I haven't been posting anything here lately. I've used this space for talking about health care issues, dental issues, some music stuff, a bunch of book stuff, and even a little personal stuff on occasion. But lately, I haven't had the energy to update here, or on my Disney blog, or on my Chicago sports blog (to which I have not posted a link here or anywhere else).

This is not to say that nothing's been happening. I was fortunate enough to be able to go to the Caribbean (Turks and Caicos) with our extended family. What a beautiful place! The Cubs opened up their season (to mixed reviews) and the Bulls have made the playoffs, mired in controversy as they may be. The Black Hawks are in the playoffs also.

Work has been busy. I've lost a part time assistant, and hired another already to take her place (actually the new hire was the second choice from the last interview process). The place is exhausting me.

Kids are into something every day except Friday and Sunday right now. There's piano, karate, and soccer to go along with all the schoolwork. Fourth grade is tougher than you might remember. My son's learning a bunch of stuff about grammar right now...at least I suppose it would be considered "grammar". Last night's homework had to do with helping, action and linking verbs. I have to study to see if he's doing it right. I don't remember this stuff. (In that last sentence, I think that "do" is the helping verb, right?)

And of course there were taxes. Now there is retirement plan junk to deal with. At least I have about two months before the 5500's are due. Whoopee!

And I've read a bunch of books, including a few kid's books. One is called THE CANDY SHOP WAR, and another is called THE MAGIC THIEF. They were quite good. I finished two more John the Lord Chamberlain books, numbers 5 and 6. I'm sure there have been others as well, like THE SIEGE by Stephen White. And a couple of library books.

We jammed once in March. It was with four of us, one being a different drummer. It was okay. I wasn't crazy about the drummer's style. He was a nice guy but sort of loosey-goosey in his drumming. Had some chops, and I'm pretty sure he can do really well on some styles. Just not ours.
We're planning another session in the much nearer future, we hope. This one had been almost 9 months between get-togethers.

I've had a few deep thoughts on issues, especially this health care debate. Now that it's passed, you'd think it was the end of the world. Every nit that the tea-partiers can pick with it (and by tea partiers, I mean Glen Beck and O'Reilly and Hannity and every other jerk out there trying to fire up these folks) they pick. It's a bill that didn't go far enough, in my opinion. But I really get tired of listening to people acting like it is the end of the world. Especially the morons who are told to be against it even though they're probably the ones who would benefit most from it. Oh well. No more government - unless it's MY medicare or MY social security. What fun. I think we need civics taught at an earlier age. Except that if they did that, half these "folks" would pull their kids out of school and home-school them so that they will get the version of history and government that they believe, and they won't ever learn to think.

Good luck with that.

So...quick entry, even if it is long. Hope all my readers are well...