You already knew, I'm sure.
Hey folks,
It is foolhardy to make any pronouncements about something as reversible as closing a blog, but as far as I can tell, I don't have any more enthusiasm for writing here. I've been trying to hold out for just a few more weeks, but I'm embarrassed by my recent half-hearted blogging and I can't seem to do better. In the past few weeks, I've clicked away from the first paragraphs of posts way more often than I've published finished posts, weak as they are.
If I write a post-mortem, it will only embarrass me if I return in two weeks. If I call this a hiatus, you might think I'll be back. If I don't say anything, I'll feel guilty that people might still be checking in. Don't keep checking in. I don't know what to call this, but I don't anticipate more here in the foreseeable future.
I had two reasons for putting this off. The first is that I'll be on the East Coast in June and want to meet you. Boston area the first week of June, heading southward to DC the second week of June. East Coast, we should get together and do fun things. The second reason I was postponing this is that I wanted to post a video of me doing pull-ups. But close as I am, I'm not there yet and I can't fill the days until then. You'll just have to imagine it.
There'll be a couple more planning posts for the East Coast trip, so that's not done. I can't swear I'm done. Who knows, maybe in a few months I'll fill up with stories and rants and you'll need to hear them. Maybe I'll slip back into blogland all quiet and sneaky, and find out what you can say when your friends aren't reading and your face isn't on the front. It'd be interesting to find out what happens when you don't get big links early on. Maybe I'll stay outdoors and play catch and ride my bike.
My hope, as it has been since the very first days of this blog, is that you guys would turn to real friends. I will still be here, and I'll still welcome all the friends who want to cross over into the real world with me. Email me. Let's meet and walk around somewhere neat. We'll find some tasty food, and you can tell me what you've been up to. Tell me over bread and olives and sangria, at a table under lanterns. Tell me face to face.
Wishing you the best,
Megan
It is foolhardy to make any pronouncements about something as reversible as closing a blog, but as far as I can tell, I don't have any more enthusiasm for writing here. I've been trying to hold out for just a few more weeks, but I'm embarrassed by my recent half-hearted blogging and I can't seem to do better. In the past few weeks, I've clicked away from the first paragraphs of posts way more often than I've published finished posts, weak as they are.
If I write a post-mortem, it will only embarrass me if I return in two weeks. If I call this a hiatus, you might think I'll be back. If I don't say anything, I'll feel guilty that people might still be checking in. Don't keep checking in. I don't know what to call this, but I don't anticipate more here in the foreseeable future.
I had two reasons for putting this off. The first is that I'll be on the East Coast in June and want to meet you. Boston area the first week of June, heading southward to DC the second week of June. East Coast, we should get together and do fun things. The second reason I was postponing this is that I wanted to post a video of me doing pull-ups. But close as I am, I'm not there yet and I can't fill the days until then. You'll just have to imagine it.
There'll be a couple more planning posts for the East Coast trip, so that's not done. I can't swear I'm done. Who knows, maybe in a few months I'll fill up with stories and rants and you'll need to hear them. Maybe I'll slip back into blogland all quiet and sneaky, and find out what you can say when your friends aren't reading and your face isn't on the front. It'd be interesting to find out what happens when you don't get big links early on. Maybe I'll stay outdoors and play catch and ride my bike.
My hope, as it has been since the very first days of this blog, is that you guys would turn to real friends. I will still be here, and I'll still welcome all the friends who want to cross over into the real world with me. Email me. Let's meet and walk around somewhere neat. We'll find some tasty food, and you can tell me what you've been up to. Tell me over bread and olives and sangria, at a table under lanterns. Tell me face to face.
Wishing you the best,
Megan
posted by Megan at 4:08 PM
61 Comments:
Happy trails. Until we meet again.
Chin-ups are fun! I was really jazzed to pull the first few in ages. I really liked the strain across my ribcage. All the little muscles working together!
Take the summer off. You can always come back to post the video.
Boo hoo.
Tyler
Well, fooey on that. I like your blog. I confess I don't read every post (though I'm sure they're all brilliant), but whenever I do I'm struck by how thoughtful and generous you are. Good luck with everything.
I recall when Will Baude pulled up stakes, took down his shingle, as well as when the Invisible Adjunct called it a day.
Should I show up one day and you're not around no more, well, it's been interesting. Thanks for all the fishes.
Sorry to hear that you are going. Really enjoyed your blog. Any chance you'll give an update on your search for the right guy? Good Luck
Well, damn. I'm disappointed, because you're charming. Scratch that: not charming, you're genuinely self-expressive, which is different and rare. And since you're apparently brilliant and someone I wish I were friends with, I'll miss reading you here.
Though I should be clear: I don't mean this as a complaint. I understood perfectly (I think) why you're stopping. I've found your effort to transcend the medium quite touching.
Best wishes.
No, don't go, please! Please stay!
Ah well, the internet will be a little bit poorer without you. Thanks for many fascinating posts. Best wishes, and maybe we'll cross paths in real life someday.
Good luck with the pull-ups. They ARE fun, and very empowering.
Wow. Well, hey, I really enjoy reading what you write.
And several previous commenters have all expressed in one way or another what I am thinking about the prospect of your decision to stop this blog (including the chin-ups remark).
I am back east, however, and would love a moment to chill with someone as awesome as yourself. SO, note that somewhere. Much love and be well.
But Megan... I've SOOOOO enjoyed the blog-stalking all this time. It's just not going to be the same without you...
Jess
Good riddance!
Hasta la vista, Baby.
Your skills are better served in the reals, not in the blogs.
Even though you can write, I prefer you in all your magical splendor. Disk at noon, dear sweet one.
TChris
as a long time lurker, this makes me sad, but i understand about pushing a chain.
I'm sad about your news but I'll keep my chin up...I'm delivering some bits and bobs to a real live spacecraft and may be in DC in June. But then you wouldn't meet my cool wife, too and that would be unjust all around. So, maybe in the summer in the bay area or sacramento...or picking blackberries in the foothills this autumn...
Ouch!
My feed reader is filled with much less interesting, work-related tech blogs.
I always get all excited when I see that you have a new post and I keep almost getting in touch when you announce something fun to do!
I'll miss your perspective and hold out hope that you can't actually stop writing for us.
Congratulations on getting out! Although part of me also feels sad, like one of the inmates when the Chief escapes in 'one flew over the cuckoo's nest'.
anyway, wishing you all the best, Megan.
Hold on there sister. Did you ever pull off your originally advertised goal for this blog?
Is there a potential Mr. Non-McArdle yet?
While I often took issue with your politics, I always admired your writing.
I hope there's an address I can contact you at the next time I'm arround Sacramento.
Best of luck to you!
Sorry to see you go, but since I stopped blogging a year or two ago I can completely emphasize.
If you are planning something fun in Boston drop me a line, there are plenty of fun things to do in Boston and I'm always a fan of meeting new people!
It can be good to take a break. I took a 9 month hiatus from my blog (a hiatus I expected at the time to be permanent) and I'm glad I did.
Oh no! I've lurked for a while, but never commented. I agree completely with Chris's comment on your generosity and thoughtfulness. Thanks for sharing them with us, and best of luck.
John
I will miss reading your blog. You have taught me stuff and pointed me to cool places in the virtual world. Maybe I'll see you some time when I'm up in the Bay Area.
It was a great blog. Thanks for sticking with for it so long.
Cheers,
Tim.
Ah, well.
Onward and upward.
A4
If you'll be in New York, all the New York Unfogged commenters would be distraught if you didn't come hang out.
I'd love to share tasty food with you when you come to my town (Boston). :) So I'll be sad to see the fun posts go away, but I'll look for those...
Drop a line if you end up on the middle coast sometime, too. We've got great places to play, even if our beach is for a lake.
- A (who emailed about waxman, in Chicago)
Oh dear. I will miss your excellent thoughts and writing. I hope that you write a book so that I can continue to be inspired by you and I don't forget that the world contains such tremendous talent as yours (and not just depressing news). I'm on the east coast, email me and I'll take the train to DC to meet you and visit some other friends.
May whatever replaces this in your time go well.
Telnar
Dang, Megan! Well, I'm rooting for future return of the enthusiasm.
Also hoping for renewed enthusiasm. Do you think turning off the comments has hastened the end of the blog? Blogging for no feedback has to be less rewarding.
Take care Megan.
Thanks, all, for the the good wishes. Email me when you come into town, for reals.
A5:58 - I presume I'll announce very big news, but for now there isn't any.
Luke - Dude! You should really get in touch. I'm still trying to build a life in the Bay Area, and people who almost do things don't help that any.
A1:04 - Nope. Not yet.
Bill and Dilletante - See you in Boston. LB and Rick - See you in New York. Bryn - See you in SF in a couple weekends.
A return of enthusiasm? I don't know myself, and can't predict either way. If it comes back, you'll know shortly after I do.
Oh! CharleyCarps and Tyler - See you in DC.
I will miss the water blogging, but I will miss your fun posts most of all. -K.
How does one e-mail (or otherwise get in touch with) you, Megan?
At least you went out more gracefully than Ilkka.
You're coming to see me? Yay! Is Anand coming? (Or at this point, I guess we could just let the cat out of the bag that he's imaginary...)
Thank you.
-dithers
Dare I hope? Is your pogrom of my brethren finally over? Oh, happy day!
And yet ... I've grown accustomed to your (menacing, disgusted) face ...
Say it ain't so, Meggo!
k2the9n8 - You email me at megan_archives@yahoo.com.
eDubin! - I am coming to see you! And Teej and your baby!
Potato bug - find another place to be. No moving in on my blog while it is still warm.
Will you be keeping the archives up for a while? I have some posts I would like to write in the near future (this month, probably) about online civility, comments policies, social norms, etc. and I was planning on referencing your posts because you've influenced my thinking on those topics greatly.
I second what Will said - you have a gift for interesting self-expression. I will miss your writing.
Jeez, that sucks ass.
Selfishly, I'm going to miss your writings tremendously.
But this blog isn't about me even if you do seem to read my mind a lot
Wishing you clarity and a zesty zeal for copious chipups
Happy trails!
Good choice. You'll get your life back.
-Carpundit
Here's another frequent reader (but first-time commenter) who will miss reading your thoughts on everything from dating to bicycling to irrigation. This has been one of my favorite personal blogs. Thank you, and good luck in the future!
Hi Megan
I like reading your blog and boston meetup would be fun
-hk
Megan
You are quality. Have a great sabbatical (perhaps a permanent one!). I loved your posts on irrigation.
If you are ever in London town, look us up.
Valuethinker
lbsgrad2003 at yahoo dot co dot uk
Megan,
Best wishes!
Yan Li
DAMN.
Does this mean the Atlantic too?
I don't see how we are going to get through the next 8 years without your morning messages.
Good luck and best wishes on whatever you do next.
Anon
I am DEFINITELY taking The Atlantic with me when I leave.
I have trying to lay off the blog reading but when I just opened up NewsGator, I can't tell you how many other sites I passed up -- with their high post counts (71? wha?) -- to get to that 1 from Megan.
Do what works for you. We'll miss you if you quit, but it's your bar/coffee house/yoga studio. We'll wander aimlessly in the meantime.
dang! i'll miss you!
xoxoxo
You *still* need significant profanity, cruel invective, and...what was the third one? Whatever. I'm going to miss your blog because I believe sunshine is the best disinfectant. It's better for all concerned when people like you clearly and publicly state your true feelings.
Best Wishes! :-)
It's just as well, I guess. You have kind of been overshadowing Anand just a tiny bit, lately, and it's really not very nice to push a guy off his own blog. ;)
I trust we'll keep in touch. Hope to see your smiling face down this way soon.
See ya! Live it too the full.
Copy cat.
I'm sorry to see you go, but it's nice to have comments on again. My traffic has tripled since I closed down, not that I track my traffic or anything so lame.
Hello, Megan.
I want to be real! Keep me posted on when you are hanging out with people in Boston...
I'll definitely miss you!
In the unlikely case you're ever in the Rochester, NY area (hey, it's fairly close to Niagara falls), drop me an email for trivia, dancing, or karaoke.
As yet another long time lurker, I want to also say that I will miss you!
If you are ever in the Denver Metro area, let me know!
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