haven’t worn the shirt in probably 10 years…)

Oh, and I think it is so cool that my birthday falls on the Feast of Mary Magdalene!! But that’s not related to my ministry at all. Just something I love.

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And on a similar note–

Yesterday afternoon, I finally began James Tabor’s new course with Myth Vision, “Christianity Before Paul”.

Wow, what a great course this is going to be, gang! I spent about 2 hours on it yesterday and still have about 30 minutes before I’m done with the first lecture. There are a lot of really great introductory materials in the first lesson. An overview of the Hebrews and Judaism, of Palestine, Israel, Judea, and the Galilee, the various Herods, various Kings and Emperors, Babylonia, Persia, Greece, Rome — from 2000 BCE up to about 400 AD and Constantine and the Council of Nicaea.

Just really great stuff. And that was all stuff you have to read before you start the actual first lecture.

Just so up my alley, gang. I have taken all of James Tabor’s courses so far, and I already know that this one is going to be my favorite, even though it has way more course materials than any of the other courses had, so it’s going to take a while.

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And speaking of hot brunettes having great hair days!!

Rowland S. Howard in 1982:

Along with Nick Cave and Mick Harvey!! (I miss those great hair days!!)

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Okay, so back to Christmas….

I got many “Merry Christmas” texts from friends hither & yon yesterday, and my birth mom called me, and so did Wayne!

He and I had a really nice chat, and he also updated me on his opinion of The Curse of Our Profound Disorder. (My new novel.) He is ALMOST done, finally. He has about 12 more pages to go.

The novel is not that long, it’s just that he has been extremely busy. He works at the Union Club on Park Ave. in NYC, and it has been non-stop crazy-busy there since October.

Anyway. Wayne is still liking the book, but I am very, very curious to find out what he thinks of the ending. So that should be any day now!!

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And I ate a lot yesterday!

Since I didn’t have to cook anything, it was really fun to just keep grazing on all the leftovers in the fridge! (Including ice-cold leftover pizza, which I’m actually quite fond of!)

And I sat in the family room and snuggled on the couch with a couple of sleeping kittens and a bunch of fleece blankets and I watched maybe three reruns of “Poirot” from Season 2 (1990). Another one of my all-time favorite shows.

And then I actually went up to my bed and took a nap, gang. An actual nap!! What a luxury. It felt so great.

But today, it’s back to the regular caregiving schedule.

I’m heading out here soon to my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man’s house. And, YES!! On Friday, I did indeed stop off at the gas station and buy him one of those pre-mixed, single-serve vodka cocktails. A small bottle. (And before I showed him his fantastic gift(!!), I diluted it with water in the kitchen…)

But he was in paradise, gang. He was so happy. His face really lit up when I brought the bottle into the living room, along with a festive cocktail glass!

And I also brought him a little packet of those Pringles Mingles bowties, that I poured into a festive bowl:

Anyway, he really had the best time. Sitting in his recliner and feeling like he was in a private Christmas cocktail lounge or something.

Today, will be a lot more low key, though…

Oh, and I have to tell you about this.

The retired Minister’s wife gave me a Christmas present as I was leaving their house Sunday evening. I unwrapped it yesterday morning.

I knew it was going to be some sort of homemade craft — she is really, really creative and talented. But it absolutely blew me away! It is so cute!! A little stuffed snowman with a stocking cap — made from little Christmas socks. It’s weighted at the bottom, so he sits straight up.

My heart melts every time I look at it. It is just so cute. (I don’t want to post a photo of it because I don’t like to expose the private lives of my clients.) Oh, and she also gave me a handmade Christmas card that was just adorable, too. She is very talented.

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And I ended the evening watching still more reruns of “Mrs. Brown’s Boys” because I am, like, so totally addicted to that show during the holidays.

And then I went off to bed early, to sort of get my head back into work mode.

But it was such a great Christmas. I have not been that relaxed in a really long time.

But now I gotta scoot!

I hope you are enjoying a happy St. Stephen’s Day, wherever you are in the world!!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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I leave you with this!!

My favorite version of this very old song — the song takes place on St. Stephen’s Day!

The Irish Rovers’ version of “Good King Wenceslas”. So fun. Enjoy, gang!!