Whew

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I sit here with various dirt-packed automobile fluids on my hands and arms, having just worked on the Foad again (and lost my 7/16ths wrench to boot) happier than I have been in some time.

I fixed the truck (thanks Sam!) and got the beast done.

The magazine is at the press. I am now waiting to make sure everything is copacetic on their end. When I get the Thumbs Up, I may very well curl into a ball, roll under my desk and weep.

This 32-page magazine is the first I have ever put out. It is the first The Wiregrass has put out. The paper is 110 years old this year.

The staff here is simply awesome for putting up with me as I designed and laid this thing out with their magnificent help. I could not have done it without Linda & Robin. They, I think, could have done it without me.

I've been in newspapers more'n 25 years now. I'm not gonna say I'm the best in the business, but I can do what's needed.

But a magazine.

It's like riding a bicycle and a motorcycle. The same very basic skill set applies to both. If you've never ridden a motorcycle, but can ride a bike, the first time you get on a motorcycle...

That's what it was like with this magazine. I can only recall stress levels being this high around here two other times. The source of that stress is no longer here. Which is good. Because had that source remained here, someone would be moldering in a grave right now.

It's done. We're all happy here. Very happy. And very relieved.

The magazine will be out at the end of the month. Yes, we have ordered extra copies. If you get a print subscription, you'll get a copy. We're working on getting the magazine on the website as well.

Meantime, here's another preview.