down which I fell.
Some few days ago I got it into my head to post an ad for a fellow blogger (which I have never done before), while at the same time changing my header graphic to something like the rough draft you see at the top of this post.
Now on my best of days it’s usually a bad idea for me to dive headfirst into codeplay if I’m trying to resolve more than one problem with more than one variable apiece. Sure its fun, intellectually satisfying and all, but as one who obsesses over his various arts and crafts, it also means suddenly noticing that dawn has long broken, my desktop is littered with code fragments, safety backup versions and HTML translation options, and the Pilus Fairies have come and gone and sketched a two-foot beard on my chin.
That’s my norm and I proudly embrace it.
However I also violated the blogger rule equivalent of never going grocery shopping when you’re hungry: Never go all frottagy with your template when your life is in massive flux, as mine currently is.
I am one of the hundreds of thousands of Americans who has been or will shortly be tossed out of a job and into the teeth of a brutal economy (Thanks, Conservatives!), which could have a fairly unhappy cascade effect on hearth and home. And since I am neither bank nor car company, ain’t no cavalry coming for me.
At the same time, being sacked also formally releases me from certain ethical and topic-related restrictions andn obligations, which may open up some very interesting options.
In the meantime, as I muse how to best combine many wildly different skill sets into lucrative alternatives and how to balance celebrating public victories with mourning private fears and setbacks, don’t be too surprised if you find that I am taking a little solace by fiddling with the things I can control.
Like background color options :-)
Best,
dg
41 comments:
Mmmmmmm... soothing colors.
I like it; requires less squinting.
Good luck on the job front; I'm in the same boat.
Just awoke from an unexpected biiss-out (nap). Must have been from the easy-on-the-eyes Driftglass wallpaper working its magic.
Nice job.
If you need anything I can help with, please just ask.
Suzan
Still chuckling over the Mouse Circus melange.
It's different. Not sure that's what was meant by CHANGE though. At first I thought you'd been hacked. Now that I've re-oriented my senses, it's a pretty extreme makeover, but not totally unpleasant. (If pleasant was your aim).
With your skill sets I can't imagine you being idle very long. Then again, I said the same thing about myself almost a year ago.
The upside is having lots of time. The downside's the same. Not having to accept a less than acceptable next step is a wonderful thing.
Being handy and available keeps the wolf from the door. There's plenty of work. As yet, no career.
I like the look. CHANGE can be good.
FWIW, I'm a solo professional in a similar boat; my practice was decimated by the destruction of the credit industry; Everything I see from Krugman and others (the ones who were, you know RIGHT about the friggin economy) indicates next year will be no better and will likely be worse.
Good luck, compadre. Keep it together.
i like it. much smoother than before. good luck on the job front. and enjoy the time you have to play with the blog format. it doesn't come often enough for those of us who also live in the "real world". peace.
Looking forward to driftglass- Uncensored!!
Until then, I wish you equanimity as you allow the forces of good to carry you into a new frontier of work. Maybe taking over Friedman's spot in the alternative NYTimes. ;-) But don't spend all your time dallying with the Castle wenches.
PS- Next time I'm buying.
my best wishes drifty. i've been a full on casualty of their fucking economic policies my own self.
it's not fun, but, since i grew up pretty damned poor, i know it's fucking doable.
hang in there bro. love the new look. really. i do.
happy gilly's b-day to you too. there's a fucking national goddamned holiday for the future.
just keep writing, keep writing, keep writing.
see ya at netroots i hope.
i like the new look. i've taken some brutal fucking hits my ownself from the economy meltdown. it's bad, and looking to get worse. fuck.
i tell myself that it's cool, i grew up reservation poor, i know how to do it. it ain't all that much fun, but it is fucking doable.
hang tough bro.
Nearly went into arrhythmia. But overall, pretty good.
it looked that they had ate my comment, i wrote another and poof! the first one reappeared. . .
didn't mean to be a repetitive thread hogger. . .
Ewwww. Happens to all of us though.
Try these:
http://www.ourblogtemplates.com/
Drifty,
I'm very sorry to hear that you're flying into the Bush flak.
Best of luck in landing on your feet, and soon.
First of all, I love the new look.
Secondly, to me you are always an amazing blogger/writer/artist first and a, well, whatever they are/were paying you to do, second. You need only pass the hat around to us, your devoted readers, if the wolf is at your door.
What's mine is yours, DG.
And Susie Bright rocks.
bg
where do (or did) you work?
Like the redesign, but I'm sorry to hear about the worries on the job front. Things are looking kinda slender, too, where I work (as a not-very-well-paid subcontractor, with no benefits).
And other shit's coming down the pike in my life that's making it rather difficult to come up with an encouraging word right now.
But then, we'd all do well to remember these words of wisdom:
"... reflect that whatever misfortune may be your lot, it could only be worse in Milwaukee."
Best of luck to your adventures in amassing large amounts of the filthy lucre my friend, seriously, you should write a fucking book.
Also thanks for changing the link to my joint.
The day I saw Ornery Bastard on your Blogroll, I almost fainted.
That my friend, is the highest compliment I have ever received while Blogging.
The rest is gravy.
ERRR, sorry to sound like McCain there.
LOL!
If you like it, I like it ;-)
It IS World Usability Day so your timing is perfect.
I have been on a "timeout" from my job for three weeks now. I can't go back there.... can.not.go.back.there. I don't know how much time I have to regroup but I must start over. All over. Going back, I'm assured a layoff and was forced into this leave of absence sitch. Watch the movie "Gaslight".... nuff said.
So, time for a change. So many rowing the same boat here... good luck to one and all.
I was contacted by a film maker today who wants to use a clip of my Obama Victory night footage in his film. So there's a bit of fun! There's no $, but credit and just to be part of it is my bright spot of my day. Fun!
You just never know what change will bring .... I'm predicting it will be good... for us all ;-)
And a great 'fiddler' you are!
to one of the best writers out here -- yes one of theeeeeeeee best
i love the blue..... and much success in whatever the future brings you
Much better. Is that /. green? :)
It's your blog, drifty. Part of your considerable charm is that you are so uncompromisingly yourself so... fill your boots!
Anyway, I love you for your content, not your pretty face. Good luck in the land of lucre and remember, you have friends and admirers who aren't afraid of redistributing.
Hey, it looks nice and doesn't detract from the content...What more, etc.
'certain ethical and topic-related restrictions and obligations'
I should have never signed that non-disclosure agreement, myself.
;>)
the change frightens me. sorry about the job, and we would all hire you in a minute.
What BG said, especially the part about the wolves.
The forlorn Sam Zell could solve his circulation problems in a minute if he let you fumigate the space Jonah and Chuckles Craphammer are wasting and fill it with a true Chicago voice.
But the real money is in city contracting. Since many of your posts would ignite cinder blocks, you might want offer a contract with Ohare Facilities to melt snow with your keyboard. You'd certainly be less expensive than the jet engines they're using.
And thanks for tweaking the template. Older eyes, you know.
Um, stating the screamingly obvious here, PUT UP A F-ING TIP JAR!!!!!
Seconding Punkster here. It sullies neither clothing of wit nor dignity of deportment.
You're not alone, DG. The start-up I work for is teetering on the edge and both my husband and I are employed there, so....
The blog looks great! Good work and thanks for continuing to be here.
dood, hope that when the dust settles you find yerself back in the saddle, or at least afforded the luxury of sizing up many different horses available to ya. Hangin out in PJs till noon is nice for a few days, but nothin satisfies like a good paycheck, a warm roof over head, and a cold beverage well earned.
Slainte'
Good luck on the job front (and I like the new color scheme).
been their...good luck...may i sugest insurance industry...sure its oen of the great evils of the world, but seeign that auto is manditory gambiling workign for the house seems to be depresion proof (thats where I'm hideign )..
hell see if you can get your crap published on soem dead trees, if i can write a book any one can
I'm sure most of us that have been following your writing feel the same as I do. We'll do whatever we can to help out Castle Driftglass....all you have to do is ask (that is as long as we still have jobs too, an 'iffy' statement considering how bad Conservatives have fucked up the economy).
Well, this is an interesting development.....
DO.NOT.LEAVE.THE.INTERGOOGLES
with any luck, we'll have a war crimes tribunal, and you'll be needed to sort things out
I like the new look.
Deep condolences on the job situation. A person of your skills shouldn't sit idle too long, ceteris paribus (alas, the great lie of science: that all things else CAN be 'equal').
Love the new look.
Hate the news about you losing yo9ur job. I'm really sorry to hear that. Hope you find something decent real, real soon.
Great post Drifty. And great comments.
Format's lookin good to these eyes.
On the job thangie, I've been up and down in your sitch for 5 years now. I'm WAY ahead of your curve. LOL
I find a gig, it goes belly up. Takes forever to find another one. So, best of luck on THAT front.
As said, you keep writing. I can't help with a tip jar, but if you need any info on CA job scenes, email me what you want and I'll research cities and opportunities for ya . . .
Just keep on keeping on, hoss.
Yer one of the rocks in our daze I suspect many of us depend on for spirit . . *G* Thanks for being there.
Sorry about the economy. I did what I could.
New layout looks great, but let me tell you, you are heading down a slippery slope. On my old blog, it was like 'Oh it's the first of the month, guess I need a new masthead'.
Damn, Obama's the prez so I should be still ecstatic; but you're in a tough spot, and A. Greeley's still in ICU, so I'm diminished, man!
Don't feel alone, Drifty. The econo-crap has and continues to affect us all in myriad ways. Keep affecting those things you can, and keep your head up looking for what is out there. The talents you've shared with us in this li'l corner of one of Ted Stevens' tubes are too great to be ignored by anyone in need of these strengths and talents. Press on, man.
I'm sad now. Sorry you're dealing w/ the economic woes, but when I read knock-out type on my screen, I tend to see ghost images when I go back to the usual white background. And then the headache starts. I had to stop reading Fafblog for the same reason (though they smartly changed to white background later on).
Please (please) for my eyes: Revert to white.
Good luck with all job issues.
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