Stepping back for a better view

Had a chat with someone at the Strawberry Festival about how I manage to write five blogs a week.

“Don’t you ever run out of ideas?” he asked.

Ideas? No. Out of juice? Sometimes.

I’ve been doing this long enough to have developed a rhythm. Not only from a writing/discipline standpoint, but also for the blogs themselves.

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I generally want theme-based blogs on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Friday’s blogs tend to be of a more personal nature, or a little fun, or whatever I feel like ending the week with.

And that leaves today. The Thursday blog. The blog with no aim. 

The problem is multifaceted. As I dive deeper into the theme blogs, by the time Wednesday rolls around, my brain is mush. I need to turn my attention elsewhere, and I’m reluctant to start any new conversations on a Thursday, so that leaves me in limbo.

I’ve been thinking about this lately. Paraphrasing a line from a Bob Seger song: I get tired of my own voice. I’m in the opinion business. I provide perspective and insight, and off we go. It’s satisfying to lead those conversations, but without a break in the action, I start thinking I’m hot stuff.

It’s not that I don’t have more things to say from, for example, Tuesday’s County Commission meeting. It’s that I’m not even interested in my own opinion today.

I guess the point being there’s a risk in taking myself seriously all the time.

Josh Wooten catches flak for his opinions as the Citrus County Chamber of Commerce president/CEO. But he’s also a goofball and can keep the mood light.

My first Just Wright Citrus T-shirt says on the back, “Government geeks with a sense of humor.” I need to slow down occasionally or else I’ll get caught up in the gripe of the day.

(By the way…cool random sighting Wednesday afternoon at the Inverness Cattle Dog of a JWC reader wearing the aforementioned T-shirt.)

“Courage” is one of my five words for 2026. It’s not courage to say what’s on my mind. It’s courage to keep quiet. I have all sorts of stuff banging around in my head, from national politics to the state messing with the median on S.R. 44 in Inverness (arrgh!). I just let that stuff go. We gripe enough as it is.

So, no, I don’t run out of ideas. I do run out of steam. Two unrelated thoughts:

— Asking for help is not a strong suit, though I’ve learned in the post-Deb world that’s the best way for me to manage. There are four women, all married with good families, who I’ve come to lean on quite significantly since Oct. 24. Women who have my back without a second thought.

Now. Just about everything I eat comes from a box. One of these friends likes to cook. A week ago, I sent her a text:

“I have a ridiculous favor that’s meant for you. I haven’t had home cooking in months. Would you be kind enough to feed me?”

Her reply: “I love love love that you asked me this! I think I’ll include a dessert too!”

I’m feasting this week on homemade lasagna and chocolate chip brownies. The tastebuds are overwhelmed with glee.

My friends are the best.

— Like a lot of dogs, Bunny is afraid during thunderstorms. We’ve found a nice, cozy spot in the closet where she can escape.

But I wondered how she’d react in the car if we’re driving through a storm. Would she panic?

Saturday night, we drove out to the Yankeetown boat ramp for the final “early” sunset before Daylight Saving time and ran into a fierce thunderstorm on the ride home.

I held a death grip on the steering wheel and peeked into the back seat where Bunny was snoozing. Answered that question.

That’s all for today. Isn’t this spring-like weather incredible? Let’s enjoy it, friends.

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