APLACECALLEDMERRYMOUNT

How many of us, given the opportunity, have the knowledge and/or experience to literally build our family a new house? Last week my...

The April 25, 2024 edition of  “The Morning” from the NYT included a piece about campus protests in the US over the Hamas/Israeli war. ...

On Earth Day 2024, how (in-form-ed) are we about this miraculous sphere on which we exist?   Have we stopped long enough to recognize...

Imitation is the highest compliment mediocrity pays to genius. Sometime around the year 2000, I found myself with enough leisure time to...

If cloud cover permits, on April 8, 2024, residents living at 6090 Junk Road, Mount Sterling, Ohio will be able to see a 99.7% solar...

Today’s blog post is a tale of two inosculated stories: one from the scriptures; and one, a travelogue along the Via...

3/24/24 Unfortunately, there is a strong attempt from the conservative political right to turn back advances in diversity, equity, and...

On this Saint Patrick's Day 2024, I offer words from two of Ireland's favorite poets and from one "want-to-be". My love is in a light...

3/10/24 Today’s blogpost spins from an article in the NYT dated 2/28/24 entitled, “The SAT and the Supreme Court”. The article prompted...

As a young college professor, I was a regular in a (nickel, dime, quarter) poker team. In our house rules, the dealer called the game...

The sneakers, described on the website where they are sold as “Bold, gold and tough, just like President Trump,” are coated almost...

I offer this quote from Secretary Madeleine Albright’s book, Fascism: A Warning, “There are two kinds of fascists: those who give orders...

2/14/24 "Lady with a Fan"-Klimt With a Fan from Rimmel's Go, happy Fan, in all the land The happiest … seek my lady's hand,  And,...

Are you prepared to don the green, purple, and yellow with a blotch of red?  Are you ready for revelry and debauchery? Being a...

The Sun Rising Busy old fool, unruly sun, Why dost thou thus, Through windows, and through curtains call on us? Must to thy motions...

There once was a lady from Gath, Who posed while taking a bath. Along came a frog, Who wanted a snog, [look it up] She's now enraptured...

That is how you are Your flesh, mingled with soul, Your tangled hair, Your feet pursuing time, Your shadow which stretches And whispers...

Journey of the Magi (1927) A cold coming we had of it, Just the worst time of the year For a journey, and such a long journey: The ways...

Desert Places Snow falling and night falling fast, oh, fast In a field I looked into going past, And the ground almost covered smooth in...

January is named after the Roman god Janus, who presided over doors and beginnings. Janus’ image is usually depicted with two faces: one...