Wow

Harvest season turned out to be an adventure. It seems like everything does for me - but I really hadn't seen this one coming. I mean, how hard can it be to dump a few trucks and push the occasional button on a grain dryer? The better question is, how naieve can I be???

I kept thinking in my head, "This isn't my fight - I'm an agronomy guy." The truth is, the cooperative system is full of issues, but in its ideal form, it teaches the employee base that everyone does everything, and no one is better than anyone else. I don't know... Enough nights spent next to the grain dryer doing the job I probably would have attributed to someone else made me believe this premise isn't so bad. Now, if the rest of the world would take a minute and think about it, we might be somewhere.

My personal interests took a real beating during all of this. Obviously, it's hard to keep relations with my wife at the level they should be while for all intents and purposes being gone for a month. I believe I'd just met Jean Valjean in my reading of Hugo's Les Miserables, although I hadn't gotten far enough for him to be named by name. My personal writing pursuits? Well... I actually made just a bit of headway, beginning the layout for a story that has been in my head for some time.

I'm a little the worse for wear physically. I saw the doctor just before the beginning of season for my shoulders (left, in particular, but both in general), and was offered some anti-inflammatories and the advice that I should bulk up a bit. The pills dont' help much, so... I'll have to do what I can for the other A.S.A.P.. But all of my bodyparts are still firmly attached, so... I'd like to think there are always possibilities.

I'm starting the off-season by entering a diecast truck-building competition. No prize, except for bragging rights and sticking my nose back into a community I've enjoyed from time to time. I'll never win, but... I enjoy the experience.

Hope...

I can't argue with Captain Dylan Hunt/Kevin Sorbo when he said, "You can't hate hope." After a drizzly fog lifted this morning, the sun came out, and so did most of our crew, if only for the afternoon to tidy up the yard a bit. A few customers even showed up with grain in tow, happily in the notion they'd be back in the field some time this week. These people are better at simply carrying on with life than anyone I've ever known.

My Dearest Friend back home was keeping the company of a new Grandbaby when I called to check in today, which made me happy because it made her happy. *Geez* Don't tell my wife I said this, but it's amazing how much the joy of a new life can wash down to the rest of us, isn't it?

I couldn't resist today's picture. I've seen some beautiful scenery in my day. This particular piece of it came with the last task of the day, free of charge.

Well, nothing new from a literary standpoint, either. Last night while continuing 'Les Mis' I learned Monseigneur Bienvenu was willing to stand up to a Senator he felt had corrupt ideas, and that he was unafraid of the criminal element in man's heart. I get the point - he's an upstanding and forthright character. Hey, Victor? Can we move it along a little???

Out and About

The Mrs. wanted to go on a bike ride, and reluctantly, I tagged along. Just across the state line we abandoned the Jeep and started pedaling through the proverbial back yard of my workplace along a Conservation District bike trail. I'd seen the area before, but certainly never like this. I always drag my feet at the prospect of going back outside for recreation's sake. *Grin* I always feel like a fool for being such a grump about it when I get back home again, too... Not a bad day at all for the end of October.

Here We Are...

Several reasons exist for starting this little venture... I thought it would be interesting to log and remember one full year of my work related activities, read another blog that continues to captivate me, thought it would be nice to muse about the book I just started (The venerable 'Les Mis' by Victor Hugo) and a podcast I believe in said budding writers should blog. So...

Hang in there for a bit while I learn my way around this puppy. I hope you'll think about joining me on this little venture. If it's anything like my reality from time to time, I think it will prove to be an interesting time.