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A lobbyist friend took pains to remind me yesterday that I hadn’t blogged in a while - this morning's posts not withstanding. After the honorables headed out of town, I headed out for a vacation and then to the annual conference for Capitolbeat – no relation to this blog.

But let’s see if I can’t wrap up the state of things here in short order:

• Aug. 7: Gov. Perdue signs a $19 billion state budget. A week later, she institutes a 5 percent cut – on the budget she just signs. I think a lot of people were expecting her to have to cut some from the General Assembly’s spending plan, but this was pretty quick turn around. I don’t think anyone had sooner than 1 month in the pool. (IHT)
   
• Perdue hired a new budget advisor to help with communication and government strategy. Before he’s even hired, the governor’s office is communicating about why they’re spending $136,000 on a new hire during a bad economic year. (Dome.) Perdue, by the way, has also hired a new military advisor. (Fay O)
   
• The federal issue of health care reform comes home to roost during the Congressional recess, with people across the state having polite, well-informed discussions on the topic. Oh, and then there are all the town halls and other foolishness we scruffy media types have captured. UNC-TV provided the capstone health care segment last night with their town hall broadcast. (UNC-TV)
   
• Democrats are still scratching around for a Senate candidate to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Burr. Despite Ken Lewis' appearance on the scene, Dems seem to be trolling through their rolodexes as fast as possible. The latest name in the mix: former Lt. Gov. Dennis Wicker. (Dome) U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge, former state Rep. Cal Cunningham and Sec. of State Elaine Marshall appear to be the other names mentioned most often.
   
• The governor’s son, Garrett Perdue, got rung up for speeding in a school zone. The next week, his mother gets wrung up by a 3d grader for politicking on a school bus. (IHT and IHT)
   
• Hey, a state Senator already facing some public and legal troubles shot someone. (Charlotte O). Worth reading: Charlotte reporter Mark Johnson’s profile of the Tabor City political icon. (via Sun News)
   
• The great ethics war between the auditor and the ethics commission may be over. (ACT)
• Former Gov. Mike Easley continues to provide entertainment. Democratic Auditor Beth Wood was called before the grand jury investigating Easley to explain, presumably, why she stopped an audit related to the governor. (Dome) Meanwhile, the N+O has dug up new information on missing flight records that suggests at least someone in the patrol wanted to make them gone on purpose. (N+O) Gov. Perdue said yesterday that some investigatory records related to the were confidential by state law, which prompted the Senate Republican caucus to accuse her of "erratic behavior," 
   

That brings us almost up to date. Some more recent notes:

• Appellate court judge Bob Hunter is running for the state Supreme Court. (ACT)
• The swine flu - ahem, pardon me - The H1N1 virus is back and it's coming to a school near year. (N+R)
• Son of BRAC has appeared in NC. (N+R)
• The "Ram's Club" Exemption makes news once again. (N+O)

So what have I missed? Is there anything else from the past two weeks that you'd put on the collective radar? Drop me a note in the comments section.