Michael Blowhard writes:

Dear Blowhards --

I was sorry to see that, after three years of inspired blogging, Mike Hill is giving it up. He has a life that needs attending-to and a novel that wants to be written. Besides, three years of blogging is a long and terrific run. Although Mike has always been one of the blogosphere's most engaging storytellers, he also deserves a lot of credit for wit, earthiness, and generosity -- he tosses off perceptions and wisecracks at an amazing rate while never ceasing to be relaxed and friendly in his manner. I'll miss Mike's blogging a lot, but I'm looking forward to his novel, and I'm hoping he won't fall out of touch completely.

Here's a wonderful and characteristic passage from a recent Mike posting:

I'm on a week's vacation and it looks like I'll miss my goal, as usual, of putting aside two complete days with nothing to do. It's the single most difficult thing in the world for the Goddess to understand ... She'll say 'What are you going to do today?' I'll say 'absolutely nothing' and she'll look at me for a moment and ask 'What are you going to do today?' Will not penetrate. Her head would explode fifteen minutes into my ideal day. This afternoon we're taking off for a long weekend in Lake George. I'm thinking Adirondack chair on the lawn, beer in my hand, watching the Hudson roll past. She's thinking -- I don't even want to think about what she's thinking, it'll wear me out.

That tells me more about men, women, and marriage than entire Updike novels have.

Best,

Michael

Just when I get good and pissed over your attitudes and opinions on immigration, you come up with a heart-warming piece like this!
Best,
Roger
(your liberal elderblogger admirer)

Posted by: citrus on May 31, 2006 2:25 PM

I've just returned from my vacation - my first one taken at home entirely, and husband was working (he had to use some vacation for two long illnesses this winter). My idea was to awaken at 11:00, nap at 1:00 until 3:00 and only if I felt like it, do something other than eat chocolate and bagels. I succeeded three of the days (it being quite rainy last week in Portland.) Husband had an enormous honey-dew list for me and the week prior I kept telling him, "awake at 11, nap from 1 to 3 and I'm eating chocolate and bagels and that's it." He was pretty silently disappointed, until he came home on Tuesday and our vegetables and herbs were planted. I still got lap time with the cats that day and lots of breaks with coffee, chocolate and bagels. Just worked at my own pace and just loving the day. (Wives simply aren't the only nags!)

Posted by: bridget on May 31, 2006 3:44 PM

I hope Sluggo keeps his blog up, because I never read it before and it's terrific.

Sigh...always behind the power curve.

Posted by: Friedrich von Blowhard on May 31, 2006 11:41 PM

Citrus -- Sluggo always combined rambunctiousness, sweetness, and big-heartedness (along with perceptiveness, humor, etc) in very touching and enjoyable ways, don't you find? There aren't many bloggers as soulful as he is.

Bridget -- I love hassling my wife too. I have a theory that men without women to tease and goad are sad, lost people. That said, don't you find that women generally are far more constructive and (despite all men's showing-off) long-term energetic than men are? We like making a big, heroic show of getting a little something done, then settling back with a brewski. Women tend to accomplish things with less show, and then go on to the next thing. Many exceptions allowed for, of course.

FvB -- Sluggo was a prize. There's always his archives to explore.

Posted by: Michael Blowhard on June 1, 2006 11:02 AM






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