Chapters and Changes

IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. But now it's finally has happened, and probably won't be back anytime soon. It's the Bursting of the Boob Job Bubble, along with the rest of the commodities markets. First there was the collapse of big housing, followed by big gold, steel, oil and gas, and now, gentle reader, the unthinkable has happened: the economy is taking out the market for big boob jobs. Saline, silicon, you name it, as a new round of layoffs is threatening to reduce the plastic industry to botox injections, eyebrow tweezering and tattoo removal procedures. Most plastic surgeons report their business is down 25-50%. What an amazing turn of events. Whatever will burst next? Is anything left?

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GIVING NEW meaning to the phrase dangling participle: And another reason I have zero interest in going to the slopes soon (I prefer staying close to the ground by xc-ing). Clearly this will not be the highpoint of this man's life, nor winter ski experience. But mercifully he survived, only a little worse for the, er, over-exposure. It's not funny so don't--do not--laugh. And one last thing. This man and his lawyers will soon be the new owners of this Vail ski resort.

UPDATE: Why does the New York Times shamefully love Hamas?

For several months, and actually more, I've considered taking a writing vacation. While I've managed to do it for a day or two, that's been the extent to date. It's cause I love, love, love to write here.

But more and more I feel real winds of change in my life and I'm not yet sure where they're taking me. I must confess, continuing to write about politics fails me to motivate in the slightest at this point. I sense I've said all I have to say for now. In many ways, I feel this trip on the Web both writing and reading others' writing, wonderful as it is, has become an increasingly distraction. Interesting, but still a distration. Then last Sunday, I heard a sermon at McLean Bible Church on letting go of those things which, while neither good nor bad, seem to take away time and energy from the things you need to be doing more. I felt the words pierce my heart. I'm beginning to feel much is redundant and my time can better be directed elsewhere. It won't be easy to pull back this after these several years of writing almost daily.

So for a little while, I'm going to write only intermittently until I decide what to do and if and when to do it. There's a real chance I'll stop for a while and start up again in a very different direction with new subject matter. There's also a chance I'll stop entirely. New chapters can be tricky and messy with fits and starts.






In all events, I will post occasionally in January and into mid-February and see where this all takes me. I don't want to burn any bridges. At the same time I don't want to deny my deep sense that a new chapter seems to be unfolding for me on several fronts and I'm being called away from the amount of time I've spent on the computer in the past few years.

Speaking of burning bridges: Taken in China, the Fuijiang River bridge---built in 1971-- was demolished Monday. WSJ Photos.