DFL Runner: Blog

Hi everyone! First of all, major apologies for the unintended hiatus. I didn't think about the fact that I would be spending half of October entertaining a family member who is a little hazy on the concept of boundaries - as in, she would feel perfectly entitled to read over my shoulder as I was writing.

Second, as atonement for my disappearance, I am giving you a bonus - a story I had written several years ago when I was asked to consider traveling for work to a town a short drive from where an ex-girlfriend lived. The trip never took place, but the story came forth from a bit of wishful thinking.

Some patience will be requested over the coming weeks as I am traveling out of town for Thanksgiving, and also, I've been hired on a per-diem basis as ... what else? ... an elf working with Santa as he goes to various Christmas parties over the next several weeks.

This will actually be the first time I have done something like this. I'm looking forward to it, but I'm not sure how much time it will leave for writing. I will try to maintain at least something of a regular posting schedule, though, and to try to be more communicative if that will not be possible.

Enjoy Chapter 20, enjoy "The Return of Honeybear", and have a great week!

-- DFLR

Chapter 19 is in queue and should be posted shortly. It even features a small shout-out for fellow fans from Harry Chapin's "cheap seats."

Also, for those of you who may be curious, yes, the "elf" scene is 100% taken from real life. And yes, it happens every December. I often use this power for good and not evil, usually toward young kids who are acting like total hellions in the store. I tell them I'm an elf on a scouting mission to help Santa prepare the "naughty or nice" list. More often than not, it even works.

Finally, two notes ...

First, posting schedule alert: I have a 5K next Saturday so posting of Chapter 20 may be delayed until at least later in the day next Saturday. (I will be racing with "Kim"; I knew she would be okay when she agreed to sign up for it when she was still in rehab.) As well, there will be no posting at all on October 19 as I am going out of town for a few days.

Second, the answer to last week's blog post is Don Lockwood's "The Ghosts of Christmas Past."

(And the title for this post is from a sweet, if utterly predictable, 1991 movie called "All I Want for Christmas.")

Have a great week, everyone!

--DFLR

I've previously mentioned that Don Lockwood is one of the authors I admire and aspire to emulate. Some of you who are also his fans may recognize where I borrowed and modified one brief scene from one of his stories for Chapter 18. (For those of you who don't recognize it, spend the next few days checking out his stories and see if you can figure it out before I post the answer next week.)

And Don, if you happen to read this, I hope you'll forgive the minor theft. :-)

I have a race today (Saturday 9/28). The event includes a 5K and a one-mile fun run. Several members of my running group are doing the 5K. I'm doing the one-miler since I'm not completely recovered from the spinal injection on Monday, but I'm looking forward to it nonetheless.

Have a great week, everyone!

-- DFLR

It's "meet the family" time for John in this week's chapter, and I have two confessions to make. First, Lisa's family makes their home near Cincinnati for the express purpose of allowing me to continue the "talk back to the flight attendant" running joke, since Cincinnati's airport is on the other side of the Ohio River from the city itself, just outside Covington, Kentucky (hence CVG as the airport code).

Second confession: I've actually never been there, so if any of my readers would like to volunteer to tell me a little more about the city and its culture, please feel free to reach out. :-)

In other news, the tapering off of my prior pain medication is complete. I have decidedly not been a happy camper over the past few days, but I am hopeful that the end is in sight. I am having a facet injection on Monday. (Reader's Digest explanation: they numb my lower back with lidocaine, bend me into an unnatural position, then use a needle to deliver anti-inflammatory medication directly into my spinal column.) The tapering was necessary to allow for an unadulterated "before and after" assessment of its effectiveness. If it works, great. If it doesn't work, I can go back to what I was doing. Either way, we'll know before the end of the week.

Have a great week, everyone!

-- DFLR

Posting delay alert ... without going into a lot of detail, my pain-management protocol is being modified, again. I am having to taper off my current medication which, suffice to say, is not comfortable. I will be visiting the Massage Envy down the street this weekend; they have a massage therapist who manages to work wonders on me.

In the interim, I have the framework of the next chapter ready to go, but want to do a second draft. I've been in no frame of mind to do that the past couple of evenings. I am hoping this weekend will bring some pain relief, some relaxation, and some inspiration. I will see if I can't post before the weekend is out, but if not, look for me next Saturday.

Thanks!
DFLR