Apr
15
2008
Everything Dies Baby That's A Fact
This is definitely self-referential cruft, but I figured I’d post it here rather than sullying the subject in question.
October 2005: I was walking along Sask Drive with my wife-to-be Kerry and we were yakking about writing and publishing and other areas of bullshit. I was trying to come up with an idea/project that I could sink my teeth into and really do for a period of time. I told her that I wanted to write about the city – what I saw on the streets and buses – for a year. This wouldn’t be no straight-up diary or journal. I envisioned a series of observational vignettes (i.e. non-interactive) posted a few times a week. It wouldn’t be journalism. It would be one man’s eyes. It would have comments, archives, feeds. All the stuff that blogs have.
StreetRag was born on December 5, 2005. It had a shelf-life of one year. It turned into two years and four months. Photos, audio material, and a bunch of failed experiments followed. As a body of themed work, it’s relatively even with a few blips here and there. Of the 259 posts there are around 80 or so that I’m truly happy with. Could the best 80 posts be a book? Maybe. But it’s been published.
My heart hasn’t been in it and thus I’ve been struggling with the site for the past half year. It feels like it’s done, and so it is time to let StreetRag go. I’m very proud of the thing as a completed project. I’m not 100% sure what I accomplished, but I can say that authoring the site taught me the art of discipline. Writing two or three posts per week was a good exercise that kept me “in practice”. Writing is work, man. To me there is no idealistic stance like, “I write because I can’t help it.” Fuck that shit. It’s a loving grind at best. I’m glad I did it. I’d like to say a big, huge thanks to all the readers who dug the site and got something out of it. Thanks for being a part of it.
That brings my compliment of websites – four or five at one point – down to exactly ONE. This one. I’ve also shitcanned a few other endeavors so that I can concentrate on the things that I really want to do: Spend more time with my family and be a better, in-touch friend. Take better care of my body. Write and publish poetry. Attend readings. Host the Raving Poets Experience.
I’ll post here regularly. I’ll try to be as honest as I can. Meet me tonight in Atlantic City.
Rosemary
I’ve really enjoyed Street Rag and it’s brightened my day on many occasions just because you write so beautifully and realistically. I can put myself where you are at that moment.
Street Rag (hoisting a rootbeer) you will be missed.
# Apr 15 2008 · 12:45
Adam Snider
As sad as I am to see Street Rag come to an end, I always expected that it would, much like Dirt Puppy before it (which redirects here now, I see). I always assumed that you had in your mind that it would eventually come to an end, I just didn’t know when.
I definitely understand where you’re coming from, too. It’s hard to keep going with a product like that. It was a good run, and it will be missed.
# Apr 15 2008 · 13:37
Rich
Thanks for writing it and doing it for as long as you did. It made my work days a little brighter.
# Apr 15 2008 · 13:57
Michelle
I’m upset that I only became aware of StreetRag recently. I think it’s just beautiful. I do hope that one day I can find your vignettes in a book… StreetRag really did, so perfectly, describe exactly how I love Edmonton (if not why)….
Well, thank you anyhow!
# Apr 20 2008 · 21:00