Thirteen Goodbyes

by Steve, February 21st, 2007

After 81 weeks, Thursday Thirteen founder Leanne is pulling the plug. The whole shebang has gotten really big, really fast, and I suspect that may have something to do with her decision.

I’ve never felt like I fit in especially well with the TT crowd, even though my first TT got me listed as a featured blog.

This despite my anti-war, anti-Libertarian, anti-religion, pro-feminist TT. Four weeks later, Leanne posted on my blog arguing against my slam of Mel Gibson after his anti-Jewish tirade. I guess I struck a nerve.

But I didn’t let this dissuade me. I continued to post TTs about war, politics and religion, probably pissing off most of the TT regulars, but that wasn’t enough. I had to go one farther by posting Thirteen Things I Will Never Blog About (and if I do, Somebody Please Shoot Me). This one even pissed of my wife, who generally understands my sarcasm. It also drew a gentle rebuke from Leanne.

Now, I’m not out to piss people off. I’m just what one friend calls a “sarcastard”. Not wanting to leave any raw nerves, I followed up with an entry about those exact 13 things I vowed never to blog about, which may or may not have put me back in the good graces of the founder.

Anyway, I’ve managed to find the three or four TT regulars who share my lefty politics, and I figure I’ve pretty well alienated the other 250 or so. Sorry about that. For all of you, here are my Thirteen Goodbyes.

  1. To all the dog lovers, so long.
  2. To the cat lovers, meow.
  3. To all the devout Christians, good bye and Godess bless.
  4. To all the posters of cute baby pictures, I hope your children grow up strong and don’t resent you for publishing their pictures on the World Wide Web before they were old enough to give you their informed consent. And I hope their friends don’t look them up when they are in middle school and tease them about pooping in the pool. And I bid you adieu.
  5. To the wives and families of soldiers fighting in foreign lands, I sincerely hope your loved ones return home safe and sound. I cannot imagine the gut-wrenching anxiety you must be going through. May we someday live to see the global outbreak of insurmountable peace, when all of humankind recognizes warfare as obsolete and shuns leaders who would wage it. Goodbye and Godspeed to you and yours.
  6. To the bloggers of ailments and injuries, may you have a speedy recovery. I’m sorry about your colons, knees, kidneys and gall stones. Adios.
  7. To the suburban dwellers, may your lawns always be green, your SUV fueled, and your children better dressed than the neighbors’. Take care.
  8. To the Libertarians, I hope someday you get a chance to live in a truly libertarian society. Like Somalia, for example. No government intrusion when there is no government! Good bye, have fun, and good luck!
  9. To the Republicans, it’s been a rough year, eh? Don’t worry, my friends, the Democrats will most likely fuck up the ’08 elections and hand it to Rudy or McCain. Farewell.
  10. To the Democrats, quit gloating. You didn’t win the ’06 elections, the Republicans imploded. Lot’s of luck in ’08, you’ll need it. See you in the funny pages.
  11. To the fellow travelers, hang in there. I really believe someday everything will be very different. See you on the other side.
  12. To all who have taken the time to read my posts and comment, thank you, and sorry I’ve been lame about reciprocating. I’m a bad blogger. Bad, I tell you! I love you. Stop by and see me sometime.
  13. Finally, to Leanne, thanks for hosting the hub. It’s been real, and some weeks my TT has been my only post. Sorry if I in any way contributed to the demise of Thursday Thirteen.

16 Responses to “Thirteen Goodbyes”

  1. Comment from Wacky Mommy:

    I hope it wasn’t something we said!

  2. Comment from Tink:

    Pity I found your blog just when TT stops! Great list!
    My last :-( TT shows 13 pics of me.

  3. Comment from Raggedy:

    Thursday Thirteen has come to an end.
    I have enjoyed my visits here and consider us friends.
    Thank you for sharing your thirteens with me.
    The comments you left me filled me with glee.
    It is hard to believe it is really true.
    I am trying very hard to not be blue.
    Happy TT’ing!
    *^_^
    (=’:’=)
    (“)_ (“)Š
    Raggedy

  4. Comment from Leanne:

    The only reason I commented the way I did was because I knew you were big enough to respect my opinion, even if it did differ from yours. I’ve always respected your positions, as well.

    Cheers and best wishes!

  5. Comment from Gabrielle:

    What a sad TT :'(

  6. Trackback from -- a metamorphoself of gabrielle:

    Thursday Thirteen: It’s Pig Year!

    TT Retirement Edition

    “The difference between ‘involvement’ and ‘commitment’ is like an eggs-and-ham breakfast: the chicken was ‘involved’ – the pig was ‘committed’.”
    “Always remember, a cat l…

  7. Comment from Mama Duck:

    Awwww, you can still come visit ;). Happy last TT!

  8. Comment from The Shrone:

    What nice farewell list! Thank you for being yourself with your TT lists. I’ve appreciated your different view and have gained a lot from reading your lists.

  9. Comment from Ms. George:

    It’s so not fair that I find your blog now. A) I love hockey
    B) There are a few other things I’m noticing we have in common. Good thing for bookmarks since I’m going to need a shirt.
    Great list for the final TT. Mine was one of the first up today when I was feeling all proud of myself for having finished a day early.

  10. Comment from Susan Helene Gottfried:

    Umm… meow?

    Seriously, I didn’t see you posted at the hub each week or I’d have stopped by more. Hockey was a passion, back before my body broke and I had to stop playing.

    Come visit West of Mars. I bet your perspective on my fictional world will make it a lot better.

  11. Comment from Jess:

    Great list! First time i have visited your blog and now the whole TT is ending.

    What is life without a little controversy????????

  12. Comment from Rose:

    Aww what a sweet TT. lol

  13. Comment from Christine:

    This is a great posting. I’m new to the now defunct TT meme. This week is number three for me. I joined the meme because of people like you – it’s refreshing to see people just blogging it like it is . . . I’m all about books that inspired me as a writer. Have a happy (albeit final) TT.

  14. Comment from Jen:

    The real world needs more of you and dang, I just found your blog. I think you would hate living in NH right now where we the candidate of the moment. Hate to admit it, but think that your right on about rudy or mccain.

    Hopefully there will be another 13 and you will continue to write your 13.

  15. Comment from bernie:

    I read you once in a while not because I agree with you, but the opposite.

    I linked to you from 13 things 23

  16. Comment from Robin:

    I’m fairly new to TT (or I guess I should say I “was”, since it’s now defunct), but I wish I would have found your blog earlier. I suspect I would really enjoy it, even if I do post pictures of my cute kids on occasion…

    From a hockey loving leftie who’s living thousands of miles away from the closest game, and really misses it.