By Tim Leeds
Spring is in the air, I think. Now I just have to get some spring in my step, I guess.
Here it is, almost Easter, the clocks have "sprung forward," we have even had a spring snowstorm. One more dumping of about a foot of snow and I might even believe that spring actually is here.
Now is the time for lovely, exciting spring activities. I am really looking forward to raking my yard, fixing up some winter damage, cleaning up the detritus from the winter. Some of which is just stuff I didn't take care of last fall before winter set in. Who knows, maybe I'll actually get that garden planted I've been talking about for the last nine years.
I really should get going on the improvements to our house, which I've only been talking about for the last two or three years. There is the section in the back where the paint is all shot because the roof leaked during a fast melt of two feet of snow Or maybe concentrating on a good, basic cleaning should be a top priority.
That is a standard thing to do in the spring, right?
Or, my wife reminded me a little bit ago that our bathroom needs some work too. She gave me a little project to work on for that. Maybe that should be top priority? Hey, Jod, I worked you into my column again!
I actually noticed that part of the lawn is starting to green up. I think that's when it sank in, that we're half-way through April now, in the year 2001. Where does the time go, anyway? That's not an original question, but it's sure hitting me hard now.
Four years from now, my older son, Richard, will be starting high school. Perhaps even worse, Patrick, my little guy, will probably be in some kind of preschool thingy next fall. I apologize in advance to his teachers.
Time flies when you're having fun. I sure know it has for the last year, and for the last ten. Having a family sure makes the minutes disappear, and working for a newspaper eats them up even faster.
This year seems to be going by even faster. Pretty soon it'll be summer, then fall, then winter again. Next thing you know, I'll be wondering where spring came from next year. Hopefully I'll have a little more energy that time.
I don't know where my energy goes. Maybe it goes the same place the time is disappearing. Tell me, is it normal for jobs around the house to pile up so much faster than you can do them?
I was also wondering if it's normal for more and more work to appear as you have more kids, and the older they get. Well, not really wondering. I kind of knew that, I suppose. I just didn't realize how fast things pile up until I had two kids, getting older and older.
Spring is a time of renewal, they say. I hope that is true; maybe I can renew my energy and start getting some things done. They certainly aren't getting done by themselves; I have been waiting for them to, and that just isn't happening, I'm afraid.
Spring is a time of change, and we're experiencing it here at the Daily News, too. Today is Matt Walen's last day as managing editor here, and actually his last day here at all. He starts working at The Billings Gazette tomorrow.
I'm gonna miss Matt. I've known he's a twit for years, but I've appreciated the job he's done as editor. I also appreciate the help he's given me getting started in my job as a reporter. He did an awful lot showing me how to do the job a lot better. Not to say I've listened to him, but I appreciate the input.
Good luck in Billings, Matt. I wish you the best, and am sure you will find the move exciting and rewarding. I sure hope you do.
Alan Sorensen will be taking over as editor until the new permanent editor is chosen. Good luck Alan, I know you can do the job very well. I'm looking forward to working with you as editor, too.
