Starting 2026 with a break

It’s been a weird second-holiday-week ad prep for the new year.

I visited with my parents and sister up in the Toledo area between Christmas and New Year’s, but that went sideways as my father fell ill. He’s better now, but he and his facility really couldn’t deal with visitors as flu and a stomach virus was getting around. I even had to pick up masks—pandemic style—to make a brief visit.

I got back home New Year’s Eve, was feeling okay, and went to get my pneumonia vaccine (it’s now a standard recommendation for folks 50+). For New Year’s Day I was enjoying scanning a few thousand printed photos I’d stolen from my parents’ old house in Toledo while I was up there.

But as the first day of 2026 progressed, I started to feel bad. Within 24 hours I was sure I was sick. Not vaccine sick, not the flu I’m hearing about, or even the stomach virus spreading across Ohio, but some kind of cold.

That cold persisted through the weekend. Sapped me of energy and desire to do anything. Even here, on Sunday evening, I’m still tired. But the week starts in the morning and I will just have to be ready.

So… I haven’t had the time or energy to prep a regular weeknote. And I was already re-thinking what I would do with the blog this year. I’m a bit more interested in essays and observations than just recounting events. Although I think there has been value in capturing a bit of my history.

In any case, no weeknote this week. And probably not next week. Work is exploding right now, with more hiring in flight, new hires starting soon, and our digital accessibility work taking center stage. It’s going to be absolutely nuts for a while, and I don’t know that I can spare the energy for regular blogging.

So… yeah… I’m backing away from weeknotes for now. Not saying I’m done entirely. But I need a break. Work needs more of my attention in the weeks and months ahead.

Thank you for following so far. I’m not gone. I’m here. I just need some time. See you soon.