Carrot or Stick

"Speak softly and carry a big stick"--Teddy Roosevelt

“Carrot or Stick” by Chris Buczinsky. Acrylic on cardboard and canvas.

Dear Tulipwood Reader

I have been unable to locate a carrot or a stick big enough to get me to finish this week’s post. Please accept my apology, and this painting—”Carrot or Stick.”

My excuse is simple: I have been recovering from my move out of Chicago and have slowly begun making my way out West.

I left Chicago on Monday, and I spent one night in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. On Tuesday I reached the small cabin I rented on Lake Adney in the Northwoods of Minnesota.

On Wednesday I crashed. I slept like a ten-year-old boy—12 hours. On Thursday I managed to swim in the lake.

This weekend I drove to North Dakota to visit the Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

I can already feel the ghost of the old Trust-Buster, the Hero of San Juan Hill, menacing me with his stick, and I feel confident I will have a worthy post by my regular deadline next Sunday morning.

Yours in fear of Teddy,

Chris