“Justice to my readers compels me to admit that I write because I have nothing to do;
justice to myself induces me to add that I will cease to write the moment I have nothing to say.”

— Charles Caleb Colton

You see, that “nothing to do part” is kind of essential for regular blogging and a missing element in my schedule of late. That should not be construed, however, as an indication that I’ve run out of things to say.

Regardless of what the sporadic posting might indicate, and in case anyone was wondering, I’m not hanging up the blog or going on official hiatus; the past two weeks have just been monumentally busy, and last Friday was a week’s worth all by itself. I have three major events occurring in three different parts of the country that I’m trying to coordinate and all three have crucial deadlines this coming week (to tag-team with the crucial deadlines related to these events that had to be met last week). On top of that I have two newsletters to edit, a new direct-mail campaign that’s about to drop, and several other projects vying for attention that I would love to give a lick and a promise to if I could only summon the spit to do so. Oh, and I’ve also been interviewing candidates to fill the vacant position on my staff so I DON’T HAVE TO WORK SO FREAKIN’ HARD! Meanwhile, my personal schedule of activities and duties away from the office has barely abated as well.

So, how’s it going with you?

Ah well, one of the big events will be over and done with (for good or ill) on June 11. Another one goes off June 15-17, and if the flaming, rotating hoops I’ve had to jump through so far on that little number are any indication, the last few days leading up to that event are going to be beauties. After that things will get back more or less to normal, if I can remember what that looks like.

Memorial Day Weekend wasn’t much of a holiday for me, as I brought the laptop and all the tons of things that can be stored on it home. There are occupational hazards with doing things like that. That Saturday I was taking a break to do my chores and bent down to snatch a couple of handfuls of laundry to put them in the washing machine. When I straightened up it suddenly felt as if I’d been tasered in the back. Bilateral back spasms shot across my back about a third of the way down, to the point where I had to make a conscious effort to breathe. The initial burst subsided, but the twinges and aches (and occasional breathlessness) continued throughout the long weekend. I discovered I was particularly sore when I sat in my recliner with my laptop in its place and my head inclined toward the screen. Hey, it’s not loading 16 tons of number 9 coal or getting black lung disease, but work can be hard sometimes.

During this crunch time it’s not only been hard to find the time to write, it’s been hard to find the time to browse my favorite blogs and news sites. This has the effect of dampening the stimulation that usually leads to better blog-posts (or at least better researched ones). In the gap I’ve spun out more personal observations on things going on in and around my life since I don’t have to think much about these. It’s kind of fun, but I fear I’m drifting toward what a guest on Hugh Hewitt’s show a couple of weeks ago described as a “thumb suck” blog; all navel-gazing and domestic details.

Now, I enjoy a good thumb suck blog as much (or more) as the next guy. Some of my favorites could fall into that derogatory-sounding category, and blogs like Lileks and Cathy In the Wright helped me make up my mind about getting into blogging. That may well be my true calling. Still, I’d like to think I can sneak the hammer in from time to time, thumbs-be-damned.

Soon, I hope.

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