Attribution: See page for author, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports the keeper and Phyllis offering to share their good luck on this Friday the 13th with those who need a little extra. Applicants can submit the reasons they need some extra good luck and an appropriate amount will …
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Category:Holidays
The Pen in Hand Guide to the Movies: The Ten Best Valentine’s Day Movies
Illustration by Michael DiMilo Top Ten Romantic Films By Geoff Carter (Originally published on February 14, 2024) It’s Valentine’s Day. Love is in the air, but those of us who choose to enjoy a warm and cozy evening inside, finding that perfect romantic movie is the perfect way to enjoy that special someone. So, rather …
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Can’t Buy Me Love
Attribution: Photo by Laura Ockel on Unsplash Originally published February 11, 2025 By Geoff Carter When I was in elementary school back in the early 1960s, St. Valentine’s Day was the day that brought life and color—and candy—to the gray slushy doldrums of grade-school winter. Everyone would attach manila envelopes with our little names block-printed on the front …
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Oh, Christmas Tree
Artwork by Michael DiMilo By Geoff Carter Each year, in the family holiday tradition, my wife and I venture out to buy our Christmas tree. We’re lucky enough to live across the street from a big tree lot so we don’t have very far to go—we can walk right over. It’s very convenient. It’s also …
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Happy New Year from The Pen in Hand Blog!!
Attribution: Rakib Ale, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A Year to Remember
Attribution: Photo by BoliviaInteligente on Unsplash By Geoff Carter Today is New Year’s Day, typically a time to look back at the events of the past year. This is a time when our triumphs, defeats, gains, and losses are examined, weighed, and measured. In many ways, 2025 might be a year we would not care to remember, but …
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The Pen in Hand’s Guide to the Movies: Ringing in the New Year
The Ten Best New Year’s Eve Films Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash By Geoff Carter We’re almost there. We only have one more day of 2025 to endure. Thank God. It’s been a year of firsts. There’s a few we would like to celebrate, others not so much. But New Year’s Eve is a time to look forward …
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Kickass and a Dog’s Life
Photo by Bill Stokes By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports the keeper and Phyllis driving a hundred miles with two young passengers to be part of a Phyllis family Christmas gathering at which a gifting game was played, great food was served by Alexis and Jerad and introductions were made to their chickens, …
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Kickass and Christmas Accident
Attribution: Photo by Norman Tsui on Unsplash By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, looks over the keeper’s shoulder as he and Phyllis view the tragic Christmas morning news under the headline: “SANTA MISSING AFTER SLEIGH CRASHES INTO NONEXISTENT WHITE HOUSE WING.” The unredacted story followed. “In what witnesses described as a terrible accident, Rudolph, using misinformation from elf …
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Christmas Spirit 2.0
Attribution: Sheila Sund from Salem, United States, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Geoff Carter This piece will be published on Christmas Day, 2025, so Merry Christmas to everyone. May God bless us, every one—and God knows we need it. Despite enduring one of the most malignant, avaricious, spiteful, and vindictive men to ever hold …
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Kickass and Good Luck
Attribution: Evan-Amos, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that he and the keeper and Phyllis wish everyone a very merry Christmas and the best of luck in the coming New Year. And isn’t it “luck” that it all comes down to—good luck in dodging the bad ones and …
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The Pen in Hand Collection of Unconventional Christmas Moments: An Evening with Jon Batiste
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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