Well, that's 9 years

Tonight was my last meeting as a councilman for the Village of Orwell. Unless there's an emergency. Thus ends an era in my life.

So what things have I learned? Patience. Lots and lots of patience. Nine times out of ten whatever the rumor is, it's completely wrong. That last one out of ten, just 90% wrong. If someone in government is found embezzling funds, lots of people have to have screwed up. Government accounting is the weirdest contraption know to modern accounting. Most people's conception of government and how it works is completely backassward and incomplete.

I've been involved in most aspects of the local government. I was liaison for Parks, BOPA (water), and backup liaison for SCAD (our ambulance service) and a few other things. Served on Streets and Lands and Buildings, Finance, and have been chairman of Streets/LB and Safety. I've been involved with the purchase of most of the vehicles the village currently uses. I've hired seven people, fired/let go two. And I have missed approximately 8 meetings that whole time (most of them over the past two summers because of classes). Pushed legislation, fixed legislation, helped get legislation passed.

All in all, I guess it was worth it.

In that time I've missed family events, missed writer events, and generally have had the wind constantly knocked out of my sails. Just when I think I would get my feet under me, something would come along and require more attention than things really should take. I would be into the rhythm of writing, and then some temporary crisis would arise that would take my time and attention.

No more. Now I can have my life interrupted by the normal things. You know, things that other writers friends have already dealt with and have tips of how to overcome. Have I mentioned how much this council thing sucked away my time and brain?

Would I recommend getting involved with your government? Yes. Citizens getting involved is what it's all about. Plus, you'll never know what you'll learn about the process. I've loved a lot of it. The people involved wiht our local government are hard working and do this work because they feel responsible for the village. It's been my great pleasure to have worked with them. I've learned more about my community that I ever would have other wise (and it's not like I wasn't involved before, being a member of the planning commission and a director in Ruritans (or local service club).

But, okay, I've done my bit for king and country. Actually, this is my second go at that well. It's time for others to step up to the plate.

Ah, those budget cuts

My police officers just did a major meth lab bust. I guess someone got stupid and forgot why there weren't any within village limits. They broke into an abandoned house and used it to make their stuff. We stopped them, made several arrests, and cleaned up the property. Meth labs contain several hazardous and dangerous chemicals. Our costs for cleanup come just shy of $2000.

Now, in the past we could get reimbursed for those costs. After all, it's a Federal and State law that we're enforcing. But after cutting our county drug enforcement team (welcome to Ashtabula, Meth Lab to NE Ohio, watch out for the broken glass), the State's new budget has cut all funding for reimbursing local law enforcement for their costs of cleaning up the mess.

So, with our budgets very tight, if we ran our government like a business, guess what my advice to the police chief would be? You know, instead of the "Congrats, everybody. Damn good job. Thanks" (and here I'll give a shout out to the Chiefs and patrolmen of the Roaming Shores, Andover, and Jefferson police forces who helped us out, we are grateful, good job everybody).

I'd rather we do the work and keep our residents safe.

Incidentally, we also had our taser damage during the tussle. So we're out that cost too. Hey, Gov. Kasich, I'm giving you a return salute. Thanks for the helping hand. Maybe if you let your buddies in the private jail business know that because of the cuts we're finding it hard to send them billing units we might get this resolved.

Again, good job everybody. You make me proud.

Open Letter Regarding the Festivities Tonight

So tonight we're interviewing internal candidates to replace our police chief. Our current chief, seeing the movement in the state by the new conservative government, has decided enough is enough (and, while I don't know for sure, I'm pretty sure he is conservative in his politics). He has over 30 years of time in and before they cut his retirement benefits again he's getting what he can now (all the discussions are always tinged with "for current retiree's nothing will change…").

Thanks, SB5, for so much of this fun. I can't wait to see you go down in flames.

As with every hiring process, it brings out the worst in people. As chairman, I've been getting lobbied a lot. Really people, I appreciate your input, but can you be a little more subtle about it? I appreciate politics as much as the next person, but I'm also a craftsman. Show me how good you can be. I'm tired of ducking 2x4s.

Which brings me to the anonymous letter I received yesterday. Yes. An anonymous snail mail letter. The letter warned me away from hiring anyone internal, even called out one applicant by name.

And here's the part I love. Of course the person who wrote this felt they could only send an anonymous letter so as to keep reprisals from themselves, their family, and their neighbors.

I've heard this crap one too many times. I've investigated this one too many times. You all are full of bullshit. We have a professional police force. If you believe you've been the subject of a reprisal by our police, report it to the sheriff if you don't want to bring it up to the chief. The sheriff and the village don't have any love for each other at the moment, so if you're worried that you'll be singled out, the sheriff would be only to happy to bring something against us.

But you won't. Because there are no reprisals. Because you have no evidence. Because you're attempting to create a false impression of our police force. Because you're so stuck in the past when we did have a chief who wasn't professional you can't recognize that things have changed.

But then, you also expect this to happen because this is how you operate. Yes, I'm fairly certain I know who penned the letter. Just how stupid do you think I am? You're attempting to use anonymity to diffuse any counter argument because you know your position can't stand even the simplest rebuttal or scrutiny.

I'm sorry this is no longer a place you recognize and you can't adjust. I'm not sorry for me, I'm sorry for you. We no longer can run the village the way it was in "back in the day" so please stop telling me about it. I'm sorry you can't run afoul of the law and then have it "fixed" anymore or skate by. We have grown. We have a professional police force now. I won't let you drag us back just because you can't behave or want to act the way you think you're entitled to.

And here's just a little advice. I don't take seriously anyone who won't be recognized. If you want me to to keep your identity confidential, I'm cool with that. Just tell me up front. However, you've cut the effectiveness of your argument by 50% right off the bat. Attempting to remain completely anonymous for no other reason than to lob grenades and you now lose 100% of your credibility. Also, bring me evidence. No more hearsay or rumors. You want to make a charge, make it in writing and sign your name. Without that, don't waste me time. I say this because you obviously don't have the courage of your convictions, and I mean that at the lowest level of acceptance.

Oh, and your main charge is dead wrong. They all have the experience to be chief. I know this through their resumes and by talking with people who actually know them and their work. So, you fail there.

Until you're able to stand up and give me real evidence and argument, I'm discounting your advice. And until you feel that it's enough of a problem that you need to do something yourself, it isn't a problem. Stop wasting my time.

Suck it up little camper.

Wow, look at those sails

Remember when I said that council meetings have had the ability to suck the winds out of my sails? Well, yeah, there it is. Looks like we've entered the Orwellian Doldrums.

No, really people. You got a problem, fargin' state it now. Cut this, "Well, it's really complex and I'm not sure I can explain it now," shit out. Right now. You came to the meeting, we made an exception to the rules and put you on the agenda, and then you punt?I'm tired of this inability to have basic communications. I'm tired of the codependent games you play. Try this gambit and you immediately have quite a number of negative points against your argument.

Right now I'm balancing my desire to care about doing a good job and wanting to cut this crap out and simply writing these people off as kooks who don't deserve to be heard. Really, it's a codependent play that attempts to either elicit sympathy, concern, garner attention, and simply make you feel bad for a time. And I'm tired of it.

A day as long as my leg

Well, just finished dinner at 9:30pm, so that should tell you what kind of day it has been.

The day thing is feast or famine. Today was feast (after two days of famine). And design work filled the schedule. First a special job for a friend of the owner. I'm assuming it's going on top of a jar (or side of a jar) for a gift of food. I got to be a bit crazy playing with hot colors, some cartooning, and license to be a little wacky. Frankly, if I may say so, I blew the stoppers out and created a funky little piece. Then I finished the day with form design, the stall mucking part of the job (it's dirty, it pays the bills, not glamourous in any sense - even if Mike Rowe gave running commentary - and you feel like you're shoveling shit - so you buck up and do it the best you can).

In other news I've started taking the welbutrin again. I may have over reacted to some emotional problems, but the holidays are stressful enough without me adding to them with being a dick. I also had an episode of going to extreme anger over the slightest problem. I don't wish to suffer through the holidays. We'll relook at it again after the New Year. Tomorrow I have a doctor's appointment. It won't be a good one. There's several issues to discuss, welbutrin being the least. I switched over to extended release metformin in October when a side-effect of the regular kind became too much. However, I don't think I'm responding to this formulation as well, although the side-effects are gone. My weight has been creeping up even though I'm eating less, fewer "extras" (like ice cream, pop, bagels, donuts, etc) and I'm working out on the Wii (6 minutes of Super Hula Hoops, OMG!).

I've only managed about 50 new words on Chapter 38, but I am self-editing some little pieces that will be in an anthology soon. Since the matter of pay for markets has come up and I've made comments on it in support of Scalzi's position (if you've seen the arguments, you know his position), I'll mention that there was no pay for these pieces (although there is the chance of royalties). The differences are 1) I went in full aware of that - and no payment, frankly, is more honest than fraction of pennies per word, 2) The editor is respected in the field and will edit these pieces professionally, 3) I honestly have more chance of exposure through this antho, and in the right quarters, than from some 4theluv or semi-pro markets, and 4) I had a hell of a lot of fun writing them and enjoyed the challenge of writing a story in blog form and in twitter length.

Then tonight we had an "emergency meeting" to discuss some of the issues surround our new Village Charter. And here I'll make a shout out to Dwight who is in the hospital with pneumonia. I just heard tonight and I hope you're feeling better soon. Some measure of panic over things easily remedied. And I think it showed part of a point brought up in the meeting, we have strong leadership in the Village and we exercise that for the service and betterment of citizens of the Village.

Long day

Busy day. Things are a bit whacky at the day thing. Tomorrow we'll see how some issues of today have resolved. Client is not happy (my guess is they don't understand the process and are experiencing some disjuncts because of that). You can't always knock it out of the park.

Took about twenty minutes at lunch and banged out 500 words or so.

And tomorrow will be (big voice) One Month to Viable Paradise. (ominous music)

Racing home to make a meeting when I get called on the road about how it had been cancelled. Took the Honda out of afterburners and drove the rest of the way home sanely. Wrote emails and reports tonight (so the Clerk doesn't have to chastise me again).

Tonight I can't focus well. Maybe got another 50 words out.

Forgot to mention yesterday I was sanding down the second mud coat on the Holes in the Wall(tm) and was thinking, "Hey, this is going well. Nice sanded edges. I may not have to do another coat. OMG!" That, you honor, was when the orbital sander's edge caught in still wet mud (waited over 24 hours, WTF) and made a nice big divot. SoB! So, did some corrective work and almost got it back to okay. So, third coat of mud went on and I'm going to give it 48 hours to dry (at least).

And that, your Honor, was when I snapped

So I had a post all planned out. And then major Village stuff interfered. Not just the major thing already on the docket for tomorrow, but a recurring pain-in-the-rump just flared up again and became a major problem. One that may involve lawsuits and substantial changes to services in the Village.

I'm seeing red, and I aim to misbehave.

Of course it also blew all thoughts about how writing spec fic is or isn't an art and how this related to my BFA in Graphic Design.

Imagine me doing my best Lewis Black imitation.

No place like Gnome

Back home. Tired to the bone. A lot of good information, lots fun stuff, lots of network and catching up with friends.

Would like to talk about it all, but see that tired thing. Tomorrow is the day job. I guess the village has also been a buzz this past weekend as people finally get that we're going to ask them to change their government in a big way (well, not really, but because it's NEW they don't think it's good). I guess there were many phone calls this weekend.

So for at least the next two days I'm going to be dealing with Night Job stuff.

Councilman on the run

Busy day at work, and busy day on council (played stand-in water board liaison tonight for a packed house of people upset with some bills), so not much from me tonight.

So, anybody else out there listen to podcasts at work? If so, I have a question. Is it just my place but when I start playing a podcast, that's the time that everybody around me starts making noise. They talk, call out to each other, etc. But when I'm not playing podcasts they all keep quiet.

Now, I wait until things are quiet to play a podcast so I can listen to it. Once I start, then everybody starts talking to each other or talk loudly on the phone, the heating/air conditioning starts up, people get paged. When I'm not playing a podcast, things get very quiet.

So I'm starting to do experiments. I'm tried listening to the latest "Writing Excuses" on "Non-liner story telling" today. It's only 16 minutes long, and I've stopped and started it four times.

Tomorrow night looks about the same (as the same issue will spill over to there). Fun fun fun for me. Plus all the other stuff going on with the village.

Absenteeism

It looks like I need to take blogging prunes to help get regular again. There's been lots of work for the night thing. So even though I was on another layoff day I was pretty busy. Unfortunately I don't get paid extra for it. There's also the chance of some freelance work coming in. I was able to get ahold of the client today, so we'll see about tomorrow.

For the day thing we have this union/management committee that we can suggest business ideas or improvements to help us work easier, smarter, more efficiently. Well, this past Tuesday was a meeting and I had an idea. Unfortunately since we're not all in the meeting, I have no idea what the reception of the idea was. It would be a big change and without knowing more of the pricing models we're using, I have no idea if it's feasible. A little nervous about it. Some people's toes may have been stepped on.

Also, for the night thing there's some controversy in the Village. Not so much from what we did (although it was a tough choice and vote) but how it came about. I can't explain more about it, but while I feel good about my vote, I feel definitely played by certain parties. I'm thinking about what I need to do about it. Everything I've come up with so far would seem petty.

So tomorrow is going to be an interesting day.

The day is shot

And at various points I wish I was as well.

We're back to a more normal work load at work (which means people are and will be upset that I won't be able to work on their non-billing projects in a speedy fashion). It also means I'm back up over 450 unread blog posts. My lurker-fu powers grow.

Probably not going to get all my research for this weekend done in time. I've been trying to find good references online to review for some of the topics, and it just ain't working so well. Oh google, why do you taunt me so?

Had to say "No" several times in committee meeting tonight. Had an argument over a $100 PO for t-shirts. T-shirts! $100! WTF! (not that the t-shirts are $100s, they're $10 per printed shirt, but that I had to argue about $100) But then came discussions of bigger numbers and projects. When I had to say, "probably not this or next year" I had to remind the person that we just argued about $100 for frickin' t-shirts (and the other money pinching we had to do earlier with a "must have" system). How other municipalities allow themselves to go into the red I just don't understand (I understand how they can, I just don't know how they let themselves get there).

Didn't have time for lunch today (fortunately a vendor brought bagels, felt like a heel taking two), and didn't eat dinner until 9:45pm. Why did I want to do this?

And not getting any writing done. Had a few panic moments this past week about submissions (not having enough, wondering where they are in process, wanting to get a story into WotF contest this year, wondering if the submissions are moldering because of inattention, etc).

At the Doctor's appointment yesterday I was up 1 lb. I blame the "Fall Fest Luncheon" at work on Friday, high calorie low value food which I try to avoid. And Saturday at Mom's ("feed 'em until the pop" is a family motto). Plus didn't evacuate (if you know what I mean) well because of the bad food. That didn't happen until today (thank you very much, stupid intestines).

I plan to take the laptop with me to ConClave and blog about my experience there. So far nobody has volunteered the money for an iTouch, so it's lugging the laptop around (actually, I love my 7-year old laptop).

So, how have you all been?

(::waves at Camille, who I see by the comment emails visited me today::)

Oh, and because I'm thinking about it, the show House? Yeah, doesn't work so well for me. Why? Because as a smart doctor he doesn't know how to use a cane. As someone who has had to walk with one (my broken leg), you do not use the cane on the same side as your bum leg (unless you want more pain and problems). You use it on the opposite side to take the weight off the bum leg. So my suspension of disbelief goes right out the window. I'm very surprised that nobody has pointed this out to the producers and actor.

The call me Mister Scratchy

I'm growing my beard again. After nearly half a year going as "Baby Face Buchheit" (and here Steve cringes hoping that name won't stick), it's time to get my whiskers back. They're now long enough that they move independent of the skin beneath, and while still scratchy I'm on my way to softness. Smooching shall restart shortly thereafter.

Told the guy to order the furnace last night. Here's a link to what I'm getting, in case you care. Energy star certified, single stage, 4-speed blower, 40,000 BTU, hot-point ignition, aluminized steel heat exchangers (lifetime warrantee), 95.5% AFUE, a slight improvement on what I currently have. I thought about upgrading to a DC motor, but the cost differential didn't make it worth it, the four-speed blower should help though (current furnace is on or off). Only a 3% increase in efficiency won't be giving us a good ROI, but it's higher than the other options we had. It'll blow about 25% more air (at full blower speed) than out previous, and the BTU's are the same (I have a small house, the furnace is centrally located, it's kept us warm enough), so we should be as warm as we want to be. As I'm sure you've all noticed I over-think and over research all my big purchases. This is the fastest I've ever spent $2822 of my own money, so part of my brain is still wary. But things are going to be very tight this fall as far as budget goes. Good thing I cut my own hair.

Last night was not only our general council meeting, but also the County Commissioners were at our place beforehand. The mayor and I gave them a piece of our minds concerning the timing of rolling out the new MARCS radio system. That was somewhat cathartic, but since we are the only community in the SE corner of Ashtabula that has our own police department, the other township trustees could only give us some moral support (and it was probably the first they had heard about this). There's another meeting later this month that we can go and express our displeasure and desire to slow down the transfer (so we can get past the New Year, where we can qualify for grants, also new fiscal year).

It's been a while since I've talked about the big D. I'm doing better, thanks. At least now I feel stressed, instead of thinking, "Why am I doing/behaving like this? I must be stressed out." Feeling the emotions again is a good thing. I sometimes dip back in to big D, like slipping beneath the waves. Fortunately those episodes only last for a day or two. I'm sure I could be doing better with talk therapy, but when do I have the time for that (see stress comment before)? So we continue limping along, but we're better. It's easier to see myself objectively, and to perk myself up. Although I still have behavior that one part of my brain is yelling, "Don't do that, do go there, stop that, don't get that extra helping, etc" but I still end up doing it anyway. Although the other night I did stop one stress-behavior/bad habit from continuing. So progress on that front. I've only called myself an idiot a few times in the past week, so progress there too.

Way Too Long of a Day

Finally got home at 10:15pm today. Had a very long committee meeting. Let me give you one pointer that we reinforced at the meeting (that many people get, and with their help we've caught some criminals).

If you see something criminal, call the police. If you see something that just doesn't look normal (like cars in a parking lot, with lights on in a building that is normally closed at the time), call the police. If kids are carrying a case of beer down the road, call the police.

911 is for emergencies. There are several other non-emergency numbers you can call the police using. We have a number to "talk to an officer." It goes to the same switchboard dispatch as 911, but it's for non-emergencies. If you see a crime in action, if your life or property is in immediate danger, call 911. If you think the criminals will be gone by the time the police get there, call the non-emergency number for the police anyway. They can at least get your statement. Adding reports together can help them solve crimes.

Do not bother the police if the drive through clerk forgot the fries or gave you the wrong pop or short changed you five cents. Do call them if the clerk accidentally gives you the dime bag. Do not use them to get even at your neighbors (actually, that's a felony). Do call them if that neighbor is abusing their spouse (there are several anonymous channels to go through).

Your police get paid exactly the same if they're watching traffic as when they're responding to your call. If you think calling them multiple times is annoying, responding later to your neighbor's call that you're laying out in the driveway is more annoying. They would rather come ten times to find nothing than miss the one time they could have stopped a crime, or at least immediately arrest the perpetrators. The police will prioritize your call. If it's a non-emergency they might take some time to respond (in some parts of the country that may mean days, in most parts it means a few hours).

Large cities may be different, but your local community police want to know you, and want to know what's happening.

SEGWAY

Watching Fox news analysis after Clinton's speech, I guess they brought the kool-aid tank with them. And that anybody listens to Billy Kristol anymore just floors me. How many times does he have to be wrong before we stop paying him for analysis?

Sometimes We're Asked to be the Jackbooted Thugs

With the economy worsening and some other specific changes to ownership of property and the management of it we're seeing an increase in some potentially criminal activity in our Village. And we have some upset residents because of it.

So last night I got to handle a complaint about some of this. Much of the conversation revolved around why we can't violate the rights of the "criminal element" or force landlords to do things, or pass laws quickly (when I explained that having a law enforced in under 12 months, if it's significant legislation, probably wouldn't happen). So now I get to feel bad because of what is happening in the Village and that I can't help these people. Or at least in any fashion that would be faster than them simply moving away.

To be fair to us, reading the ordinance they would like us to copy from Cleveland, we've already done some of the "resolving actions" contained. I need to research the Ohio Revised Code that this ordinance references. I have a feeling they go to the civil remedies that are available to renters, but I want to make sure. If they do, what this ordinance would add doesn't help their situation beyond what we've already done.

So law abiding citizens would really like it if the government could just willy-nilly tell people how to manage their property. Or else. After all, we would only use such powers for good.

I've put some things in motion and asked for comment on others and updates on still more. I've told they person they can come to our meetings (you all know that in the US you can go to your government meetings, no reservation - usually - unless you want to speak). But I'm not sure how much more we can help without violating the Constitution and our codified laws. I'll thread the needle of getting information on continuing investigations without interfering or compromising them. That's always fun.

The end result is that if a landowner really wants to let their properties go to seed and ruin, there's not much we can do to stop them. Some laws that have been proposed (through zoning) that could have helped here were roundly trounced as over reaching.

One of these days I'd like to have one week of feeling good.

Long Weekend Not in the Berkshires

Never did get to the store. Did little stuff around the home all weekend. Cleaned out the laundry room, dismantled the hot air vent on the clothes drier (wasn't planned) and put it back together. The drier works better now. Did another CLR treatment on the washer, washer doesn't work better. Will need to try new pump hose. On the plus side, with having to reconnect drier vent I moved everything in the utility room around (that could be moved) and cleaned up the floor under the appliances. Scrubbed the bathrooms after having waited way too long (LimeAway, oh how I love thee). Wrote about 3000 words that will never see the light of day, the less said about the better. Caught up with the blogs (at least I think, with the dial-up the RSS feeds don't update so well). Found the exact gift I was looking for at a great price, two weeks after I got something close at 3x the cost (sigh). Spent too much time on the intertubienets. And slept. Oh boy howdie, did I sleep.

Last night we had fireworks, the first this village has had since I've been living here. That was a little fun. They couldn't launch them too high (for some reason), and while it was only a block away, the trees obscured most of it, but we could see enough to have fun.

Today I did the councilman thing, on the sly. I set up the sound system for the parade, and then watched said parade. Spent fifteen minutes talking with our Chief of Police. This evening I walked up to the fair and spent too much money on dinner, caught up with a friend I haven't seen for a long time (part-time police, ambulance paramedic, former county emergency management team, etc, and so on, in retirement he's working even more, seems to be a theme in these parts).

Still gots all my balls

Well nothing was resolved tonight, so I still have all those balls to juggle for another two weeks. Damnit. Person from the public never showed up. The MARCS radio system was bounced back to committee (I need to do a post about that, severely not liking it as a citizen, as someone in charge of Safety I see it's benefits).

Also the dishwasher is still leaking. I took off all the front plates I could. There was a little water underneath, but not as much as I expected. I can't find a tub seal in the parts list. So it's looking like we may need a whole new washer. Will look under it during the next washing. After CLRing the washing machine it still drains slowly, so I'll need to do that again. I guess if home ownership were easy they'd just let anybody have one.

Too many notes, Mozart

There comes a point in juggling, as the assistant is feeding more balls into the circle, that the juggler's brain refuses to process anymore. In fact, it hits the big "Tilt" sign and shuts down. All the balls come falling down.

After the blazing display of focus the other week with writing, I've been hoping to continue that. But there's too many balls in the air, and I get paralyzed and can't do anything. Tomorrow some of those balls will go away after the monthly meeting, hopefully not to be replaced with more balls. This week I hope to put two freelance projects to bed (and force a check out of a client I thought I could trust), fewer balls. The door gasket on the dishwasher didn't help, one more ball. But I cleaned out the float mechanism, which was all gunked up. One fewer ball (until we test it). I really hope it's not the tub gasket, or the water line (as I haven't figured out how to get under the thing without dismantling much of the front). More virtual balls. Yard needs work, chores need done, crime needs busted, all balls in the air.

I need to get back writing. The words are starting to eat me. And I'm bugging you all with my output (I don't want to count the past two weeks of blog output, that would be depressing).

Why Steve Can't Come Out and Play

Things have been very hectic lately. The day job, which is hectic, but not a lot of overtime lately. I work with a computer that is nearly a decade old so there are many times I get to watch the rainbow spiral waiting for applications to do things (I'm one of those people that use keyboard commands as much as possible). In the past I've used that time (and the time it takes for applications to load, files to load, fonts to load, etc) to read and comment on blogs. I'm now not supposed to do that. So my brain which is usually running at full steam goes to sleep while I wait. Errors are up. This isn't good for anybody.

Then there's the first night job. Let's just say things have been so crazy and stressful that my gums are receding. Yes, you haven't lived until your dentist takes one look in your mouth and says, "You really need to get a new job." Mine has. For two jobs. I haven't seen my dentist yet, but I can guess that he'll repeat this line (note, I really do like my dentist and my dental hygienist, I go half an hour out of my way to see you, take that as my vote of confidence). Using all my managerial skills just to get ahold of the situation. Next comes remedying issues brought up. I've been wondering if I just shouldn't walk away from it all (damn duty bone keeps me here) and spend time doing something more fruitful (like writing). And I don't think I'm spilling any beans here when I say that because of the economy, well, sucking eggs, our tax revenues are predicted to be down. A lot. Major cuts necessary kind of down. People upset because they're not getting the same level of service they expect down.

My stress level is so much that I can't focus on other things. I'm exhausted. I'm not able to plan out things. This past weekend I went to my writer's group and I felt guilty for spending that time in such an extravagant way on myself. And lately I've been noticing signs of depression. The big D depression. I'm tired all the time. Taking pleasure in normal fun things takes work. My snark knobs are turned to 11 (that 10 with the knob pulled out to get the vacuum-tube overdrive - just in case you're wondering, 4 is my normal). Food doesn't taste good. I'm stuffing with it anyway. Sleeping is troublesome. And this damn flu keeps hanging on.

There's an ice storm going on right now. I can hear ice falling off the house and branches coming down outside. The lights have dimmed twice so far. The drive home was fun. Tomorrow's commute will be hilarious.

And I haven't been getting the words out. Sure, random notes are now coming, and I've been writing some (yes, I know I should be writing them all) down. I finally put all the critique notes together for "Interview" (needs a new title), but some of those notes are "show the whole system fully through details" or "show his frogginess here."

I was supposed to be writing the novel this year. To get enough of it out that I could apply for Viable Paradise and have it finished by the end of October. And the words aren't there. The time and energy aren't there.

It's only because I'm procrastinating writing emails for the Village that I'm blogging.

The Village Thing

Last night we had our organizational meeting for the Village. This is when we decide who is going to serve on what committee or as a liaison, who will be the chairs of the committees, etc.

I've also been psyching myself up to get more writing done in the new year. With the help of the Mayor I've been able to keep the time spent on Council Work down, although it's been a major part of my head space, especially these past two months.

There, that's a synopsis. And then things go from bad to worse.

Last last year one of our fellow councilmen suffered a stroke. He's healing up well (from what we understand), but he still isn't back to being able to get about and serve. He was also one of my fellow chairmen.

Can you see where this is going?

On the plus side, I'm no longer Chairman of Streets, Lands and Buildings. Don't get me wrong, I liked serving in that capacity. I like our Village Employee(s). I think we did some good, but I'm glad for the relief of responsibility. I'm still a member of the committee, but now I get to give advice, instead of making policy and direction. Hopefully that would clear up some head space and energy. However, still serving on the committee means an equal number of monthly meetings.

And then there's the other thing. I'm still a chairman. Only now I'm chairman of Safety (which means the Police and Fire Departments). Safety has two meetings a month. And the reason for that seems a good one, but maybe I can convince people to merge them back together. I can't say more than that.

Cycle repeats.

I've been involved with the Safety Committee, and have had talks with the Chiefs more than once, but I've never served on the committee. Now I'm chair. Oh boy.

Cycle repeats.

There are a few controversies involving the Safety Committee right at the moment. Well, controversy isn't the word. Contention, individual upset, bruhaha, those might be better.

So to sum up, I go from one extra mandatory meeting a month to three (add to that the main council meetings). Jump into the middle of committee work with no ramp up. And become a target for an existing bruhaha.

Can you see that my New Year's Cup o' Joy is overflowing already?

Yeah, I didn't sleep well last night either.