Something had to give. It is the time of the semester when assignments come due, and grading piles up. It is the time of the year when furnaces, cars, bikes, and computers break down (I don’t know how they conspire to do this, but they do). It is the time of life when the maximum number of offspring are requiring tuition to be paid, loans to be applied for, this that and the other to be bought. It is the time of the economy when two decades worth of savings are worth less than a decade ago, as if ten years of work was for nothing. It is one of those rare years when I have no summer teaching at all, and thus no summer income to speak of. It is the time of my life when, with finances like this, my 25th anniversary is coming up in a couple of months. We’ll likely split a can of soup in celebration.
Something had to give. I can’t cut back on my job, or they won’t pay me. I can’t cut back on parenting or spousing, just because. I can cut back on doing something I very much like to do, but which takes time I don’t really have right now. So this might be it, or this might be it for a while. I really don’t know right now.
I love my readers. They have helped me through so much already. I don’t regret a moment of my time spent putting life into silly rhymed verses. I still owe some of my readers a signed copy of my book (I haven’t forgotten!), and I will do that. One kind and talented reader is helping me (the delay is all mine) to re-write the book, add some commentary and re-organize, so that may come out eventually… and I will, of course, keep checking email and comments.
But something had to give, and so I am, at the very least, taking a break. I hope to see you soon, but if not, I still thank you from the bottom of all three hearts for supporting me, for enabling my obsession, for helping to create the Cuttlefish persona.
For now, though… Good-bye.
39 comments
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makita
April 4, 2009 at 3:37 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Dear Cuttlefish,Sorry life is getting to you. I hope you manage to regain your strength and score a few points yourself. Don’t let life get to you. Thanks for the good times, good luck with the bad. Cheers!
makita
April 4, 2009 at 3:38 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Oops,that was horribly phrased CF. The sentiments stand though.
george.w
April 4, 2009 at 4:59 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
We’ll be here waiting! Thanks for the insight and humor through a lot of crazy stuff in the world.
Lurker
April 4, 2009 at 5:24 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Even if your challenges seem rather intense,I’m sure that you’ll overcome them.So don’t lose all hope! For your natural defenseIs an ink cloud, some heart, and a poem.Good luck, Cuttlefish. We’ve all been in situations like yours, and I hope things work out in the long run.For now though, all I can say is say thanks for your wonderful blog.
EcoGeoFemme
April 4, 2009 at 6:10 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I hope you get back on top of things quickly and as painlessly as possible. Good luck! I’ll keep you in my reader for whenever you come back.
Blake Stacey
April 4, 2009 at 7:07 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
The words came up in my RSS feed:"Life 1, Cuttlefish 0" —And with all deliberate speedI hacked a rhyme to console a hero.I have a book on Lulu right now, and I’m in the midst of getting it cross-posted at Amazon’s CreateSpace and Kindle Store. (The Lulu edition just recently started showing as “In Stock” at Amazon, hurrah, but word on the street is that Lulu books can fall “out of stock” there for no particularly good reason, so I figured redundancy couldn’t hurt.) If you ever want help with such things, let me know and I’ll contribute whatever experience I’ve got.
Laurie
April 4, 2009 at 11:21 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Nooooooo! I hope things get better soon. I’ll keep you on my NetNewsWire for however long it takes. Good luck, and thank you.
Snail
April 5, 2009 at 3:43 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Cuttlefish, we’ll miss you, but you’ve got your priorities straight!
Podblack
April 5, 2009 at 5:36 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Will always be here for you, DC. Let me know. Especially since I think we’ll meet again in Sept. :) K.
scicurious
April 5, 2009 at 5:03 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
My dearest, wisest CuttlefishI am so sad to seeThat, against my every wishNo blogging there will be.I’ll miss you! And I understandThat work gets in the wayAnd the frustrations that life brings in handare increasing day by day..I will send you thoughts of confidenceThat, at work and homeAll issues will work out and thenceyou’ll be back to us with a poem.
Webs
April 5, 2009 at 10:00 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’ll miss your writings and look forward to the time when you can continue them!!
The Ridger, FCD
April 5, 2009 at 10:41 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I too will miss you, and wait for your return. But I’ll understand if that’s not soon.
pteryxx
April 5, 2009 at 11:10 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
If this is a chore, by all means take a break… but don’t sacrifice what you love, your play and expression of your unique self. The worse life gets, the more we need our little freedoms. Cut way back, but you know we’ll celebrate when we see even the smallest wave or flap from you.Peace, Pteryxx
Cath@VWXYNot?
April 6, 2009 at 4:30 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Dude! What a shame, you lighten up the internet. I hope you’ll make a triumphant return when circumstances permit… I’ll stay subscribed to your RSS feed, just in case.Thanks for all the laughs and hard thinking you’ve inspired. Best wishes to you and your family.
DSK Samways
April 7, 2009 at 12:15 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
You’ve had a highly productive innings, mate.Good luck for now, hope to see you batting more couplets in the future.
aussielurker
April 8, 2009 at 10:09 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Sorry to hear this – you’ve always been one of the highlights of the blogs.I’ve even used one of your poems in my teaching.The faithful Cuttlephiles will wait for 1,000 years (if you don’t take too long!)best wishes
articulett
April 9, 2009 at 5:19 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
This silent fan will miss your posts, but I am grateful for the serendipity of stumbling upon you in the cyberworld, and I look forward to meeting you in the real world some time. Go attend to real life. Your fans will be here when you come back.
Rev. BigDumbChimp
April 11, 2009 at 8:29 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
damnWell, I love your posts and you’ll be missed. But family comes first. Enjoy!
Jadehawk
April 11, 2009 at 8:33 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
oh no! I will miss cuttlefish poetry, but the real world is more important (or so i’ve been told).good luck with everything, and I really hope you’ll be back soon
Johnny Vector
April 11, 2009 at 8:53 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Squiddly-piddly,Digital Cuttlefish!Bustin’ out rhymesAfter all doesn’t pay.His disguise is remarkableHere and now gone! He justChromatophoricallyMelted away.Good luck, DC! We’ll catch you on the flipside.
Jan Aquarius
April 11, 2009 at 9:50 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Your blog has, like, forever been on my favorites list, and I enjoy your postings on Pharyngula immensely. Good luck with whatever is taking your time now, and hope to see you around in steadier times. I shall miss your poetic posts.
6p010536d2559b970c
April 12, 2009 at 2:27 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
The Poet Laureate of Pharyngula will be sorely missed. Hope things get better soon.
Dana Hunter
April 12, 2009 at 5:22 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Damn you, life! Leave Cuttlefish aaaalllloooonnnneeee!Hope to see you back. Your poetry is one of the best things about the intertoobz!
Kim
April 12, 2009 at 5:07 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I am so sorry that you are having rough times, and I admire your willingness to take the bull by the horns and make what must have been a difficult decision in order to try to make things work. The lack of your voice will leave a very loud silence on teh internets… I earnestly hope that the time will come, SOON, when you are in a place where you can confidently make a different decision.
John Twilley
April 12, 2009 at 9:39 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Damn.There goes a good fish…
Ryoga M
April 12, 2009 at 11:07 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’ll be waiting, patiently.
Ása Johannesen
April 15, 2009 at 10:39 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Oh noes!I’m so sad to see you leave the blogosphere. I hope it’s only temporary.I suppose I shall have to reread your book every now and again when I get cuttlefish cravings.Good luck in the fight against life. I hope you win.
Podblack
April 16, 2009 at 8:01 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
You have a book in the mail!! Should arrive on Friday. :) :)
386sx
April 19, 2009 at 7:32 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Git yer tail back here and make some damn poems dammit.
Chuck
April 19, 2009 at 7:54 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Dear DC,I hope you can compile some of the contents of this blog into a monetizable book.
Podblack
April 26, 2009 at 12:19 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Don’t forget to buy the book that’s already out – see the Lulu link that’s on the right hand column!! :D
Monado
May 5, 2009 at 3:25 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Good luck, and come back when you can.
Podblack
May 7, 2009 at 9:01 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
… going to be here when you’re back, you realise. :)
articulett
May 9, 2009 at 8:02 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Me too… with the Dr by my side–
Shamar
May 16, 2009 at 3:15 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Still checking in to see if you’re coming back…I miss reading this blog :-)
Podblack
May 16, 2009 at 12:50 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Shouldn’t be long now! BTW – the Digital Cuttlefish should feature in a soon-to-be-released Australian Skeptic mag. :)
Andy
May 19, 2009 at 9:59 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
You rekindled my love for “nonsense” verse, with a skeptical twist. Thank you and hope to see you back asap.
jtaylor
May 20, 2009 at 10:56 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
A visit to your site upon searching for a picture of a cuttlefish (to add to a poem) was a good start. I wish you and yours well.Thought I would leave a copy of the poem I wrote that was inspired by a “cuttlefish.”Cuttle with the FishI see in a poem something…Part of what I want from you.My wife, my lover, my everything.Your love and your desire, I woo.The poem, about a cuttlefish,made me think of you and wish…Not of hiding or staying out of view,but of a cuttle or two just from you.Secrets we keep, even if but one or two.Little problems, peanuts we flush down the loo.Denticulated suckers of love and desirebind us willingly to each other, with fire.To the future I gaze hoping to seeLove and Support for you and for me.Hand in hand and heart in hearth we treadhappy in love, and bliss in our bed.A journey together we take–in rapture and sinEach giving willingly so that we both may win.I wish for you to feel willingly bound, tied by bankswith the love and support of an man, with “8 hands.”Copyright 2008, James H. Taylor III All Rights Reserved.
jtaylor
May 20, 2009 at 10:57 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
lol…bands…