February 21, 2003
Clarification
Oh quit your whining.
Just kidding. The emails and phone calls have been very kind. Let me clarify a few things:
1. Nobody threatened my job. This is purely a pre-emptive move on my part.
2. I am not shutting down the site. I've removed 75% of the content, but let's face it, half of that was crap anyway, and the other half was just your basic whining about politics. I'll still post things about the kids from time to time, maybe a thought or two on life, and every once in a while something that makes you wet yourself and blow your lunch out through your nose and draw odd looks from your co-workers.
3. I will be posting much less. There is a function in Moveable Type that enables me to notify people via email when I have updated the site. If you would like to be added to this list, drop me a line. Then you won't have to check back day after day only to have your hopes dashed.
4. Yes, I've thought of getting an anonymous site. Maybe I'll do that. But I'm moving away from the writing on politics and economics. Plenty of people do that better than me.
5. No, I really don't think I'm a very good writer. Sometimes I speak to that place in you that other people do not. Sometimes I say what you've always known but haven't articulated, and I feel like a close friend. I know that. But it's only sometimes, and there's a lot of work between here and most of the time.
This isn't the place to write the things that I need to write now. You'll want to disagree, but if you've ever glimpsed the writer's notebook you understand. It's very personal and sloppy and most of it is just plain bad until it is molded into something that maybe someone loves. But sometimes when I write something that I think belongs here I'll share it with you. And you'll be the first to know when I publish something somewhere. Blogs are great, but there's no substitute for the affirmation that comes from paid editors deciding that you have the chops of a real writer.
6. Yes, I've thought about writing a book about my children and being a parent and loving a child into the grave. I don't know how to write it yet; I suspect it's something more than aggregating the things I've shared with you over the past 13 months. But I think I will do it.
So enough already. I'm not sailing into the sunset. It's really more like I'm tinkering in the garage. Every once in a while you'll hear me drop a tool and think "what the hell is he doing in there?" But I'll still be here, okay? So go about life and check back from time to time, and don't get irritated when days or weeks pass and there's nothing new here. There's more to come. Hopefully lots more.
Posted by Woodlief on February 21, 2003 at 09:57 AM
"What the hell is he doing in there?"
An inadvertant, but really cool, Tom Waite reference.
I've always understood you, T. We got the vibe going. I'm moving my family south just as soon as I get out of grad school. Maybe we can be neighbors! You bring the charcoal, I'll bring the steaks and beer.
hbchrist
I know you, Tony, and I know that no amount of whining and begging will get you back to your former pace, especially if you think you have other pressing needs on the agenda. I will tell you that it was more than entertainment. It was informative, insightful, and educational. I personally don't know where to look for all of those links you provided that increased my knowledge on several subjects. With that said, please do provide me with an email whenever you do write something here, and be prepared to be innundated with emails asking for your opinions and directions on where to find information on this, that, and the other. And I'm sure I won't be the only one.
You may find that writing on SitG almost everyday was easier than dealing with a bunch of information-hungry goons coming at you from all sides.
To you and yours, my friend.
-Shawn
MORE FREE ICE CREAM PLEASE!?!
You can't blame people worrying about their free ice cream when they happen to find a tasty flavor. I may not know all that much about writing, but you, sir, are a fine writer. You write from the heart in a coherent and interesting manner.
While we may gnash our teeth over the decreased output, I hope that you will continue to post as the mood hits you, so that we may enjoy the occasional leaf that falls from your writing tree.
The fact that you've sustained the qualitative level of output that you have for 13 months should make you proud. The fact that anonymous readers have been able to learn from and spar over that output should make you satisfied as well. Now just don't drop any heavy tools on your toes, finish your basement for godsakes, and enjoy some freeloading like the rest of us.
Tony - sorry to hear you're going away, old man, I'll miss you. Your site was unique among those I visit - equal parts family, humor, and conservative social outlook. Please add me to your email list for notification when you post - jeffbrokaw@yahoo.com.
I would do well to be half as good a writer as you are. I do, however, share your frustration with the blogging not really helping the goal of becoming a better writer -- I find the constant keeping up with current events tiring, and often annoying!
Good luck with the writing, but I'm confident you'll reach your goal. Keep the faith - I know you will.
It's been fun, then. I loved the site. You always had something insightful, or at least entertaining. Please put me on the notification list: roosterman187@yahoo.com. Thanks, good luck, and God bless whatever you do.
Do what makes your life happy and good, Tony.
Incidentally, reading what you write is one of the things that brings some happiness to mine.
The poli-blogosphere has now had a significant contraction.
Please add me as well, at brainfertilizer-at-yahoo-dot-com
I'm still irritated, and I'm not going to be nice about it.
:P
You're only partly right about damn near everyone writing about politics and economics.
The thing that attracted me to your blog was not your views on national politics and economics. In fact, I liked that in the early days of your blog you hardly ever covered national news. What I loved was your coverage of the grassroots stuff, the things that matter on local levels, not only in your town, but in towns all over America.
No one, at least no one that I've stumbled across so far, covers such things regularly and as thoughtfully as you did. You brought us a greater understanding of the mechanics of small town issues and you presented things to us in ways that Joe and Jane Schmoe could easily understand.
There are few blogs that actually provide something so valuable and unique.
Whew. Your last post had me worried, but seeing as you'll be in the garage tinkering, can I bring my car by? It's been acting up. And please please please put me on your notify list. I shall be waiting, patiently, for your next dropping (of tools).
Gosh, I hope I made sense.
Sorry to see your political and economic stuff go, though I understand your reasons. I think you're a damned good writer myself. As good as or better than most of the columnists who get paid for what they write on the Net. Off-hand, I'd say that of those I read regularly, only John Derbyshire strikes me as better.
I'll miss your comments, and I will be checking back from time to time. Best wishes.
I'll miss you too. I love reading about your kids mostly because of the way YOU write about them. When you're published, I'll have my money out. Now, get moving!
