It’s Lonely in Hilton Garden Inn #309

It’s hard not blogging.

It’s been just more than eight days since my last post, and since I abhor the blogs that “apologize” for having been away so long, I’ll not do that. My absence was intentional, for a purpose, and I honestly didn’t expect to return so soon.

But I’m alone. On business, in Effingham, Illinois‘ Hilton Garden Inn, my only friend a frisco melt and onion rings from across the street, and I’m bored. So I’ve returned to the blog, my trusted sidekick.

Yes, the break from blogging was by design, for a purpose, and the job at hand is finished, so I’ve returned in my loneliness while in this two-queen, no-smoking suite.

It was a productive eight days. Book-wise I:

• Completed the first draft of my first non-fiction work with many edits and re-writes scheduled for this weekend.
• Started production of a 2:30-minute promotional video trailer.
• Began the website design.
• Secured domains for the trilogy.
• Kicked in some extra work to develop a workbook, prayerbook and workshops that will ride the big brother’s coattails.
• Had a long-awaited conversation with my editor.
• Hung my head in shame when said editor chastised and ordered me to stop promoting a book that’s months away from publication.

In another area of life:

• Got new photos of our home construction in Puerto Cayo, Ecuador. It’s exciting.
• Thought about some entrepreneurial ventures down there.
• Got a couple of business sponsorships on our blog at www.latitudeone.wordpress.com
• Accepted a gracious invitation from International Living magazine to submit a story about blogging to support our international adventures.

  

And in other news…

• Watched Chick-fil-A accidentally pull off the greatest marketing campaign in the history of the world simply by stating its already-known core values.
• Cringed as Mitt Romney offended nine out of every 10 citizens on the European continent.
• Followed the story of the Mississippi couple who couldn’t be married in a “white” church because they are black.
• Read the case a 1950s-era Russian gymnast who makes that she, not Michael Phelps, is the greatest olympian of all time. For the record, I think she’s right.
• Doubted we’d ever catch China in the medal count.
• While driving 500 miles to this town, found a cool new Sirius radio station that prompted me to take Iphone notes on new songs to buy as I endangered the lives of many along Illinois I-57.
• Read a surprise post from my wife today, who said she thought I was neat,

  

  and that I had a voice like thunder. Said post substantially escalated my testosterone levels. You can read her work at www.mywindow2theworld.wordpress.com

• On day-one of business travel, ate a Wendy’s double with cheese for lunch, and a Steak & Shake frisco melt with a vanilla malt for dinner, and fully expect to vomit in a bit.

Ya’ll expect another post soon. It’s pretty boring here.

I guess there’s always the third-floor view of Wal-Mart.

Yes, it’s great to be back on the blog. Even if it is from Room 309.

-30-