Work has been insane in terms of volume but all I can seem to muster is a half-hearted meh. In short, I'm over it. Over being short-staffed, of being bounced around from location to location, over feeling any sort of real ownership of the job.

I've been burned out before, but this seems to be a whole other level of just not caring. I doubt I'll get in trouble for it since I still am maintaining a relatively fast pace compared to others and my niche with healthcare and Dealogic is secure so for now I'll just let it go and see if inspiration ever comes back. Things could be much worse.

Olana was fantastic, even though the weather wasn't great, so some of the amazing views were lost in clouds and fog. I would highly recommend it to anyone thinking of going upstate, although you do need a car to get there. Hudson has also come an amazingly long way from the rundown town I remember in the late 1990s, a renaissance driven by accessibility to the city and a thriving antiquing and gay community. A town built mostly in the 1700s and 1800s, old building are being rejuvenated and I would definitely consider going back to spend a weekend just in the town.

We even stayed in an old candle factory that's been converted to a hotel which was very cool. It was not cheap, but since it was my mom's birthday weekend she's earned a splurge now and then.

In other news, I still have issues. I know that will always be the case and I'm angry about...well...everything, but I need to hang on, keep talking it out, and continue making some progress. I can do that. I have to do that.

Things have been going along on a normal basis, which I am incredibly thankful for. Sleep is elusive which is why I'm up now, but I'm hoping the Sandman visits soon.

This weekend I'm off to Olana which should be amazing considering his beginnings, evolution, and an examination of what he saw (sort of, minus industrialization), from his estate. One of my favorite paintings in the Met is Heart of the Andes where the bottom is just absolutely exquisite.

This image doesn't give it justice but the detail, the play of light and shadow and the almost photographic quality speaks to Church's talent. He was trained as a protege of Thomas Cole of the Hudson River School and capitalized it by going abroad and bringing that sense of immediacy to his canvases everywhere.

So it was an okay week. I just have to keep going on okay weeks and I hope this helps.