Got the last of the absolute-must outdoor house projects done today. There are probably 10 more small things it would be gratifying to finish outside before the rains come. But if winter struck tomorrow, I’d be satisfied.<\/p>\n
Well, not quite. The roof isn’t done yet. Still trying to get on the roofer’s schedule. But thanks to you, the roof won’t be a worry for much longer — and won’t have to be my<\/i> sweat-n-blood project. Oh, glory!<\/p>\n
I am soooooooo tired. This most recent burst of work was therapeutic, post-JPFO. Now it’s just … work. It’s been hot, too, which is great and unusual hereabouts. But not so great when you’re up and down a ladder under the noonday sun.<\/p>\n
—–<\/p>\n
I’m also working up to something … some change. Not for the first time, of course. You’ve heard me go on about “change” as much as Obama used to (not hope, though; never was very big on hope). You’ve also heard me <\/p>\n I’m still not ready to say much specific about the many months of busy-ness (maybe one of these times, but part of my silence is self-protection). However, I can tell you when it began (May 1, 2013) and when it ended (RIGHT NOW). <\/p>\n The sellout of JPFO was a tragedy for gun rights and an exhausting defeat for a bunch of great people who tried valiantly to avert it. But for me personally, once past the grief, it was also liberating.<\/p>\n After resigning JPFO as a client and wrapping up summer house projects, I now have my life back. And the question is: what do to with it?<\/p>\n —–<\/p>\n I’m contemplating something that, for want of a better term, you might call “The Year of Living Hermitously.”<\/p>\n A year liberated from distractions. A year focused on creative priorities. <\/p>\n I’m thinking of things like:<\/p>\n Looking back on all these ‘Net-connected years, I realize that every past time that I’ve tried to keep distractions down to a dull roar, I’ve made the same big mistake: I never went far enough.<\/p>\n I’ve always made exceptions: I’ll quit all email except<\/i> … I’ll eliminate all commitments except<\/i> … And pretty soon (predictably) the exceptions dominate. Because there is always — always<\/i> — some pressing need.<\/p>\n And of course, like a lot of people I also use busy-ness and distractions as an excuse. Oh, I’m just too busy to … Oh, I’ll make some time just after I do …<\/i><\/p>\n Familiar, what?<\/p>\n I’m not sure yet exactly what I’ll do. Got any ideas for me? But I have the opportunity now to delve deeper, probably beginning early this fall. A year seems like a good target. <\/p>\n And oh my am I ready this time to wrap myself up in a blanket of stillness and solitude and make the most of it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Got the last of the absolute-must outdoor house projects done today. There are probably 10 more small things it would be gratifying to finish outside before the rains come. But if winter struck tomorrow, I’d be satisfied. Well, not quite. The roof isn’t done yet. Still trying to get on the roofer’s schedule. But thanks to you, the roof won’t be a worry for much longer — and won’t have to be my sweat-n-blood project. Oh, glory! I am soooooooo tired. This most recent burst of work was therapeutic, post-JPFO. Now it’s just … work. It’s been hot, too, which<\/p>\nwhine<\/del> complain<\/del> bitch about<\/del> dispassionately discuss how mysteriously busy-busy-busy I’ve been for the last 16 months.<\/p>\n\n