Time to Go?
I’m getting tired of blogging. Or rather, I no longer have the time needed to blog up to the frequency and standards that I want. Or maybe I’ve just run out of things to say. In any event, I’m thinking about shutting this site down.
A fellow blogger contemplating a similar move has suggested taking a vacation. I don’t take vacations in my offline life, why would I take one here? No, I think it’s either continue or stop, and I’m leaning towards stopping.
I used to have very strong opinions that I could articulate with clarity and (to my mind, anyway) occasional flashes of shear brilliance. Go back and read some of my old stuff. It’s quite good if I do say so myself.
But opinions require thinking time. You have to fully understand an issue, let it percolate inside your brain, then formualate some well-thought-out response, with point-by-point arguments backed up with sufficient research to make the essay credible. Right now I’ve got a job that requires a lot of my time, school, two outside career options I’m developing, and a messy apartment. I skim lots of news sources instead of taking time to read them, and lately I’ve avoided anything having to do with the current presidential administration. I knew when I put Dave Chappelle’s disappearance in my News section, I had stooped to a new low.
I don’t have an exciting, sexy (or sex-filled) personal life to write about for this main blog section. I still get out to enjoy the arts--I saw the play Doubt last week; it’s brilliant--but I can’t always generate a decent review for the Arts section. In Sports, if it ain’t football, college basketball or baseball, I’m really not interested, so for most of the year there is little to write about. And frankly, I’ve never really figured out what to make of that Datebook section. It’s just a catchall for everything else.
I may have said all I was meant to say. I’ll mull it over awhile before deciding.
Posted by bernie at May 30, 2005 12:47 AMTrackBack
Say it ain't so!
Don't go. I'm also contemplating a short sabbatical while some personal/family issues are addressed. Plus, it's summer and a good time to vacay.
I enjoy your weblog and look forward to your insight, humor and knowledge. Who's going to write up theatre? My concept of Broadway is the AMC Empure 25! :p
Posted by: rod at May 30, 2005 1:38 AMI am with Rod...I love reading your blog but I know what it can be like sometimes...the blogging thing can get a bit much.
I feel a bit selfish asking you to keep blogging so I shall simply wish you all the best in your decision making.
Posted by: Mama JunkYard at May 30, 2005 7:43 AMI'm with Diva Mama JunkYard and Mr. Rod in this one. You have to do what is best for you but if you leave I'll miss your voice in the blogsphere. I do understand that you are in the midst of change which is good and have other business to take care of.
Regarding your comment about not having a "sexy" or "sex filled" personal life to blog about- I don't either. I might make some stuff up if my mother wasn't reading my weblog!
Came back to let you know that you have been tagged. I hope you don't mind.
Posted by: Mama JunkYard at May 30, 2005 8:36 AMOh no...and I had such a good design idea for the next redesign. :(
Posted by: karsh at May 30, 2005 10:12 AMBernie, do reconsider. The vacation option sounds like a good one; come back recharged and post when the spirit hits you. (And please take a real vacation when you have the time and funds--the body needs periodic breaks.)
Posted by: John_K at May 31, 2005 1:15 AMwhat
ever.
I sometimes wondered, how the hell does he find the time to do it all? work, school, daily e-mail flood, blog. Yet, you do.
Whatever your choice, I love and respect you for your decision. However, should you shut down the site, I will miss the moments your blog affords me to peep into your world, and to stay abreast of the stops along your life journey.
Don't make any rash decisions. Take a break from it all, but come back to the site. Please do not shut it down for it will be missed. Through the site, you continue to grace the world with your teachings and intelligence.
VACATION. It's a must do and the following are lines you can use to cover oneself while on your hiatus...No need to thank me, just stay and recognize that you are a good thing...
1. I am currently out at a job interview and willreply to you if I fail to get the position. Be prepared for my mood.
2. I'm not really out of the office. I'm just ignoring you.
3. You are receiving this automatic notification because I am out of the office. If I was in, chances are you wouldn't have received anything at all.
4. Sorry to have missed you but I am at the doctors having my brain removed so that I may be promoted to management and still be up to blogging.
5. I will be unable to delete all the unread, worthless emails you sendme until I return from vacation on 10/18.
6. Please be patient and your mail will be deleted in the order it was received. I'm on vacation; CHILL.
7. The e-mail server is unable to verify your server connection and isunable to deliver this message. Please restart your computer and trysending again. The beauty of it is that when I return, I can see how many in-duh-viduals did this over and over.
8. Thank you for your message, which has been added to a queueing system.You are currently in 352nd place, and can expect to receive a reply inapproximately 19 weeks. Thank you for stopping by.
9. I am on holiday.Your e-mail has been deleted.Hi.
I'm thinking about what you've just sent me. Please wait by yourPC for my response.
10. Hi! I'm busy negotiating the salary for my new job. Don't bother to leave me any messages.
11. I've run away to join a different circus.
AND, FINALLY, ABSOLUTELY THE BEST:I will be out of the office for the next 2 weeks for medical reasons.When I return, please refer to me as 'Mr. Big' instead of 'Sir Bernie'
Posted by: Troy at June 1, 2005 2:55 PMInteresting thoughts.... all of the things you have loaded in your life, you've put there. So, if you REALLY wanted more time to think and do some other things, couldn't you remove some of those things currently filling your 24 hour cycles?? Just to let you know, your thoughts and insights are appreciated.
Posted by: Bernard at June 1, 2005 3:37 PMBernie: I empathize w/ your feelings & respect your choices. Follow your heart, spirit will guide you through. I'm still "putting" my blog together, asking for help, being frustrated, procrastinating, etc. You humbly provide a valuable service for our community, man. We will continue to love you no matter what you decide: does that sound hokey?
I trust you get my drift...
Posted by: Mark at June 2, 2005 11:35 AMBernie:
As I hope you know, whatever you decide is best for you would be great. But think about the vacation first, tho. You may come back energized. And to be honest I'm amazed at folks like John and Rod who produce such consistently great messages sometimes on a daily basis, week in week out. How DO they do it??
I understand all to well how you are feeling. I have a journal filled with concert reviews waiting to be written. I have music scattered all over my house and my place is a mess at the moment but I am determined to get caught up this summer. I thank you for keeping me informed and on my toes whenever you get a chance. If you go, I will miss you.
Posted by: James at June 2, 2005 4:21 PMboo hoo don't close it down
well do what's best for you bernie and i know exactly what you mean about not having time when you got other things to handle. i will miss you if you do decide to close down.
take care :)
Posted by: lashundra at June 2, 2005 5:10 PMNo matter what your choice is, just don't stop writing -- be it online or in a journal.
Posted by: Rashid at June 2, 2005 10:08 PM