I've lost my passion for My Town Mondays.
Used to be, I made time to do research, take pictures and create posts that I at least hoped had an appeal or entertainment factor beyond those you call Amarillo or the Texas Panhandle fun. I started My Town Monday's in February of 2008 and have done a total of 65 MTM posts in the 16 months since. This will be my last for at least a while. Sadly it's not even a good one. I am taking the lazy way out and posting a video clip that someone else created. I'm also posting a humorous song by Billy Joe Shaver called Leavin' Amarillo. No I'm not actually leaving town, but I thought it appropriate for the occasion. (to hear the whole song you have to actually click over to another site, but a 30 second sample will play without leaving my blog)
I will gather links this week and post them, but then I am done. I gladly hand over the reins to any and all who want to continue the ritual. I will let my readers, and those who contribute regularly, know where to go for the links to other My Town Mondayers. I may even contribute a piece or two down the road as there are still plenty of tales about Amarillo and the Texas Panhandle, but for now I plan to double up my efforts to efforts to see one of my books published. I will still be blogging on a regular basis, but at this time I simply do not want any weekly obligations to anyone other than myself. Hope everyone understands.
A hearty thanks to all of you who have joined in and made MTM a success. I truly do appreciate y'all believing in my vision. And please let me know if you are interested in taking over the weekly hosting. Hope all of you have enjoyed learning about towns all over the globe as much as I have.
Travis
Leavin Amarillo - Shaver
Links to other My Town Mondayers
Debra -- Village of Peninsula, Ohio
Barbara Martin -- Toronto, Canada
Patti Abbott -- Detroit, Michigan
Laurie Powers -- San Pedro, California
Kathleen Ryan -- Las Vegas, Nevada
Lauren -- Chicago, Illinois
Barrie Summy -- Santa Barbara, California
Junosmom -- Kentucky
Clair Dickson -- Brighton, Michigan
36 comments:
You have created a special thing here and it will not be forgotten. I'm sure what you've started will continue on.
Travis,
Thanks so much for starting the MTM tradition. I have "been to" so many wonderful places, made all the more fascinating by the fact that we are all so connected here on the internet.
I applaud you for makng the decision to put your writing first at this time.
I hope that some one picks up the MTM reins but if not--please know that you have given us all a lot of enjoyment.
Terrie
Sorry to hear that you're dropping a small, but good item from your blog.
I can understand completely the rationale for doing so. Good luck with the book and we'll be rooting for ya'.
Good for you, Travis, and I hope the writing - and beyond - goes well.
I echo Terrie's sentiments, Travis. It's a lot of work to write posts weekly, let alone link to other's. Speaking of which---my post is up.
I have a couple of suggestions, Travis.
1) I could do it - but not weekly.
2) You could change it to only the first Monday of the month
3) You/we could take a hiatus until September. See how you feel then.
It is fun having a community like this and it would be a shame to lose it. Some of the other memes are so huge that I feel lost!
That said, I have learned lots about your part of the world, as well as others.
Thanks so much, Travis, for the 16 months of armchair traveling you've helped me to enjoy. Good luck finishing up your book.
Thanks, Travis, for all of your work on MTM's. WIshing you the best as you pursue your writing even further.
I have a post prepared for tomorrow, it's about my visit to Las Vegas for the Public Safety Writers Conference recently.
Best,
Kathy Ryan
www.womenofmystery.net
I will miss you MTM posts. They were always so educational. I do understand your efforts in concentrating on your book.. for that is of utmost importance to you. I think we all understand.
I was happy to have learned what I did about parts of Texas.. stuff I never would have learned without you.
I don't blame you at all for your decision. I look forward to reading your novel when it's published, Travis, and I hope you will keep us posted on its progress.
I was going to write my first MTM tonight by coincidence, and will send the link when it's done.
The MTM posts have been a lot of fun, Travis; and I understand the need to get the manuscript published. I'm in the same boat, and will be posting less in the next couple of months to get my manuscript out. Blogging takes up an enormous amount of time that could be spent working on the real reason we write.
My MTM post is up, a continuation of the Sam Steele history saga; which I will continue on Mondays to complete it.
I empathize completely, being in a bit of the same situation. It is very hard to do something like this every week. I may post them now and then but mostly then. Thanks for having such a great idea and keeping at it for so long.
Good for you putting the WIP first, at least for now. Write on.
Hi Travis - thanks again for all of your efforts for MTM. This is my first time posting - I hope it won't be the last. Here's my post:
http://lauriepowerswildwest.blogspot.com/2009/06/my-town-monday-san-pedro.html
It's hard to keep something like that up for a really long time. I know I couldn't do it.
I have mine up.
Cool...Travis has to follow the dreams of Travis in the way of Travis.
I am sorry to hear this, but I understand how it can happen.
I do hope your other MTM peeps keep it up though. I always thought that the posts were pretty cool.
I know that after awhile, things like this can get to be a chore. And when that happens, and the joy from doing them has gone, it's time to move on.
It's alright, you are clever, you'll probably find something else to write about on Mondays.
Awww, we enjoyed it! I always meant to contribute, I really did. Incidentally, if no one picks it up, I meant be up for it in September. We'll be doing a lot of traveling and picture-taking then. :-) We might even be passing through Amarillo in Octoberish!
One question: Is it pronounced Amarillooooh, or Amariller, like in the song?
Oh Travis. You have done a wonderful job and I learned more about Texas than I ever imagined I could, and that's just from you and your town (and surrounding area). I can understand how you don't have the time anymore. You ARE writing books, right?
Loved it while it lasted!
Thanks for starting the MTM. Sometimes it can be hard to focus on what needs to be done, but I applaud you for doing just that and taking your attention to your writing!
I've enjoyed learning about your town.
Randomly, I had jumped back on to the MTM bandwagon today and it can be found at http://bookintheoven.blogspot.com/2009/06/my-town-monday-navy-pier.html It is about Chicago's Navy Pier.
Maybe if no one else wants to do the conglomerate I can set up a website to do it for us.
Spy -- The most common pronunciation is Amarill-oh, but some people say Amarill-uh. No one really says Amarill-er.
Amarillo is actually Spanish for yellow and that pronunciation is more like Ah-muh-rio.
Travis, Thank you for doing MTM, but I agree with you when it becomes a chore the concept has run its course.
I want to say thank you for the chance to meet so many new people including yourself, I have enjoyed myself. I wish you luck with your writing and I will still bug your blog!!!!
Your My Town Mondays have been great!!! Looking forward to other, new stuff from you!
I am feeling quite sad about this in retrospect. I can feel you drifting away as I type.
Wow. I haven't been coming here long, and I was just gearing up to do an MTM from Fort Worth, but the photos came out dark.
You did a good thing, have done well at it. I learned from another blogger that she has come here for inspiration and she got it. That's something to be proud of.
Now, kick that novel's ass and make it holler calfrope!
Travis... well looks like no one else is game. I'll do it.
That's right, I'll be the new My Town Monday Wrangler. I don't have any cowboy boots or hat. But I'm pretty quick with an URL.
Hi Travis - I have one up on my blog. I understand the feeling, sometimes it is hard for me to write a MTM, but then I'm in a very small town. Perhaps I'll have to branch out to MSM: My State Monday. Nah, no ring to it. Anyway, I see you have a "taker" so we'll see how that goes. You know I'd always be willing to step in and help.
Man, that Dust Bowl photo is a scary sight isn't it? I know how you feel about committing to meme's. I haven't done a Thursday Thirteen in quite some time. I can't imagine actually hosting one. The great thing is, you can always bring it back when the time is right. Have a great week.
I've loved My Town Mondays!! I've gotten to know so much about other people and their areas. Thank you, Travis! Oh yeah, And my post is up.
Travis, I know I haven't been posting them the last few weeks, but I loved to read about all of the different places. I am very glad that you started the MTM and I understand about taking time for yourself.
Clair thank you for offering to take over, I am sure you will do Travis proud.
Travis, you have enough going on -- it's understandable to want to stop when the fire is gone. :)
I'm a little sad to see it go, since so many of the posts were so interesting! But, I stopped participating a long time ago. A combination lack of interest in research, and the fact that I loathe living in this state... It makes it really hard to point out cool things about something you don't actually like very much! Eep.
I'd be glad to join again if I ever move to Scotland or near Walt Disney World, though! :-D
You're allowed, Travis, and Clair will do a wonderful job.
The reason I still like it is that I get to spread it around with the other gals at WoM, plus our definition of "my town" is about as loose as they come. Sometimes, it's just a state of mind. You invented the Model T, you don't have to invent the Prius, too.
When the My Town Mondays of the future come with smell-o-vision and virtual spaceship tours from personal hovercraft, you can say you knew it when.
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