I'm tying up loose ends and preparing to go off the grid for a couple of weeks. My friend Tony Judge seems to be a couple of steps ahead of me. He's sending me e-mails like this:
"If you were a flu symptom, wouldn't all this noise about 'flu-like symptoms' just gall you?"
And—separate e-mail—"How do you think sleet and freezing rain feel about becoming a 'wintry mix'?"
I've got to get to the place where Tony is.
I'm working on it.
Comments (13)
David - I'm wrapping up today as well before heading off to Michigan tomorrow for Christmas with my family.
This blog has been an amazing little pseudo-family of its own in 2007 (we bitch, we whine, we argue, and we applaud one another - isn't that what YOUR family is like?!) and I'm very happy to have found it. Looking forward to more of the same in 2008.
Best wishes to all for a fabulous holiday and a new year filled with great things!
Posted by Kristen | December 20, 2007 8:19 AM
Posted on December 20, 2007 08:19
David, Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! There are many "happy dances" awaiting all communicators in 2008. Cheers!
Posted by Susan Cellura | December 20, 2007 9:22 AM
Posted on December 20, 2007 09:22
A couple of weeks??? But this is so sudden!!! Why didn't I see it coming?!?!?!
(My friend Nancy would say that I just used up my lifetime supply of punctuation and will die soon.)
Have a wonderful Christmas, David. Sleep in, read a fat novel, do magical things with Scout, take a plane trip if that's what gives you bliss. See you in aught-eight.
Posted by Jane Greer | December 20, 2007 9:42 AM
Posted on December 20, 2007 09:42
Kristen, Susan, Jane, and other Shades regulars (and part-timers)--
This HAS been a wonderful year on this blog.
The late great Kurt Vonnegut believed as I do that most of the best of life happens in the flesh and that most of us spend too much time staring at these fucking computer screens. Vonnegut went as far as to say that "online communities build nothing," a theory I've kind of been testing in my mind this year. I think in our case, we have built something: a group of regular yakkers organized around the shared believe that communication is where it's at.
Whatever the significance of what we have "built," your reliable candor, good ideas, wit and generous spirit—and we HAVE maintained a generous spirit, here, even through a few intense disagreements—make blogging a great deal of fun for me.
And part of my life's rhythm.
Truth be told, I can't imagine not posting for a couple of weeks. I think I want to see if I actually can.
Yours in communication,
David
Posted by David Murray | December 20, 2007 10:49 AM
Posted on December 20, 2007 10:49
Merry Christmas all...
Will
Posted by Will Daniel | December 20, 2007 11:43 AM
Posted on December 20, 2007 11:43
I shall anxiously await your return, David. My best wishes for a great holiday to you and your family ... and the rest of the gang here.
Posted by Colleen | December 20, 2007 12:27 PM
Posted on December 20, 2007 12:27
Will, Colleen, be cozy,
David
Posted by David Murray | December 20, 2007 12:39 PM
Posted on December 20, 2007 12:39
I, too, am grateful for this blog community. Enjoy your time with your family, David, and to everyone who meets here, I wish you a restful, happy, joy-filled holiday. Wish me a warm one--temp was -13 this morning at my house. Yuck! Thank God for fuel oil, even at today's prices; I'd hate to be chopping wood in this weather.
...Joan
Posted by Joan Hope | December 20, 2007 1:02 PM
Posted on December 20, 2007 13:02
I think (I hope) I speak on behalf of all the other Shadey characters who've participated here when I say that we wish you a wonderful holiday, and good fortune in the New Year. Whether we agreed with everything you had to say is beside the point -- you've provided a thought-provoking forum for collegial communicators to gather, grow and gossip. We're all thankful for that and for you. Thanks, David.
michael clendenin
Posted by michael clendenin | December 21, 2007 11:17 AM
Posted on December 21, 2007 11:17
I'm just getting back to work today after nearly two weeks off, and I have to say I'm VERY surprised that you made it two weeks with no blogging! I hope you start up again soon because I'm not sure I can make it more than a couple of work days without my Shades of Gray fix.
Posted by Andrea S-R | January 3, 2008 10:31 AM
Posted on January 3, 2008 10:31
I'm suffering David withdrawal, too. Wah! Come back!
Posted by Joan Hope | January 3, 2008 1:46 PM
Posted on January 3, 2008 13:46
David - It's January 4 already. I'm jonesin' for a blog fix. Will you come back already? - Amy
Posted by Amy | January 4, 2008 11:05 AM
Posted on January 4, 2008 11:05
I don't miss him one bit. For the last two weeks I've actually been able to get some WORK done.
Posted by Jane Greer | January 5, 2008 11:57 AM
Posted on January 5, 2008 11:57