Fare thee well

But 'tis done - all words are idle -
Words from me are vainer still;
But the thoughts we cannot bridle
Force their way without the will.

So.

I've been trying to think of what to say here for...oh, well, ever since that last post. And I haven't really come up with anything, except a case of the hives because my lands, my last post here CANNOT BE ABOUT PUBIC HAIR.

Yep. Last post.

As you've probably read elsewhere, ClubMom is shutting down the MomBlogs at the end of the year. Trust me when I say I was in no way surprised and am completely prepared -- and since knowing "for sure" I've been able to happily pursue some other opportunities I've been keeping on hold because I've never been able to squeeze more hours out of the day. I can't wait to tell you guys about them.

In short, I'm mostly...relieved. I loved writing this blog -- I loved reading everything everybody had to say and being able to spotlight special stories and send new bloggers traffic and send needy bloggers support. I've loved having a smaller and almost more-private place to talk about parenting and ask questions without getting so much feedback I regret asking in the first place. And what was life like without Halushki, Mrs. Flinger, Lag Liv, the underwear drawer, Untangling Knots...just to name a few?

(Crap! That's what. Life was crap. Better living through blog reading. Amen!)

But I'm still kind of relieved. After 18 months and hundreds of entries, reading blogs became a chore. I'd long since exhausted my own favorites list and would spend hours bouncing from blog to blog, not really enjoying what I read but just hoping someone wrote something that would inspire a post and crap, the baby is up and I've got nothing. That's...really missing the point of my own stupid blog, don't you think?

So yes, the burnout rate is high over here, and I suppose it's more than a little ironic that my last saving grace was the CafeMom group, where I got to connect with bloggers as PEOPLE and not just random URLs I got off of a friend of a friend of a friend's blogroll. CafeMom will now be ClubMom's primary business.  We bloggers don't really fit in over there, at least from a writing standpoint, but it is certainly a logical extension of the blogosphere community. Meet, chat, share, ask questions, get answers, get inspired, rinse and repeat.

I don't know what will happen with the Daily Dose group at CafeMom once I remove the promise of a Daily Dose spotlight, but I won't delete it or anything. It's a great spot for newbie bloggers to mingle with veterans and ask questions about platforms and ads and other blogging etiquette concerns. And it's a great spot for writing challenges and blog action days or to share something special you've written. I don't know. That was one of those things I hoped I'd figure out before posting here -- some way to highlight everybody who has joined over there without it looking just like the links list, ha -- but...well, there's this weird walrus here telling me the time has come to just post already and figure that stuff out later.

I hope you'll check out all the ClubMom bloggers as they move back to their personal blogs. Check out their ClubMom blogs -- they'll be available until January -- and find out where everybody is headed. Thanks. ClubMom is letting everybody keep their blog names and banners and archives, which is pretty awesome of them, especially since I remember there being quite the kerfluffle over the state of paid bloggers' copyrights back when we all got our first contracts.

Which...oh man. The day I got this gig I think I cried. The day I got a voicemail saying I was one of the finalists for this job I jumped up and down in a CVS and shrieked to the world that I get to stay home with my kid now! For that I will be eternally grateful. Thank you, ClubMom. Thank you.

If you told me back then I'd be out of a job in 18 months I probably would have freaked out -- I had so little faith in my abilities to write anything other than amalah.com-type drivel or that the Internet would still be here and...I don't know...not be a series of non-paying tubes attached to our retinas or something -- but today 18 months feels pretty good, and it feels right. Time to move on, which is why I've decided to take ClubMom up on their offer to end my writing responsibilities immediately. Take a little vacation, or as much of a vacation as I can swing while still writing here and here and here.  It's the selfish decision, I admit. But I'm done. 

But you? You keep writing. I'll still be reading, I promise.

Comments

[Katie]

I'm really going to miss the ClubMom blogs. I followed you over here from Amalah.com and I'm so happy I did because it introduced me to so many other great bloggers. Thanks :)

[Melissa Wiley]

It was great working with you here, Amy. I'll miss Daily Dose! Glad we got to meet up before I left the East Coast last year. Looking forward to seeing where you pop up next. :)

Melissa @ Lilting House & Bonny Glen

[Angella]

I'll miss the Daily Dose, but am excited to see where else I can stalk, I mean READ, you.

;)

[hello insomnia]

It's been a good run, Amy. I have enjoyed Mom's Daily Dose.

[Andy]

I've enjoyed the Daily Dose as well and always liked the links for new blogs to read (and loved it when mine was linked).

[cagey]

Damn. I will miss this little neck of the woods. Lazy ole me loves a good Round Up Blog.

I would like to give a shout-out to Marilyn, over at Parenting 411 at http://www.parentingsites411.com/ She does a great Round Up Blog there as well if folks are looking for someone else to do the clicking around for them. :-)

[Type (little) a]

Wow. The whole story about realizing that this job would let you stay home made me cry a little bit. What I wouldn't give to be a SAHM again. Sigh.

Anyway. Thanks for the link back in August, and good luck. Some things simply run their course.

[jodifur]

I'll miss the Daily Dose but I will of course read you the other places. I'm glad this gave you the opportunity to do what you wanted to do.

[Laura]

Sniffle. I'm a little sad that the daily dose is going away. I followed you from amalah.com and I liked that things were always a little quieter over here.

[kenandbelly]

*Waving a fond farewell.*

[Wacky Mommy]

Awwww, shoot.

[AmyM]

*Taps plays softly*

Thanks for the memories. And the linkage.

Your work here is done.

[Emily]

It's amazing how much can happen in 18 months, isn't it? Here's hoping the next 18 months take you in directions you never imagined. You certainly deserve the opportunity.

And thanks for linking me back in the day. I have been informed that you are the one responsible for hooking me up with Parents.com and for that I will be so eternally grateful. Thanks, Amy.

[Emily]

It's amazing how much can happen in 18 months, isn't it? Here's hoping the next 18 months take you in directions you never imagined. You certainly deserve the opportunity.

And thanks for linking me back in the day. I have been informed that you are the one responsible for hooking me up with Parents.com and for that I will be so eternally grateful. Thanks, Amy.

[Missie]

Farewell, little Dose! I will miss you.

(but if you ever quit putting up pictures of The Noah and letting us behold his adorableness on amalah.com? Then I might have to get up in your grill. Just saying.)

[Jessica (aka Rose)]

Wow. So didn't expect that... so sad. kinda feel like crying... but no worries, the doctor swears it's hormonal. Bah. Stupid hormones.

I've really enjoyed this blog, I've discovered some awesome blogs thanks to it. And I've loved being linked a few times. Nothing like getting a hundred hits in a day to boost my morale!

Thanks for writing here and giving some of us hope for launching a writing career.

[rebecca]

Thank you so much for being here. FOr being amazing and for thinking we are at least a little bit amazing. The 4th proudest day of my life was when i got dosed.

[LL]

I didn't find you until recently, but I have enjoyed your Daily Dose. I'm thrilled and flattered to be listed in your final post- especially among blogs I've long enjoyed and would never consider myself in their league!

I'm so glad you'll still be writing elsewhere, I look forward to reading more!

[MSomeshwar]

That's a beautiful quote from Byron! ( I only figured that out after 90 seconds of intense Googling :) )

[Jozet at Halushki]

Awwwwww, shucks! Thank you for one more Dose. You've done wonders for my writer's ego and my readership.

And I'll always and forever remember you as "the pubic hair lady".

Catch you on the flip side!

[Frema]

What Emily said.

You're the reason that Parents.com sought me out for my freelancing gig. If I can make it to 18 months, I'll consider myself one lucky lady.

Thanks again.

[Tere]

Gotta say, totally appreciate your candor.

[a happier girl]

It'll take some getting used to not coming here for links to new blogs. I'll miss it!

[Maureen]

I want to join in to say thanks for these 18 months; it is through here that I found Emily, now one of my internet BFFs, and also Frema, who is cool, and also some other people. And you Dosed me once! I'm still living off that high. It was my brush with greatness.

(Unlike Emily and Frema, I have not yet been offered a blogging job, but I still like you.)

I feel like I should say goodbye, but it's not like you're leaving the internet entirely.

[shawn]

I just wanted to say that your blogging power with this blog was and is insurmountable. When you link to a blog, page visits go sky-high. It's impressive, really. Good luck!