Disconnected
As I've indicated previously, I'm unable to spend much time online anymore and so have been ineffective in keeping up with reading the blogs or emails of friends and family. Prior to this, I felt like I was doing a poor job of staying connected with people. However, this change has shown me how much further things could (and have) slipped. I feel very isolated and frustrated by the forces preventing me from staying more connected.
I have a copy of AbiWord Portable installed on a USB key now, with the hope that this will allow me the ability to write while at work without needing to be online. None of what I write will be stored outside the key itself, which makes me feel more comfortable. However, there's still the issue of getting it onto the blog complete with working links and (when applicable) photos.
It occurs to me that without much connection to the "virtual" world, I feel what I do have to say has little value anyway. Certainly my blog has not been the bastion of culture and enlightenment, (how many entries are not about either Nathan or photography?), but it has been important to me to keep communications between friends open. We don't get to visit with people as often as we'd like and so blogging seems to be the next best thing.
Perhaps one aspect of my frustration is that I've bitten off more than I can chew. I have this blog, the photoblog, a flickr community, and a dozen domains in various states of disrepair. So many unfinished projects and ideas dragging around my virtual sandbox weighs heavily on me.
I guess I just want to say: I'm sorry for not keeping up with what's been going on. It's not that I don't care. If I had the opportunity I would read and respond to every post and email. But sadly, for now, that won't be an option. I'll read what I can, when I can and I hope to post a little more frequently too.