I’ve been pretty quiet in this space, and largely off social media (Instagram being the only exception), for the past five or six months. That silence had nothing to do with the election.¹

Mostly I’ve been trying to figure out what I want to do with this site specifically, and in general with my time. It’s a process I’ve gone through several times since I retired. And, frankly, almost every year prior to that.

I’ve been posting to this blog going for almost 22 years (and to this domain since 1999), which is almost forever in internet time. And every so often on any long term project, it’s healthy to just stop for a while, look at what you’ve done, figure out what’s working and what’s next.

Going forward, I want to write more about the things that interest me and what’s going on in this little part of the world. My plan is to post more frequently but make the entries shorter and more succinct. I won’t make that goal this time but we’ll see how things go afterwards.

Very little writing here will be about politics since I suck at it and don’t have much input to work with. I’ve largely divorced myself from what they call “mainstream” media, having not watched cable “news” since we dropped those channels from the bundle four years ago.² As of today, I’m also two years clean from Twitter.

As to the assorted stuff that will appear in this space, it will include many observations about education and schools (which are very different beasts), both in the local area and in general, as well as technology topics. There’s plenty of material to consider and it’s only gotten more complicated since I was involved on a day-to-day basis.

I’ll also have lots to say about travel as I plan for three big trips this year, and one already for 2026, plus several smaller ones in the works. Travel, especially outside the country, has also become more complicated in recent years. But that opportunity for direct learning about other places and cultures is more than worth the effort.

Of course, I will inflict more of my photos on you as I work on new projects and continue the effort to define my style. Very likely I will include some posts about the technology and techniques of photography as I return to teaching on the subject, focused largely on using smartphones.

I implied that “you” would be reading this in the future. I really don’t know who you are, or even if anyone still reads blogs anymore. I wish more people would use this format to express themselves since it takes more effort and thought to blog than spitting out whatever is front of mind on social media, and thus those posts have far more value.

However, writing this blog has always been primarily for me. It’s a way to tell myself what I’m thinking in a form that I hope might be useful for someone else. That will continue to be my first goal.

Anyway, happy new year to whoever stumbles across this page. Take care of yourself and the community around you. That is really the only way to make life work.

The photo shows the passageway from the east wing of the National Gallery of Art (modern art) to the west wing (the traditional stuff). It always gives off a transitional, into-the-future kind of vibe, which seems appropriate for New Year’s Day.

1. Ok, maybe a little.

2. People tell me that cable news is nothing but wall to wall political pundits. That hasn’t changed in four years.