This is not a Monday Morning Blues post, as you can no doubt tell—& my apologies to the music loving readers out there. I know the Monday Morning Blues & Banjo Friday posts have been sporadic over the past month or so.
In fact, that’s what I’m here to talk about today. If you’ve been following regularly, you know that I’ve had some misgivings about the viability of Monday Morning Blues & Banjo Friday as ongoing series. But until very recently I didn’t realize or admit to myself that all other considerations aside, I really need a break from the fixed posting schedule of those two series. I’ve written many posts about the blues & the banjo since Robert Frost’s Banjo began in 2008; there are 76 posts with the “banjo” label & 134 posts labelled “blues.” Especially with my own musical life being in more than a little flux, I'm not sure what more I have to say on either subject right now!
As those of you who know me personally are aware, I’ve undergone significant personal life changes over the past year—the end of a long-term relationship, a move to a new city, followed by a move to a new place within that same city—getting used to new surroundings, new pace of life, getting used to living completely on my own for the first time since January 1998. In light of all this, I believe I need to scale back some; & I also feel that I need some time to figure out how Robert Frost’s Banjo will continue to fit into my life.
This doesn’t mean I’ll never write about the blues or the banjo again—& when I do, the posts may very well appear on Mondays or Fridays! But not as ongoing series with any kind of regular posting series, at least not in the foreseeable future.
As I see it, the blog will go to a three-day per week posting schedule: Photo of the Week, Tuesday Poets, & the Wednesday Portland feature. Once I get my feet a bit more solidly beneath me, I may very well return to a more frequent posting schedule, but for now I think the three features are a good fit. This also means that I’ll probably be visiting other blogs a bit less frequently, as I continue to figure out my new city & new life, & how all of this dovetails with what has been an extremely active online life.
Enough from me. But what would a Robert Frost’s Banjo Monday post be without a little music? I think this great Gillian Welch song may be appropriate to the mood.
Hi John!
ReplyDeleteI rather figured something like this was going on with you. None can blame you for wanting to reassess how the blog and the net fit into your life; so many changes are bound to affect your priorities. I, for one think the 3 day postings sound fine and I will be here to read and remark upon them whenever possible.
Be well,
Kat
Hi Kat: Thanks so much!
DeleteYou do right! Living in a rural community I have a pretty active "online life" - in fact, it makes up for a lot I miss about living in a city (although I wouldn't give up the good things about living here easily). However, I know myself how one has to strike a balance.
ReplyDeleteHi Dominic: Moving from the rural to the urban is definitely one issue here. Also tho, by the time I started the blog I was established in that setting, whereas I'm new to Portland. It's definitely a process trying to figure this all out!
DeleteWell, best of luck to you, John. You know everyone here wants what's best for you, no matter how it affects your frequency of blogging, or how often you read the blogs of others. But usually, these sort of announcements are the beginning of the end. People start scaling back on how much they post; then they stop posting at all. But hopefully you won't do that.
ReplyDeleteYou could always be like me, and just post whenever you damn well feel like it. ;)
Three times a week...or three months out of the year.
I don't know.
I think you oughta put aside the banjo and blues if you want...and just concentrate on real life, and poetry.
I hope you get everything settled. :)
I want you to be well, and happy.
Hi Ginger: It's always great to see you stop by! Who knows what will happen with the blog. I'll be honest--the idea of stopping more than crossed my mind, but then, it's crossed my mind fairly seriously several times in the past as well; given the fact that other people contribute regularly to the blog, a complete shutdown is probably less likely than if I was the only one writing & posting.
DeleteThanks for all the good wishes! Same to you!
It's all about balance and, perhaps, taking some time to re-centre yourself, John. I'll still be dropping by, and I wish you well.
ReplyDeleteHi Martin: Yes, I think balance & re-centering--a good term in this context--are the keys! Thanks so much!
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