Surprise Announcement

Several years ago, I read a book--was it Chris Kyle's "American Sniper"?--and in a chapter about Navy SEAL training was this observation:  you could drop out if you wanted to, but if you decided it was a rash decision, they'd let you change your mind and stay in.  No one who changed their mind ever finished SEAL training; once that thought of quitting entered into your consciousness, it was impossible to shake.

I'm less than 20 blog posts short of 14,000, and I've been posting on this blog continuously since January 23, 2005.  This blog is 18 years and 7 months old today.  

On that first day I had no idea what this blog would turn into, and I never dreamed I'd keep at it as long as I have.  It has been a labor of love; it would be impossible to keep posting so long, averaging over 2 posts a day for over 18 years, if I didn't love doing it.  This blog had reached the age of majority; it can't drink, but it can sign contracts and join the Army!

This blog has been a priority for me, and with only a few exceptions I've tried to post every day.  I respect my readers enough to give them something new to read each day they come here.  And as I said, I've enjoyed doing it.

Over the years I've met several of my readers.  Some have made it a point to meet up with me when their travels brought them to the Sacramento area, and one has even opened her house to me, and taken me out to dinner with her family, when I passed through her area.  I have made friends among the readers of this blog.  Even some I've never met in person, I consider friends and would like to meet in person should the opportunity present itself.

Last week, though, the thought of quitting entered into my consciousness.  I thought no, I'll keep posting, but as in SEAL training, the thought is impossible to shake.

I've started some new activities, I need the time, and after almost 14,000 posts I'm ready to leave this blog in the ether and turn my time to these other pursuits.  I'm sure that, once in awhile, I might be moved to post something, but I probably shouldn't--I should let it go, ending on my own terms, on what I consider a high note.  I have some unfinished draft posts on some rather controversial topics that I'll leave unfinished.

I'm going to try new things.  When people leave they sometimes say "it's been a privilege" or "it's been an honor", and they don't mean it with any depth.  I've initiated a community here, and the regular readers and commenters have formed that community.  It has been a privilege, a great one, to be a part of that, and for that privilege I am truly thankful.

So to my readers--the lurkers, the newbies, and the long-timers--I give you an honest and hearty thank you for giving me the impetus to keep up this work for so long.  As Captain Kirk said just before he died in Star Trek: Generations, "It was fun."

Blogging Hiatus

I'm going to take a little break from blogging, will be back in less than 2 weeks.

Here's a riddle as to why:  immediately prior to Lent, a wheelchair-bound person could again walk.

Happy Blogiversary To Me

Right On The Left Coast is an adult now.

The first post is here.

Storms

Part of my back fence is down, the storm drain in front of my house seems clogged--and I haven't had home internet service since 2 am.  I had already scheduled the Art post, and I'm using my phone as a hotspot to post this and the previous post.  Don't want to use too much data on the hotspot, though, so now you know why if you don't see anything else here today.

Camping

Been camping this weekend, with blog posts scheduled.  Don't know what kind of internet connection I'll have so I don't know if I'll even be able to post comments this weekend--but I'll be home soon and everything will return to normal.

Blog Appearance

It had been a couple years since I changed the look of the blog, so I tinkered with colors.

OK, the lime green background didn't go over very well.

So I tried switching it back to its usual gray.  No can do--I click on gray and I get blood red!  I don't know what the problem is, but the colors buttons don't seem to be working correctly, and I can't get gray out of any of them.

Since contrast seemed to be part of the issue, I've made the background blue until I can figure out how to get back to gray.

Blogging Will Be Light To Non-existent For the Next Few Weeks

Yesterday's post was written in advance and scheduled, as is this one.  Several more are scheduled for upcoming days.

Yesterday I hitched up the trailer and started driving south.  If all goes to plan, I should be staying near the US-Mexico border at Tecate tonight and will cross it tomorrow morning.  The intention is to take the next several days to drive down Baja all the way to Cabo San Lucas, and then to take several days to drive back.  This trip may not match the 30 days of last year's trip but it will be somewhat close.

I not taking the laptop.  If you'd like you can follow me on my trip via my Instagram page mrmillermathteacher, and I'll see you back here in earnest in about a month.

Adios!

What Has Happened to Joanne Jacobs' Blog?

Joanne's site has been inaccessible for a few days, so I emailed her to ask what's up.  Her reply:

I haven't been able to reach my blog since early Saturday. Someone hacked the site, created a fake blog (with some of my 2017 posts) and locked me out. It took me a while to notice because I've been at my niece's wedding in Boston. My brother, who is my tech guy, was also here with two children to supervise. At least he's back home now. I'm still in Boston, but returning tomorrow. The hosting service is working on the problem, but no progress yet.

It is very, very frustrating. 

If you wouldn't mind, would you post something explaining why joannejacobs.com has vanished? 

What a horrible thing to have to go through.

It's My Blogiversary

On January 23, 2005, this blog went live.  17 years and over 13,000 posts later, here we are.

My, how things have changed!

Blog Break

It's spring break, so in addition to taking a break from school I'm going to take a break from blogging.  We'll see if I can last--see you at the end of the week!

My 16th Blogiversary

On this date in 2005 I published my very first blog post.  Here I am, 16 years later, and I'm still at it.

I haven't written a blogiversary post every year, but I have for most, and here they are.  Several link to my very first blog post, and a few reference what I still consider to be the best one of my well-over-12,000 blog posts so far.

And I have no plans to stop, not yet.

Blogging Break

Been staring at computer screens too much lately, going to take a blogging break for a couple days.  Nothing bad happening, just "resting my eyes"!

Blogging Will Be Light

The house is cared for, the trailer is connected and loaded, and tonight's planned stopover is here.

Topics

At the left you can see the labels I use to categorize topics on this blog.  If I can't pidgeonhole a post into a specific topic I'll assign it to "miscellaneous".  And of course, posts may have more than one label assigned.

As of the time I write this I have 12,510 published posts dating back to January 2005.  Here are the top 10 categories of blog posts and how many posts I currently have in those categories:

K-12 issues, 2762

Higher education, 1862

liberals/lefties, 1818

Trivia, 934

Discrimination/race, 885

Math/science, 833

Teachers, 824

Economy/economics/budget, 785

Teachers unions, 706

Miscellaneous, 711

Not bad for a blog devoted to "education, politics, and anything else that catches my attention."

Blogging Break!

I'm taking off--Pismo Beach is calling my name!  I should be back to blogging this weekend.

15th Blogiversary

It was 15 years ago today that I started Right On The Left Coast with this post, and here we are over 12,000 posts later.  Wow!

I still consider this post my best one yet.

Just A Reminder

I've been guest blogging over at Joanne's place while she's been zipping around Munich. Go take a look there if you'd like to read education-specific posts!

Temporary New Digs

While Joanne is vacationing and visiting family in Europe, I'll be housesitting over at her blog.  (And even when I'm not, she should be on your "daily read" list anyway!)

Hiatus

Family issues. *sigh*

I'm going to take a few days off blogging. Please check back this upcoming weekend.

I Apologize, But...

There has been *so* much spam lately (which I have to delete individually) and since I don't want to spend so much time moderating comments on this blog, I have at least temporarily turned on the "I am not a robot" word verification.  Hopefully that will keep the problem manageable.  I apologize for any inconvenience.