Honestly, I haven’t even looked at my own blog in about three days.

I’ve been finishing up The Thing, and …I did! I’m quite relieved, although work is not over…a few small things and one ongoing general editing job await me upon our return, but that’s nothing compared to the weight of this.

So it’s done, and we’re off to Chicago on Tuesday to the RBTE, or Religious Book Trade Exhibit, and then the Book Expo America, plus time at the Printers’ Row Book Fair and the Chicago Gospel Music Festival.

You can see why I wanted to have a clear head!

When I return, it will be blogging as usual, with, I hope, more thinking than linking now that the burden of the past six months has been lifted and…the “morning” sickness seems to have actually abated…soon to be replaced with heartburn, but we’ll live in the now.

As I said, I have some smaller ongoing projects, but for the most part, I will be turning my attention to fiction and perhaps longer, more substantive essay work. I’ve ended my OSV column as of this Sunday, which leaves me with no nagging regular assignments. As I explained to the OSV editor, I have been writing almost weekly columns for 16 years now, and the well is dry. I mean, totally arid and empty. I am just sick and tired of a)excavating my life for spiritual wisdom to be shared in 700-word bites or b)excavating the news for wry 700-word commentary that is on-target but yet not offensive to the average reader of the Catholic press.

So, as they say…moving on. And I suspect the blog will be the beneficiary.

But until next week…I might blog a bit from Chicago, but I make no promises.

Remember, I’ll be on the radio in Pittsburgh (KDKA with Fr. Lengwin) from 9-11 Sunday night, and then Monday morning from…I think KMSR (sorry if that’s wrong – it’s late, and I’m too tired to double check) in Dallas.

Two other things:

I’m closing comments ’til Sunday. If you get a message saying you’re banned, don’t take it personally, and don’t write asking me why….it’s a trick I accidentally discovered – how to close all comments down without having to go individually through each post.

Please, please save the email! Save your links and questions until next week or send them to Mark, which most of you probably do anyway.

(Exceptions: if you have interview request or inquiries for speaking engagements. Bring ’em on!)

I think that’s it. Time to pack!