PLEASE VISIT SPONSORS BELOW Heb 4:12 The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. Image Courtesy: Wikipedia.![]() "Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction. So when Jesus says ‘Love your enemies,’ he is setting forth a profound and ultimately inescapable admonition. -Martin Luther King. Jr. , Baptist Minister, Activist, Civil Rights Movement Leader
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PLEASE VISIT SPONSORS BELOW Ps 40: Here I am Lord, I come to do your will. ![]() Well, we’re two weeks deep. Whatcha thinking? Yeah, me, too. Meh. For all intents and purposes, as they say – oh and hey, BT dubs, why do they say that? I mean, if you’ve got to preface a statement with “For all intents and purposes,” are you just assuming a certain level of distrust on the part of your addressee? Hmm. It’s sort of like a qualifier; something of a disclaimer -- or worse, shameless begging for credibility. Let’s face it; this is basically the equivalent of saying, “I swear, I’m telling the truth,” a’ight? I might be overthinking things. So, impeach me. Again. Er, I mean, sue me. Sigh. Either way, the whole point is: this year feels like a whole big bunch of “same old, same old,” to me. Near as I can tell, 2021’s just an icky extension of crummy old 2020 thus far. 2020: The Sequel. Turmoil. Discord. Fear. Bad behavior. Disrespect. Insolence. Dishonesty. Sadness. Disappointment. Anxiety. Contempt. And that’s just from looking in the mirror after my morning weigh-in! Seriously, humans. Let’s get it together as a race, already. #Peace #Respect #Kindness But to get back to the Groundhog’s Day of a year that was and still is---what is it going to take to finally flip the calendar, yo? I mean, shoot, a majority of our mail is still trapped in some kind of time warp apparently? For starters, I received a coupon from a well-known department store chain for like, $20 off for every nickel I spend or something. All I have to do is make a purchase of $100 or more … by December 15 of last year. Cool. It’s no big deal. It’s not like I need to buy any more Christmas presents last year. Er, wait; is Christmas really over? I’m not entirely convinced since I keep getting cards. Every. Single. Day. Not kidding. So, hey, just in case you’re still in the mood – maybe pick a relatively mild evening and go a-caroling around your block? Just a thought. Ooooooooh! And did I tell you? Not that I’m trying to brag or anything but apparently, I’m a new, automatic member of the “octagon rewards” program. That’s right people; a fact that will ensure me a lease payment of under $200 a month for a fully-loaded, ultra-safe, faster-than-all-get-out-but-can-seat-a-family-of-22-comfortably gold-encrusted SUV! All I need to do to drive off the lot in that bad boy is get to the dealership by midnight on 12/21/20. Octagon schmoctagon. Hmpf. Eh, there’s always Uber. Oh well --- at least I don’t have to pay the electric bill for December…since IT STILL HAS NOT ARRIVED. For real. Hey, if they can be in denial over at WE HOLD THE POWER OVER YOUR POWER company, so can I. Sure I’m wearing 17 layers of clothes. Okay, I know the laptop battery won’t hold out much longer. Naturally I get tired of trudging to the shopping plaza to charge my cell and I-Pad every morning and yeah, the camping lantern isn’t that great for night reading but until I get an invoice, I’m not payin’, capisce? Besides, none of that is going to matter come December 29, 2020, when I’m a SHOO IN to win the 87 gazillion dollar jackpot at the local casino, so there! Who’s laughing NOW, 2020? Wait… Hang in there, Peeps. The Big Guy’s still nearby. And, much like my eventual pot ‘o gold, better days await. #InItTogehter #StayStrong Kimerer is a columnist stuck between December & January. Hover on over to her blog at www.patriciakimerer.com any day of this (or last) year. PLEASE VISIT SPONSORS BELOW Ps78: Forget not the works of the Lord! Be not like their fathers, a generation wayward and rebellious that kept not its heart --or-- its spirit faithful toward God.![]() If were a bettin' man, I'd have to say purt' near a hunnert percent. Yeah, I'm fairly certain it's a veritable "sold-out" situation, you know what I'm sayin'? As in, by way of an informal straw poll of some of my closest peeps (and a few random squirrels outside my kitchen window--yeah, I'm still working from home), it's a landslide. Dang nearly each person surveyed confessed. They all openly admit that they have, at least once in lives, said it to their kinfolk. In fact, in most cases, it was uttered considerably more often than that, yo. The defiant statement (or some similar iteration thereof!) in question is as follows: "YOU CAN'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!" Oh yes, you have. Don't deny it. In fact, upon further investigation, respondents also admitted that they had hurled the hurtful comment at one or both of their parents as children and then again in adulthood. I get it. No one likes to be bossed. Humans have been proving this since the literal dawn of time. And yet, in another lop-sided unscientific survey, there's an overwhelming preponderance of evidence to support the notion that, parents give solid advice -- at least, generally speaking. Any of these gems ring a bell? Sweetie, real friends won't make fun of your jeans just because they didn't cost $300. Not only was Mom right, but NOT having Susie Snobby in your life only made it better, to be clear! Regardless of the attendance policy, you can't ace a course if you skip it all semester and only show up for the final. How many in the class learned this one the hard way? I know they aren't calling for it, but take your coat just in case it snows. You went for fashion instead...and froze your tuchus off at the homecoming game, remember? Feel free to eat ANY other fruit in this entire orchard; just not these particular apples. Well, well, well -- we all know how horribly wrong THAT one went, Capisce? Look, kids, admit that they know best then suck it up and do the right thing ---just like your Mom and Dad always told you to, a'ight? Heaven knows, it certainly couldn't hurt the state of the world in 2021. #WearYourMask #SocialDistance #BeKind #Love #Pray #Peace Spon: www.cailorfleming.com/ https://www.hbkcpa.com/consultants/james-dascenzo/ Mk 1: The Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel. ![]() Quick shout out to the demon with the yellow eyes, venomous fangs and forked tongue moonlighting as a phlebotomist at my local lab. BT Dubs, you may want to invest in a more appropriate disguise, er, I mean uniform? I’m thinking a smile and some scrubs might play a little better with the clientele. Hiding your pointy tail and webbed fingers with a lab coat and some gloves might not hurt either but, you know, totally your call. Oh, a quick backgrounder to summarize this mini horror story for y’all? Sure. Due to a little genetic glitch in my methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) ---not to mention my wildly weird eating habits, ahem— I have to have my blood drawn every month. Like, four vials, yo. Every time. From the same lab. Each month. As in, in four weeks, PK will be right back at the counter. Not that I enjoy it, but given her scaly-skinned veneer and all, you’d think Vampira would jump at the chance to suck my veins dry … and not necessarily with a syringe, Capisce? Any who, that’s why I need to make sure all my various vitals stay vivacious—especially since MTHR is chock full of super fun potential health issues including but not limited to:
Yup. That’s MTHFR. Shoot, why didn’t I get the genetic anomaly that causes Tetrachromatic Vision… where you can see things in Technicolor to the 100th power? Now THAT would be awesome. Or the Malaria Resistance one? Even if you get bit by like, 872 Tsetse flies, you won’t be bugged by the pesky parasite. Not that I want to get bit by anything, anytime, anywhere, a’ight? But still, immunity in any form is a neat party trick. Heck, why not dream bigger? Like being vexed with a variant causing chocolate cake to work as a fat burner? Now THAT is a mutation I can get behind – especially if it ignores my behind. Or maybe one that reverses wrinkling and sagging after you hit 40? Um, Beam Me Up for that one, Scotty! Or, oooh, how’s about that one in “X-Men” where you get those wicked cool slasher hands? Could come in particularly handy for those with the chocolate cake quirk. Just sayin’. Heck, even being a TMNT, er, Teenage Ninja Turtle beats just being stuck having MTHFR. And, yes, sadly that’s really the acronym. I couldn’t even have conjured a more comical moniker for my under-chlorinated gene pool. Indeed, MTHFR is one annoying little mutant. And speaking of that phlebotomist… I realize you hate the earthlings and all; but since you DID choose to inhabit our planet, perhaps you could try a little harder not to be a complete dog-breathed jerk face to them when a clerical error prevents you from seeing their bloodwork prescriptions from the doctor’s office, um, down freaking stairs? Kindness to the other humans, people. Very chic, very vogue. It’s what’s for 2021. And forever, you feel me? #Peace Kimerer is a columnist seeking peace on earth; especially in America. Come on, folks; let’s get it together, ‘kay? Visit her via www.patriciakimerer.com Spon: www.cailorfleming.com/ https://www.hbkcpa.com/consultants/james-dascenzo/ Jn5: Who indeed is the victor over the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? ![]() Well, I'm not gonna lie. I'm sad. No, the kid's not back in NY yet (I said 'sad' not 'despondent'!). It's not that kind of sad. It's the sort where I'm just so incredibly disappointed in my fellow earthlings . . . .especially the ones living in this wonderful country of ours. Yes, it's still a wonderful country, friends. It's just that folks are acting, well, epically foolish, as of late. Destroying their own neighborhoods. Refusing to take pandemic precautions. Trying to storm the capitol building. It's making my heart hurt. #StopTheViolence Listen, you may be upset about any and all injustice -- heaven knows I am. Sure, you may not prefer wearing a mask. I mean really, other than Michael Myers, who does? And yeah, your favorite candidate may have lost an important election. I feel ya. I ain't crazy about Biden. Then again, I ain't crazy about Trump, either, ya dig? Shoot, my pick for President ALSO didn't win -- though I knew my "Dolly Parton" write-in was a long shot. Sigh. Yet, America remains one nation, under God, and indivisible, yo. It's the land that I love. The home of the free and the brave. And I don't think I'm suddenly all alone in wanting liberty and justice for all, am I? Peeps, we are so blessed to be able to speak out for what we believe. It's just that we need to do so peaceably. You may not agree nor I with you...and that's okay! As long as we respect each other's right to have our own opinions and beliefs without resorting to violence. Violence is never the answer. Not ever. Period. At the end of the day, we are still more alike than we are different. I absolutely believe we can do and be better, yes? Please, join me in treating the nation and each other with respect and kindness. And PRAYING FOR PEACE. There's nothing so rough or challenging that the Big Guy can't help us up and over it ---if only we ask Him, Capisce? #SpreadLove #ShowKindness #Pray #Peace Spon: www.cailorfleming.com/ https://chickfilasouthernpark.com/ https://www.hbkcpa.com/consultants/james-dascenzo/ Mt 4: "Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand."![]() Well, that’s it. It’s all over, done. Terminado. Kaput. Finito. Sigh. You know how, toward the end of “A Christmas Story” Ralphie laments how the Bumpus hound dogs robbed the Parkers not only of Christmas dinner but also so much more after they burst into the kitchen and devoured –or more aptly, obliterated-- the family turkey? “…The heavenly aroma still hung in the house. But it was gone, all gone! No turkey! No turkey sandwiches! No turkey salad! No turkey gravy! Turkey Hash! Turkey a la King! Or gallons of turkey soup! Gone, ALL GONE!” That’s how I feel about crummy old January 3: it just plain stinks because it gobbled up my Christmas joy faster than those slobbery mutts mangled up that big ‘ol bird. Indeed, today is the post-holiday blues equivalent of the Parkers’ turkey as its picked-clean carcass lay helpless on the tile kitchen floor: empty, defeated, and entirely devoid of holiday sparkle. No Hallmark Christmas movie marathons! No 24/7 Christmas music live streaming on Pandora! No ugly Christmas sweaters, Christmas mittens, Christmas PJs, Christmas commercials, or a bazillion Christmas lights. Gone, all gone! Hmpf. In fact, other than the tree and outside lights, (which go tomorrow, after The Epiphany), I already de-decked the halls -- and stairs -- and mantle. Literally started cleaning house at 12:04AM on December 26. Why? Though I adore all things Christmas, this one was the roughest I’ve had in the past 52. #MissMyDaddy #LoveYouPop So you can understand why having everything merry and bright helped a whole heap. The thought of wrapping up festive wrapping season had me start scheming ways to keep that heavenly aroma hanging around the house a bit longer, you dig? So here are some things it’s socially acceptable to keep displaying for, um, a while yet:
I guess that stretches things about as far as they can go. Oh! I almost forgot the biggie: Anything and everything professing peace on earth and good will to all. ‘Cause, hello? Kimerer is a seasonally-disheartened columnist who still wishes everyone a Happy 2021. Contact her via www.patriciakimerer.com Sp: Cailor Fleming Insurance, Chick-Fil-A Southern Park Mall, Jim Dascenzo, CPA Ps96: A holy day has dawned upon us. Come, nations, adore the Lord. Today a great light has come upon the earth.![]() Yesterday was my Grami's birthday. She's been gone quite a while but I still miss her. All the time. Especially on December 29 every year. It was, for me, the last important event of the year, every year. Our own tradition, sorta. I mean, sure, New Year's Eve is full of dropping balls and popping corks and what not. But I've just always tended to prefer staying home to going out. Um, that's a no-brainer this year. #StillAPandemic Besides, I'm always the DD. Totally by choice, BT Dubs. Wine makes my head hurt. I digress. Also, New Year's Day doesn't count because ... obvi; new year. So for me, Grami's birthday was always the last hurrah. Love and miss you, Gram. Any how, then there was that weird next day: December 30. That, almost-a-holiday-but-not-really. Kinda a day off, but not officially. Sorta a celebratory occasion but then again, nah. It was the in-between important days day. It's, ya know, the last of the regular days. Not that 2020 had many of those. BLECH. Anyway, because it's so unremarkable, I started to feel a little bad for old 12.30, so I tried to find some reason to make it --and myself-- feel better. You know, special. Here's what I could scrounge up: In 1995, it was the day the lowest temperature was ever recorded in the UK. Okay, that's not like, a reason to woot woot, yo. Um, in 1947, the last king of Romania stepped down. That seems more positive, though it was likely equally as cold, Capisce? I guess some notable births on this date include: 1984 = LeBron James; 1975 = Tiger Woods; 1946 = Patti Smith; 1865 = Rudyard Kipling; and 1853 = André Messager. You can be forgiven for not knowing Patti. Or even Andre but you'd better know the others, by golly. Either way. Also, quick shout out to my friends Sam, Dan, and Jen, who are all celebrating THEIR birthdays, today - HUGS! But you know what the best thing about today is? We're all here to see it ... and it's one day closer to 2021. Hang in there, all! #InItTogether #StayStrong #BeGrateful #AppreciateEveryDay #Pray #Peace Spon: www.cailorfleming.com/ https://chickfilasouthernpark.com/ https://www.hbkcpa.com/consultants/james-dascenzo/ Ps 124: Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. ![]() Nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah nah nah, HEYYYYYY GOODBYE! I challenge you to find a single homosapien living on this big round ball who isn’t over the flipping moon that this year is ending. Show of hands? Yeah, that’s what I thought. Zippo. It would be so easy to 2020 all over the year we’re rapidly kicking to the curb. Let’s face it, if it was a house, it’d have been condemned. If it was a carton of milk, it’d have been curdled and furry. If it was a song, it’d have been “MacArthur Park.” Yeah, I am going there. Again. Don’t blame me, man, blame 2020. Look, I apologize for the millionth time to fans of Richard Harris (the singer) and/or Jimmy Webb (the lyricist) but I physically have to choke back chunks every time I hear the first few notes of that awful, awful song. Not kidding; the song does, in fact, make my mouth do that weird icky, watery thing that happens right before you upchuck. I’m just sayin’. That song is garbage. I despise everything about it. The plingy-plangy pitch, the melancholy melody, the tacky tempo, Harris’s absurd inflection, the hideous horns. Gag. And the words. My Lord in heaven, the words. “…MacArthur's Park is melting in the dark, all the sweet, green icing flowing down. Someone left the cake out in the rain; I don't think that I can take it 'cause it took so long to bake it and I'll never have that recipe again…” Hands down, “MacArthur Park” contains the WORST.SONG.LYRICS.WRITTEN. EVER. Except for maybe Gangnam Style. And yes, I am referring to the original, annoying version AND its equally aggravating English translation. Not sure how you say it in South Korean but BLECH to both. I digress, for the last time this year. Dude, when even Donald Trump and Joe Biden agree that a 12-month span has stunk so badly, the government should give everyone money –TWICE!-- well, you know it’s an indicator that the four horsemen are on their way to town. And that 2020 was the rottenest. Sigh. Look, I get it: the dropping of the ball at Midnight next Thursday night (is that even still happening?) won’t mean we suddenly are safe, healthy, and happy again…well, at least, as much as we were when it fell in good old 2019, anyway. But it IS a sign of time marching on…hopefully a lot faster that those four cruel cowboys can get their ponies to prance, ya dig? It’s an indicator of the hope of tomorrow. Literally. And I, for one, am going to be ecstatic to go back to some simple joys; the luxuries of a cheerier day when: -Zoom was typically a reference to the sound really fast cars, airplanes, and spaceships make. -Masks were worn at costumes balls and on only one special night of the year…an evening full of spooky fun; when people could actually hand candy to children without sanitizing the wrappers, the front porch, and themselves before, during, and after. -“Don’t Stand So Close to Me” was just a classic song by The Police…not a reason for calling the real ones. -Hugging was not only okay but encouraged and embraced by many of us with reckless abandon. #CantWaitToSmotherMyPeeps So go on, 2020, get the hex outta Dodge…and everywhere else, too, Capisce? Kimerer is a columnist who just wants to squeeze the stuffings out of her friend Beth Ann’s new baby already, a’ight? Send air kisses to www.patriciakimerer.com Spon: www.cailorfleming.com/ https://chickfilasouthernpark.com/ https://www.hbkcpa.com/consultants/james-dascenzo/ Ps 89: Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.![]() You knew it was coming. Well, that is, if you’ve been reading the contents in this space with any consistency over the past –oh man, I’ve been blessed to be writing this little blurb for quite a while; I’m pretty old and all… Uh, lemme think. Let’s see now. Kyle was pretty small when I first pitched this column. Hmm, I don’t know, let’s call it at least a decade and a half? Either way. Anyone who frequents this general area of the inside cover of this section with any regularity knew that every year, like clockwork, my pre-Christmas column is an homage to Clement Moore’s “A Visit from St. Nick”…commonly referred to as “’Twas the Night before Christmas.” It’s shameless thievery, to be certain. But, at this point, it really has become something of a PK tradition. There you have it. So, without further ado, I give you my take on the classic poem: 2020 edition. ‘Twas the weekend before Christmas when all through the world Daily life became kooky for all boys and girls. And ladies and gentlemen, young, old and between. It was a little like something from out of a dream. And not the nice, fun kind with snowflakes and sleds Or visions of sugar plumbs boogeying in heads. No, this was the type that just went on and on Like a scratched-up CD of your least favorite song. The notes were askew and the melody flat And no one could wake from this long dreadful nap. The days and the nights were a quarantined blur And it seemed restful wake might not ever occur. Throughout the third rock, every plan was derailed. No gatherings, no contact, and faces were veiled. The humans were sad to be stuck in their homes And longed for the days they could go out and roam. Then suddenly, what to their eyes should appear? But a chance to let go of frustration and fear! When they realized confinement could actually mean Some precious new memories with their fave human beings. Amid all the sorrow and deep isolation The earthlings began to enjoy a vacation… From long, hard commutes and extended work days. Soon puzzles or movie nights were the typical rage. Reconnecting with family, a blessing well hid, Was keeping so many from flipping their lids. So baking and cooking and binge-watching shows Became the new normal through sun, rain, and snow. Soon many discovered this curse held some joys Like rare, 1:1 time for a Mom and her boy. Then another thing happened though the world was still listless It occurred to us all: NOTHING cancels out Christmas. And though the festivities look quite different this year The joy of the season remains patently clear: A long time ago in a cold little shed A newborn boy baby laid down his sweet head. With Mommy and Daddy and shepherds on hand A message of brightness enveloped the land. A big host of angels proclaimed from above That this infant was born to give everyone love. To save us from evil and wipe away sin And give us a chance to start over again. So, just like the angels were happy to tell: A savior named Christ is our Emmanuel. That means “God is with us” – He’s always right here! So don’t be afraid, we’ve got nothing to fear. Merry Christmas to all from my family to yours I pray that you’re safe and are healthy, for sure. And though this odd year may mean slightly less fun At least hope’s around the corner in 2021! Kimerer is a columnist wishing everyone a very happy, healthy, safe, and blessed Christmas. Send holiday cheer to www.patriciakimerer.com Spon: www.cailorfleming.com/ https://chickfilasouthernpark.com/ https://www.hbkcpa.com/consultants/james-dascenzo/ Ps 85: Show us, LORD, your love, and grant us your salvation.![]() Sure we’re all familiar with the classic song about the little feller, presumably recently visited by the Tooth Fairy, who just wants his two main incisors as a present this year. You know, Spike Jones & His City Slickers’ 1948 seasonal smash “All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth”. The song was originally written in 1944 by teacher Donald Gardner during a class at one of the public schools in Smithtown, New York where he taught music. Apparently, he’d asked his second graders what they wanted for Christmas, and noticed that almost all of the students had at least one front tooth missing as they answered in a collective lisp. Inspired, Gardner wrote the song ---within 30 minutes. The ditty became a phenom … as indicated by the multiplicity with which it was ripped off, er, I mean, remade. And then re-remade. And then; you get it. Alvin and the Chipmunks were the first to re-record the song in 1961. Nat “King” Cole, ever the class act, deemed a respectable grace period before unleashing HIS beloved version – Gardner’s fave, incidentally. Personally, I’m partial to Big Bad Voo Doo Daddy’s 2013 rendition. Just sayin’. I want to clarify that I’m truly not one to ask for anything at Christmas or ever; not how I roll, yo. But I will tell you what I DON’T want for Christmas: -You-Know-What. I’m not naming it but everyone is aware of the plague of which I refuse to speak. Blech. Don’t want it for anyone in Casa Kimerer … or in my fam … or in my circle of Peeps … or of the humanoid persuasion. Indeed, I don’t want it to come within six or sixty or sixty gazillion, quadrillion, 160 bazillion feet of me, mine, or even any creature great or small living on the third rock. Except for, maybe those Asian Giant “Murder” Hornets. I think even PETA is with me on this one. What the hex is WRONG with those things, anyway? Honey-bee slaughtering sickos. Ahem, I digress. -The Mirror. You know, the one with the trainer and like, 90 million exercise enthusiasts hiding inside it some cyber way? I’m sorry, but is anyone else as creeped out by this whole concept as yours truly? First of all, women my age avoid mirrors about 98.72% of the time as a hard/fast rule. But to have svelte exercise Svengali Sven staring into my soul as I sweat, grunt, and barely cling to gravity whilst my sagging 50-plus body struggles to keep up with buns-o-steel, bikini Barbie bouncing around the Barbados beach? Naw. -The Manspider. Speaking of creeped out...this little clay sculpture of a man’s head (roughly the size of the one on the “Ken” doll) affixed atop eight spider legs is available on Etsy. But, Madone! Why? Who in the name of sweet baby Jesus invented that? And moreover, how much coal needs to be in your stocking to earn one of THOSE bad boys? Please, for the love of all that is holy, just --no. -A Vacuum Cleaner. I don’t care if it’s the Bissell 8,597 and it cleans the floor, scrubs the carpet, tosses in a load of laundry, and neatly puts itself away in the closet when it’s done. Nothing says, “I bought this ‘cuz we need it and also, you’re kind of a slacker” like a vacuum cleaner poking up from under the tree. I did NOT appreciate it the year Kyle was born and I sure as shootin’ don’t need another reason to feel unproductive these days, Capisce? #ThisMeansYouKerry Kimerer is a columnist who just wants a Covid-19-free Christmas for all. And maybe some fuzzy socks. Contact her at www.patriciakimerer.com |