when your mind leaves the workaday world

 Today is the 4th day of the 35th week, the 26th day of the 8th month, the 238th day of 2026 [with only 120 shopping days until Christmas], and:

• International Dog Day - promoting dog adoption and animal welfare since 2004
• Make Your Own Luck Day
• Musical Yoga Day
• National Cherry Popsicle Day
• National Got Checked Day
• National McChicken Day
• National Toilet Paper Day - the date when the first roll was sold back in 1871 by Scott
• National WebMistress Day
• Willing-To-Lend-A-Hand Wednesday
• Women's Equality Day - the 19th Amendment was ratified by the 36th state [Tennessee two days ago] and on this day in 1920, the Secretary of State officially signed the proclamation that made it part of the Constitution. 
• World Painted Dog Day - AKA the African wild dog 
• the Blood Moon is at waxing gibbous and 98% full - and there is a partial lunar eclipse tomorrow

Quote of the day:
"Christmas is the day that holds all time together."
~ Alexander Smith - Scottish poet and essayist from the 1800s  

Daily prompt:  Which fictional world would be the most fun to vacation in? 

Didn't take much thought for me - Middle Earth, specifically Rivendell, preferably in the Third Age during the watchful peace.  The Last Homely House East of the Sea sounds like a ideal place with huge libraries, elvish singing under the stars, and gorgeous scenery, not to mention delicious meals, and an overall sense of peace and restoration.

The quote today reflects the spirit of Rivendell - a moment in time that combines or anchors the past, present , and future.  The past is reflected in all that nostalgia - all the ornaments that you hang year after year, all the little traditions your family adheres to, all the memories you treasure.  The present?  the hurly burly of life pauses and suddenly singing, eating, being with family is the most important priority.  And the new year beckons just around the corner, offering new beginnings.  

Of course, that is all a rather idealized version [like a Norman Rockwell painting] of Christmas, neh?  For many, the little song lyric chorus that I once wrote and still sing to the night is true

Good people think of me as you go to pray

For the Lord and I we haven't got a lot to say

And Heaven only knows just when I lost my way

But Christmas this year, is just another day....

Never got around to writing the verses even tho I know what they were about.  The first lyric had those in service industries who have to work on this day.  The second verse was a montage of people living alone doing things like ironing or laundry, or just sitting in front of a flickering monitor.  The last verse showed the military patrolling in different places, and ended with a lone sailor singing aboard his ship as it plowed through the icy waves.  The final chorus shows a cop directing traffic into a large church parking lot for midnight mass on Christmas Eve - and as the strains of the congregation singing "Joy to the World" drift towards him, he gets a call and peels out, lights blinking but no siren and then the pictures just fade to black....

Yeah, I think I agree with Bilbo, staying in a place where you don't have to count the days and time just flows past would be very restful.  I would love to visit and maybe even retire there like he did