I’ve only written 4 blog post in the last month and a half, but it doesn’t seem like you missed it too much. The break, which I have every intention of continuing in some form or fashion, has been beneficial. I’ve focused my energy a little more and cut back where I could. At the same time, I didn’t replace blogging with other writing, which is what I had fully intended to do. Honestly, some of my time was just squandered away playing a ridiculous flash game that will remain unnamed.

Here’s some of what I’ve been working on lately and what’s been on my mind:

• InsideNorthside.org is the project I’ve been contributing most of my energy to over the past month. I’ve carved out a few hours a week to meet with people and organizations in the neighborhood to try and spread the word about the effort. It’s basically an encyclopedia (built of the wikipedia model of user contributions) for North Minneapolis. I’ve met with some great organizations, our council person and even the mayor. My plan is to spend maybe another month to try and spread the word and hopefully “sell” folks on the idea. People are very receptive of the idea, but very few people have actually made contributions. Anyways, that’s where most of my free time has gone.
• Summer has meant a lot more time outside with the kiddos, parks, bike rides, libraries, you name it. Add a couple recent road trips and it’s wound up being a busy summer.
• I started reading again, after about a 6 month break without finishing a single book. Recently I’ve read: Work Hard. Be Nice. which is about KIPP Academy a very successful charter school; The Glass Castle, a memior; Finding an Unseen God, reflections of a former athiest; and  maybe one or two others I can’t remember right now.

And of course now the kids are waking up, so my time here is almost done. My current plan is to write one short thoughtful blog post a week, probably following a certain topic or train of thought (consistently is the plan). So, help me choose the first topic thread to begin with:

• money and finances
• church
• parenting
• neighborhood and community

Or if you’ve got something else you think I might like discussing leave a suggestion.