And That's A Wrap

Well, there you have it. Stick a fork in the ol' Llamas, we're done.

It's been a hell of a ride these last seven, going on eight years. My thanks to all of you who have indulged my bloviations, put up with my rants, comforted me, corrected me when needed and given me advice and inspiration. Were I to sit down and do the math about the impact of my bloggy associations and interactions on my real life, I am sure I would be thunder-struck by the sum at which I arrived.

My thanks also to Steve-O, the fons et origo of this whole crazy thing and to the LMC who, fortunately for me, are not figments of my digital imagination but real flesh-n-blood friends. My thanks also to Gary, who I never actually met in person so might be a digital figment, but who nonetheless made a solid contribution here as well. (He's still Tolkien-geeking away, btb.)

My circumstances are a bit different from the LMC's. Not that I'm not also very busy, but I spend all day in front of a keyboard and in a weird way, being able to fire off posts about this n' that as the impulse seizes me has the effect of actually focusing my scatter-shot mind to better do the things that need to be done. But as the LMC says, quarter-assing it just won't do and my chief blogging attention is focused elsewhere. Those of you who simply can't do without a little touch of Robbo and don't know about it already are invited to come on over and enjoy a glass of port. The feel of the place is totally different from ye olde Butcher's Shop, but I think you'll like it.

So, with all that said, I leave you with a final, heart-felt YIP! YIP! YIP! YIP! YIP!

- Robbo the LB

Yip! Yip! Lamentations from Gary:
Holy Crapoli! I can't believe we've come to the end here. I have to apologize for my lack of contribution here over the last year or so. To quote the legendary Patches O'Houlihan I've felt about as useful as a poopy-flavored lollipop. Not only have I hardly ever been able to actually sit in front of a PC (my kids are at that age where the computer seat is rarely unoccupied and my anti-productivity filter at work blocks my access) but on those occasions when I have been to the site I've been shooting blanks.

In this environment of Tweeting and Facebooking it's really difficult to keep a "long form" blog going. I give Robert all the credit in the world for hitting seven/eight years. And I will always be undyingly grateful to him for asking me to come aboard in 2007 after the old Ex-Donkey Blog folded. Robbo, if you're ever in the general vicinity of Southwestern CT again please don't hesitate to email me. I'd really like the opportunity to meet face to face and prove that I'm not just part of the Matrix. ;-)

To quote my favorite wizard folks, "I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil." It's been a great experience for me. I hope it was equally great for all of you.

Peace (through strength).

- G

Your humble LMC, signing off

Faithful readers, this is where I hang up the cleats on a good, long run mooching off Steve-O's and Robbo's creation--a virtual example of a guest who got invited in and never left. Robbo's post from July 6 nailed it--I have been casual contributor for a long time. Unfortunately, family, work, and Reserve demands have made it impossible to put in the time needed to keep my contributions coming in regularly. Put another way (and to steal a line from Kathy the Cake-eater), it is time to hang it up because to linger on will be to quarter-ass it. The last seven years have been great as we have explored the sweep of our culture, often focusing on the really important subjects such as the Eighties Retro Reunions, the LMC Brunette Birthday Series, and the three signs a starlet's career is on the ropes. Thanks for the support and may God keep all of you in the palm of His hand.

Paul

Robbo Is Currently Listening To....

Not that I'm going to do a bunk while the LMC is away or anything, but I've been wondering of late whether it isn't getting on toward time to hang up the ol' Llama-skin.

The reasons are manifold: This was Steve-O's shtick originally. And when he was playing Abbott to my Costello, Norm to my Cliffy, Joey to my Chandler, it worked out pretty durn well. On the other hand, take him out of the equation and it's a completely different act, one that I don't keep up very well on my own. (No offense to Gary or the LMC, of course, but both have been more casual contributors instead of day-to-day mainstays.)

Of course, a great part of this has to do with content, too. I still have plenty of opinions about things, especially about the unusual circumstances of the Chinese curse in which our culture and polity seem to be wallowing at the moment. But tace is the Latin for a candle. Let's just say that under current circumstances, I do not find it to be prudent to air my opinions in this particular format. You might call me a coward, but I prefer to think of myself as a responsible family man and breadwinner. Perhaps this might all change in, say, about a year and a half?

And also, there is my port-swilling blogging elsewhere, which is actually quite a bit closer to the real Robbo and which is more focused on matters of particular interest to me. Needless to say, that takes up the bulk of my creative energy.

On the other hand, I know that LMC still likes to post here and, as I say, I don't want to leave him in the lurch. Plus, we must have - gosh - three, maybe even four regular readers! Where are they going to go? Ace of Freakin' Spades?

Anyhoo, I don't know what, if anything, I'm going to do, yet. But you should at least know that I'm mulling it all over.

LMC Light Blogging Alert

Even lighter than of late. The LMC entourage is setting sale on a Disney cruise to see Alaska's Inside Passage on Monday, back eight days later, and then a three-day Army Reserve weekend.

Some of life's mysteries will cross my brain while in the loving care of Der Mouse, such as:

1. When will Steve-O finally produce the Definitive Post on All Things Helen Hunt?
2. Has Kathy the Cake-eater gone native with the hippies in Austin Texas?
3. What happened to Gary the Ex-Donk, Chai-Rista, and the rest of the LLama groupies who have keys to the place?
4. Why is it that some of the most conservative gals I knew in high school and college are now committed Lefties?

LMC Fourth of July Selection

First, a little Aaron Copland:

Now the William Tell Overture:

and something to round out the selection:

Fly Old Glory at the top of the mast on this Fourth of July and thank God for the many blessings He has showered on this country. Remember in your prayers the fallen and ask God to ease the grief of their families, bring relief to the wounded, and speed the return of the missing.