HAIRSHIRT

Sunday, March 22, 2009

...and Goodnight to the Old Lady Whispering "Hush"

Hey folks. I have had the thought in recent months--and heard it expressed by others, as well--that the personal blog may be dying, done in by Facebook and Twitter and other ways to connect with others and/or express oneself online. I know I do not check other people's blogs with the regularity I used to. Nor do I write new posts on this site with anything like the gusto I used to.

And so I'm going to go ahead and close up shop for awhile. Not forever, but for the near future, at any rate. I've come to a few realizations lately, I guess. Having my son has made me realize that I need to set a better example, which would include finding the drive in myself to actually pursue my dreams instead of just letting them kind of peter out. Taking time off for paternity leave has driven home the fact that I don't think I want to be a teacher forever. Putting these two eureka moments together equals an imperative that I get off my ass and get some actual writing done.

So I'm going to focus my energies elsewhere for the time being. I'm not closing this blog down. I know there will be things I want to write here. And there may be a time down the road when I get back in the habit of posting regularly. But for now, Hairshirt's going to be hibernating.

If you've been a regular reader--well, first off, I guess I'd ask what the hell's wrong with you. But I'd also like to say thanks. And if you have even a half-assed interest in reading anything I write down the road, please take a moment to e-mail me at askhairshirt@gmail.com and I will make certain to drop you a line when I start this thing up again.

Happy Trails,
Joe

posted by Joe # 8:19 AM

Comments:

Sorry to see you go -

with total respect for what you've decided.

bb

# posted by

blackbird : 7:50 PM

Goodnight, goodnight. I've been dropping by every so often to see how you and Megan and the great Spencer G.J.W. are getting along -- I'll miss your blog.

Kristin O.

# posted by

Anonymous : 6:36 AM

Poop. But I certainly understand your reasoning and wish you the best of luck in your pursuits. Let me know when you're back!!

Good luck!

XO
TB

# posted by

Tobacco Brunette : 1:49 PM

Does this decision apply to half-assed no-listener podcasts as well?

You're a regular read for me, mon frer. Now I'll have to go read Deni's swill over at Out of Tune...

Good luck, and if you need someone to tell you the truth about anything you've written, send it my way.

Right now, I feel like cueing up a montage (bkgrnd mux=="I Need a Hero") of you writing intently, running in the park while thinking about writing, changing a diaper and powdering your boy's bottom while you redline a script, and painting and cleaning up the local playground to reinvigorate the community. The montage culminates with a freeze-frame high-five with your wife(who is of course holding Spencer) as you open up your acceptance letter from The Daily Show.

As awesome as that montage is, I'm gonna say to try for SNL because they really suck and could use some good writing!

Peace!
K-Jam

# posted by

Anonymous : 2:54 PM

Ah, even though we talked about this and I want to see your dreams realized, the shuttering of Hairshirt makes me a tad melancholy.

# posted by

Anonymous : 5:02 PM

Oh, for crying out loud, baby bro. Now, I suppose I'll have to blog more...j/k. Well, please double up on my nephew's posts then! Love you guys, see ya next month.
Sis

# posted by

Anonymous : 1:36 PM

Oh, sure, I quit reading for a month because I'm too busy reading Facebook posts, and this is what happens. Should I feel guilty? I will miss this blog!

# posted by

Ena : 11:39 PM

I understand and wish you well, and will see in my reader when you've posted and come read your writing. I'm pretty sure there will continue to be sucky movies, so maybe a review here and there will entertain me- though I just don't know how I will get out of bed in the morning without my Hairshirt Horoscope. I haven't read it in two months and just ventured out of bed, and I'm going back. I'm kinda like a groundhog, by smell, at least.

# posted by

Freida Bee : 9:17 PM

ah the hell witchous. all the good ones are closing up shop. bastards, the lot o' yous.

(word verification: paparoncini wtf??)

# posted by

(S)wine : 5:40 PM

How's the writing coming? I hope that all is well with you and your family!

# posted by

lisahgolden : 9:44 PM

Sunday, March 22, 2009

...and Goodnight to the Old Lady Whispering "Hush"

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		Sunday, March 22, 2009 ...and Goodnight to the Old Lady Whispering "Hush" Hey folks. I have had the thought in recent months--and heard it expressed by others, as well--that the personal blog may be dying, done in by Facebook and Twitter and other ways to connect with others and/or express oneself online. I know I do not check other people's blogs with the regularity I used to. Nor do I write new posts on this site with anything like the gusto I used to. And so I'm going to go ahead and close up shop for awhile. Not forever, but for the near future, at any rate. I've come to a few realizations lately, I guess. Having my son has made me realize that I need to set a better example, which would include finding the drive in myself to actually pursue my dreams instead of just letting them kind of peter out. Taking time off for paternity leave has driven home the fact that I don't think I want to be a teacher forever. Putting these two eureka moments together equals an imperative that I get off my ass and get some actual writing done. So I'm going to focus my energies elsewhere for the time being. I'm not closing this blog down. I know there will be things I want to write here. And there may be a time down the road when I get back in the habit of posting regularly. But for now, Hairshirt's going to be hibernating. If you've been a regular reader--well, first off, I guess I'd ask what the hell's wrong with you. But I'd also like to say thanks. And if you have even a half-assed interest in reading anything I write down the road, please take a moment to e-mail me at askhairshirt@gmail.com and I will make certain to drop you a line when I start this thing up again. Happy Trails, Joe posted by Joe # 8:19 AM Comments: Sorry to see you go - with total respect for what you've decided. bb # posted by blackbird : 7:50 PM Goodnight, goodnight. I've been dropping by every so often to see how you and Megan and the great Spencer G.J.W. are getting along -- I'll miss your blog. Kristin O. # posted by Anonymous : 6:36 AM Poop. But I certainly understand your reasoning and wish you the best of luck in your pursuits. Let me know when you're back!! Good luck! XO TB # posted by Tobacco Brunette : 1:49 PM Does this decision apply to half-assed no-listener podcasts as well? You're a regular read for me, mon frer. Now I'll have to go read Deni's swill over at Out of Tune... Good luck, and if you need someone to tell you the truth about anything you've written, send it my way. Right now, I feel like cueing up a montage (bkgrnd mux=="I Need a Hero") of you writing intently, running in the park while thinking about writing, changing a diaper and powdering your boy's bottom while you redline a script, and painting and cleaning up the local playground to reinvigorate the community. The montage culminates with a freeze-frame high-five with your wife(who is of course holding Spencer) as you open up your acceptance letter from The Daily Show. As awesome as that montage is, I'm gonna say to try for SNL because they really suck and could use some good writing! Peace! K-Jam # posted by Anonymous : 2:54 PM Ah, even though we talked about this and I want to see your dreams realized, the shuttering of Hairshirt makes me a tad melancholy. # posted by Anonymous : 5:02 PM Oh, for crying out loud, baby bro. Now, I suppose I'll have to blog more...j/k. Well, please double up on my nephew's posts then! Love you guys, see ya next month. Sis # posted by Anonymous : 1:36 PM Oh, sure, I quit reading for a month because I'm too busy reading Facebook posts, and this is what happens. Should I feel guilty? I will miss this blog! # posted by Ena : 11:39 PM I understand and wish you well, and will see in my reader when you've posted and come read your writing. I'm pretty sure there will continue to be sucky movies, so maybe a review here and there will entertain me- though I just don't know how I will get out of bed in the morning without my Hairshirt Horoscope. I haven't read it in two months and just ventured out of bed, and I'm going back. I'm kinda like a groundhog, by smell, at least. # posted by Freida Bee : 9:17 PM ah the hell witchous. all the good ones are closing up shop. bastards, the lot o' yous. (word verification: paparoncini wtf??) # posted by (S)wine : 5:40 PM How's the writing coming? I hope that all is well with you and your family! # posted by lisahgolden : 9:44 PM Post a Comment << Home		Links The Conversation Special Productions Izzle Pfaff Freida Bee Sometimes I Just Talk Alisa and the Stuff Alisa Does Tuna Girl Defective Yeti The Incurable Insomniac The Savvy, The Extreme and The Idealist Caballito del Diablo The Ambivalence of Open Spaces Bug-Eyed Blog Whiskeymarie Version 53 Things I've Noticed (S)wine: ShortLeanCuts Out of Tune Missives from the Beige Sister of Hairshirt Apostrophe Abuse Jonestown Tobacco Brunette The Public Intellectual That's Why Archives July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 March 2011 April 2011