The Beginning At Last

Behind The 8-Ball: 2.0

—

by

Kevin
in ,

Good afternoon, and Happy Friday all. TGIF and all that.

In this week’s installment of BT8B…😄

Just wanted to poke my mug in and say hello real quick.

It’s been a very hectic, difficult week, and I am glad it’s come to a close finally.

It started out poorly with news of Laura’s post being swiped, and kind of just snowballed from there, culminating in a very intense audit at work yesterday for certification purposes.

My creative energy is still at a bit of an ebb, but I am going to try coming up with something in the next day or so.

I have a ton of comments and NTT posts to read and catch up on, so please bear with me over the next couple days as I get sorted out.

At the moment I feel like I went 12 rounds with Mike Tyson, so I’m just trying to nurse my wounds and shake off the haze.

1, 2, 3…

Anyhow, I hope everyone is having a nice afternoon and gets a nice break!

©️ 2024, The Beginning At Last

Comments

79 responses to “Behind The 8-Ball: 2.0”

  1. Ernie 'Dawg' Avatar
    Ernie ‘Dawg’

    Keep your chin up bro. You’ll come out from behind that 8 ball soon enough to re-rack and drop the eight in the side pocket! Now that’s what I call a nice break.👍👍👍

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Thank you, my man! Just very, very hectic this week. The shots came at me non-stop and I might have been hit by a few ricochets! 😄

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Ernie 'Dawg' Avatar
        Ernie ‘Dawg’

        Damn it man…

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        Just one of those weeks where you kind of stand there and take the shots and try to make it to the bell. 🥊

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Ernie 'Dawg' Avatar
        Ernie ‘Dawg’

        Brother this is the end of the week, hope you see nothing but sunshine and walk out the ring holding your head high knowing you made a difference. 🙏🙏🙏

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        Thank you, E-Dawg. I’m ok. Just trying to get my wind back. The slate is still a bit blank, but I’m gonna try to get something out there. That said, in the interim, I have been trying to get caught up and enjoy everyone’s posts, which is nice as well.

        Liked by 1 person

      5. Ernie 'Dawg' Avatar
        Ernie ‘Dawg’

        Enjoy the day

        Liked by 1 person

      6. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        You too, my friend!

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Rochdalestu Avatar
    Rochdalestu

    Some times you need to take a moment and recharge your batteries. Remember, nothing is more important than you are, so do what’s right for you and yourself and apologise to absolutely nobody for doing so 👌

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
    1. mchelsmusings Avatar
      mchelsmusings

      What he said!
      Hugs

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
      1. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        😊😊

        Liked by 1 person

    2. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Thank you, my friend. Yes, a very hectic week and lots of fire thrown my way. Laying low and recuperating now.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Rochdalestu Avatar
        Rochdalestu

        Hopefully you won’t need too long to recuperate and you’ll still be posting on your blog as I very much enjoy reading your posts. In other news, I have posted my 500th blog on my page this evening apparently, I got a notification that said that it was my 500th post. So I set myself small, obtainable goals, and I have set myself the target of posting my 1000th blog in three years time (I’ve only been blogging since 2021-2). Remember that you set your own goals in life and you have your own parameters to follow and work with. Ignore the next person’s capabilities or expectations and focus on your own. Put yourself first and make you the most important thing in your life

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        Congrats on the 500th post! That’s awesome news! Here’s to the next 500! 👏👏👏
        I’ll still be posting and reading, yes. Truthfully, at this moment, I am genuinely having trouble thinking of things to post. Coming up kind of blank. Happens at times 🤷‍♂️

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Rochdalestu Avatar
        Rochdalestu

        I know what you mean. But if you just post about exactly that and how you don’t have a specific narrative to follow or any specific topic to discuss you will find that you have created a post about exactly how you feel and then that will be relatable to others who have had similar experiences. It’s amazing to see how much you can create from having absolutely nothing 👍

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        Thanks, man. I think it comes down to energy level at the moment too. I don’t really have much mental juice in the tank right now. My brain is kind of in standby mode lately. Like it needs a break from too much information and activity.

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Samantha Joe "Sambuca" Woessner Avatar
    Samantha Joe “Sambuca” Woessner

    That gorilla with the pool tables is hilarious!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Nothing wrong with a nice game of billiards 😄😄🎱🎱🎱

      Like

      Reply
      1. Samantha Joe "Sambuca" Woessner Avatar
        Samantha Joe “Sambuca” Woessner

        I showed that to Julie and she liked it too

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        Nice. Thank you! 😊

        Like

  4. Laura Avatar
    Laura

    I feel you on like you’re being hit with a ton of bricks 🧱 emotionally, mentally, physically… 😩
    Need a nurse?? 🤪

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Rochdalestu Avatar
      Rochdalestu

      The analogy I use is to make a fist with your hand and imagine that fist represents you and your energy level. If that fist is only at 50% then it can’t possibly be able to give the things around it anything more than 50% if even that. Sometimes you have to be selfish (probably not the right word but I can’t think of any better way to describe it 😂) and focus on yourself rather than your surroundings and improve yourself when needed. You at full strength is far more productive than you running on empty

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        Thank you, my friend. Unfortunately, that seems to have been the default setting for quite some time. Constantly on the move it seems!

        Liked by 1 person

    2. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Always 😉

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply
      1. Laura Avatar
        Laura

        Wellllll I’m always here!! 🤪 😜

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        I know 😉

        Liked by 1 person

  5. Not all who wander are lost Avatar
    Not all who wander are lost

    Hang in there and take care of yourself. So happy that you got your NTT up because it meant we got to see your Genius again. Good luck with everything

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Aw, thanks much! I try to at least get that one up there if nothing else. It’s very enjoyable for me especially. Even if I have no notion to write, I can read and savor everyone else’s excellent creations. 😊

      Like

      Reply
  6. Willie Torres Jr. Avatar
    Willie Torres Jr.

    Those pictures were really awesome.

    Take it easy and try not to get overwhelmed, stress isn’t good for you. Focus on one day at a time and one step at a time. Do what you can when you can. Remember, the most important thing is to take care of yourself.

    Be Blessed Brother.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Thank you, Willie. Always appreciate your encouragement. 🙏
      Yes, it’s been a lot to keep up with lately. Just a bunch of stuff hitting at once and minimal sleep to boot. Laying low for the next few days.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Willie Torres Jr. Avatar
        Willie Torres Jr.

        My pleasure Brother, just worried about you. Hope you get some much needed rest. Try and relax and catch a breather.

        Peace, Love, and Chamomile tea for relaxation.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        I think WP glitched on me and did not send my reply. 🙄
        Thank you, Willie. I’m ok. Just been a tough week starting with the theft of Laura’s post and then a bunch of other stuff from the personal to the professional. Kind of just had to stand there and take the shots this round. 🥊

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Willie Torres Jr. Avatar
        Willie Torres Jr.

        You can take the hits, but don’t stay down for long. Get back up! There are more rounds ahead, and you have what it takes to keep fighting and land your punches.

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        Maybe I’ll keep a roll of quarters in my glove too. You know, for that extra something 😉😄🥊

        Liked by 1 person

  7. Nancy (The Sicilian Storyteller) Avatar
    Nancy (The Sicilian Storyteller)

    Sometimes it all hits the fan at once!
    Best wishes, Kevin. 🤩

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Yes, it sure does. Thanks, Nancy. I hope you’re having a nice Saturday. 😊

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Nancy (The Sicilian Storyteller) Avatar
        Nancy (The Sicilian Storyteller)

        Thanks, Kevin. So far, so good! 😊

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        Good deal! Hope it remains so! I am staying mostly off the radar today.

        Liked by 1 person

  8. Shweta Suresh Avatar
    Shweta Suresh

    Some days can be very tough indeed. But as they say, this too shall pass. And it’s Friday so you’ve got some time to recharge your batteries over the weekend. Whenever I don’t feel up to writing, I find that reading other posts usually inspires my creative muse to return. Ironically enough, the more I try to write, the more I feel like giving up. You just have to wait for inspiration to strike. Sometimes the stress of unread posts, unreplied comments and unwritten posts can get to you. I hope that you’ll be able to catch up soon and at times, it’s okay if you don’t too. The blogging community is full of sweet and understanding people. I took a blogging hiatus without so much as a heads-up or update only to pop back in after more than 2 years. And I was immediately welcomed back with nothing but love and concern for my well-being. That’s the best part about WP community. I’m glad that you are kept the NTT going. A lot of good images this week. Thank you for that. Every few people understand the effort it takes to keep prompts like that going. I am sure that your creative muse will make a comeback. Don’t stress yourself too much. Wishing you the best of luck.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Thank you, Shweta. Yes, that’s kind of what I have been doing – just reading and commenting some in lieu of having a lot to write. I may put something up later, but we’ll see. If I do, that’s fine and if not, that’s fine too. That’s kind of why I wanted to get the NTT out this week – it’s a nice opportunity to absorb creative energy from all of you. And, yes, while enjoyable, it definitely takes a level of dedication to keep things rolling.

      Yes, I know the community is full of good folks. That’s one of the main reasons I stick around despite the silly glitches, quirks, etc. If not for that, it’d hardly be worth it.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Shweta Suresh Avatar
        Shweta Suresh

        Looks like you’re on the right track. My 6WSP will go live in a few hours too. Maybe that’ll be able to inspire you. But no pressure. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
        Yes, the WP community is totally worth all that trouble.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        I will likely try to give it a shot. Something new might be what I need. Thank you 😊

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Shweta Suresh Avatar
        Shweta Suresh

        That’s great! Thank you 😀

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        I can’t promise it’ll be good, though lol
        can I use one of my NTT images with it if it fits?

        Liked by 1 person

      5. Shweta Suresh Avatar
        Shweta Suresh

        Haha. Writing is a story in six words is very tough indeed, Kevin. I have posted 120 six word stories so far on my blog but I still don’t think mine are perfect. The trick is just to write. My only request as the host is that your story be relevant to my prompt word. You’re free to use any image as you please. Hope this clears it up. Feel free to let me know if you have any other questions. 😃

        Liked by 1 person

      6. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        I used the prompt word and I kept it clean too! 😄
        It’ll be up later. Around 4pm, US time.

        Liked by 1 person

      7. Shweta Suresh Avatar
        Shweta Suresh

        Yay! Welcome to 6WSP and thanks for joining in. I think that might be sometime around midnight in Indian time. I’ll follow the pingback and check. Glad that you were able to come up with a story. 😊

        Liked by 1 person

      8. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        Hopefully you enjoy it! 😊

        Liked by 1 person

      9. Shweta Suresh Avatar
        Shweta Suresh

        I’m just glad that it inspired you to write something 😊

        Liked by 1 person

  9. Alice Avatar
    Alice

    The past few weeks feel like a year to me right now so I’m behind with everything. But that’s life. Recharge!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      I definitely understand that energy, Alice. Sometimes the shots just come from all sides and there’s no way to dodge them all. And yes, you’re right, that is life indeed.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  10. Destiny Avatar
    Destiny

    a real quick hello too, Chief 🤭

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      It’s like a drive by greeting lol

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Destiny Avatar
        Destiny

        🥴…lol , let’s hope the fuel price doesn’t go up 🤭🤣

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        Fingers crossed! 🤞

        Like

  11. The Mindful Migraine Blog Avatar
    The Mindful Migraine Blog

    Love the first image – it seems to contain both hope and dread… which seems appropriate! Linda xx

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Thank you, Linda. It does seem that is the cocktail of life, does it not?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. The Mindful Migraine Blog Avatar
        The Mindful Migraine Blog

        Absolutely! enjoy the rest of the weekend! x

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        Thank you, Linda. You as well! 😊🙏

        Liked by 1 person

  12. Kymber Hawke Avatar
    Kymber Hawke

    I’m feeling behind the 8 ball, too. I hope things look up soon, my friend.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Thank you, Kymber. And likewise for you as well. This week started off poorly with Laura’s work getting stolen and just continued from there. A lot from all sides.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Kymber Hawke Avatar
        Kymber Hawke

        I’m so angry that her work was stolen. Is there anything can be done about it?

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        She’s trying, but it’s been slow going. I am sure at some point she’ll post an update. We’ve both not felt the urge to be on so much since that happened. Kind of stifled the creative flow.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Kymber Hawke Avatar
        Kymber Hawke

        I can understand that! Wishing you both the best.

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        Thank you, Kymber. I just hope it gets resolved favorably, and soon!

        Liked by 1 person

  13. Chris Avatar
    Chris

    It’s not important if you come up with a post or not. What’s vital is that you get your mental and physical strength back.

    Blogging is just a very nice side show, it can never be the main attraction in our lives. I hope you’ll get better soon 🙏 Take care Kevin 🌞

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Definitely right about that, Chris. Thank you 🙏
      The funny part is I’d love to put something up, but the slate is blank. The whole thing with Laura’s post being stolen and then about 50 other things just took a lot of my mental energy.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Chris Avatar
        Chris

        I’ve been there, am I there?😊 You’ll bounce back 💪

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        Thanks, Chris. Yes, this too shall pass, I suppose. 💪

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Chris Avatar
        Chris

        It will 😊🙏

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        Fingers crossed 🤞

        Liked by 1 person

  14. Tashintheclouds Avatar
    Tashintheclouds

    I can emphatise a little. At least the Tyson reference. Stay on your toes, and keep dancing.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Trying to avoid the corners and the ropes too. 🥊
      Thank you, Tash. 😊

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  15. Tashintheclouds Avatar
    Tashintheclouds

    The rebound is a killer.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      You got that right. 👍

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  16. Mary K. Doyle Avatar
    Mary K. Doyle

    I hope you get to relax and recover this weekend, Kevin.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Kevin Avatar
      Kevin

      Thank you, Mary. In an odd turn of events, I actually feel worse. Go figure lol

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Mary K. Doyle Avatar
        Mary K. Doyle

        Oh, no, Kevin. I’m so sorry. I hope you can figure out what you need to feel better, my friend. Sending you a giant hug.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Kevin Avatar
        Kevin

        Thank you very much, Mary. 😊
        One day at a time, as they say.

        Liked by 1 person

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