Update... what's going on?

So, what's new?  Here is a brief update and some contemplation.

-- Jacob lost two teeth in two days and now has lost all four of his bottom front teeth.

-- I do not like that too many of my posts have been mirrored to the 25 books site because it shows I am slacking.  I say this even though my goal is to write on my private book blog and not do much here.  So, I guess I'll try to keep it brief.

-- I just finished reading The Hobbit to Jacob tonight.  He wanted to start Fellowship of the Ring right away, but that will be tomorrow.  Jacob has listened to me read all seven of the Harry Potter books and has now sat through the first of Tolkien's four-part saga.  I predict he will sit through this one as well. We discussed the differences between movies and books.  The kid is sharp and asks very intelligent questions.

-- I continue to struggle with nuances that I described in the previous posts (about revenge and other basics posted about below).  I am going to try to focus my energies on flushing those thoughts out in the book.  I have been bad about writing lately for a few reasons.  My big-book mania has gotten in the way, work has been insanely busy and various other life changes have also led to some halting.  However, the story never leaves my mind and I find myself contemplating it often.

-- Much is changing for our family and the adjustments, both immediate and anticipated, are starting to be felt.  It is welcome and necessary, but that does not preclude discomfort.

-- I think the newer concepts to my mind that I most want to work through in the book are the burdens of logic and the mind-withering materialism of our world.  I have seen examples of these recently and really want to create scenes that hit those concepts.

-- For the first time I can remember, I did not fill out a March Madness bracket and did not even watch a single game.  I am starting to drift further and further from sports.  I am even starting to go back on my initial intention to involve Jacob in sports.  Even though I enjoyed sports growing up, I do not see the same fire in Jacob for that form of competition (he is INTENSELY competitive, but not for sport) and I am starting to look down my nose at it a bit.  The boy has brains and I don't want him to use his head to advance a football.  That said, I actually have begun to almost fear for his future based on his intellectual maturity.  I fear the gleam of wonder will be too quickly removed and will more quickly be invaded by the cynicism that follows advanced logical thought.  Wow, there is no way to express that concern without sounding elitist.  Yet, it remains my fear.  There is always some fear, whether extreme or small. I consider this one small in the immediate sense, but it does concern me long-term.  Cynicism injected too early can bring a deep melancholy.  I know, first-world problems, but still.  I'm a parent.

-- I should really be working on the project I promised to work on.  It will come. Although I have not written, it continues to simmer and move.