Month:December 2025

The Pen in Hand Collection of Unconventional Christmas Moments: An Evening with Jon Batiste

Posted on Updated on by Geoff CarterCategories:Holidays, Music

Attribution: Possibly Jenny Nyström (1854-1946), Swedish illustrator, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons By Geoff Carter The holiday season is all about family tradition. Whether it’s about going to Midnight Mass, carving the Christmas ham, avoiding the mother-in-law’s homemade eggnog, or sampling Grandma’s oyster stew, traditions are what makes our holidays special. We are lucky to …
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Kickass and More Daylight

Posted on Updated on by Bill StokesCategories:Humor, Kickass, Media, Politics

Attribution: Photo by Kyra Kleijnen on Unsplash By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports the keeper and Phyllis adjusting to the slowly lengthening days by limiting their exposure to political tinged fast-talk and tuning in to gentle music accompanied by images of peaceful scenery. Prior to making the change the keeper frequently found himself gnawing on a …
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The Pen in Hand Guide to Unconventional Christmas Moments: Enjoying the Holidays at Pee Wee’s Playhouse

Posted on Updated on by Geoff CarterCategories:Holidays

Attribution: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Geoff Carter The holiday season is all about family tradition. Whether it’s about going to Midnight Mass, carving the Christmas ham, avoiding the mother-in-law’s homemade eggnog, or sampling Grandma’s oyster stew, traditions are what makes our holidays special. We are lucky to be able to celebrate …
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Kickass and Polar Plunge

Posted on Updated on by Bill StokesCategories:Holidays, Humor, Kickass, Memories, Wisconsin

Attribution: eagle102.net, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports the keeper is anxious to firm up his and Phyllis’s excuse for not attending the big Mazomanie Winter Solstice bonfire and the subsequent plunge into Black Earth Creek. The fact is they were both busy with their recliner clinical trials …
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The Pen in Hand’s Collection of Unconventional Christmas Moments: Auggie Wren’s Christmas Story

Posted on Updated on by Geoff CarterCategories:Couch Potato, Holidays, Movies

Attribution: Marek Slusarczyk, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Geoff Carter The holiday season is all about family tradition. Whether it’s about going to Midnight Mass, carving the Christmas ham, avoiding the mother-in-law’s homemade eggnog, or sampling Grandma’s oyster stew, traditions are what makes our holidays special. We are lucky to be able to celebrate …
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The Pen in Hand Guide to the Movies: Film Review of “Hamnet”

Posted on Updated on by Geoff CarterCategories:Michael DiMilo, Movies

Death Be Not Proud: Film Review of Hamnet ★★★★ By Geoff Carter Illustration by Michael DiMilo We know much about the life and times of William Shakespeare. Dozens of books have been written about his life, his loves, and his works, but there are still some mysteries. Was he the actual author of his works? …
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The Pen in Hand’s Collection of Unconventional Christmas Moments: “Fairytale of New York”

Posted on Updated on by Geoff CarterCategories:Holidays, Music

Attribution: John Tenniel , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons By Geoff Carter Katzenjammer and Ben Caplan The holiday season is all about family tradition. Whether it’s about going to Midnight Mass, carving the Christmas ham, avoiding the mother-in-law’s homemade eggnog, or sampling Grandma’s oyster stew, traditions are what makes our holidays special. But some people are …
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The Possibilities Book

Posted on Updated on by Geoff CarterCategories:Culture, Holidays, Memories, Social Commentary

Photo by Geoff Carter By Geoff Carter Christmas is a time that, for most of us, evokes fond childhood memories. Who doesn’t sit around the tree on Christmas morning, watching their adorable children tear violent swaths through reams of wrapping paper, and remember their own visions of sugarplums, bikes, road race sets, Barbie dolls, board …
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