Thursday, September 27

Fin

It’s been so long since I posted, is anyone even reading this anymore? I have a few things to say, I guess, to those who continue to check in.

First off, I’d like to offer my sincere apology for disappearing so abruptly. At first, the time that passed after my last post seemed normal, seeing that sometimes a week or more elapsed between posts. Then as weeks became months, I realized that I had entered into a new relationship with my blog—one of neglect. At that point, so much time had gone by that I was embarrassed to pen an explanation. Partly, I felt that most of my readers had probably long since given up on me, so why bother?

In reality, I don’t really know who’s still reading. Therefore, I’m writing this final post for myself, for some closure; however, if I can give closure to any remaining loyal readers, so much the better. Perhaps I’ve always been writing primarily for myself. This blog has been a valuable tool for me, not just to vent and voice an opinion, but as an exercise in writing and self-expression. I began it on a lark after returning home from a failed adoption attempt in Ukraine in the fall of 2005, and it turned into a fun and stimulating outlet for me.

While that outlet became no less necessary in recent months, the time I had to devote to it became more and more scarce. Playing music, working, parenting, taking care of a home, having a social life all took me away from blogging. It’s not that I had less to say; just less time in which to say it.

It should come as no surprise that maintaining a good blog takes lots of work. Moreover, one cannot blog sporadically and hope to have anything resembling a solid readership. I tried to be as regular as I could and I am grateful for the readers that I had; but as much work and thought as I put in, I realized that I was never going to attain any degree of popularity or notoriety in the blogosphere. It’s not that I was shooting for that, not really. I mean, it’s great having an audience, but there are so many wonderfully insightful blogs out there, I began to wonder whether I really had all that much to add.

To be honest, though, my stopping wasn’t at all deliberate or planned; it came as a surprise to me. As I said above, before I knew it, weeks had gone by, and I found myself wondering why I’d stopped, just as others might too have been wondering what the hell had happened to me.

I will say that it’s probably no accident that my stopping coincided with my decision to return to school to complete my doctoral work. By early summer, I’d already begun to work things out with my former program (at a university here in Boston). It’s not that school and research took me away from blogging per se. As it is, I’ve yet to resume work on my dissertation with any regularity. However, the mere prospect of having a new outlet for my writing and an exciting new project on the horizon doubtless had an impact on my subconscious decision to stop blogging. That’s just a hunch, but I’m pretty sure there’s some truth there.

I will surely look back on my many posts and the comments they received years from now and have a wonderful snapshot of my life during a time of great transition for me, the transition to fatherhood. However, because the vast majority of my posts were not about my personal life, it will also serve as a record of my thoughts and actions during what arguably has been the most disastrous administration the United States has ever seen and how I, as a horrified liberal, managed to stay sane during the Bush years. At the very least, it will serve as a potent testimony to the Culture Wars, which I hope will be long over by the time anyone looks back on this blog from the distant future.

I’m certain that I will miss blogging. I already do. I will probably regret my decision to stop. Many times over the past few months I’ve thought about posting a picture or two from my summer travels; or a topic in the news would catch my eye and I’d find myself mentally penning a blog post. I felt, however, that if I couldn’t commit to regular posting, it really didn’t make sense to throw a random something out there just to have my say or get something off my chest. I have a husband and son who are happy to let me rant, provided I don’t prattle on too long.

Of course, it’s also possible that I’ll revive this blog again someday. It’s not likely to be in the near future, but who knows? For now, I am comfortable with saying a long overdue adieu and a most sincere and heartfelt

Aman Yala!

16 Comments:

Blogger tornwordo said...

I was just wondering the other day what had happened to you. Glad it was nothing serious. Sounds like life's waves carried you in other directions. I enjoyed your writings and wish you all the best in the future.

8:07 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing your life with us. I am a long time lurker, I'm the guy who favorited you on technorati

9:57 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing your life with us.Ι enjoyed your writings .
Η αλήθεια είναι ότι φοβήθηκα με τη διακοπή . Πραγματικά χαιρόμουνα με τα γραπτά σας .
Και για το ότι ζω στην πατρίδα σας τη Μυτιλήνη .
Εύχομαι κάθε καλό στο μέλλον .
Στρατής

6:20 PM  
Blogger morphogen said...

I too was wondering where you've been. I will definitely be missing your blog. But between parenting and grad school, I completely understand your decision. Hopefully we'll make up with conversations in person. And do keep the site alive for some future point where you're ready to return.

8:25 PM  
Blogger Will said...

I still read--I assumed that the new family situation was the pressure that kept you from posting but am delighted that you're going to finish the degree--congratualtions and best of luck.

If you do return to blogging--either this one or a totally new one, please send out an email--perhaps you could archive all the addresses of those who are on your link list. I will miss your Greek/Byzantine cultural posts and joining you in our mutual rage over what Bozo has done to this country, not to mention his destruction of Iraq socially, politically, culturally, and economically.

For those of you who have never met Dean and Joe, I'll say that I had the great pleasure of hearing them perform surrounded by friends at a now closed Albanian restaurant in the Roslindale section of Boston. There was joy in the music-making, virtuosity, and a warm, sincere welcome. Two nicer men you couldn't hope to meet and I wish the (now) three of you all the very best as you grow together as a family.

9:58 AM  
Blogger Sandouri Dean Bey said...

gentlemen-
thank you, thank you, thank you for your kind words. and thanks for reading.
peace :)
dean

12:24 AM  
Blogger Christopher said...

You'll be missed. I kept checking in.

4:12 PM  
Blogger schwa said...

oh, you're always going to have something to say. :-)

9:09 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

dino! i am sad to see that you will be ending you blog for good, but i am glad to see you are well. i was very worried about you, naughty boy! i am forever grateful to you for your gracious sharing of your mp3s with me. as you know, i started a myspace page using those mp3s, and so far almost 500 myspace users have added the rembetises as a friend. i get many, many messages from all sort of people asking where they can find out more about rembetika, and i always refer them to your blog. thank you for sharing your knowledge with so many! xoxooxoxoxoox and p.s. your band is totally playing at my wedding!

7:28 PM  
Blogger Garrett said...

Good luck with your studies.

7:39 PM  
Blogger Sandouri Dean Bey said...

Evangelia mou,
If you email me your address, I'll send you a demo. The band just recorded a new one, and it came out awesome if I do say so myself.

Just let us know the wedding date :)

6:07 PM  
Blogger brothasoul said...

One of the things I find most interesting about blogging, are those thoughts that drive people to contribute to the medium. I am happy that the love and support of your family + your pursuit of academic excellence leave your spirit in good hands. [best to you]

10:54 PM  
Blogger Etienne said...

Don't go. I have not written in a while either. Why not write whenever you feel like it? I visited your blog after I read some posting you made on my entries months ago. Happy Holidays.

11:30 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Η αλήθεια είναι ότι φοβήθηκα με τη διακοπή.

Me too! I'm relieved to read that all is well. Good luck with the PhD and everything else, Dino. And if you ever feel the urge to post again, please do so.

Καλά Χριστούγεννα και ευτυχισμένο το 2008!

6:46 AM  
Blogger hagalil said...

I also wondered why you did not answer, but it's good to know you are well. I'm sure many more people read and enjoy your writing (and music) then comment on it.
This is very typical for our time. If you would send me your demo as well, I would be happy.

4:01 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi,

I just want to tell you that you have helped me in many ways. I was reading, most of all, what you wrote about rebetiko. I even copied and published in one of my blogs what you wrote about Nouros. I tried to contact you but something went wrong and I failed...

Now I would really like to invite YOU and others who speak Greek in

elkibra-Nouros.blogspot.com, elkibra-rebetiko.blogspot.com
elkibra-rebetisses.blogspot.com
elkibra-Ritaabadzi.blogpot.com
elkibra-machine.blogspot.com
elkibra-proinakia.blogspot.com

I woud also like to invite your faithfull and kind readers to my one and only english blog

elkibra-rebetiko2.blogspot.com

You are wellcomed

I wish everybody a joyfull New Year and better times for the States.

Warm greetings
Kostas Ladopoulos

elkibra


and all others who would feel a curiosity

3:22 PM  

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