There’s busy and then there’s this.

By John Carlin
WSLS10 Anchor
Published: July 7, 2008

I realize that it’s been a long time since I posted a blog here at the Carlin Chronicles.  Excuses don’t usually wash with most people, but I’d like to at least try to explain by listing just SOME OF what’s happened since the last time I wrote something here.

My son graduated from high school. 

My other son came home from college, where he “unknowingly” extended the lease on the apartment that he no longer lives in.

I went to New York City to accept the Peabody award on behalf of the station and in honor of the Virginia Tech shooting victims.  While there where I met Heidi Klum, Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert and Alec Baldwin. 

The next day, I drove to Atlanta to see the Georgia Aquarium, then to the Florida Keys for vacation, where we snorkeled and ate a Cheeseburger in Paradise at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville.

While there we successfully sub-letted my son’s apartment back in Blacksburg.

Drove home over two days, worked one day, and headed north to New York State, Massachusetts, and Vermont. 

While there we celebrated my nephew’s high school graduation (NY) and my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary (Mass.).  My sister is pregnant, and gave us a bit of a scare that she might deliver the same day as the anniversary celebration.  After the anniversary it was off to Vermont for some fishing and general lake activity, during which one son passed out briefly because of a fishhook stuck in his finger, and my uncle started a bonfire in the wind that burned down a tent.

I returned home to try and catch up with my life, just in time to take the son who recently graduated from high school to college orientation.

During all of this, Moose the dog, was suffering a condition that could leave him blind, and my dad is recovering after shooting himself in the arm.

I swear I am not making any of this up.

Just so you know, my Dad’s wounds turned out to be pretty minor and Moose is doing better.

Any of the above merits a column on its own, and may well get one… but I’m still a little busy. 

Tomorrow is day two of orientation, Moose needs more drops in his eyes, and my sister still hasn’t had the baby.