Where I’ve been
I wasn’t planning on commenting on my prolonged absence (save the occasional appearance) from the blogging arena, until I read that Catelli (formerly Closet Liberal) had a similar experience.
Quite simply, I’ve been burned out intellectually. To give you some background, I’ve actually made some progress in my life (”Adulthood by 30 or Bust!”) After the Recruitment/headhunting job I was working in the spring petered out I stagnated quite a bit, both professionally and personally. A friend of mine moved back to Canada from a two-year stay overseas and since we had agreed to get an apartment together in Toronto when she returned I was spurred into action.
On August 25th I moved into a new apartment (she moved in the same day) and shortly thereafter I realized that I needed a full-time job to pay for the fancy digs. Over the summer I had done a bit of web stuff, and tried to get my feet wet in a creative position, but I couldn’t find anything that suited my “skill” set. I signed on with a temp-agency in early September, and I’ve only had one non-weekend day off since. Since the 28th I’ve been working for a large firm near Humber Park and there is a distinct possibility that I’ll be hired on permanently.
With all of that going on I just haven’t had the energy to contribute in any meaningful way to blogging. With work and commuting the way it is, I am out of the apartment from 7:45am until about 6:30pm, and while I read the paper when I get the chance, I just don’t have the patience or time to probe deeper, and there’s no point in blogging on shallow, banner headline issues without offering some substantive analysis (blasphemy I know…)
More significantly, I’ve come to realize that the more productive I am in my private life (work, relationships, education, etc.) the more stimulated I am to participate in extra-curricular activities like blogging. As my schedule evens out and I find my lifestyle stabilizing hopefully I will find both the time and energy to contribute something worth reading… maybe not every day, but at least a few times a week. In addition, I hope to add more non-political content as well; to maintain my own interest and perhaps attract some new visitors.
I’m also toying with changing the blog name (and domain) to josephkrengel.com… Any thoughts?
Really? You’d make your name your blog? Mind if I ask why?
For me, I prefer the pseudonym. I’m currently looking for work, and my current or prospective employers are not going to get my blog if they google my name. Its a form of information control, I don’t have to worry about something I say affecting my employment chances.
Also, as an IT Security guy, I find the risks of open blogging under a real name real enough to not be worth any rewards. And that’s where I’m lost. If you aren’t a public figure already, and don’t intend to be, what are the advantages to blogging under your real identity? I see risk and 0 reward, hence my choice of a pseudonym.
Comment by Catelli — November 8, 2007 @ 4:47 pm
I wouldn’t mind being a public figure… so long as I was paid to be one.
I don’t know why I’m thinking of switching names… I like being open about myself. I’ve got no money to steal and no reputation to take advantage of either.
Comment by Joseph — November 8, 2007 @ 6:29 pm