To All My Friends, Democrats and Republicans, Greetings!

To All My Democratic Friends:

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2008, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere. Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee.

To All My Republican Friends:

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Seize The Day!
-StrongJoy

Back Again!

Well...I'm back! It HAS been quite awhile, I admit, but it's the holiday season and no one is spending much time on the computer lately. I probably won't be posting again until after New Year's Day. I will be sleeping late that day because the day before we will be having our annual LORD OF THE RINGS marathon, watching the extended versions of all the movies. It should last about 12 hours. Can't wait : ) Currently, we are reading through the books again as a family. Am I happy? Need you ask? Happy Christmas everyone, and a Merry New Year!

Here are some photos we took last week while on a trip. This one is just a really nice shot of the sun behind the Mediterranean sea.


This one was taken on the plane. Those are genuine clouds - that's what I love about airplanes - watching the clouds so far below...

Here's another one taken on the plane, though the plane was a wee bit lopsided when it was taken. For some reason, it reminds me of C.S. Lewis' "Perelandra." I think that's sort of how I imagine the face of that planet to look.

Seize The Day!
-StrongJoy

SONNET I

Well, speaking of sonnets I wrote my first one yesterday:) I was just playing with the words but I decided that I liked it. It's for Una from Spenser's "Faerie Queene." If you've read the "Faerie Queene," you'll notice that it's supposed to have been written by the Redcrosse Knight. If you haven't read the "Faerie Queene," I do recommend it, but let me warn you that it's not the easiest reading...Did you know that it was considered archaic when it was published?

If anyone has any suggestions of things I should change in the poem, please tell me. I'd be happy to consider changing it.

SONNET I
Too long I labored, striving for your plight,
And little thought of you -- but of my name,
Then left my honor and my glory quite
Nor could I face myself for very shame.
I gave up everything that I'd possessed
(But had not known the worth of before then,)
And threw away, unknowing, my heart's quest,
And left myself for dead, the grave within.
Yet when I thought I'd nothing left in life,
And vowed to make a harsh and timely end,
You came and snatched away the cursed knife,
And rescued there the heart that I would rend.
So, in my darkest hour and deadliest place,
You turned my head towards the Amazing Grace.
-B.J.J aka StrongJoy

Note: I'm going on vacation tomorrow so I won't be posting for a couple weeks. Auf Wiedersehen....