So now I've renewed my efforts again to cut out the distractions of the news, such as it is. Making some progress that way, and that's nice--even though it is quite difficult with all the craziness of the election going on. Besides, with these few last days of good (drier) weather happening and more to come, I've had to renew my efforts to get the fall garden trimming and cleanup done before it really turns ugly. I do have some of the bigger jobs done, like trimming the tall columnar arbovitae which require my tallest ladder and the nasty stickery branches of the red barberry bushes that are so pretty but OMG are a devil to trim (but I've got a good system now). Plus lots of other not-so-pleasant jobs. Trying to get it down to the ones that could be done much, much later if necessary. I think I'm doing fairly well in following my own advice of apportioning time and distractions to remain in a semblance of control over my life. Feeling good about that.

Yes, since a decision was made (a control action), basically anything is action. Sort of a circular definition thing. ;-)

OK, time to fess up. I fell off the wagon. Yep, I let the news sneak into my head and keep me awake thinking about stuff for the last night or two. I had been doing my usual evasion of blocking and deleting text messages and calls on the phone without looking at them. And the emails begging for my attention, and money, I just automatically delete and now are unsubscribing from--though they still keep coming, it seems. But I did start reading some of the newsfeeds from two national news outlets, and that was the first step off the wagon. (Head hanging in shame . . . ) They weren't asking for anything. They were just there for me to glance through and be tempted, which I was. (Curiosity does kill the cat.) I feel that to some extent I need to be aware of what's going on out there, partly as a felt obligation as being a good citizen, but also as part of my own sense of curiosity about lots of things. So, that was the entry, and my demise. Yet, hope springs eternal, and I resolve to not grab the bottle so readily and take a swig, but instead steel myself to just read the labels (the headlines) and not open the bottle at all. Well, unless it sounds like the world is coming to an end. Which admittedly, it sounds like sometimes.