Like pulling teeth. Exactly like it...

Long, long day. Spent most of it in the dentist’s office with a knee on my chest and two sets of hands in my mouth trying to extract the tooth I busted. They got most of it out, but were stymied by a chip wrapped up in a root bundle. Or something like that. Anyway, won’t be much beyond mashed potatoes and yams for this cowboy’s Thanksgiving. Jaw feels like I went ten rounds in the octagon.

May have done some editing this morning, but honestly can’t recall now. Did punch a new N review out the door. Other than that, a quiet afternoon.

Spent some time with by buddy Scout this afternoon. Nice to see him again. Think I might mosey over tomorrow and take a nap in the big chair or bring my laptop and write a few lines while we catch up again. Don’t suppose I’ll feel like doing much else.

Yeah, yeah, oh yeah...what condition my condition was in...

Woke to a heavy snow. Five and half to six inches, easily.

Out at six, shoveling, then back to work on the N stories. Pushed two reviews out the door, then got news from the dentist my broken tooth was going to have to wait until tomorrow. Major bummer, but not unexpected. Got the house cleaned in the meantime. Updated my HSA, too. Was hoping for more, but under the circumstances happy to make any kind of progress at all.

Washer repair guy showed up late morning. Fixed the filter but somehow clogged the water exhaust line. Tried to clear it, and may or may not have been successful. Hope so, or we’ll be having the plumber pay a visit after the holiday.

Looks as if I’m gonna be babysitting my buddy, Mr. Scout for a few days. Always a pleasure. Looking forward to spending time with him. With everything amping up , it’ll be nice to have a quiet place and an old friend to fall back on.

More later.

Face Timed with the boys late this afternoon. Had a good time. Miss them both. Very much.

Closing in...

Thanksgiving’s so close I can almost smell the turkey.

Been trying to stay ahead of things, but haven’t even managed to stay on top there’s so much to do. Was up early, revising, but only got so far before getting sidetracked.

Wrote a long review for one of the N stories I’d been holding, and found two new ones in my queue before noon.

Put in an early workout at the gym, then went off to the bank, the Arc, the post office, the grocery store and the garage to pick up the Jeep.

Good news is, the brake job wasn’t a back-breaker. Let’s hope the same can be said of the washer repair tomorrow, though I’m not sure I’ll care after my 8:00am oral surgery.

Need to get a handle on things before they spin out of control. Like to enjoy the next few days if possible.

Supposed to FaceTime with Jackie this afternoon, but the gig was scuttled. Maybe tomorrow. Hope so.

Situation normal...

So. 2019 continues to be a year of slightly miserable surprises. Broke a tooth last night, and found out this morning it’s probably going to have to be pulled and replaced with an implant. This after the Jeep’s brakes go out. Suddenly the sinus infection doesn’t seem all that bad. Geez. Could be worse, I guess. But now I’ve gotta sit around and nurse the thing until Tuesday morning when the dentist can do the dirty work. Fingers crossed it doesn’t break any worse between then and now.

On the brighter side, managed to write a few lines this morning and get a few things done around the house. Captained the Jeep over to the garage, too, without crashing into anyone. So there’s that.

Weather came back on line late morning. Blue skies and sun. Most of last week’s snow is gone already, except for odd patches here and there. Not sure what’s coming next week but with the Jeep back in service, the tooth issue settled, and the antibiotic regimen in full swing, I think I can hack it.

Bought a bottle of wine tonight. The gods insisted.

Four inches of snow, and then...

Muddled through the week, somehow, but not proud of the output. Gotta look to kicking it into high gear.

Saw the doc this morning and, yeah, another sinus infection. Which means another round of steroids and antibiotics. At least this time it hasn’t wandered off into my chest.

Still spinning my wheels on the new stories. Think it’s the low energy level as much as anything that’s keeping me from getting ahead, but I guess I’ll have to wait and see what the new drugs do for me. Meanwhile, all you can do is plug away.

Mom coming for a holiday visit in the next few weeks. No timetable yet, but we’ll get it figured out over the next couple of days.

Jeep’s brakes went south today. Felt like maybe it needed a shot of fluid, but put some in and—eh, maybe not. Gonna have to drive it into the shop on Sunday and see what gives. Headlight went out on the truck, too. Gotta get after that, as well.

Did some good work at the gym this afternoon. (Looking for positives here.) Around the house, too. Not sure what the weekend’s gonna bring, but fingers crossed.

Trying not to think too hard.

Chipping away...

Took a couple of hits today, but came back no worse for the wear.

Up later than usual, but again made good progress on the new stories. Also turned in another critique and got a start on a fourth—or is it fifth? Anyway, progress.

Temps dropped quite a bit since last night, and it appears they’re gonna stick around for a few days. A light mist came down this morning, went away for a while, and returned again this evening. If it keeps up, the roads are gonna ice over for sure.

Put in a good workout at the gym. Not great, but better than last week. Going to the clinic tomorrow to have this cold looked at and see if I can’t score some antibiotics. Three weeks of this is enough.

Thinking about having mom up here between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Will have to see what the prospects are.

Hung a new shelf in the closet tonight. Facelift finished. Now it’s only a matter of throwing away everything we don’t want and starting over. Difference between this time and every other time I’ve said that is, this time I really don’t care.

One more hodgepodge...

This morning seems so long ago I can’t remember its coming.

Combed through one of the new stories, then took a long break to read and catch up on my N assignments.

Went to the orthodontist to see about the broken wire in my upper retainer. They said $150 to replace it, and said no thanks. Won’t make much difference in the long run, and if teeth do start to move I can always change my mind and go back.

Missed out on the gym, but should’ve see that coming.

Too much else going on.

Got a little more work done this afternoon, then squandered an hour or so watching the congressional hearings.

Was hoping to feel better today, but the new front coming in brought allergens with it and god knows what else. Might have to pound down a Sudafed to get any sleep.

Got some nice news. Gonna have guests for Thanksgiving. J&K. Hard to believe we’re only a week away.

Another brick in the wall...

Up early working on one of the new drafts. Getting closer all the time.

Spent most of mid-morning reading and writing reviews. Broke out of the house a little after noon to hit the gym. Got in a decent workout, then came home and picked up firewood for K. Spent the rest of the afternoon unloading and goofing off over a cup of tea.

Drove past the Broadmoor on the way home, but they’d only gotten a start on the Christmas lights. Still, place looked pretty spectacular.

Taking it easy tonight with the hope I’ll get an early rise. The cold’s still there, but I’m feeling better and better all the time.

Have a 12:30 appointment tomorrow with the orthodontist to have the broken wire in my retainer fixed. After that, who knows. Might do a little more cleanup around the house. Looks like we might have a leak in the water line in the basement. Wanna be prepared.

No word on the long piece. Hoping that’s a good sign.

Note to self...

Don’t know where this day went, but managed to make a lot of it count just the same.

Put in some good revisions, read a couple of N stories and made notes…even made a trip to the gym. Guess the cold must be losing its hold on me.

Finished lining the bedroom closet yesterday. Looks great with the cedar. Smells great, too. Now on to the guest bedroom and the great clothes throwaway.

Pretty day today, from what I saw of it. Shirtsleeve weather. Hope it sticks around for a while.

Got a chance to FaceTime with the boys over the weekend. Jackie, anyway. Matt tried to work his way in, but didn’t have a lot of success. Wish we weren’t so long and far away. But always happy to see them.

Progress of one kind or another...

Beat.

Spent the early morning catching up on revisions, the rest of the day installing cedar paneling in the bedroom closet. Thought we had a good shot at finishing if we kept to it, but didn’t quite make the cut. Ran out of daylight two-thirds of the way. Looks like we’ll have to finish up tomorrow.

Sprinkling now after a nice sunny day. Not sure what the forecast holds, though I don’t think snow’s on the horizon. Guess we’ll have to wait and see. Would welcome the moisture, but if it could wait until I’m finished with the chop saw, I’d be most appreciative.

Gonna try and catch up with the boys tomorrow. My sister, too. And mom. If I manage that hat trick, I’ll be out of pocket most of the day.

Cold’s still hanging on, but feeling better. Not great, but better.

Let's leave it at this...

Fell like maybe I turned a corner this morning. Slept through the night for the first time in a long time. Still packing the baggage, but the cold seems to have let up a bit. Hope so, anyway.

Spent a lot of time digging up research for the fourth of the new pieces I’m working on. Did a little bit of rewriting on the others. Every now and then you fall into a place where you can’t see the end of a piece, and this is one of those times. Difference this go around, compared to times past, is I’ve learned how to wait it out.

Headed over to the gym a little after twelve and got I decent workout. Not as good as I wanted, but good enough, given the circumstances. Feels nice to get some energy back.

Hanging back tomorrow to install cedar lining in the bedroom closet. First step in the big facelift. Hope to finish the paneling, then get to work on some kind of organizational system.

Caught some of the impeachment hearing before going off to the gym. Gonna be an ugly winter, I fear. Might have to blow up the TV.

Nope, not happening...

Couldn’t get it going today. Up early and all the rest, but didn’t get a whole lot further. Started a new story, revised on the drafts I’d been working on earlier in the week, and that was pretty much it. Thought I might take a trip to the gym and clear my head, but even that didn’t work. Ended up downing a sudafed and going back to bed.

Fingers crossed for a better tomorrow.

Tired writing makes for tired reading...

It’s like there’s no losing this cold. Two weeks in now, and only the slightest bit of improvement. Even sleep doesn’t help much.

Up later than usual, but did some good work once I got going. Started another new short. Started a third I’m gonna piece together tomorrow.

Made it to the gym , but didn’t have a lot in the tank. Muddled through, is the best you could describe it. Maybe things will pick up tomorrow.

First day of formal impeachment proceedings. Fear it’s gonna be a long, long time before we have another “normal” news cycle.

Missing my boys.

Plugging, punching, scraping, clawing...

Put in some decent work this morning.

Two radio spots, an ad and one collateral piece out the door before 1:00. Even got in a little bit of revision time on the new short. Too bad this cold is punching back, or I might’ve gotten further. Wish to hell there was something to do other than wait it out, but so far I haven’t thought of it.

Bagged going to the gym in favor of rest. Put in some market research, made a few submissions, then went off for a walk around the neighborhood.

Nice afternoon. Better than I’d hoped. Sun was high and warm, and there wasn’t much of a breeze. Got in a close to a mile, then drifted over to Starbucks for a late day latte.

Time to punch away at the N stories sitting in my queue. Take on some of the other miscellany I’ve been dodging.

Hope springs eternal, right?

It's still fall, right?

Easy does it day.

Up at 6:00, off to the keyboard. Worked on the new short a while, got some paperwork out of the way, then went grocery shopping. Killed the rest of the afternoon making soup and watching a ball game.

Gonna rest up tonight and hope for another chance to sleep away this wretched cold.

The say snow tomorrow. No worries. Have a lot to keep me busy.

Not sure where the next few weeks are heading, but feel a definite pull in the general direction of the holidays. Looking forward to getting in a little more writing, a little more reading.

Meanwhile, need to stay focused on what’s in front. Fine-tuning the work. Not listening to the chatter.

K stayed for dinner. That was nice. Made some good plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Quiet around the neighborhood. Moon looked pretty tonight in the haze.

Fighting through the cold...

Be nice to divest myself this cold, but it seems to have stalled out in my head. Been sleeping better, but by better I mean sleeping at all. No gym two days running, trying to rest myself into health. Hasn’t done much except leave me two days out of shape, and a long way back to the heavy bag when I finally pick myself up.

Did get in some good writing this morning. Feeling better and better about the new short. Think I’m pretty close to a reader draft. Hope so, anyway.

Thought we might drive south and put the canoe in, but just didn’t have mojo. Spent the afternoon at the movies instead. Saw a joint called Jo Jo Rabbit, which was surprisingly good, though why I say “surprising” I don’t know. Critics were giving it pretty high marks.

Talked to Mom for a few last night. She’s down in Tucson visiting friends. Was nice to hear her sounding strong and energetic. Gonna give her a call a little later in the week, do a little more catching up after she gets back home.

Haven’t heard much about the long piece. One note, and that’s it. Fingers crossed, right? It’s all you can do.

Friday notes...

A day of mild comebacks.

Commercial projects off in the mail, TTN manuscript back to editor, an easy workout at the gym, and letters to the boys. On hold with the Social Security Administration now, trying to figure out what’s wrong with their online registry portal.

Slept better last night. Cold moving from head to throat. Hoping to rehab over the weekend and come back strong in the new week.

Started the new Leif Enger novel, Virgil Wander yesterday. Quite charming. The perfect story to follow up the Trevor book.

Been thinking about a drive south tomorrow, down to Lake Isabel. Try and get in a little canoeing. Gonna have to wait and see what the weather holds, thought, before loading anything up.

Quiet day, otherwise.

Quiet and pretty.

Nice to have fall back for a few days.

A little of this, a little of that...

Geez. Another night not sleeping. Woke a tad after midnight and with the exception of a half hour here and there, never went back. A solid week into this cold now, and sick of it.

Finished a couple of radio spots today and an ad, and worked my way one step closer to the last edits on the TTN ms.

Give anything to be able to breathe.

No gym today.

Thought I might get a little more done, but ran out of time.

Hoping for a good night’s sleep.

Signing off.