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It was last year, November 9, my first "Thoughts For The Week Ending:" and today marks the end of one year as a practicing columnist. Not a bad year's work, if I may say so myself. Still, now that I've accomplished that first goal I must set another. But what? How ambitious dare I be?

I've the same problem with my career. That has been the most frequent topic among the 46 essays I've written in the last 12 months, and last week that goal too was achieved. I am now at that point, where I have been writing for the last year, that I wanted to be. At last rid of that albatross, free of the bonds of my dead-end job, I must now prove that I really can do better.

This past week has been a time for reflection, celebration, and most of all, a much needed rest. Other than reading books, I've avoided the computer, and spent a lot of time watching TV in bed -- and sleeping far too much. In fact, hibernation sounds pretty good right now.

That is part of the original plan and that plan could only go better if it had been invoked in the summertime. For the last 3 or 4 years, I've been saying that I wanted a month off -- a sabbatical -- when I finally got out of there. Well, I'm out. I've waited a long time for this, and now I'm going to indulge myself, take my time and choose my next goals very carefully . . . and, pursue those goals doggedly once the course has been laid in.

But for now, I am sleeping as much as I possibly can. I've been drinking a lot of beer, and I've been drinking a lot of wine. Not nearly, however, as much as I did when I graduated from high school though -- I got an email from my sister, Cindy, it seems that my alma mater is coming online! But, this time around, I do realize that alcohol does hamper my ability to write an essay.

And with that thought, I will leave it at that for this week. Until next week . . . cheers!