Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in
Dr. Socks contemplates a return to blogging.
So, as Mandos would say, I’ve been out.
I’ve been on a kind of strike, if you will, a personal sabbatical from The World. Not just from blogging, but from email, the news, everything. My computer has been off — actually off, no power, off – for almost two weeks. That’s unprecedented for me.
I didn’t plan the hiatus in advance; if I had, I would have told you all I was going. No, it just sort of came about spontaneously. It was one day week before last: I was reading the news and saw that a U.S. court had ruled that habeas corpus was really just a 700-year-old hoax probably dreamed up by commie pinko fags and certainly nothing that President Jesus and his crack team of torturers should have to worry about. And you know what? I just couldn’t take it anymore. Just couldn’t deal. I closed the browser, turned off the computer, and went and sat on the sofa in the living room.
And that’s pretty much where I’ve been for the past two weeks.
Sitting on the sofa is a wonderful thing. You can stare into space. You can think about your book and the people in it. You can sketch the house where they live, which is very good for occupying the front of your attention while the back of your brain sorts out knotty issues of plot and character and occasionally surprises you with rather wonderful discoveries. You can pet your dog. You can drink coffee in the morning and Long Island iced teas at night. I love the sofa.
A couple of times I thought about checking in on the blog, at least to make sure the thing wasn’t drowning in spam, but that would have required turning on the computer, which in turn would have led inexorably to checking my email, and ultimately, horror of horrors, reading the news. And that, my friends, I just couldn’t do. As long as my computer remained off, I could continue my sofal reverie.
I did hear a couple of pieces of news via my mother: one, that the Queen, as expected, got the Oscar for her brilliant portrayal of Helen Mirren in Prime Suspect. I was so pleased. She’s won many honors through her long reign, but you just know the Oscar has to be special.
I also heard from my mother yesterday that Scooter Libby was found guilty. As it happened, when she told me this I had just awakened from a dream in which President Bush had Bill and Hillary Clinton executed by firing squad. (For some reason I was there to witness the execution, and I can report that while both Clintons were clearly nervous, they held up and faced the thing bravely.) Those two things together — I mean the Libby verdict and the firing squad — made me think, for the first time in two weeks, that it might be mildly interesting to see what’s in the news. The Clintons are still alive, aren’t they?
Then this morning I woke up wondering what you all were up to.
So here I am, back at the computer. I still haven’t checked the news yet, but I think I’ll do that next. Or maybe I’ll start sorting through the bazillion email messages that have collected in my inbox. I apologize for disappearing without warning; I apologize for causing anyone concern; I apologize for not checking in sooner; I apologize that all these apologies are necessary. I’m going to write a song called “I Apologize” and put up a YouTube video of myself performing it in sackcloth and ashes.
As Phil Oakey says in that Human League song, “Please forgive me.”
23 Responses to “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in”
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Chris says:
Who are you again?
March 7th, 2007 at 8:04 pm EST -
Jodie says:
Mostly I just lurk. But I missed you.
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ehj2 says:
Dear Dear Violet,
You’ve carried us all for so long through this strange darkness, you have to let us apologize for our part.
Remember that effulgent piece you did on the 1,000th issue of the Rolling Stone? After that (if I must name just one post you’ve written worth its weight in alchemic transcendence) you can never do wrong in my cosmos …
Apologies from you? I think not. Thank you for being the kind of person who sees with clear eyes and occasionally must reel back in abject horror from the naked face of collective madness.
While I know you abhore the metaphors of this particular myth, at the end of the day what will save the world (as in Abraham’s time ten were sufficient to save a city) — and without doubt actually is the world — is the enlightenment and vision and integrity (the contents of righteousness) of those who walk what has always been called “the narrow path,” and “the razor’s edge.”
The nature of the incarnate god in every myth is consciousness. Light. Nothing else is of consequence. Everything else can be burned away.
No myth is about what happens out there. If even an insignificant part of us in here (like ten in a city) can see a way through, we will make it.
All around us is the Buddha. Snow is falling. Night rakes across the landscape of bare winter trees. Shards of liquid Moonlight illume our way.
All the love and affection it is proper to send …
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ehj2 says:
hello Chris,
I’d give a full life for you to have Zeke back, tomorrow. He’d just walk in, a pup, remembering you and your shared history and your own special shared language and be yours again, for another gazillion years of shared dog-human life.
I don’t know how to say it better than that …
Luv you dude …
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Mandos says:
Oh come now. We all know that you had gone on vacation 200 years in the future and were sunning yourself at the pleasant and mildly tropical centre of Antarctica. Fortunately, the ozone hole will have closed by then.
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j0lt says:
Regular lurker who is thrilled to see you posting. No apologies necessary - I think we all need quiet from time to time.
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Janeen says:
Welcome back!
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cicely says:
Well, hello there! I’ve been checking in here, only slightly worried about you, because mostly thinking you just needed a break- especially as you’re writing a book too. This reading blogs business, let alone running one, can sure chew up one’s time, energy and focus if one is not very careful! And then, they’re so great for learning and talking and everything - what to do…? At least if I take a break no-one is waiting expectantly for my next words of - whatever - on my own blog. I don’t know how you all do it, and have a life too. But at the same time, I feel sure that you do.
Wanna know what gives me cheer when all the news is bad? I’ll give you three guesses and the first two aren’t counted - because it’s me, and you’ll probably know this.
The Nordic countries. Beacons of hope and direction for the rest of us, imo. I recently came across a conversation where citizens of Norway, Finland and Sweden were responding to an American conservative -a critic of progressive taxes funding generous social welfare programs -free health care - free education and the rest of it - and it was something to behold.
Here’s a link for you the cheering up of…to copy and paste into address bar - since the addy is so long…
http://www.iidb.org/vbb/showthread.php?
t=196941&highlight=social+democracy
The thing is too - folks is folks everywhere - warts and all - but systems can create cultures that bring out what is best about us, in living together, and I don’t know of any better models than those in Northern Europe.
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Victoria says:
Aye! The world is a grander place now with you back. I’m both annoyed at your hiatus (selfish reasons: I love your writing) and inspired (two weeks without a computer might just save my life).
Oh and also, in case your ears were burning, a very weak attack upon your person was made in the comments of my blog. Or actually, the attack was on me, but when the attacker got called out for saying stupid wrong shit, she then offered words to the effect of “Sorry, I meant Violet.”
Bullshit either way, but I defended both my honor and yours, fwiw. (Relevant comment section here is from this point forward, if you’re so inclined… though maybe with all that awesome perspective gleaned from your spell on the couch, you won’t be even slightly tempted to visit.)
Your call, of course.
Just so glad you’re back :)
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gordo says:
A media vacation can be a wonderful thing. It’s amazing how much tolerance we build up for all kinds of noise: visual, auditory, and informational. But you have to let things get quiet for a little while to keep things in perspective.
That said, I’ve missed your writing, and look forward to more.
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simply wondered says:
fucksake- it’s only violet. and v, get back here and hate the fucking world with the rest of us, you draft dodger.
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Victoria says:
simply wondered:
and v, get back here and hate the fucking world with the rest of us, you draft dodger.
Wait a minute. You talkin’ to me? You talkin to me?
(Sorry, that’s the best DiNiro I can do in the plaintext comment venue.)
Presuming, then, that you are indeed talkin’ to me, yeah, I’m a real freakin’ slacker in the world-hating department today. Alas, a certain individual of the pole-dancing persuasion (see link at #9 above) would beg to differ. (And I almost, kind of, sort of, feel sorry for her in response. Girl did not know what she was getting herself into when she left her troll-droppings at my
lair of presumably radical feminist iniquityblog. *sigh*) -
Kaitlyn says:
Well, welcome back to the world of the world.
I just read an op-ed piece saying Libby should be let off because we all forget things - Tim Russert forgets things, and they convicted Libby? The horror!
I’ve been out of the Real World for most of February, because my hormones went haywire, thanks to the BC being dropped, and then the other one didn’t work,and now I’m on Lupron, and I’ve had a lot of pain… Most of February kind of sucked, but since it’s Memphis, I was able to spend many time outside, reading and bothering dogs.
I’m glad you were doing the same.
I spent the last 3 days back in the Real World, volunteering at the Crisis Center (computer work, I’m the youngest volunteer there and know how to type without looking at the keyboard.:P) and I’ll go back next week.
I have to admit, I haven’t looked at your blog since your youtube video post about how stupid the brits were (as stupid as Americans, apparently.)
Sorry for not noticing your sabbatical.
The message board I’ve spent more than a year at has gone crazy, lots of fighting and ’she(me) talked about periods(their effect on moods) so I can post pictures of boobies’. I deleted myself, along with a few of my friends - all of us female.
The real world is so nice, I’m going to check my mail (no news there - I read the paper, watch BBC news when I’m inside at 5, and watch the daily show and Colbert Report), and look at comic blogs - I didn’t get on the home computer at all yesterday, I felt lousy, and when I didn’t I wanted to be outside.
I read most of the paper on the front porch from 6 to 8 pm - I had to eat, I had to tie Dixie up on the porch, then the boys, and I threw away each page as I finished. It was fun.
I’m glad you’re back, but don’t abandon spring!
I’ve got to paint our new shed door today. Outside, and I promise I won’t paint the dogs.
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simply wondered says:
victoria - sorry to have been ambiguous, the ‘v’ was violet, but i’m sure you too can hate real good and i liked your bobby d (ambiguous again, but i like them both) so in retrospect it was probably aimed at you without my even realising it.
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therealuk says:
Glad you’re OK, even if you’re not OK as it were.
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Apostate says:
In your absence, you also got the Thinking Blogger Award from me.
Welcome back.
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Steve says:
God, I missed you.
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flawedplan says:
No apologies needed dear Vi. I swear by nature you do clear-headed things, and breaks are needed if we’re to last. Sometimes the world is too much with us.
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Mandos says:
Geez, even after an n week hiatus, you get like 18 comments. There’s gotta be some justice here ;)
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Whereisjustice? says:
Will you write about this?
Judge Marilea Lewis, Dr. John Zervopoulos, and Jail for a protective mom while the sex abuser is empowered by the court.
On Feb. 7th, Judge Marilea Lewis, 330th District Court, Dallas, found a physician, a cardiologist, guilty of Contempt of Court for failing to hand over her son to his abuser, his father. CPS determined and testified in this court that the child had been sexually abused by his Chiropractor father. On Feb 26th, Judge Marilea Lewis sentenced this protective mother to 60 days in jail. Judge Lewis had the respected doctor arrested in court and the mother of five was handcuffed and hauled off to jail like a common criminal. Shame on you, Judge Lewis.
What was the “crime” that got this mother jailed? She refused to surrender her son to his father on two weekends following the then 10-year-old boy’s disclosure that the father was touching him in the shower every time he went to visit dad in Dallas. What normal mother would have turned over a child after hearing this shockingly repulsive news? This mother would have been negligent to send the boy back to this man. It is incomprehensible that a judge could not understand this mother’s natural concern for her child, and making this protective act a crime and sending her to jail is outrageous! Judge Marilea Lewis has distinguished herself as a cruel, biased and unjust judge.
Judge, aren’t you confused as to who the criminal is here? In the world of normal people, fathers do not shower with and/or touch the privates of their ten-year-old children, yet in your court, this deplorable and abusive act is acceptable while a mother’s protective act is a crime punishable by incarceration in jail. Judge Marilea Lewis, your disdain and punishment for this protective mom is reprehensible and you ought to be taken off the bench for your nasty vengefulness and your adherance to PAS tenets.
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Violet says:
I’m having a hard time getting back into the swing of things. As you may have guessed, shortly after I put up this post I went back and sat on the sofa some more. Still haven’t gotten caught up on the news or the hundreds of emails in my inbox. (I need to get on the phone with my broker so I can move on these fabulous penny stock deals. I’m gonna be rich!).
Thank you all for being so sweet and understanding. You’re the best.
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gordo says:
Yes, it’s really tough to get back into it once you’ve taken some time to experience the wide, wonderful world. I don’t think I’ll ever spend as much time online as I did around this time last year.
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Burrow says:
Glad to hear you’re doing better. I was wondering what happened. I completely understand.
