Electric candle covered by a half-sphere of mottled glass with globules of teased silica.

Turn of the year and I’m heading into an interesting marriage of commitment and interest. As of today I’ve returned to the world of substitute teaching. Combining that with coaching soccer and I’m back to where I was before I left for Japan, save for the experiences that have shaped the past two years.

A goblet of dark beer sits on the table before me. I’m reading an Adrian Tchaikovsky book as the booth light reflects on the lacquer of the stained, plywood torn strip artistic expression of the table beneath it.

I’ve been slowly ticking off my to-do’s as I’ve straightened out my plans for January and the year beyond it.