Sat 9 Feb 2008
“I have not been afraid of excess: excess on occasion is exhilarating.
It prevents moderation from acquiring the deadening effect of habit.”
Television journalist Linda Ellerbee used it as a sign-off during the latenight run of her news program, NBC News Overnight in the early 1980s. She borrowed it from author Kurt Vonnegut who used the phrase extensively, uttered and thought by his doppleganger Billy Pilgrim in Slaughterhouse-Five.
Things change, life evolves, the world continues to spin. And so it goes.
In looking at the date of my last entry — October 2007…?! — I realize just how busy, crazy and undisciplined the past four months have been.
The book does occupy most of my time and will continue to do so over the coming year, a consequence of researching and writing the dramatic biography of a woman who few people (damn few!) have even heard of. The wait will be worthwhile, I promise you - she’s amazing!
As a bitter winter slowly turns to spring out here on the west coast I will continue to research and write. Completion of my latest (and last for some time no doubt) documentary will also require my attention, likely until May. But the shift has begun and the scattered gonzo mindset of documentary filmmaking is giving way to the solitary disciplined nature of book writing. It’s not a ‘nature’ that’s in my… well… nature, scattered gonzo that I am. But I’m adapting.
I have many things I wish to say, several thoughts stuck in my craw, and a handful of rants to unleash. I mean it’s primary season - you go Obama! I live for this shit! But they must wait. Relegated to the back burner until some future moment when they burst forth. Likely due to writer’s block on the book project - hey, I gotta write something!
This is not farewell, or goodbye or even sayonara. It’s just a post to put everyone on notice that evidence of a notable lack of input from me on this site will continue. Perhaps for awhile.
Be of good cheer, the universe is unfolding as it should.
And so it goes….