Aphelion Editorial 105

I should probably start planning ApheliCon 3 already. We're going to have to have it at a different time of year from now on. August in Georgia is just too miserably hot and humid for anyone to really have a good time. I'm thinking that holding it in May would be a better idea, with September running a close second. What do you think? E-mail me with your opinions and suggestions, please.

As for a rant this month, well... I really don't have anything to rant about. I'm back at work after having used up all my vacation time for this year. The weather is getting cooler, the leaves are changing colors and begging to fall from the trees here. I really ought to make a start on all the yard work that I've had to delay to keep from getting heat stroke in the summertime. I've come up with ideas for several new stories. I've also thought of several new things to try in stories that are already in progress. There are tons of things on my to-do lists, but I haven't the energy to really apply myself to anything. The Tom Darby novel is stagnating at the moment. A new Mare Inebrium story is likewise on hold. I have the sheet music I need to write for one of my songs. I still haven't bought any guitar strings and started practicing again. I haven't done any paintings this year. My motorcycle, dune buggy, and the Tri-Magnum are all still sitting in the yard rusting away. My truck needs a new transmission. The lawn mower and weed eater are both needing repairs. I still haven't moved either of the rock walls on my yard's property lines to where I want them. I need to empty the pool, deflate it, and put it in the shed for the winter.

I don't feel depressed, just sort of "blah."

I'm happy. Indeed, happier than I've ever been in my life. Being married is still great fun, Lyn is wonderful, and her kids love me. Her oldest daughter calls me "Daddy" in a way that brings me warm and fuzzy feelings every time I hear it on the phone or see it in an Instant Message. Work at the factory is no worse than it's ever been. Matter of fact, it's much easier than it used to be, there's a chance that next year I may get to step into a Quality Control/Data Entry position that would get me out of the worst parts of my present job, plus give me a higher rate of pay. The mortgage on the house is more than half paid off, I've been able to pay off two bank loans and two credit cards this year, and I can foresee having all the rest of my credit card debt paid off in two more years. The price of gasoline is a dollar per gallon less than it was earlier in the year, groceries aren't any more of a strain on the budget than they were before Lyn and I married, and the two of us together can save lots more money than I ever could while I was on my own. Everything is looking good financially, emotionally, physically, and romantically.

So what is my problem? I haven't a clue, unless it's just something seasonal because of the changing light levels as Autumn begins to take hold and Winter approaches. Maybe I should buy some brighter light bulbs. Maybe I just need to make another pot of coffee. Maybe it's just the fact that I'll be turning 49 in about three weeks. Maybe I just need to relax and quit stressing over all the stuff I haven't gotten done that I wanted to do this year. Life is, after all, extremely good and has been for the last year and a half. I've just been lazy and slothful for the last couple of months. This too shall pass.

Dan

I now return you to your regularly scheduled reading...

THE END

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