It’s All Downhill From Here…sort of

“Work hard, think hard, be honest, and spend little – this will “make common gold”.”

The Humbugs Of The World

American businessman, co-founder of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, P.T. Barnum, was born on this day in 1810 (d. 1891)

It’s July 5 and we’re not officially closer to 2023 than we are to 2021.

As a wearer of the red suit, I’m even closer to the beginning of the Christmas holiday season…which is somewhere around July 15 if Hobby Lobby is to be believed.

I’ve said before, perhaps early and often, that there’s nothing magical about the turn of the calendar pages.

And now that I’ve reached that age where I ask if you will still need me, feed me, and send me a Valentine, the pages of the calendar seem to fly off much more quickly.

What we must decide then, as Gandalf said, “is what to do with the time that is given us.”

I took some time yesterday to work on that, mapping out what has to be done, what I want to be doing, which of both is profitable, or expensive.

I am once again reminded that I can’t do it all, and I shouldn’t try.

But I also shouldn’t stop.

I’m getting mixed messages from the smart people I follow.

I’ve talked about how one person suggested focusing on one project at a time and getting that done. That helped me complete Cat and Pig A Story of Friendship…which is still available for purchase and review on Amazon.

But then last week Steven Pressfield quoted a producer friend who said to him:

“You’re a writer. At all times you have to have at least three finished scripts and half a dozen in the works. In a meeting, when a producer says, ‘Steve, what else have you got?’ you have to be able to rattle off four, five, six projects—and be able to pitch ’em all with full professionalism.”

Great.

On the one hand I have that many projects.

On the other hand, I do not have that many finished projects.

But, I took it to heart and spent the time listing all of the various projects I have in whatever state of completion, or complete disaster, they may be.

I also realized that this producer was talking about her job. It’s what she does.

My projects are what I do in addition to my day job, and my weekend job.

Available at By the Sea

In the best of all worlds, they would be highly successful and replace one or both of those jobs. But that’s not happening yet.

So, to paraphrase the White Wizard, all I have to do is decide what to do with the time that is given me after work…or something like that.

In the second-best of all worlds, I’d only have one main creative interest and not dozens, or hundreds if I can’t keep off of Pinterest.

I don’t, so I take time like I did yesterday to list everything and try to prioritize. Not everything is going to get done. In fact not everything is going to get attention.

On a side note, I do think I’m finally onto something by blending the writing and the art to produce children’s books. More to come…

I find myself thinking that 2023 will be here far sooner than any of us are willing to admit. I don’t want to be writing a post about all of the things I did not accomplish in 2022.

So, I stop, breathe, make a list, check it twice, and get back to work.

As soon as I figure out what to work on.

NOTE: I won’t be posting on Wednesday and Thursday. I’m helping the oldest offspring move back to Atlanta. Try to carry on without me.


BORN ON THIS DAY

1801 – David Farragut, American admiral (d. 1870)
1950 – Huey Lewis, American singer-songwriter and actor
1958 – Bill Watterson, American author and illustrator
1963 – Edie Falco, American actress

THINGS YOU SHOULD READ

After 30+ Years, NPR Cancels Declaration of Independence Reading
Townhall
“This July 4th we break with tradition,” tweeted Morning Edition host Leila Fadel. Instead of reading the Declaration of Independence — as National Public Radio has done every Fourth of July for more than three decades — the broadcaster put on an America-bashing feature asking “on this July 4th, what does equality mean?” Read More.

Woke employee who refused to work while ‘mourning’ Roe v. Wade fired
New York Post
A woke Universal Music Group worker claims he was fired for “speaking up” about abortion rights — after he admitted he refused to work because he was in “mourning” over the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Read More.

Disaster After Impractical Jokers Get A Hold Of Biden’s Cheat Sheet
The Babylon Bee
“Okay, start with a card saying ‘YOU pick HER nose,” said James Murray, cackling as Biden took the card from Sal and dutifully jammed his finger in Elizabeth Warren’s nostril. “Alright, let’s step it up – how about ‘YOU trade Alaska to Putin for a calendar of HIM shirtless.” Read More.

BENEDICTION

Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.

Ephesians 6:23-24

God Bless America, Please

The Spirit of 76; by Archibald Willard; 1912

It’s Friday before a three-day weekend.

On Monday we celebrate our Independence Day.

I don’t care what you say, who you are, what you think this will always be the best ding dang doggie country

Mugshots
(click the pic)

in the history of the world.

I love America.

Warts and all.

And if you don’t like me saying that, you can go post about it on your own blog.

It’s also a Friday and my book has sold well to friends and family. If you haven’t purchased it’s there for you on Amazon.

If you have purchased, please go back and leave a review. It helps. Bigly.

Before we get to the fireworks, I’ll do a little bit of celebrating of my own.

I turn 64 on Sunday and I’m one step, one feeble step, closer to retirement.

That’s all I’ve got for today.

I’ll be back on Tuesday.


BORN ON THIS DAY

1906 – Estée Lauder, American businesswoman, co-founded the Estée Lauder Companies (d. 2004)
1916 – Olivia de Havilland, British-American actress (d. 2020)
1918 – Ralph Young, American singer and actor (d. 2008)
1931 – Leslie Caron, French actress and dancer
1934 – Jamie Farr, American actor
1934 – Sydney Pollack, American actor, director and producer (d. 2008)
1935 – David Prowse, English actor (d. 2020)
1941 – Twyla Tharp, American dancer and choreographer
1952 – Dan Aykroyd, Canadian actor, producer and screenwriter
1961 – Diana, Princess of Wales (d. 1997)
1967 – Pamela Anderson, Canadian-American model and actress

THINGS YOU SHOULD READ

Whoops: CNN Political Commentator Coordinated With J6 Committee on Cassidy Hutchinson Testimony
RedState
CNN political commentator Alyssa Farah Griffin, who used to work for the Trump White House and now is working for CNN, said on the air that she knew Hutchinson and put her in touch with Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY). Read More.

The Education of Glenn Youngkin
Time
In a blue-trending state that went for President Biden by 10 points in 2020, and where Republicans had not won statewide since 2009, Youngkin not only prevailed but carried the whole GOP ticket with him, resuscitating his party in a place it had been left for dead.  Read More.

The Silent Majority Returns in Grand Style
Shaun Kenney at The Republican Standard
Forget The Handmaid’s Tale — if you want true Orwellian nonsense, consider for a moment that we live in a society that can pressure an entire population into calling men women, and women men. Or calling babies a lifeless clump of cells. Or sexualizing children with Drag Queen Story Hour and calling that healthy. Or redefining marriage. Or calling a color-blind society racism. One that can destroy history, rename schools, disarm citizens, or force medical treatment against your will.  Read More.

Sinema and Manchin Won’t Nuke Filibuster to Pass Abortion Law
National Review
On Thursday, Democratic senators Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona reiterated their commitment to keeping the Senate’s 60-vote hurdle for legislation after President Biden called for a carve-out from the rule in order to pass a federal abortion law.  Read More.

10 Disturbing Photographs From Post-Roe America
The Babylon Bee
Roe v. Wade has been overturned and we are now all living in the literal Handmaid’s Tale. Already, thousands of harrowing photographs have emerged from the abortion-free hellscape. It’s worse than we thought. We were warned, and we didn’t listen. Read More.

BENEDICTION

Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.

Ephesians 6:23-24