Today was relatively peaceful.. Chai and I went for a run this morning in about 3 inches on new snow.. I was pretty sure that snow season was gone.. but here I am.. one more day writing Sam’s name in the snow.   Chai loves the snow because she can follow the trails of dogs and other animals that have used the trail before us.. She ran off after some tracks this morning and it took me about 10 minutes to find her.. grrrrrr. 

    I always like this time of year when the snow comes and covers the mud.. I don’t know why it appeals to me so much.. I think it’s that the clean white covers up the brown gunk that is forming everywhere.. For those of you who don’t live in Vermont.. we’re  in Mud Season… the fourth season in Vermont. It’s when the dirt roads finally thaw out leaving pools of axel deep mud.. Lovely. .. but it makes Vermont, Vermont.. and how I love Vermont !

   I had another full day at work.. I am now back at nearly the same level of over programming that I was before Sam died. That means that nearly every minute of every day is filled with some meeting or other.. generally a teleconference. .  That means I’m in my office with the door closed pacing circles with the speaker phone on.. .  I think it will be hard to do..   I don’t even usually have time for lunch. In some ways it feels good to be getting back in the swing of things.. at the same time.. I’m being very protective of the lower stress and more mindful John that I’ve become over the past four months. I’m going to have to work very hard not to work too hard.. if htat makes any sense.

    For those of you who have never seen my office.. .. here’s office number 2..

Note that there’s nothing on the walls and practically no furniture. I moved in here about a year ago  when office number 1 got filled with junk. The walls are covered with pictures. I haven’t even been in there in about 5 months.. .. I need to go in there and clean it out.. that’s going to be hard to do on many levels.. For what it’s worth.. I’m being  asked to move into office number 3 pretty soon.. Maybe I just work out of a suitcase 

   Sometimes when I’m on conference calls I work on the SamStones website trying to organize it better.   I’m always open to suggestions on how to make it more interesting and worthwhile.   Today I added a widget on SamSttones.org  and on my blog that shows where peoples are who have visited the sites… I’m kind of curious who’s reading this blog and where they are..   It’s kind of strange writing all this stuff down and not knowing where it goes.. It’s also kind of fun.. in an exhibitionistic kind of way.

   Tonight is pretty peaceful.. Gabe just came down from an afternoon snowboarding. Evidently conditions are great at Bolton again.. Max is in the barn really working hard to finish up his Pratt work.. He seems to be making good  progress now.. Diane just came back from being out with Deb and Jen while they waited for the girls at dance lessons..  .. and I’m just sprawled out on the couch relaxing .. Life is approaching  good….  at times. .. Sam.. at times..

-jc