Where is Jeff?
19 May 09 by jeff
I apologize for this long dearth of activity here. I have had dry periods in the past, but nothing this long. Sometimes it happens, I guess.
Mostly, I’ve been going through a lot of changes. Some have been to make my life better, and a few have taken a lot of energy and time. I’ve certainly lived up to the title of this site. I’ve been shopping for new perseverations, and more than a few self-medications.
First, I have made a few changes to my chemistry. Some may know that I smoked 2.5 packs of cigarettes for about 18 years of my life. I quit about 20 years ago. Since then, I’ve gained a large amount of poundage, become diabetic, and generally unhealthy. My job requires me to sit at the phone all day, and I would usually have five or six snacks a day. I’d also eat very large portions whenever I could. Not good.
I don’t think I ever kicked the nicotine addiction - I’m not sure your brain ever really changes back. I suspect it just finds a way to make do with whatever else you can find to ingest. At any rate, I saw a sign for something called Snus. It’s tobacco that you don’t smoke, and isn’t “chew”, so you don’t spit. You just put this little packet behind your lip and let it set for a while. Then you throw it away. even though it’s made in Sweden, it’s cheaper than cigarettes, by far, and free of tobacco taxes as long as you don’t stock too much.
I’ve lost 25 pounds, gained a lot of energy, and noticed a lot less trouble with sensory-related overload. Since Swedish men use tons of the stuff, and apparently outlive everyone else on the planet, I’ll try this out for a while.
Ironically, given how much less I eat now (NO snacks and much smaller portions) I have taken up cooking. Pan seared rib-eye with blackberry sauce. Ribs with maple sauce and again with peach sauce. Curry last Saturday. New knives, pots, etc. So far, everything tastes spectacular, and my audience applauds with sincerity. Left-overs disappear - usually just before I try to eat them.
There’s less photography. Well, maybe not less, but less guilt when I fail to go out and shoot. We’ll have to see if I regain some motivation there when it isn’t so much pressure to perform.
Also, my youngest son is actually graduating from high school! Anyone who has raised a child with Aspergers knows that this is a major accomplishment for everyone involved. (I’d buy a house for his resource teacher if I could!) The last few months have been a major push, and I’m so proud of our family right now. Whew!
There are many other distractions and changes that have taken much time and energy. When I say I’ve been busy, it’s a bit of an understatement. I won’t give you the whole list because it would wear you out to hear it. Let me just say that it looks like things are loosening up a bit, and I expect to be here a little more frequently in the future.
Now I have to run!


