New Beginnings - 01 January 2022 - Plague Journal Day 660

Micah 6:8
Revelation 21:5-7
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Well, the calendar page has turned from December 2021 to January 2022. What will we make of this new year? It is to be hoped that this year will be very different from last year - I'm voting for more health, freedom, happiness, and Joy. How about you?

Be good, be kind, be smart, be free.

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our insane lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

42 - 31 December 2021 - Plague Journal Day 659

Micah 6:8
Job 12:11-13
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?


Yesterday, December 30 of 2021 marked the end of an era in the Bluegrass music. It saw the final performance of Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver as a touring and recording band. There were 15,576 days between Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver’s very first performance in Buddy’s BBQ in Knoxville, TN on May 10 of 1979, and last evening's performance (headlining day 1 of the 3-day 2021 Jekyll Island New Years Bluegrass Festival). That 15,576 days is forty-two years, seven months and twenty-one days of brilliant music making from one of the finest mandolin stylists, arrangers, and teachers this music has ever seen - Doyle is also one of the finest men you'll ever want to meet. Oh, and he's become quite the snappy dresser lately, having adopted the classic Nudie suits once found in profusion on the Grand Ole Opry.
The Bluegrass, Southern, and Gospel music styles have gained so much from Doyle and his bands over the years that it's hard to see him go, but I certainly wish him all the best as he still contributes - just not from the road all the time. (and who can blame him for wanting to stop touring after well over 42 years?)

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our insane lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

The Day Without A Day - 30 December 2021 - Plague Journal Day 658

Micah 6:8
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Some of you may have followed our posts from the 2009 GPUMC Heritage Tour to England. If so, you may remember that the first real post from there was about The Day That Never Ends (a play on that childhood favourite, "this is the song that never ends, yes it goes on and on, my friends." sorry if it's stuck in your head now). Well to help smooth that canlendrical wrinkle, just about two and a half years later,
Samoa and Tokelau skipped December 30 2011. Yes on this day in history in those islands nothing happened, because the day didn't exist.

"How can that be?" you wonder. Well, Samoa and Tokelau changed their time zone and moved west of the international dateline to align their time zone with Australia and New Zealand. To do so they simply skipped December 30 and moved directly from December 29 to December 31. Technically the islands didn't move across the date line, the date line was moved across them.

It took a crew of several thousand workers with long poles to lift the line over the various (fortunately not very tall) obstructions on the islands and settle it in its current position, just East of the islands.

On an actual 30 December, this one in 1865, the fabulous author and poet, Rudyard Kipling, was born. I really enjoy all that I've read of his writing, and would encourage you to find something he wrote and read it today to wish him a Happy Birthday!

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our insane lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

Farewell to a Friend - 29 December 2021 - Plague Journal Day 657

Micah 6:8
Proverbs 18:24
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Wow. This shouldn't be so hard, but I guess I'm getting soft in my old age. I got a new stereo for the home office and got it all hooked up today (almost - the turntable seems to need a pre-amp, but I have one down the basement. Of course I do). The sad part is that means I'm getting rid of the old one.

"So what?" I hear you ask. So what? Don't you realize I bought that stereo at Hudson's at Eastland to take to university with me? That Sanyo stereo system with AM/FM Stereo radio, TEAC turntable, Aux In, and built-in 8-Track player has been with me since 1975. That's crazy. It still works pretty well, too. If I had opened the case and cleaned everything with electronics contact cleaner it might have served another few decades, but time marches on, I suppose.

Man, there was some good music played on that machine. Some pretty bad stuff too, of course, but let's not remember that.

Good-bye, old friend.

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our insane lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

28 December 2021 - Plague Journal Day 656

Micah 6:8
Genesis 40:13-15
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Today is National Short Film Day - quite appropriate as I have finally found an 8mm video camera that works, and am recording old "films" onto my computer for eventual cleaning and burning to DVD or similar format.

It's been interesting to see what we thought was worth recording, and how we did it (note: I have not yet noticed any filming in the mirror to include the camera crew, but I'm sure it's there somewhere.). Even more interesting were the segments that were done by someone else filming for us. That's a very interesting take on things.

At any rate, even if you don't have old videos or home movies to view, go find an interesting short film on Netflix or YouTube and enjoy it. Even better - why not pull out your camera / phone / whatever and make a short film yourself today?! That would be the best way to celebrate.

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

It's Not Chemo, Savvy? - 27 December 2021 - Plague Journal Day 655

Micah 6:8
Psalm 115:14-16
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

I don't know how it is where you are, but I am getting really sick and tired of fighting my dog, Billie, for the masks people just throw on the ground everywhere.

I get it, you want to wear a mask, but you want to get it off as soon as you can. Please don't just throw them on the ground for my dog to eat. There's no mask fairy out there picking them all up, you know. Just be what we each should grow up to be - a responsible adult - and pick up after yourself. It's not difficult, you know.

Just grow up and realize there are other people in the world: it's not all about you, and there are trash cans all over the place. (It's not all about me either, I'm just trying to keep my dog safe and the neighbourhood a little cleaner.)

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

Worship - 26 December 2021 - Plague Journal Day 654

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

For our 9:30 AM worship service we will have a piano soloist at offertory time, a vocal solo later in the service, and three hymns for congregational singing.

Remember, we'll be streaming for all those who can't join us in person, and intend to continue that practice indefinitely. Still, know that we miss seeing you in person - please come join in corporate prayer, praise, and worship as soon as you feel ready.

As usual, today's stream should just appear as the latest entry on our YouTube channel, here.
You'll find all our previous worship videos right there at that same place, and today's stream will stay there as a recording as well. 

By the way, today is also Boxing Day. It's not a big thing in these United States, but maybe it should be. It started as a time of boxing up our excess clothing and so forth - after all, many of us just got a bunch of new stuff yesterday - and donating it to the needy. Boxing up our excess and sharing it. What a great idea. Maybe we should have a Rummage Sale the day after Christmas!
No, never mind - I don't want the UMW after me!

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264