This isn’t really a post.  It’s more of an update.  I’ve been absent from the blogosphere the last few weeks. Both in posting on mine and reading my favorites. Mostly because “real” life has gotten in the way. The J-O-B has been demanding my time. The nerve of them! Don’t they know I’m a blogger and an aspiring writer? Can’t they just keep paying me without expecting results?

My son just got out of the Navy and decided to hang out with the old man for a bit before embarking on a civilian career. Had a great time with him. We even got up to some adventures that would make a great story but I can’t tell it right now due to liability concerns. Maybe one day though.

I had one final surgery on that pesky eye that has been causing so much trouble this year. It went well and I am seeing clearer out of it than I have for a long time. Just a few more adjustments with contacts and I should be back to somewhat normal soon!

Also, I’ve been busy reading a fantastic book called Growing Up Boeing by Rebecca Wallick. It’s a really entertaining read about her father who was an experimental test pilot for Boeing. Lots of great stories and behind the scenes look from her perspective growing up in that family. It’s really good! You should check it out at the link above.

I came by this book through Rebecca’s blog (linked above) and it got me to thinking that in the past several months I’ve been interacting with some new blogs. So I’ve decided to update my OTHER COGS IN THE MACHINE list on the right side of the page, removing some cogs and replacing them with new ones.

Let’s start with the ones I am removing. Mrs. Fancy Pants used to blog about an Aussie living in the U.S. She was hilarious and I loved to read her stuff. Her time in the U.S. was temporary and I begged her not to stop blogging when she went back to OZ. She kept up with it for a little while but it’s been well over a year since I’ve seen any activity. So, with regrets, I am going to remove her cog.

The next one is (Amost) Unsalvageable. I really enjoyed Gabe’s blog. We had great conversations in the comments section of both his and my site. He is also a fellow hiker. However, it’s been a couple of years since I’ve spoke to him and his blog went dark a couple of months ago. Hope you are doing well Gabe. If you ever come back to the blogosphere please let me know!

The last cog to remove is The Incurable Dreamer. Tanya started her blog for her own mental health and to help find her own way in life. She accomplished that mission and announced a few months ago that she would be shutting down her blog to move forward in her life. She was always a treat to talk to and we would help each other out when it came to kicking the BIG D in the ass every now and then. I wish her all the luck in the world and hope she is faring well on her journey.

Huh? Why am I not removing Half A 1000 Miles since it’s been gone for several years? I’ll tell you why. Linda (or Carolina as I call her – You’d have to ask why) was one of the first to welcome me to the blogging world. She helped me in so many ways to figure things out and we became good friends. She has moved on to other life endeavors but I’ll always keep her link on the list in hopes that one day she will return. So far she has been most resistant to my pleas and badgering but even a river eventually beat the ground into submission that is now know as the Grand Canyon. Come on Carolina, be our Grand Canyon! That probably wasn’t my best pitch but I am going to stick with it.

All right. I’ve removed three cogs, now it’s time to replace them with new ones so the machine can keep running smoothly. The first one I am going to install is River’s World… Rivergirl writes a daily blog (thanks for the homework!) mostly about living in rural Maine. She is hilarious and we both have the same sense of humor. Her saga of the baby barn and the community postings of what’s gone missing is enough to keep you coming back but there is so much more. Welcome to the machine Rivergirl!

The next cog I am going to place is Wayward Sparkles. Mona is a fellow native Texan and a Dallas Cowboys fan! That right there is enough to get her on my cog list. But she also has great stories to tell of a life gone astray. Reading about it is very entertaining. You’re part of the machine now Mona!

The last cog I am going to put in is Wild Sensibility. This is the aforementioned Rebecca Wallick’s blog. In addition to being a kick ass published writer, she likes to blog about the natural world (I love the natural world), life (I love life most of the time and am trying to hang on to it), and dogs (my dogs are my stay at home children now!) She writes some really thought provoking posts as well as entertaining ones. She is also an avid hiker and as you’ve probably come to know (and regret sometimes) I do a bit of hiking myself. We might be collaborating soon on a “Hiking gone wrong” type of shared theme. God knows I have plenty to contribute there. Nothing like putting you on the spot there, eh Rebecca?

So there you go. Check out those new cogs if you haven’t already. Don’t forget about the other stalwart cogs that remain in the machine too. I promise you I’ll be getting caught up on your blogs soon. If you could send me the winning lottery numbers, that might speed up the process. Also, there are a few more blogs that I’m feeling out right now that I might be making room for in the machine. Stay tuned.

Share this shit y'all!