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April 27, 2005

The Thrill is Gone

It's been a while, for which I apologize. I'm afraid that life has become rather busy of late, as we have a vast number of units preparing to come through Carson for various missions and my battalion is involved in training many of them. Given that we're training them to go to war, I suspect we can all agree that the training has to be a priority.

But the truth is that I could probably maintain at least a daily level of blogging if I chose to do so. I simply choose not to any longer, simply because blogging isn't fun any longer. This is not a lament or a complaint; blogging is something I do, not what I am. I've blogged for the past three-plus years because it was something I enjoyed doing. For the past few months, however, it has become more of a chore than a joy, and so I see little reason to spend my time in that fashion. When I took the past week off, it felt pretty good not having the specter of the blog hanging over me.

Does this mean I'm retiring from blogging? Probably not. I suspect my innate need to write will draw me back from time to time, particularly as the baseball season peaks and Battlestar Galactica's second season begins. But daily writing will probably not be the norm here for some time, as I choose to focus my efforts in other areas. I would like to thank my readers for their patronage, and especially those who left insightful comments over the years. Fortunately for all of you, there is a vast world of great writers out there, so my reduced schedule will hardly leave you with nothing to read. Enjoy.

Posted at April 27, 2005 07:55 AM

Andrew Olmsted

Comment policy

I apologize for only allowing authenticated commenters, but comment spam overwhelms the site if I don't use those measures to prevent it. I reserve the right to delete any comment, although generally comments will only be deleted due to use of profanity or personal attacks on people. I have no objection to vigorous argument, but when name-calling begins, I'm putting a stop to it. In the immortal words of Eugene Levy, "People, people, let's stop this before somebody says something untrue!" If you want to call people names, I recommend you get your own blog.

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Comments

Having taken my own hiatus in the last year, I can totally relate. Sweat it not. As it becomes fun for you, for local values of "fun," you'll blog again. We'll be glad to have you back when it happens, because blogging is too important to leave it to @ssholes.

Posted by: Jim Henley at April 27, 2005 05:40 PM

I have only been doing it a year and I have begun to feel the same. I haven't posted much in the past week and it has been kind of nice to not check the comments to see if anyone was angered by what I said.

I also am taking less time scouring the news to keep up with every minute article that pops up. The past week I have stuck to my normal news outlets and think I am still in the know on current events.

You worry about the troops and sending me good beer from Colorado Microbreweries and I will worry about blogging.

Posted by: Scott at April 27, 2005 06:27 PM

I'm impressed that you blogged close to daily for 3 years. When I contemplate starting a blog I always run up against the fact that I run hot and cold on writing in general.

Your life is yours, not your readers.

Have a nice break.

Posted by: Michael at April 27, 2005 06:41 PM

Say it ain't so Joe!

Well, I wish you the best of luck with your next hobby. I hear that monkeyfishing is easy to learn, but a challenge to master.

Posted by: Enrak at April 28, 2005 05:27 AM

Mr. Olmsted,

I first found your blog awhile ago, when it still had that violet-and-tan design, with that excellent logo on the top of the page. I have said before how much I admire your writing, and your principled analysis of current affairs and issues, without a partisan bent (unlike some other bloggers).

I was just at Blackfive's blog, and commented about how I'm glad that it has the same look and feel as before (I am one who does not like change). I followed a blogroll link back here, and I was hoping that your site was still there (it seems that several blogs, even the major ones, have hit the dust within the past year or so...). I am glad to see that this weblog is still up, and I was nervous when I saw the title of this entry. But I am glad that I came back here at around the same time this announcement of yours was posted - and I am glad to see the probability of you being back, at some time in the future.

You definitely deserve a break from blogging... Probably more than I do, as I have had trouble keeping up, and am still having that problem, especially with this being the end of the semester, and with graduation coming up. I am requesting that you keep this website up, with all of the blog entries and comment posts (I hope that when you re-designed your site, the comment posts were carried over...). I know how it can be losing 'the thrill' of an endevour, once you've been doing it for awhile; that happens with many things.

We look forward to seeing you back, when you are ready. Until then, have a great break... Keep up the good work with all that you've been doing, and God Bless!

Posted by: Aakash at April 29, 2005 03:17 AM

Hi Andy,

Enjoy your break. I'll miss your updates!

Posted by: Heather at April 29, 2005 06:52 AM

I've been at it less than five months and I occasionally feel that way. Right now I'm in a hot phase, with rather lengthy posts every day, but I think I may need a break. I might cut back for a while...

Posted by: Orac at April 29, 2005 08:11 AM

Mr. Olmsted:

Enjoy the break. I'll be eagerly awaiting your return.

Posted by: Murdoc at April 29, 2005 11:08 AM

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