Clinton, South Carolina, Wednesday, November 11, 2020, 8:16 a.m.

I’ve been a bit remiss. And less than truthful. I’ve repeatedly extolled the virtues of reading without practicing extensively what I’ve preached. I hardly ever listen to podcasts because I point out that I can read faster than I can listen and find podcasts something of a waste of time. I claim that the psyche absorbs the written word better than the spoken. I’ve neglected correspondence.

The duties of running my website have gobbled up my time. Ultimately, though, that’s no excuse. I should be reading during some of the time I spend chopping through the weeds of social media. I should be writing more than just blogs and sports stories. They should be the higher priority, not the only one. Life is hectic, but some of it is hectic the wrong way.

Last night I read a novel while Ohio University was playing Akron. When I’m finished, I’ll write about it, but there’s still three quarters of it to finish. It’s a tale of poverty and disillusionment, set in Europe at the end of World War II. There’s no coronavirus spreading about, but the hardships of the characters are worse than those we face today. It reminds me of what a colleague said while spending a few nights in Moody, Alabama. He said it was named Moody because Forlorn had already been taken. It was more gag line than honest appraisal. I’m sure there are those in Moody who think it’s a fine place to live, the same way I enjoy life here, though I can’t say as all I’ve ever done is drive by the exit on the interstate.

I’ve been spending too much of my time driving by the exits on life’s interstates.

There was a singer in my youth who appeared on what were then called “variety shows.” Her name was Peggy Lee, and the song I associate with her was a melancholy ditty called “Is That All There Is?”

No. That’s not all there is.

Peggy Lee was married and divorced four times. At birth, her name was Norma Deloris Egstrom. One of her marriages was to Jack Del Rio, not the football player and coach but a percussionist. I know this from Wikipedia.

But Wikipedia is not all there is.

Take a look at my website, Laurens County Sports. It’s better now that Laurens County has actual sports again.

If you enjoy my insights about racing and other subjects, make a small pledge of support. Rewards are in place for pledges of $5 or more. If 1/10 of my followers and Facebook friends pledge $1 a month, I’ll be set. Read all about it here.

If you yearn for my writing in larger doses, I’ve written quite a few books. Most are available here.

Lightning in a Bottle, the first of my two motorsports novels, is now available in audio (Audible, Amazon, iTunes) with the extraordinary narration of Jay Harper.

My eighth novel, a political crime thriller, is called Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. It’s right up to date with the current political landscape in the country.