I kind of took today off.

Sure, I looked for jobs even though no one is hiring. Yes, I write this blog more for sanity than anything else.

Otherwise, I took the day off. I'm tired. It's an odd thing to write but I've been working hard since losing my job. There's the hustle of applying and look and making contacts. I've responded to everyone who wants contact because of the blog plus a thousand more who seek me out via social media, text and email asking what they can do. My days are as busy as they were when I had the fancy title of senior executive editor. And make no mistake, those days were busier than you can image.

Friends helped me move Tuesday, many of them strangers. I'm not in the best shape and the activity nearly killed me. I wanted to give as much as they gave so I tried to touch as many boxes as they did. I tried to take a nap in the afternoon but my brain and few remaining muscles were too wound up to allow sleep.

I woke up early today for an interview with Eric Lindquist -- a mentor and friend from my internship at the Eau Claire Leader Telegram in 1989. Holy crap, that makes me sound old. He said it was strange to talk to me as a source. I didn't say it, but I thought it odd that this guy who taught me so much three decades ago was interviewing me. He gave me advice but also modeled a basic, truthful humanity that has infused my career.

After the interview, which ended at about noon, I went back to bed. Without guilt.


I do love working and have always suffered from a work ethic like that of the horse in "Animal Farm." I think of myself as Boxer, the horse. Loyal and so hard-working, he dies -- a metaphor for the Russian people. That's not a great goal to which to aspire, nonetheless, here I am.

I feel better, less tired and relaxed for the first time in a while.

Thank you for reading, my dear friends and supporters.

I love you.