Vermont has reached 80% vaccination and lifted all Covid restrictions. I’ve been everywhere without a mask this week, and I think it’s safe to say that the tide is receding on this big mess.

In its wake, it leaves me. At the moment, I have roughly the consistency, shape, mental focus, and general fortitude of a slightly melted marshmallow.

I haven’t been reading enough. I haven’t been doing any of my physical therapy. I’ve been on an all carb diet for a year, and let’s not even start about how much I’ve been drinking. I’m not embarrassed about any of this, because I know I’m not the only one. I see you out there, finishing that bottle of wine and watching trash tv. I get you. We are one.

We’re definitely justified in blaming the pandemic for this dumb situation and the loss of all the good jeans. Here’s the trick though: correctly assigning blame is not going to solve the problem. I think it may be necessary to do some work.

Today’s my 49th birthday. Much as I hate to say it, this seems like as good a time as any to begin.

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(This is a picture of a cutie cute cake that my company sent me for my birthday. The sentiment is very appropriate. The fact that I ate some of the chocolate off the top within seconds of opening the box also illustrates my point pretty effectively.)