March 12, 2004--Been taking a much-needed break So I've been stumped on what to write lately. The holidays came and went in a crazy frenzy, and the next thing you knew, it was 2004. Two and a half months later, I still haven't had any ideas for a good update. I also had to move the site files to a different computer, and procrastinated on networking them for a long time... *sheepish grin*

But that's not all that's been going on in my life, causing the updates to come to a screeching halt. In the end of January we had a nastyish snow and ice storm blast through the area. It wasn't too bad, especially in comparison to the one we had a year ago, but we still had a nice inch and a half thick layer of ice on the ground when my work decided that it was safe to come back in.

What a funny concept.

Most of my co-workers are elderly, my boss was at a company conference, and I was the one scheduled to open. And of all people, I was also the one to slip on the ice while scraping my car. Of course, I fell and got a slight concussion. I picked myself up, got into work, and cried from the pain for the next few hours. One of my coworkers was able to get her son-in-law to drive her in, and my boss's husband then drove me to urgent care, and then to the hospital.

The good news is nothing was broken. They took skull x-rays and everything. I hit on the thickest part of the cheek, just below the eye socket. If my head had been tilted in any direction just a little, it would have been the more fragile arch of the cheekbone that leads to the ear, my nose, my jaw, or eye orbit. So all in all, I was pretty lucky. Definitely dazed and in shock, but no major neural damage, either. I wore the black eye that developed as a battle wound, and my cheek still hurts slightly.

But it made me stop and think. When I slipped and my head hit the ice, the first thought that flitted through my mind was, "Gee, I'd really like to stay down here a while." But the next thought was, "I'm going to be late for work, and we'll get a fine if I don't open on time." I didn't consider going to the ER or anything at that point...just getting into work.

Something just seems wrong with that. Job loyalty is good and wonderful, but at the cost of your health? At the risk of the health of others as I was driving in this condition? I had no one home at the time, so it was darn lucky that my boss's husband was home that day to drive me to the hospital.

That's why I've been taking a break. I just realized it was more important to step back and re-assess certain priorities: opening on time versus getting x-rays, for example.

For the record, I am keeping up with the site from a maintenance point of view, even if I'm not doing the link updates and stuff that I normally take care of. The money that the site has earned from book sales and donations has gone to renewing the domain name for the next three years. I'm trying to give back as much as I can right now, and that's one priority. But writing has gone on the backburner for a little while, and it feels good to take a little break.

I've made Morningdove a moderator for the forum as well. I've been pleased with her so far, and think she's doing a good job.

That's it for me for now. My silence is not to snub anyone, just a time to be able to refresh and hopefully come back more relaxed and clear-headed.