So where have I been for the last year and a half? Why have I not been writing regularly, though I whine about it to nearly every friend I have? I’ve been asking myself those questions for quite a while, and some of the answers I’ve come up with aren’t too comfortable.

Yes, I miss journalism, and asking questions all day, and telling other people’s stories. But I also miss the instant cred and name recognition that came with having a regular newspaper column.

I’ve been worried that if I admitted I was still a journalist — or still wanted to be — it would somehow be a step off the hard-won path to my newer vocation, as someone who is painstakingly learning how to be a fundraiser, school communicator and manager in a culture I’ve never experienced before.

But almost every day I come up with a column idea, or get mad about something, or see a story — not all of them are at St. Mary’s, though some are — and think: I should be writing about that.

So here goes. Please read, comment and help me find my voice again. I hope it never really went away.

OK, you can tell from the headline on this post that I have already decided about Jeffrey Scott, and can’t imagine how even magician/defense attorney Leslie Ballin will get him off. Wanted to be sure that you are keeping up with the trial the best way — by reading the live blogging that’s going on. Clay Bailey, longtime reporter at The CA, is setting the standard, and I’ve even heard that other journalists covering the trial are following him for their stories. Here’s the link to his live blog. What do you think? Will Jeffrey Scott walk?

Before there was Lady Diana Spencer — soon to be HRH the Princess of Wales, and eventually the Princess of People’s Hearts, there was her foremother, Lady Georgiana Spencer, the Duchess of Devonshire. You’ve probably heard about the new movie, opening mid-October, starring Kiera Knightley and Ralph Fiennes. Now’s your chance to see a preview for free next Thursday, Oct. 2. Click this link for a printable PDF movie pass for you and a pal — theduchess.pdf. Sponsored by skirt! magazine, lover of formidable women from every generation. (Click the link at right to find out where to get your free copy.) See you there!

The shoes might not be purple platforms (or maybe they will), but there will be loads of dresses, shoes, handbags and belts for sale to the public beginning tomorrow at noon at the What’s N Your Closet All Seasons and All Sizes Ladies Consignment Sale. It’s too late to consign your stuff, but not too late to shop — head to the Agricenter tomorrow through Sunday. The $1 entrance fee goes to the Commission for Missing and Exploited Children, and buy special designer items to benefit them, too. Kelli and Maureen — the pals who started the sale — can’t wait to see you there.

If you’re like me, you’ve gotten pretty sensitive to the mountains of styrofoam packaging that’s involved in a lot of take-out or pre-packaged food. So I’ve started to look for restaurants and delis that are trying to “go green,” using paper or other, less permanent ways to package their food and drinks. Last night at Soul Fish, one of my favorite spots in Cooper-Young, I noticed that they’ve dumped their foam cups (length of time they take to degrade: forever) in favor of something called Greenware, which sounds a little less, um, permanent, and seems to work just as well as foam did.

Where have you noticed a serious commitment to using more “green” stuff, and to making less trash? Let’s see if we can compile a list of environmentally sensitive restaurants, delis and coffee shops. Then let’s push to get the rest to come along with us.