Goodbye. I am leaving because I am bored.

I'm not thinking much about overall themes or preoccupations or anything like that. Instead I'm just trusting that, if I'm working hard, various notions and riffs and motifs and so on are very naturally suffusing the stories and the resulting book.

My view is that our minds are incredibly powerful animals that are, during life, kept somewhat in check by the load of our bodies. Once that load is gone (or so some ancient texts teach us) the mind is like a horse off the tether. So the habits we get into here might have something to do with what happens to us afterwards. An exciting but harrowing idea, given the everyday state of my mind. But also hopeful, since that's something a person can work with.

There might be a different model for a literary community that's quicker, more real-time, and involves more spontaneity.

I do find the values in A Christmas Carol significant. It is important not to be mean and stingy and not to give up love for money.

As one gets older, this question of death, becomes more vexing and urgent.

Stay alert. The big moral crossroads in your life may not come labeled as such.