{"id":7473,"date":"2026-01-02T17:29:21","date_gmt":"2026-01-03T00:29:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/?p=7473"},"modified":"2026-01-05T10:34:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T17:34:12","slug":"new-year-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/archives\/7473","title":{"rendered":"New Year 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/new-years-eve.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/new-years-eve-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7474\" srcset=\"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/new-years-eve-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/new-years-eve-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/new-years-eve-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/new-years-eve-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/new-years-eve.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Hello Dear Reader. We just hung up our two new wall calendars, one in the kitchen and one in my office. Next trip to town I\u2019ll buy a tide chart for the year ahead to mark big minus tides occurring at good times to go walking on the beach, and then a little piece of the pattern of my future life will be on the puzzle board, so to speak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/molly-and-stick-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"797\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/molly-and-stick-2-797x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7460\" style=\"width:401px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/molly-and-stick-2-797x1024.jpg 797w, https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/molly-and-stick-2-233x300.jpg 233w, https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/molly-and-stick-2-768x987.jpg 768w, https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/molly-and-stick-2.jpg 996w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 797px) 100vw, 797px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We recently lived through a four-day power outage and are bracing for another possible outage in the next few days. We live in a part of the state where PG&amp;E steadfastly refuses to bury their power lines in order to maximize short-term profits, and so heavy winds and\/or heavy rain almost always brings outages. Such is reality in a capitalist society controlled by corporate monopolies whose operators do not give a hoot about people and only care about a profitable bottom line. Fortunately, we have a woodstove to keep us warm and cook on, and a noisy little generator to keep the refrigerator cold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/precious-goods.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"762\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/precious-goods-762x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7475\" style=\"width:303px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/precious-goods-762x1024.jpg 762w, https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/precious-goods-223x300.jpg 223w, https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/precious-goods-768x1033.jpg 768w, https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/precious-goods.jpg 952w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 762px) 100vw, 762px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Speaking of corporate monopolies who don\u2019t give a hoot about people, the beautiful illustrated paperback of my new book <em>The Dog Who Wanted A Person<\/em> was not available from Amazon for all of December, which is disappointing since more than half the books sold in America are bought from Amazon. Good news is the book is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Dog-Who-Wanted-Person\/dp\/1959623087\/ref=books_amazonstores_desktop_mfs_aufs_ap_sc_dsk_0?_encoding=UTF8&amp;pd_rd_w=SSBN3&amp;content-id=amzn1.sym.299f645c-0a78-440a-94a2-fb482e7cb326&amp;pf_rd_p=299f645c-0a78-440a-94a2-fb482e7cb326&amp;pf_rd_r=146-0742559-2608357&amp;pd_rd_wg=K5qwR&amp;pd_rd_r=2e115cb2-ce0d-4fb8-896a-90a0da557914\">NOW available at Amazon<\/a> and is also available from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.barnesandnoble.com\/w\/the-dog-who-wanted-a-person-todd-walton\/1148723335?ean=9781959623083\">Barnes &amp; Noble<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/bookshop.org\/p\/books\/the-dog-who-wanted-a-person-todd-walton\/13d08ce97d56e7a4?ean=9781959623083&amp;next=t\">Bookshop<\/a>, Alibris, and many other book sources, including actual bookstores, including (last I checked) Gallery Books in Mendocino that actually had one copy on hand at the store!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019ve heard from several people who love the book AND from people loving the audio version starring yours truly (available from Audible.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are a few recent responses I\u2019ve gotten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>I read The Dog Who Wanted A Person today and I enjoyed it so much. It was funny and sweet, and I cried too. I felt that I was on that journey with them. In so few words you brought the land and the dogs\u2019 personalities alive.&nbsp;I\u2019ll be sending it to my son and daughter-in-law who will love it.&nbsp;Jenna<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Each character in your book, I am transported\u2014Sterling Holloway, all those enchanting Disney animations\u2026your reading is brilliant, a one-man-show! Wen<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Thank you for brightening my holidays with The Dog Who Wanted<br \/>A Person. &nbsp;I\u2019m looking forward to listening to your narration. Jim <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/inaccessible-beach.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/inaccessible-beach-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7476\" style=\"width:430px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/inaccessible-beach-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/inaccessible-beach-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/inaccessible-beach-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/inaccessible-beach-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/inaccessible-beach.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In other news, the terribly selfish greedy violent people who have taken over our national government continue to wreak havoc on the lives of millions of people in America and abroad, and every day we hear of new and dastardly plans they have to get rid of voting by mail and suppressing voters\u2019 rights however they can so they\u2019ll win the midterm elections. Remain vigilant. Help make every honest vote count.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mendocino-Bay-December-2025.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"848\" src=\"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mendocino-Bay-December-2025-1024x848.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7441\" style=\"width:481px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mendocino-Bay-December-2025-1024x848.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mendocino-Bay-December-2025-300x248.jpg 300w, https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mendocino-Bay-December-2025-768x636.jpg 768w, https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mendocino-Bay-December-2025-1200x994.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Mendocino-Bay-December-2025.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We gave our annual donations, however small, to our favorite non-profits: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.solarcookers.org\/\">Solar Cookers International<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/donate.amnestyusa.org\/page\/163611\/donate\/1?ea.tracking.id=W25XXADEVR5P&amp;en_og_source=W25XXADEVR5P&amp;supporter.appealCode=W25XXADEVR5P&amp;utm_medium=PAIDADS&amp;utm_source=GSPMAX&amp;utm_campaign=EVG&amp;utm_content=CKAIUS-OTG-SEARCH-GSPMAX-BRAND-EVG-PMAX-PROS-PMAX-DYCR&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=22845304254&amp;gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhPu5qYfukQMVGNTCBB19LQ1hEAAYASAAEgKcPPD_BwE\">Amnesty International<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/give.doctorswithoutborders.org\/campaign\/688632\/donate?c_src=ADD2301U3U49&amp;c_src2=google.cpc.CKMSF-BRAND_DWB-GS-ALL-DWBBrand_E-BO-18t65P-RSA-Evergreen25_1-MONTHLY&amp;utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=CKMSF-BRAND_DWB-GS-ALL-DWBBrand_E-BO-18t65P-RSA-Evergreen25_1-MONTHLY&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=791446267&amp;gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_YPozIfukQMVaxatBh1-PSUUEAAYASAAEgJQsPD_BwE\">Doctors Without Borders,<\/a> the <a href=\"https:\/\/action.aclu.org\/give\/pm-donate-to-aclu?utm_medium=pm&amp;utm_source=gs&amp;utm_campaign=nat-dig-pm-dd-int&amp;utm_content=gs-search_brand_exact-aclu-c-790524453014&amp;initms_aff=nat&amp;initms_chan=pm&amp;initms=nat-dig-pm-dd-int-gs-search_brand_exact-aclu-c-790524453014&amp;ms_aff=nat&amp;ms_chan=pm&amp;ms=nat-dig-pm-dd-int-gs-search_brand_exact-aclu-c-790524453014&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=19716358023&amp;gclid=EAIaIQobChMIs-CruYfukQMVwhmtBh3AJx6LEAAYASAAEgLpb_D_BwE\">ACLU,<\/a> and our local food bank. What wonderful organizations they all are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Roxies-Tree-Candle.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"988\" src=\"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Roxies-Tree-Candle-1024x988.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7477\" style=\"width:401px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Roxies-Tree-Candle-1024x988.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Roxies-Tree-Candle-300x289.jpg 300w, https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Roxies-Tree-Candle-768x741.jpg 768w, https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Roxies-Tree-Candle-1200x1158.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Roxies-Tree-Candle.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>And I\u2019m writing a new something I like very much and hope to be coming out with a new album of music this year, weather permitting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wishing you another glorious trip around the sun!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>todd<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/todd-and-log-2025.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"914\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/todd-and-log-2025-914x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7478\" style=\"width:367px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/todd-and-log-2025-914x1024.jpg 914w, https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/todd-and-log-2025-268x300.jpg 268w, https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/todd-and-log-2025-768x860.jpg 768w, https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/todd-and-log-2025.jpg 1143w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 914px) 100vw, 914px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hello Dear Reader. We just hung up our two new wall calendars, one in the kitchen and one in my office. Next trip to town I\u2019ll buy a tide chart for the year ahead to mark big minus tides occurring at good times to go walking on the beach, and then a little piece of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[8407,4305],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7473"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7473"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7473\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7490,"href":"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7473\/revisions\/7490"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7473"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7473"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/underthetablebooks.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7473"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}