is it 2009 yet?

I give up.

Not in the jumping-off-the-Sunshine-Skyway-bridge kind of way. Nothing like that.

I mean giving up on trying to juggle a busy life AND keep up two blogs AND take care of myself and finish recovering from the Great Health Crisis of ‘08.

I can’t do all three successfully at the same time, it seems. I flipped a coin to decide between my blogs and my health. (I’m kidding! Well, mostly.) My health won the coin toss.

So I’m taking a leave of absence. Giving up blogging for a while. Taking a sabbatical. Running away. Taking care of myself. Kinda-sorta breaking up with you. Finally following my doctor’s orders. Boxing up the blogs. Putting away my keyboard. Going into semi-retirement.

To paraphrase that infamous Friends episode, “I think I need a break.”

Shall we get together again, say, January 1? A fresh new year, a fresh new start. Hopefully a fresh new me. A new blog. New books to talk about, new discussions to have, new arguments to start.

Keep your fingers crossed for me and circle January 1, 2009 on your calendar. Happy new year.