Solstice Preparations

Listened to Net Assessment's National Defense Strategy evaluation—incoherent and poorly assembled, written for Trump who won't read it because it's too long. Kitchen cleanup. Accumulated Joey's belongings in a box, put in the guest bedroom closet. Breakfast listening to "Never Split the Difference"—lessons wished I'd learned before Mexico. Day planning. Cleaned bird feeders. Wrapped Leland's presents, took them to Sydne's—they were preparing for a gathering focused on Dakota's family. Bought groceries. Other household tasks. Played Minecraft, created Lelandhome. Prepped fondue. Cathy, Mary, and Michael came over for Rare Exports night—noshed on great appetizers, watched the movie, fun evening. Woke later to message from Joey confirming New Zealand trip. Worked on trip planning, drank tea. Back to bed, slept through the rest of the night. Winter solstice holidays truly the low point of the year, particularly the run up—could be in a crowd of loved ones and still feel lonely.

Movie Night and Midnight Planning

December 22, 2025

These notes describe the events of Sunday, 12/21/2025.

Crazy picture of the storm 
in Puerto Vallarta last
October from Kateseen

Listened to Net Assessment's evaluation of the National Defense Strategy. The podcast dissecting the document's fundamental incoherence—poorly assembled, lacking strategic clarity. Written nominally for Donald Trump to read, though he won't because it's too long. The irony of creating strategic guidance that the principal decision-maker won't actually engage with. The continuing erosion of institutional competence, strategy documents becoming performative rather than functional.

Did some kitchen cleanup. The ongoing maintenance, restoring order to accumulated dishes and surfaces. Accumulated many of Joey's belongings in a box that I put in the guest bedroom closet. Preparing the space for this evening's guests, clearing her items that had migrated through the house. Creating room for social gathering, the physical act of making space.

Ate breakfast and listened to "Never Split the Difference." Lessons I wish I would have learned before going to Mexico. Chris Voss's negotiation techniques, the understanding of how pressure sales actually works. The four ways to say no. Recognizing the patterns too late—the 90-minute "update," the gradual wearing down, the financial framing when cognitively depleted, no time to do the math. Learning from past mistakes.

Worked on the day's plan. Reviewing intentions and priorities, thinking through logistics for the evening. The waiting on final confirmation from Joey for New Zealand planning adjustments—the mild anticipation of response.

Worked on cleaning the bird feeders. Managed to get one fully cleaned—the regular maintenance, caring for the creatures that visit the yard. It's a lot nicer now. Wrapped Leland's presents. Took presents to Sydne's house. They were preparing for a gathering mostly focused on Dakota's family. The gift delivery, participating in the extended family preparations while maintaining separate celebrations.

Bought groceries. Did some other things around the house. The domestic preparations accumulating—getting ready for guests, restoring order, making space functional.

Played Minecraft. Created Lelandhome. The virtual building, creating space for the grandson in the digital world. The creative play, the connection across distance through shared virtual space.

Prepped fondue. The Swiss tradition, the participatory meal that brings people together around a shared pot. The preparation for communal dining. Had spaced that Cathy is gluten intolerant, so the fondue bread wasn't an ideal choice. Fortunately she brought chicken meatballs and they worked well with the fondue.

Cathy, Mary, and Michael came over for Rare Exports night. We noshed on some great appetizers then watched the movie. It was fun. The Finnish horror-comedy Christmas film delivering its bizarre Santa mythology. Friends gathered in the living room, the shared experience of the unexpected, laughter and commentary through the strange narrative. The social connection providing exactly what was needed—company, distraction, shared enjoyment.

Went to bed then woke up later to a message from Joey confirming the New Zealand trip. The relief of confirmation, the waiting resolved. She requested a couple of additions to the plan—should be no problem. Worked on planning the New Zealand trip for a while and drank some tea. The middle-of-the-night planning session, the excitement overriding sleep, working through logistics and possibilities. The tea warming my hands in a quiet house, the solitary focus on future adventure.

Went back to bed and slept through the rest of the night. The return to rest after a brief planning interlude.

The winter solstice holidays are truly the low point of the year. Particularly the run up to them. You could be in a crowd of loved ones and still feel lonely. The observation about the season's emotional weight—the shortest day, the cultural pressure of manufactured cheer, the gap between expectation and experience. The paradox of isolation persisting even in company. The recognition of pattern, the acknowledgment of difficulty without surrender to it.