I'm back.  Not baaaaaack... just back, from my self-imposed six-month-or-so sabbatical-of-sorts. 'Sabbatical' meaning no new projects or learning curves for awhile, sleep in (past 5:00) on occasion, take a couple hours to read a book or an afternoon snooze if the spirit moves.  Take a few deep breaths... look around, regain one's bearings... hopefully emerge renewed and refreshed.

I have long said that our society should allow everyone a sabbatical at some point in their life.  From Wikipedia:

Sabbatical or a sabbatical (from Latin sabbaticus, from Greek sabbatikos, from Hebrew shabbat, i.e., Sabbath, literally a "ceasing") is a rest from work, or a break, often lasting from two months to a year. The concept of sabbatical has a source in shmita, described several places in the Bible (Leviticus 25, for example, where there is a commandment to desist from working the fields in the seventh year). In the strict sense, therefore, a sabbatical lasts a year.

In recent times, "sabbatical" has come to mean any extended absence in the career of an individual in order to achieve something. In the modern sense, one takes sabbatical typically to fulfill some goal, e.g., writing a book or traveling extensively for research. Some universities and other institutional employers of scientists, physicians, and/or academics offer the opportunity to qualify for paid sabbatical as an employee benefit, called sabbatical leave. Some companies offer unpaid sabbatical for people wanting to take career breaks; this is a growing trend in the United Kingdom, with 20% of companies having a career break policy, and a further 10% considering introducing one.

I realized late last year that I was, frankly, exhausted.  Maybe it was the "20 years for TurfNet, 60 years for me" anniversary syndrome, maybe just getting old(er), but it was time to push back for a bit and catch my breath.  Ya gotta take care of #1.

Using a golf course analogy, the past twenty years for me has gone sort of like this: 

• Come up with an idea and build a few holes to try it out.  The concept takes hold (albeit slowly) so add a few more holes.
• Once the front nine is completed, go back in and fix all the little stuff that needs attention.  Take out a few trees, add some drainage here and there, widen a fairway or two, tweak some tee alignment.
• Things are rolling along nicely -- not according to plan, because there wasn't and still isn't a plan, just watching and listening -- so you build the back nine.
• By that time, you know even more drainage is needed and a few bunkers need to be rebuilt on the original holes.  Add a few irrigation heads here and there.  Upgrade the central.  Enlarge the pond.
• Rinse and repeat. You get the idea...

So I put any/all new projects on hold and went into pure maintenance mode. I read a couple dozen books. Put myself on ice (so to speak) for two months this summer after nicking my foot with a chain saw (just a little meat, thankfully no bones or tendons) and spending the summer in bedroom slippers... but in a place with a nice view.

I don't recommend the chain saw thing. One of those split seconds of inattention I'd like to have back for a re-do. "Stupid is as stupid does", as Forrest Gump said.

No doubt I jinxed myself by posting the following on Twitter (literally) the day before my "emergency". The slipper thing was prescient, indeed.

But hey, live and learn, I suppose. Hopefully, anyway.  With so many stupid things to do or new mistakes to be had, I've never seen the sense in repeating any.

So I'm back at it, full bore.  As evidence, I started writing this at 5:15 this morning, and a beautiful Vermont autumn sunrise it was.  Self-induced learning curves are back too, as just last week I ditched my 22-year series of PCs and my Android in favor of a Macbook Pro and an iPhone.  Late to the party, admittedly, but I'm all in now.  A much less frustrating experience, all around.

And we have some cool new stuff going on at TurfNet.  Frank Rossi kicked off TurfNet RADIO with a couple of Frankly Speaking segments (presented by DryJect and Aquatrols) with Dr. Brian Horgan (Minnesota) and Dr. Doug Soldat (Wisconsin-Madison), talking turf nutrition. If you haven't listened yet, check them out. Some fascinating things going on in turf research, with no holds barred in turning the status quo inside out and upside down. These podcasts can be downloaded for listening in the truck or during mower miles as well.

These "radio" events interfaced nicely with our recent Turf Nutrition Week webinar series, presented by Grigg Bros., featuring presentations by Dr. Jim Murphy (Rutgers), Dr. Gordon Kauffman (Grigg Bros.) and Dr. Thom Nikolai (Michigan State).

Dave Wilber is going to have his own Turfgrass Zealot show on TurfNet RADIO, and I'll probably host a few myself.  I know some people I'd like to interview... and this Blogtalkradio format allows for call-ins as well, so we can take your questions.

True to Rossi and Wilber form, these will likely be on a sporadic and impromptu schedule, so watch the Forum and Twitter for announcements.

The process of listening and watching, evaluating, adding and subtracting continues. And I think I'll fire up that chain saw again this weekend.  Ya gotta get back on the horse that threw ya...