and we're back.

unlike last year, this year is called 2014. the year 2014 comes about only once in a lifetime. unless you live long enough to start counting a second time, and reach the second 2014. or unless you count using 2 systems of counting, and the 2 2014s fall close to one another.

well, the second half of 2013 and the first half of 2014 have been pretty busy, and I assume that it is not going to get easier. most importantly for this particular exercise, I feel there is something I must say.

for reasons beyond the scope of this rant, I've been rereading Terry Pratchett's Bromeliad series. and I remembered.

I was supposed to write to the extraterrestrial beings who are observing us without intervening. and then to the writer who put us in their book. and then to the butterfly who keeps dreaming about us.

some things could be simpler. it would be nicer if some things were simpler.