No, that is not a double negative.

Well, yes . . . I suppose it is, really. But it’s intentional, and it means that I am constitutionally (not Constitutionally) unable to sit around doing nothing for very long.

But that’s what I’ve been doing this week in an attempt to wean myself away from my obsessive immersion in the daily news. And the problem is that it has given me too much time to think about myself.

I’ve never been particularly introspective, and I really don’t see any point in changing at this late stage of my life. I’ve always just accepted myself for who I am — a reasonably intelligent, mostly decent, honest, empathetic individual, grateful that I was born in one of the world’s most desirable locations.

And I’ve had a lot of good times along the way: family times, wonderful friendships, great jobs, travel, and a little intrigue to spice things up. But tempus fugit, and change is inevitable. I am blessed to have remained more-or-less compos mentis (though with a really annoying affinity for tossing around Latin and other foreign-language phrases and quotations, as you may have noticed). However, the flesh hasn’t kept pace with the spirit, and I now find myself with a lot of great memories, and plenty of hours in the present day to occupy with less strenuous pursuits.

Which is how I fell into the routine of writing my daily blog . . . not just to fill the quiet hours, but also as a means of communication with the “outside world.” And I really love doing it. But now and then, when it once again dawns on me that that outside world is nothing but a pile of:

. . . I tell myself it’s time to withdraw for a while, give the world one of these:

. . . and wait for the moment to pass.

And eventually I realize, yet again, that all of that poop can’t be ignored, or it will simply pile up and bury us all . . . which is precisely what the producers of the poop — the politicians, the oligarchs, and the run-of-the-mill nut jobs — want us to do.

Besides which, it seems that I actually thrive when I’m mired in the bullshit; fighting against it gives me a sense of purpose that I just don’t get from watching TV or rearranging my underwear drawer.

So I’m back at my iPad, with thanks for your patience, and apologies if I had anyone worried for my sanity. Next time it happens — and it probably will — just ignore it, and give me a couple of days to recoup. I’ll be fine.

Still just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
2/26/26