When I received this about an hour ago, my first thought was "Not a brand new one?" I took a moment to reconsider this.

Sheboygan, Wisconsin, today.

1496 at my polling place in Sheboygan Wisconsin! (This is high for a spring general election) #VoteBlue

My dog Raider loves the new sofa pillows...

Like 2 peas in a pod.

Today the department store is gone, having gone bankrupt about a decade ago. My mom is gone too, dying last year. Some of the trauma remains, but I was able to make amends on her death bed.

provided a respite from the household madness.

We'd color pictures for Bruce and Santa, say hi to Rudolph, and marvel at all displays.

The highlight though was talking to Bruce. He always remembered my sister and I. He was always so happy to see us; even when we were told we didn't deserve it.

For the next few hours, this is my view. When I was a kid, Bruce the Spruce was a holiday tradition at a regional department store in my town. I don't have many happy winter memories from then, as most years my mom's alcoholism and bipolar disorders were raging.

But, walking through Santa Land

Northern lights in Wisconsin. Wisps of heaven drifting in the night sky.

Bluesky now has over 10 million users, and I was #964,466! I guess I'm cool?