Having.. trouble....
So, I'm having a bit of trouble getting restarted here. With a few months to do some other things in life, it's given perhaps a bit too much perspective on the immense amount of time I've been putting into ED over the past 3.5 years. I had certainly hoped that the energy would have returned by now, but it hasn't. I have to say that the demolition of the Graybar building was one of the most depressing preservation failures that I've been involved with, and it's taken a toll.
In short, I'm going to take it as it comes, and publish as the mood strikes. I'd encourage you to subscribe to an RSS feed or the twitter feed if you are interested so that you receive the irregular updates without having to check back here.
thanks
GK
Posts
12 comments:
For what it's worth... I've been following your blog for over a year, and have enjoyed every post.
One of my dad's army buddies used to say, "If you're not enjoying what you're doing, stop... because if you're not having a good time, no one around you is, either."
I'm sorry to hear you're having a rough time of it. On the one hand, I selfishly want to encourage you to blog daily; on the other, I want to encourage you to take the needed hiatus, because blogging should never feel like drudgery.
Per your suggestion, and thanks to Google Reader, we'll be here, looking forward to your next post.
If it helps, you should know that your blog has added immensely to our understanding and appreciation of our new home city. It also played a role in our decision to buy a historic home in Cleveland-Holloway that had been saved from demolition, and got me interested in the cause of preservation in Durham. I consult your map frequently to find the story behind buildings I find as I explore my area, and knowing the stories helps me feel connected to history. Doing all this must be a massive amount of work, but it is certainly appreciated, so I hope your energy for it comes back over time!
Thanks for being honest. We'll be listening when you can.
Hi Gary,
Don't feel guilty about needing to recharge....I am looking forward to whatever it is you sink your teeth into next-- even if it's not a prolific stretch of daily blog posts. Of course, if it is, that'd be cool too....sorry I accidentally deleted my previous comment. It was the exact same as this one.
Victor
Maybe you should make your own secret master plan to cover the parts of Durham left that you haven't done and release your research work in short bursts over a period of years. That way you would only have to do this on the weekend a few times a year and just log in daily to upload the next post.
Save the occasional posting for buildings that are indeed endangered. However it seems they are all endangered of being forgotten even if they aren't demolished.
I always wonder if your blog will become a book some day. Lately, I've been getting my daily old building fix on Goodnight Raleigh and Abandoned Places at livejournal.com. I miss hearing about Durham though. You'll always be in my Google Reader whatever you do.
Hi, I have just recently discovered your blog and I have been glued to it for hours at a time since. You have done some incredible research. The more I read your blog the more ashamed I became that I had almost zero knowledge of my hometown. I was born and raised in Durham and a product of Durham Public Schools. Whose responsibility is it to ensure the youth of local cities and towns know their own local history?
I tell you what you have done a magnificent job here and you don't have to explain why you are not updating on a regular basis.
I have posted your blog on my facebook page and told everyone I know about it. Kudos to you brotha.
Tnanks
Gary: I've been following your blog since you started. I am amazed at the work you've put into this--you've helped preserved the history of Durham as well as anyone (Jim Wise included). Even though I've moved away from my beloved adopted home town, I frequently check back in with Endangered Durham. Thanks for all the work you've done, and all the work you may be inspired to do in the future.
Man....Sorry to hear that Gary. I have been a follower to your much needed blog. Durham needs you and so does the future of the city as you know, there is so much history needed to be re-written. You have been a resourceful need for me as well whenever I want to find out about a particular building or area...The Graybar building was indeed a depressing story and in which I actually myself inquired about after first hearing about it being condemned...I myself thought it would be the ideal location for my bike/coffee shop I have always wanted to do but after hearing you have tried all you can to save it along with the help of others, I took a step back. Good luck to you man and hope you come back in full force!
Wanted to thank you again for all you've done for the cause of preservation and the furthering of architectural history in Durham...I've only lived here since last July but your blog has been an amazing source of information on all the things I see as I travel around, and all the things that no one can see anymore that have been lost.
Hopefully your energy for the blog will come back in force, but if not, we'll be listening attentively for the occasions you do post.
Your blog has done so much to educate people about the history of Durham and preservation (or the lack thereof). My daughter goes to Duke Memorial Weekday School right by the Graybar building and I've heard a lot of questions about what they are doing since they started the demolition. Thanks to this blog I can fill people in on all the details and the response is usually "Oh that's so sad!" I've directed a number of people here as a result of those conversations.
I'm sorry you're feeling burned out but it's not surprising given how much you've devoted to this. Just know that I and many others will happily take whatever more you decide to do!
Just to add to the chorus... I would love for your posts to go on forever -- there are so many neighborhoods I'd love to learn about -- but it's more important to take care of yourself. Besides, if you never posted anything new again, what you have already done here, Gary, is amazing -- and an incredible public service. You have helped me see my city with new eyes, in at least four dimensions now. So, thanks!
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