I have gone a full week without posting anything, the longest such period since I began writing this blog seven years ago. There’s a number of good reasons for it.
For one thing I’m tired. I’ve been working (at my real work) very hard, many deadlines all at once. Between that, working on estate and trust business, and ordinary life activities, I haven’t had a lot of energy left over for blogging. I’ve continued my regular daily reading schedule (the opinion pages of the NYT, WP, Christian Science Monitor, and WSJ, probably 50 blogs). Which brings me to another reason for my slow spell.
Blog posts grow from news, opinion, and other blog posts and it’s been a while since I’ve seen anything worth commenting on. Libya? I’ve said my piece on it. Saving lives is a worthy objective but ends don’t justify means. And, at least to my eyes, the worthy objective recedes from sight as time goes by. Killing 1,000 people to save 100,000 others can, possibly, be justified. Killing 100,000 to save 100,000 can’t.
And I’m a little blue. Some of it is seasonal adjustment, some the economy, some fatigue, some our wars, the tsunami (and subsequent nuclear disaster) in Japan, and so on. It’s just overwhelming.
Over the rest of the day, possibly overflowing into tomorrow, I plan to post a bit on the things I see that are making me feel blue. However, to put things on a brighter footing, here’s something on the theme that cheers me up a bit:
I’m going to keep this post at the top for a while. Scroll down for my later posts:
“Can You Reconcile the Employment Situation Report With the Low Rate of New Business Creation?”
“Healthcare: the Other Vampire Squid*”
Snap out of it Dave. I need your blog for MY happiness. Seriously though, hope you get over the hump because I miss your posts when they aren’t here on my daily blog rounds. Your commentary is intelligent and philosophical and your comments section is a great place to hone one’s arguments or just have fun ticking people off.
I’m sure you’ve already read about basing your happiness on circumstances out of your control, but stop doing that.
My mom would insist your fatigue is from a gluten intolerance, but I think mine is from having to hear that from her every time she talks to me.
Now, I have that song in my head. And even as a Bacall skeptic, I think her singing is fun.
OT, but I recently watched a couple more episodes of “Who Do You Think You Are?” at your recommendation, Tim McGraw and Lionell Richie. McGraw provided some avenue for personal investigation, since I have some Palantine ancestors that settled in the backcountry of Virginia, but the Richie episode was excellent and the most informative about U.S. history and I gained new-found respect for Richie in viewing it. I’ll probably watch a few more because of it.
And I’m a little blue. Some of it is seasonal adjustment, some the economy, some fatigue, some our wars, the tsunami (and subsequent nuclear disaster) in Japan, and so on. It’s just overwhelming.
I have this (sickening) feeling that the first three months of 2011 were just the warm up.
Incidentally, James Bond is described in the original books as looking like Hoagy Carmichael.
My recollection is that Fleming thought of Trevor Howard when they were casting the movie.
I’ve never been much for pop psychology. But I have to tell you. I’ve just returned from a week in sunny Arizona, and the fair weather and sunshine there seemed to have an almost instantaneous affect on my mood.
Flying back this afternoon and the approach to OHare with overcast skys almost made the shoulders slump. Might be something to it.
Fear not. The perennials are blooming. Sun is on its way. As for the economy………….uh, er………
As an afterthought…………
I know you are more an opera fan. But……… Fast forward about 14 years to the great and classic jazz album “Kind of Blue,” featuring Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderly, Jimmy Cobb, Paul Chambers and the great, great Bill Evans. Belying its title, if this soothing, yet undeniably uplifting, music doesn’t improve your mood you are truley in a deep funk.
Thanks for the tip. I was a jazz fan before I was an opera fan. Indeed, back in the day I played piano, guitar, upright bass, and (of all things) banjo in a couple of jazz combos.
I think Drew may be onto something when it comes to sunshine. A cup of coffee, a cigar (for the record, I quit smoking cigars) and a whole lot of sunshine here in my back yard in SoCal and I can’t work up much depression.
When I do get bummed I remind myself that if I ever complain about my life I deserve to get smacked.
And for some music from this century: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zmIR1aAGYE
A little punk for your tastes, perhaps, but an apropos message.