When I began the Not A Blog™ back in August of 2006, I knew I would eventually be writing this post. I’ve mentioned this before in passing, so that I am writing this now comes as no surprise, but that doesn’t make it any easier. I was hoping to be around for a few more months, but the call came on Friday.

I’m being deployed to Iraq.

The mobilization is for one year, but the length of time I’ll be gone is closer to 15 months when you factor in the additional training I’ll need before I go. I’ll be leaving mid- to late April.

Although I discuss politics on occasion, I’ve mostly kept my personal views regarding the war off the internet. I could probably write a few thousand words on the subject, but I’ve refrained from doing so because other people have been discussing it with greater insight and erudition, and because I’m just not sure I have anything new to add.

So what’s going to happen to the Not A Blog™? I don’t know yet. I like to think I’ll be able to continue posting (albeit on a much less regular schedule) while I’m overseas, but I’m not optimistic this will be possible. In fact, I was hoping to continue posting until April at least, but I’m not going to be able to. There are enough other things I need to do that I can’t justify spending the time on the blog.

This will be my final regular post. I expect to post a few more times between now and when I leave, but I’m not sure how often or when. However, I will post a more final entry right before I walk out the door, hopefully with an estimated time of return.

It’s been a lot of fun writing for you all. Even though it’s two and a half years of concentrated labor, I’m still surprised to look back and see how far I’ve come. I’ll miss the discussion and the comments, and the excitement of hitting the publish button.

I do expect to pick up the regular pace again upon my return. It looks like it will be the summer of 2009—a date which seems impossibly far off, but then again, the Not A Blog™ has been around for longer. If all goes well, I’ll see you then.

Thanks for reading.

-Ted