This blog is closed
Some housekeeping
[Update: 0) A few people will be arriving at this page in the next couple days because I’ve suggested they look here for samples of my writing. The desert writing can be found here, and the pieces that I’ve decided best represent what I can do in general are sorted here.]
1) In a month I move out. I don’t know where I’m moving to. There’s a good chance I’ll actually be homeless in the month of June, except that I will call it “camping.” I’m tracking down writer-in-residence gigs, volunteer opportunities with housing involved, rental of desert shacks and the like, but since I don’t know where I’m moving to, I don’t know whether I’ll have internet access on any kind of reliable basis.
This will make running a blog difficult. I’ve been thinking about how to address this: the community here has been so valuable to me, and there’s a little income from the blog ads that it would be a shame, though not fatal, to forsake.
If I can be assured of regular internet access, on the order of once a week, I can upload a week’s worth of short posts and set them to publish one at a time. This doesn’t allow, though, for comment moderation, and I’m not willing to let abusive or spammy or troll comments stand for a week. And shutting off comments, or moderating them with a week’s wait, would squelch the good conversations.
2) In a month I move out, and I have a household to split up and packing and giving away and sorting and address change forms and house search and truck rental and Jeep registration and smog inspections and long serious conversations to accomplish, and that’s not gonna allow for much blogging time, even if I ignore getting any book writing done.
3) The personal life blogging has proven to be a bit of a negative issue these days, and perhaps fittingly, I will not go into details here except to say that the number of times the word “div*rce” has popped up in the search logs for this site is kinda ooky. I know I brought that on myself, but it is not just myself onto which it has been brought. And at some point I hope to have a social life, and a social life free of ook is a thing worth having. So this paragraph is very likely the last Relationship item that will be appearing here. Thanks for understanding.
4) I’m trying to get work published in non-self-published dead tree form. Some of the work I want to try that with has appeared here. This is an impediment to publication in many journals. So there will be an increasing number of 404s here as I turn posts off and take them down. I apologize for the inconvenience.
5) In a month I move out, and I am not taking the creek with me. I am still mulling over the whole “blog name” issue as a result.
6) Given all of the above and my resolve to get book writing done, big changes are in store here, with continuing publication of short science essays, nature observation, poetry, and occasional political pieces limited to environmental politics — which is what I do best and is thus probably the most effective politics I can indulge in online — at the “continuing” end of the spectrum, and reformatting of faultline.org into a writer’s portfolio and book sales links and updates on the Joshua tree book’s progress at the “ending the blog” end of the spectrum, with resolution likely by July. In between, there’s gonna be a lot of crickets here, and you may want to avail yourself of the RSS feed so you can avoid fruitless mouse clicks.
7) Some of those desert observation naturey pieces will also show up at DesertBlog, which you should check out.
8) Anyone know of a shack for rent in the Mojave? Wi-fi would be a plus but not necessary.
Posted by: Chris Clarke
Note: A database glitch in 2008 ate a bunch of archived comments. Don't be offended if yours isn't here, or confused if the conversation seems disjointed. Thanks!
I just want to let you know that I have been through some part of what you’re coping with now—and that I am very sorry.
You’ve been on my RSS feed for a long time now, and I’ll look forward to hearing from you when you’re able and ready. Meanwhile, I will be keeping you in my thoughts.
By: By Ancrene Wiseass on 2008 04 29
Thanks, AW, and I appreciate it.
And I hasten to add that — in keeping with the resolution about private life above — I’d prefer this thread stay about things other than looming relationship changes, because that really is the last thing I’m saying about same. Thanks!
I’m not too worried about not having a place to live, really. I’ll find one, and in the meantime I have a storage locker and a vehicle (thank you, Harrington family) and credit cards. It’s hassle, but it’s not unmanageably so. I’ve been homeless for real in the past. This is more like “between houses.” And in between I get to hang with the Joshua trees. Life is good.
By: By Chris Clarke on 2008 04 29
Warren, pretty much anywhere between Kingman and Tehachapi and 29 Palms would work, but I’d prefer a place within a “short” distance of the Mojave Preserve.
By: By Chris Clarke on 2008 04 29
You could always come here and take care of me and mine, and write about Florida wildlife and plants and stuff…
By: By Carrie on 2008 04 29
I am not taking the creek with me
To some of us you are the creek. In fact didn’t you once write “I am a creek to my people!”? Maybe that was someone else.
Still, whatever feels right.
29 Palms - is that the one that goes
Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength.
By: By Rob G on 2008 04 29
Just want to say that I am going through something very similar and you have my best wishes. I’ve only started reading CRN about a month ago, but I love seeing new posts and hope that the road doesn’t end here when we’ve only just met.
By: By Kcanadensis on 2008 04 29
“I’m trying to get work published in non-self-published dead tree form.”
Excellent. It would be great to see the Joshua tree book come out from a major publisher.
By: By Dave on 2008 04 29
Wow, possibly ending this blog? If I put my fingers in my ears and hum so I can’t hear you saying it if you do at some point say “this blog is over,” will that stop you from ending it? Cuz I’m on the verge, no kidding…
I hope you find a groovy place to live, though, regardless of my own selfish desires for CRN. Also, I know a couple of agents and/or editors at non-self-publishing places. Email me if you want me to help you get in touch with any of the people I’m in touch with… I know they at least are sure to *read* whatever comes recommended from someone they know.
Hope to see you around here even throughout your busyness. xo
By: By Joan Kelly on 2008 04 29
The University of California runs a very very cool field station in the Granite Mountains…given you’re researching a book and all perhaps you could finagle a cot or something there (http://nrs.ucop.edu/Sweeney-Granite.htm). Similar situation with Cal State and the Zzyzx Desert Studies Center (http://biology.fullerton.edu/dsc/).
And cheap housing is no doubt available in the thriving metropolis of Barstow.
Which reminds me of a conversation I swear I once overheard in an I-40 gas station snack shop:
Woman #1: Hey, some of us are going down to Newberry Springs tomorrow.
Woman #2: What for???
Woman #1: To get the hell out of Ludlow.
By: By Sven DiMilo on 2008 04 29
p.s. Doesn’t the Mojave River run North? Kinda? For a little while at least? When it runs at all, I mean?
By: By Sven DiMilo on 2008 04 29
I don’t have any brilliant solutions (damnit!) to any of the above - though the possibility of co-blogging might address the moderation issue - but I just want to voice my hopes that I can stay somewhere in the loop, whatever the final configuration of things turns out to be.
Isn’t change part of the essence of Coyote?
By: By Rachel Shaw on 2008 04 29
Have you thought about Slab City in Niland, California?
Just a thought. Lots of info on the web to peruse.
Closer to Mexico than you probably want, but free.
By: By Linda on 2008 04 30
Well there’s always Nipton—they gotta’ have a space there. We also have a couple of contacts in 4th of July Canyon that we could put you in touch with and see if they know about any places.
By: By Echo_29 on 2008 04 30
Hi Chris,
Although I’ve not been here much nor felt adequate to comment on much of what you’ve written, I want to wish you well on all levels of the journeys you are about to undertake.
I hope you will keep the URL, even if you don’t keep the creek. I want to be able to find you! If you can find a good moderator for the times you are out of internet reach (lucky you!), that would be best for sustaining community, I think.
Wishing you growth, and peace when you need it.
Namaste,
Kabbage and her familiars, Fluff and Sleek
By: By kabbage on 2008 04 30
If things got really tough you could go to Fargo. The Red River runs north. :)
Seriously: I think or at least hope you know how much your writing, CRN and this community has meant to me. I really hope you keep the online thing going in some way. I’ve subscribed to the feed so I’ll look forward to reading about the new developments. And if your travels ever take you up my way don’t hesitate to drop a line.
By: By Charles on 2008 05 01
What Kabbage said, much better than I could. **hugs**
By: By Space Kitty on 2008 05 01
Ah yes, the great upheaving move. I remember it well, as you might also.
By the way, as of April 1, J and I passed twenty years since returning here from whence our paths first crossed yours. Did we mention that for about fifteen of those, we didn’t have either the piano you helped move, or the one we currently have?
Here’s a possible option for Item 8 - cellular broadband (assuming that you’ll wind up someplace with suitable service, of course).
By: By ALotOfCatsAroundHere on 2008 05 02
Don’t know of a shack in the Mojave. But I am sure I could find a bedouin tent, wi-fi included in the Wari Rum.
Moving in 10 days.
Good luck with your move / moves.
xx
By: By Isabelle on 2008 05 02
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