Into The Void

☆ December 17, 2018

This year has been intense….. beginning with Daisy’s miscarriage on January 2 and plowing full steam ahead from then on. I am officially burned out. A silver lining to my burnout: I am finally capable of recognizing and acknowledging it! On a hike earlier this month, I couldn’t stop crying and I was like, “OK, Shreve, where is this coming from?” And the answer that came is that I feel like I’ve become the secretary of my life…… and not living it anymore.

So. I’m giving my secretarial self the month of January off. I’m so excited, I’m freakin’ giddy. I’m excited for time and space and to work on some new projects I’ve not been able to germinate as a secretary. What this means:

The Shop will close January 1. In the meantime, all jewelry (with the exception of Fred’s) is 18% off for the remainder of 2018 ~ use code 18for18 during checkout to get the discount.

During the month of January, my email auto-responder will explain how any issues with previous orders or Daily Coyote subscriptions will be addressed (and they will be addressed), so if you have issues, don’t hesitate to email – next steps will appear. I will attend to all other email and re-open the shop in February.

Daily Coyote subscriptions will continue to go out as always, because the continuity is important to all of us, and it honestly doesn’t feel like work, and my web guru has automated all the tedious parts. Charlie’s blog will also be updated as usual throughout January.

I have a rabbit hole for you, before I go.

Last week, I came upon this Kickstarter: Pistachio Wars: Killing California for a Snack Food. I watched the trailer, my jaw hit my desk, I watched it again, I backed the Kickstarter, I showed it to Mike, I tweeted about it, and I swore off pistachios (which I love) FOREVER.

And then I wanted to learn more, and I found this podcast, which, warning to the tender-eared, has two obstreperous hosts and includes a fair amount of swearing, but, once you fast-forward eleven minutes to get past the ads, it is jam-packed with info, including (but not limited to) a billionaire threatening to sue bees for trespassing, that same billionaire nabbing a multi-million-dollar taxpayer-funded aquifer for his own private use for zero dollars, and, guess who! same guy! irrigating his commercial crops with fracking waste water (and those very crops are waiting for you in your local grocery store). If you are eating anything that comes from California, you might want to listen to this. The podcast notes link to lots of articles, HERE, (Ep. 356…Water Monsters) if you prefer to read.

Moral of the story: KNOW YOUR FARMER! Whenever and wherever possible.

See you in the Year of the Pig!

Comments

19 Responses to “Into The Void”

  1. Torre
    December 17th, 2018 @ 8:21 pm

    good for you!!! I sure hope the break is refreshing for you. and new projects :) I understand this feeling….

    oh no, i’m not sure i have the emotional fortitude to watch the kickstarter or listen to the podcast – i totally trust your judgement on these. being in the DC area, it is hard to get breaks from the news of the day or what seems like minute. I am lucky to have so many relatively local farmers to me – farmers markets, etc.

    all the best to you, Mike, Charlie, and the Farmily!

  2. bonnie
    December 17th, 2018 @ 8:51 pm

    i have long considered january to be the month that i get to spend under my own personal rock if possible. cozy, and doing whatever i want. ( i know we are always endeavouring to do what we want, but our practical sides usually have a lot of say in the matter, eh?) enjoy yourself and whatever/whoever you find !!

  3. Rose
    December 17th, 2018 @ 9:55 pm

    Merry Christmas, Shreve, and have a great vacation! Everybody needs a time out sometimes! Even though you will still be working, it’ll be one (or two or three) less things to deal with, or stress about!

  4. mlaiuppa
    December 18th, 2018 @ 1:02 am

    Read the article on Yahoo regarding Russian interference in our elections.

    https://www.yahoo.com/news/key-takeaways-reports-russian-disinformation-212534524.html

    Then let’s see if anyone deletes their Instagram accounts. Instagram, owned by Facebook.

    I’ve had the Almond trees on my radar since they got rid of the orange groves, then started stealing all of our aquifer for private profit. The almonds are just as bad as the pistachios. Since farmers can take all the water they want without paying for it, they got rid of the low water crops that didn’t make enough profit and replaced them with these high profit, water guzzling trees. But we’re aware and we’re on it. Don’t worry about California. We will deal with the water thieves and the polluters.

    Since the Central Valley of California sends produce all over the nation, this is not just a California problem, it is a U.S. problem.

    Nestle is stealing our water too, and not paying for it. But that is going through the courts and we’ll stop them AND make them pay. So don’t buy Arrowhead. You can try to not buy anything owned by Nestle but good luck with that.

    https://www.npr.org/2018/06/28/624156334/nestl-offered-permit-to-continue-taking-water-from-california-stream

    Thank goodness we have a government that has demonstrated that the health and safety of the public is their number one priority. (*snark*) A judge just used The Lorax to force the U.S. Forest service to stop a gas pipeline through a National Forest on the east coast. Maybe we can fight Nestle too, but in the meantime they are stealing our water, which California can’t afford.

    In the meantime, if you want to fight for our democracy, delete your Facebook AND Instagram accounts.That doesn’t cost anything and anyone can do it. If enough do it, that will have an impact.

  5. C in Florida
    December 18th, 2018 @ 4:44 am

    We adore you and your family, Shreve. And also, I feel that the rest of us are like another family, a big remote herd of smart, yet goofy and soft-hearted creatures who are lucky to find you and the rest of the community of admirers. Maybe we need a name for your outer family, something like my Grandpa’s “south forty,” or something. Seems like a contest would be cute, to find a name for all of us remote-but-close folks with like minds. Maybe it’s already been done and I wasn’t paying attention. Remember, when you are out of sight, you are not out of our minds, and certainly NEVER away from our hearts. Have a lovely January. Love, woof, meow, moo, neighhhh, cackle, bzzzzzz. . .

  6. Barbara Sanchez
    December 18th, 2018 @ 8:32 am

    Merry Christmas and best wishes for a joyous 2019, Shreve!

    Thank you so much for providing us with such informative links! Looking forward to viewing the podcast (& thanks for letting us know to forward 11 minutes into it to bypass the swearing)

    All the best to you, Mike & the family! Enjoy your sabbatical!

  7. Caitlin Sullivan
    December 18th, 2018 @ 8:47 am

    Enjoy the reprieve, Shreve,
    For your buds chew our cuds
    We adore you and implore you
    to rest and feel love from afar!

  8. Sheri Nugent
    December 18th, 2018 @ 10:14 am

    Merry Christmas and Happy Respite to you! It really has been quite a year!

  9. Liane B
    December 18th, 2018 @ 12:40 pm

    What C in Florida said!! Happy New Year to all.

  10. Sandy G.
    December 19th, 2018 @ 2:37 am

    Ditto to C in Florida’s words. She said it all so well. We do all care about you and support you in whatever you do, including taking a restful break! Wishing you Peace and Happy Holidays!

  11. Theresa Szpila
    December 19th, 2018 @ 8:13 am

    Sending all blessings your way, Shreve, and wishing you all good things in the new year!

    When the big advertising push for pistachios first hit, I wondered what was behind it…now I know and I’m disgusted. Pistachios just moved to my Never-to-be-Eaten list, alongside almonds, lobster and a few others. Sigh. Greed is sooo ugly.

  12. Colleen Greco
    December 20th, 2018 @ 6:22 pm

    Wishing you the happiest of holidays and enjoy your time off, everyone deserves a break.

  13. Marci Jo Green
    December 20th, 2018 @ 11:28 pm

    I can’t remember now, how I found Charlie and you, Shreve. I think I found the book somewhere first. After that I was hooked because I LOVE all animals. And I always wish I could have lived a life yours. I grew up with dogs and cats. When my son was young we got a puppy who was 1/2 yellow lab (her father, Molson) 1/4 golden retriever and 1/4 Irish setter (her mother, Annie) Well, our Holly was such a beautiful and good dog! My son brought home two rats that were not being taken care of from some place he had been living a few towns over. It took me one day to get past the tails, and then I fell in love with Izzy & Twink. I couldn’t get over how smart they were. My mom lives next door to me, we’re out in the country. She’s been feeding about 40 turkeys this year, the flock just keeps growing! And she’s just started to feed the deer again. Well, I didn’t realize how much I’ve been rambling on. Once you open the shop again, there are some prints of Charlie I would like to buy. Give him a hug for me. I hope you and your whole family have very Happy Holidays >^..^<

  14. Holly
    December 21st, 2018 @ 2:32 pm

    Hi Shreve. Sending positive thoughts and hugs to you , Mike and Charlie and the entire farmily. Spend quality time finding peace and quiet for yourself and all those around you. You deserve and have quite rightly earned this time to yourself. A very Merry Christmas to you and Mike, and of course, a huge hug for Charlie, who I just adore.

  15. LN_cello
    December 24th, 2018 @ 4:06 pm

    Dear Shreve, Good luck with your battery recharge (sadly, I know how it feels). Take time. Do take time. // Can’t believe it’s been 10 years I follow yr blog. It’s been great to be “remote” part of the way you live, part of this “extended family”. Wish you happy holidays.
    LN_cello from NL
    PS: Thanks for the superfast order handling!

  16. Steph in Oregon
    December 31st, 2018 @ 9:37 am

    Shreve- I wish you a deliciously slow January.
    XOXO to all human and farmily.

  17. Malcolm
    January 1st, 2019 @ 3:50 pm

    Ditto the ‘Ditto’ of Sandy G. – of C. in Florida. Love and my very best wishes!
    ” I’m the Secretary of my life ” Indeed! Crack me up, kiddo! M.

  18. Judith
    January 1st, 2019 @ 11:39 pm

    If you have become the “secretary of your life,” you are correct in that things are out of kilter and it is time to take another look at what is going on with yourself.

    Rest, hike, read, renew.
    Be blessed.

  19. Cricket Rohman
    January 23rd, 2019 @ 6:48 am

    I hope 2019 will be less tense for you. I understand being the secretary of one’s life. A perfect description of what I’m doing, too. I must stop that. You’ve inspired me to calm down a bit. And so much more. I always love hearing about you and Charlie and Daisy… When January comes to an end, you will see an email from me. It concerns my novel and Charlie’s photo. Love to you and your family. Stay warm.

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