Taking A Holiday

Contrary to popular belief, this isn't how I type

I was torn about how to go about telling the rather twisted, but exceptionally loyal readership of "Just Blowing Smoke" that the editorial staff of this blog recently voted unanimously to take the entire month of July off (especially since it's seldom that any two of them agree on anything).  

Not that it's particularly surprising to me that this group would vote itself a month long holiday, but that's only because I know what slackers they can be when they set their minds to it.  This is the United States of America however (It is, isn't it?), so taking the advice of friends and advisers, I put my foot down (very gently, as I remember) and told them that we needed to limit their shenanigans to a two week period.    

Even at that, my greatest concern with such a break was over having to unlock both the attic Command Center of the Department of Just Blowing Smoke Security, and the smaller room in which the lexicographers of the "SOS Dictionary" work with quill and parchment. The ramifications of such an event were so grave that I even seriously considered issuing a 'Terror Alert' without the permission of the DJBSS, knowing the damage that could be realized by turning these hooligans loose on a largely unsuspecting public (not to mention the potential legal actions).  In the end, a decision was made not to issue such an alert, figuring that like Adam Sandler movies, the public-at-large usually gets what it deserves.  We have collected all available liquid assets however (no, not the booze, but the few coins lying about in the sofa cushions), in case we need bail money.

I did want to make sure that we set a specific time frame for this holiday, in the hopes that we wouldn't lose those of you who have been loyally following this site for some time now.  So as we take a break here beginning with July 1st, a return to what constitutes a normal schedule (a word I always hesitate to use regarding this blog) will occur with a new posting on Wednesday, July 18th.  During the interim, one can only hope that the staff manages to recharge their batteries, stay out of jail, and rediscover some of the very limited talent and writing ability that they once had (skills which have diminished significantly since the last such break).  If nothing else, they will hopefully return with a greater enthusiasm than they appear to be exhibiting lately. (No matter how hard we tried, we never seemed to get the staff to buy into "the beatings will continue until morale improves" program that we instituted.)

Knowing this group, it's unlikely that they would have been able to take the entire month off anyway, and that they will gladly return in a couple of weeks; broke, hung over, and grateful to return to the safety of their respective enclaves.  It's possible however that while even this brief holiday lasts, some subject will come up that demands a timely response.  Since I myself don't expect to be leaving headquarters during this period (are you kidding, with that mob out there), I may try to cobble something together on my own in such an event (such efforts normally producing a great deal of amusement for the rest of the staff); so feel free to check in from time to time during this couple of weeks. 

In the meantime, I hope that you find enjoyable pursuits (but not too enjoyable) to substitute for this regrettable but necessary absence.  The smoking lamp is now officially lit, so smoke 'em if you got 'em.

Taking Kind Of A Break

Those of you paying attention will have noticed that this is my first actual writing output in a week. Those of you paying close attention will have noted that last week's effort was mostly a reissue and the normal Wednesday effort never actually occurred. 


The reasons for my recent failures of production are nothing earth-shattering, and certainly nothing to be of concern about; but they did seem to lead me to the conclusion that now might be a good time to take on a lower level of output for a couple of weeks or so. 


I suddenly found that while there seems a lot that could be commented about, doing so seems at best farcical and at worst futile. I also found that I was writing because I had to write about something and not because I wanted to. Since "Just Blowing Smoke" is a non-profit endeavor, such effort seemed even more foolish than the output itself. 


This is not to say that I will not be writing anything for a while, but rather that my schedule for posting will more than a little erratic, depending more on how much a subject moves me than on the day of the week that it does so. I hope that perhaps by reducing the quantity for a bit might increase the enthusiasm for doing so; and that the quality of the work will begin to show improvement that it has recently lacked as a consequence. 


I hope that you will look in from time to time to see what might have been added to the compendium of nonsensical maundering that Just Blowing Smoke has become infamous for, and will try to post links when possible on my Facebook page. Meanwhile, smoke 'em if you got 'em. You can be assured that I will ...

Hiatus

Just Blowing Smoke will be taking a brief hiatus while I take care of some personal obligations, relocate to more familial environs, recharge my batteries, and take up the long overdue quest to rediscover some creativity. Have no fear however. Regardless of the requests of some to make this departure of a more permanent nature, Just Blowing Smoke will be returning to tilt at windmills before you know it ... 


I can think of no more fitting way to begin this latest transition in life than with one of my favorite quotes from Tom Stoppard: 

"We cross our bridges when we come to them and burn them behind us, with nothing to show for our progress except a memory of the smell of smoke, and a presumption that once our eyes watered."