oday, I experienced something I had not in many weeks — time to myself. I relaxed. I played around. I spent money online. I was almost bored. This season has been so busy, days like today are a welcome break — as long as they don't happen too often.

I'm in a particularly reflective mood today. I've reached a new juncture in my officiating career and, I think, as a writer about officiating.

Despite my busyness, my editor has wearied of my creative delays and insisted I return to work, not so much welcoming me back with open arms as meeting me at the door, arms akimbo, scowling, and impatiently tapping one foot. While I've been gone, that shepherd of the officiating.com fold has been busy rousting stray lambs from the hills and fields whence they've wandered. I was delighted to see Jeff Kearney back on the front page. And it seems we've had some old friends return. These are folks that came and went before I started two years ago.

Continued...