I guess it's about that time.

Just wanted to take the opportunity to thank you for your backhanded compliments and your forehanded encouragement.

I'm going to try to take a bit of a break from The Fray, because the new format and accompanying policies don't seem to be a particularly good fit anymore. You'll still see my nic here and there from time to time, but unless an article really catches my fancy, I suspect there won't be much substance to the post, if you know what I mean (Wink!). Deletions expected. No hard feelings. Seriously.

I think you've done and are doing a fine job. But until Slate realizes that The Fray needs more than 2 part-time editors, I suspect there won't be much you can do about it.

It wouldn't hurt my feelings one bit if you got bored and stopped by every once in awhile. I think you know where to find me. And it wouldn't hurt my feelings even more if you thought there was anything professionally or personally you could do to send some traffic our way (Wink!).

Good times. Call if you get lonely.

Still, if quiblit falls through, I suppose I could always fall back on this endeavor. (I mean, seriously: Does Slate even know that The Fray exists? Really? But don't let them steal from me. Again.)

quiblit

Bite your tongue. Hard.

...timing. Har-de-har-har.

But, seriously... follow your bliss, m'friend. Just don't be a stranger.

It's simply what's referred to in superstitious-prone circles as a "preemptive wood-knocking jinx shield". Let's just hope it works.

Besides, I had my legs crossed when I typed that part.

(You've got [more] mail.)

Believe me when I tell you that I'm happy to hear it. Though I'd consider Moira a rather knee-jerk choice, she's better than nothing. Not much better, but better than nothing still. Slate and The Fray are nothing if not incestuous, but in a good way. (Wink!)

Me and timing. No one's ever accused me of being anything other than on the very cutting edge-like cusp of the learning curve.

I'll always read Slate and The Fray. You obviously know that. You've not lost me as a reader. But you have, for the time being, lost me as a poster. I hope that at least means something to you and the whole Fray gang.

But thanks. Don't be (a) stranger either. I've got my eye on you.

(There's a typo in the new column: "hgih". [But I see you've already fixed it. {Everybody wins!}])

Take care.

It doesn't mean much. We're all just cogs in the machine, switts. You may be a particularly endearing cog, but it doesn't make you any less interchangeable. If anything, it's probably better for everyone that posters take a break when they don't feel like posting.

No matter how occasional, I'm sure I'll enjoy stumbling across your missives from time to time. And in between, we can always cherish the memories... (*sob*)

Hellos and good-byes... I'm getting weepy from the whiplash.

tc2u2...

I can think of 2 dozen posters right off the top of my head who are neither interchangeable nor replaceable. But we're coming from different perspectives, obviously, so, yeah. It means different things to different people.

P.S. Re: My 3L "nephew" gift. I decided to go with a combination of everybody's suggestions. So I got him a moral compass, the first 3 seasons of The Paper Chase, running shoes designed specifically to make it easier to chase down those pesky ambulances, and a colostomy scum bag/integrity IV injector combo. But this little voice in my head, which is real, tells me he probably won't use any of them, so thanks for nothing.

See you around.