During the first year after I moved out, my daily routine involved about 2.5 hours on the Carnevale de Filth that is New York's subway system. Up at my elevated platform before dawn, 45 minutes to work among the doddering coffee-sippers. Half an hour downtown, to her place for a couple hours of monkeyshines. Then an hour or so back to upstate Manhattan. Some days felt like an Epic Journey between the Arctic Circle and Buenos Aires, and attempting to write, or even jot down a few notes, was impossible. I was always so bone-tired that I spent most of my time listening to the first five minutes of a podcast before falling asleep with my mouth open. I felt sure one of those nights I'd wake up with a mouth full of loose change.
That all changed when M and the boys moved up here, and visions of an hour less in an Underground Festering Shithole With Those Goddamn Convex Seats danced in my head. Think of the extra writing time! Except there was no extra writing time. There was more fathering time. In my apartment. With my games, and my snacks, and my music. And my children thinking of my place as a daily hangout instead of a fortnightly vacation home.
I settled into a whole new rhythm, and before I knew it, I hadn't posted to my blog in two months.
I got a good smattering of e-mails, wondering how I was doing and hoping I'd write again. Many of these were from my mother, whose missives morphed from intrigue, to concern, to alarm, to outright threats to sell the house and move to New Hampshire unless I wrote again. Naturally, nothing coagulates a family like a little brinkmanship, so I was all, "Do it, you yellabelly! You don't have the GUTS!" And they totally did it, and now they're in contract on a lovely home with a few acres of woods and lake access. A perfect spot for the grandsons to wield their larkery for many languid summer nights to come, all thanks to spite.
Anyway, with that objective achieved, I thought about coming back to the blog. And as luck would have it, I was thinking of exactly that when, while I was grocery shopping, I turned into the GOYA aisle. Miles and acres and furlongs of cans, boxes, and shakers emblazoned with those same four letters: G-O-Y-A. Which, in a sort of wordnerdy, acronymous fever dream, spoke to me:
Get Off Your Ass.
So here I am. Writing here again, and hoping I can keep it up. Because even though I sorta didn't miss it, I also sorta did. Life is just so much more interesting than it's ever been. I hope my writing can do it justice.
Good for those garbanzo beans! We're happy to have you back.
Posted by: sarabethjones | October 26, 2009 at 23:01
Oh it will. It will.
Welcome back.
Posted by: Chookooloonks | October 26, 2009 at 23:02
Two words: HOO RAY.
Posted by: Christa | October 26, 2009 at 23:04
Glad you are back!
Posted by: 21stCenturyMom | October 26, 2009 at 23:29
Yippee!
Posted by: mimi | October 27, 2009 at 00:15
yay!! I am so glad to see "Billious" toppled off your page. Welcome back!
Posted by: Vickie | October 27, 2009 at 03:39
If not for your tweets, we would've been more worried. Glad you're back.
Posted by: Seriously, Jess | October 27, 2009 at 04:57
Welcome back. I hope you post more frequently.
Posted by: SciFi Dad | October 27, 2009 at 07:55
Just in time! I could use some daddy advice m'self.
Posted by: Yarnguy | October 27, 2009 at 08:48
great to hear from you again. This post has that classic LOD voice -- hope we hear more of it soon. (but I can completely understand the bone tiredness and inability to do anything creative on a computer keyboard at the end of the day.)
Posted by: Wood | October 27, 2009 at 08:55
I have missed you, bud. Both here and in real life. Where ya bean? You know, besides grocery shopping. Can't wait to here all about your adventures.
Posted by: Heather B. | October 27, 2009 at 10:52
By the way, I bought a can of coconut water and left it on my shelf, so that GOYA stares at me as I leave the apartment every day. A writer writes. He does not, however, watch GoodFellas on AMC for the umpteenth time.
Posted by: LOD | October 27, 2009 at 11:50
Very glad to have you back. Your wit and stories were sorely missed.
Posted by: Pitch | October 27, 2009 at 12:00
Excellent first post back. And yes GOYA is good, but sometimes easier said than done, non?
Posted by: Hänni | October 27, 2009 at 13:05
Welcome Back!
Posted by: nina | October 27, 2009 at 16:24
SO glad you have the extra time with the boys. That is fantastic. Welcome back. New Hampshire has no tax on liquor. Look at all the goodness you've come into lately.
Posted by: Alli | October 28, 2009 at 08:56
Welcome Back!
Posted by: Linda | October 28, 2009 at 14:43
Good to hear from you.
Posted by: Miss Grace | October 28, 2009 at 19:20
nice to read you once more :)
Posted by: Dave | October 28, 2009 at 20:50
No tax on likker and no motorcycle helmet law...could there be a connection???
Live free or something or other!
Welcome back. I missed you...
Posted by: lurker | October 29, 2009 at 15:27
Great! Have missed the updates.
Posted by: Helen Mell | October 29, 2009 at 15:46
Oh thank goodness! I was wondering if you had forsaken us for good!
Posted by: Kelli | October 29, 2009 at 21:00
Glad that you have more time with your kids... blah blah blah... THANK GOD you are posting again!
Posted by: Kari Weber | October 29, 2009 at 22:44
Was it my plea to write again that did it? Thanks for obliging
Posted by: susan | October 29, 2009 at 23:19
Welcome back! you rock!
Posted by: roramich | October 30, 2009 at 14:41
Yay! Glad you're back.
Posted by: Andrea | October 31, 2009 at 22:24
Glad you're back LOD. We've been worried too. BEC and LBC
Posted by: Laura | November 03, 2009 at 20:41
You were missed!!!! Sooooo glad your back, some days I just need your humor to get me through!
Posted by: DOT | November 07, 2009 at 11:33
I love GOYA products! Good to have your voice back.
Posted by: Jason L. | November 08, 2009 at 21:55