SO, HARV... WHERE YA BEEN FOR THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS?

I think I've made it through my blogroll twice since the beginning of July. You may have noticed a dearth of comments. Or possibly just forgotten that I existed. Either way, it's about time for a lame excuse.

Having completely failed to make a living at blogging, I made the decision to go back to the "career" I had before tellering - pizza delivery.

CONS:

* Low prestige
* Not a gold star on my resume
* My evenings & weekends are shot Wed-Sun
* No vacation
* No benefits

PROS:

* No office politics
* My boss is a stand-up guy
* I look like a superstar just for showing up as scheduled
* It pays better than the bank
* No one is EVER unhappy to have the pizza guy ringing their doorbell.

Since Beloved Wife TNT & I have opposing schedules now, what little time we have together is spent together. Blogging has to take a back seat.

Meanwhile, I'm posting more at IMAO, since there's some degree of compensation involved.

Also, IMAO has opened up a Cafe Press merchandise shop, and I've designed a few items specifically for people who are desperately unfond of terrorists. Take a look if you're so inclined. I've moved some of my old designs over there, too. Also, be aware that new designs are added from time to time, so you may want to keep checking back.

Finally, I'm working on a new, all-original series of Love Notes. Well, as original as can be expected for a topic as overworked as love, but all fresh out of my head, nonetheless. My goal is to have 365 of them so that I'm all set for 2007. I'm somewhere around 160 right now, plugging along steadily at 3 per day, which pace may or may not get ramped up.

When they're all done, I'm planning on publishing the collection. Possibly on paper, definitely in electronic format. Since I seriously doubt whether I could gain the attention of an established publishing house, I'm researching the feasibility of self-publishing. My initial impressions are that it'd be faster, easier, and cheaper and far less risky that way, so I'm leaning in that direction.

After that, there'll likely be a 2008 edition. Also, I want to finish, polish & publish the "Fun Facts About the 50 States" material, and possibly collect my Blogging Tips essays into something coherant.

Now... I'm looking back over the last 3 paragraphs and thinking to myself, "Self... You're nuts. Stop this foolishness and go get a nice, safe, 9-to-5 job as an office drone somewhere. Something secure with vacation, a 401k, and a dental plan."

Which is probably good advice.

Except that recently I found Refractional Darkness linking this little animation about the joys of office work, and I can't get that weeping cat out of my head.

Maybe I *am* nuts, but there ARE worse things.

So... will I ever be able to get back to making regular visits to the people I love? I honestly don't know. I'd like to. I feel empty, lonely and disconnected sometimes because I've fallen out of people's lives. But I can't promise anything.

Meanwhile, if you post something that you think I should see, please e-mail me a link or drop an off-topic comment on any handy post. Especially about birthdays, anniversaries, blogiversaries, and other celebratory occasions.

I miss you guys.