"We all agree then...colour does have a 'u'."

Toni has taken her leave from my humble abode. It was a really great time, really, when I wasn't up to my ears in homework. We spent some time just hanging around, went to the movies (Knocked Up was really funny) and met up with friends and family. It was just really great, and I was not happy to have her go. We'll be getting together again soon, though, and I'm sure she'll be posting a journal about her time here.

I really haven't spent enough time here, and I apologize.

On that note

Life has been really complicated for me as of late. I've been tied to school, which is one thing, but a lot of people are. It's my senior year, and I've got a lot of people depending on me (group projects) to finish my work to specific deadlines. Less tests than I've had in a long time, I literally have no tests or quizzes besides my midterms and finals, but I have never worked on so many projects in my entire post-secondary career. I am a bit ahead, but I need to stay that way or I'll basically spend all my time just doing work up to the end of August. Then the next semester starts.

Why does this matter to you? Well, because I'm a GD. Obviously, there are responsibilities that I have, things I'm supposed to do, things I should definitely be doing that I'm not. It's not helping anyone that I'm tied up with work, and basically am too exhausted by the time I get free time to work on dA.

This is pretty much the main motivation for me to step down from my position.

There are obviously other things that are causing me a bit of grief that I'm not really able to control, but this combination is just proving to me that it's not fair that I'm here, taking up a position that would happily and successfully be filled by a hundred others.

Now the obligatory thanks and praise:

Obligatory thanks and praise...

I'm not going to walk out with my head hanging down to the floor. I really enjoyed being a GD. It was a lot of fun helping people out, running contests, doing the news, and just working with a lot of the AR and CD staff with little projects that would be a big benefit for literature. I really want to see literature do well, and I know there are a lot of passionate and talented people that can really step up (and will) to make that happen.

`imperfect (Toni) asked me in late '06 if I would take up the position. We hadn't known each other long, we worked on the Halloween competition together, so it was something I took into consideration for a while, and finally decided to take it for December. $Moonbeam13 (Danie) instated me, and informed me later that I would've been a good addition to any part of the team. She's been nothing but a great support the entire time, and you're all lucky to have her running things! That's just an fyi.

It was great working with Toni, and `MinorKey (Paul), and `adrift (Stef), and ^PoeticWar (James). They're all great people and were a big support. Always had a good rapport with everyone, and worked well with them.

Obviously, Toni and I had the most time to work together, and she really had the biggest impact with my time as a GD. She made sure that I did my work (a.k.a. nagged) and really led the team to get things done. And as much as she came off a little strong in that regard, she always was concerned about how everyone felt in their role and wanted to ensure there wasn't any lack of communication, even for the bad thing. It's the same way she treated talking on dA. I got to watch her do a lot for the site, but I think I've said that about a hundred times before.

Of course, the most fun I had on dA was talking with YOU. All of you. Honestly, it is! It's what kept me here for so long. I could go on with names and such, but I imagine there will be four groups of people that read this.

1. People who read it and are like "I CAN'T BELIEVE IT"
2. People who read it and are like "FINALLY"
3. People who read it and are like "Meh."
4. People who read it and are like "GOOD RIDDANCE"

Believe it or not, if you fall into any of those groups, you're ok by my books. I'm not really concerned whether or not people were anxious for me leaving, or hoping, or really hoping I wouldn't. The point is that you are keeping an eye on what's happening in lit, being conscious of what changes are being made, and thinking about what you believe is best for it, or possibly me. That's pretty cool, don't you think?

[Side note: Some people might be wondering where I'm getting time to write this whole thing. I'm in class with the wireless broken, so I have a bit of time before it comes back and I can start a CORBA tutorial.]

There are a lot of people who have been community members that have made a big impact on my time here, good and bad. `triptychr has been all like "You're doing a good job!" and I appreciate that. So have a lot of my confidants on site, and everyone in dAlit and such.

Most of you know who you are anyway. You've probably been in my journal many once or twices.

I also want to thank the staff on dA. You're all great. Really. My interaction with people has been positive, pretty much, in private, so it's been great having chats and such with everyone. There's a lot of people who have been a big help to lit. $chris, `robert, $lolly, $spyed, $chix0r, *spot, :dev... lots of people!

I've also met a lot of people who've been great to just shoot the proverbial shit with. Mer, Todd, Jon, Thomas, Chris, JB, etc, etc. I'm writing in a rush so don't be all moody if I didn't write your name! I don't know a lot of people by their first name, anyway! I just pretend to.

Everyone's been great. I'm sorry if I drove anyone crazy or made anyone mad, it was not my intention!

[EDIT]: I forgot to give some very big congratulations to those within the literature community that have received seniorship. `GunShyMartyr, `pickledeer, `GeneratingHype, `Jon-Law AND `SparrowSong. I've had the pleasure of working with almost all of these guys, and it's really great to see a little bit of a stamp for them that shows what they've done for the site and the lit community. Mad props, yo.

Okay, nice, but what does this mean for me?

I'll be stepping down from the position within a week or so. Going to finish off a few things that I want to do before I step down, and help kick start the new folks moving in. I'm very excited to see some new blood 'round here.

You'll get some more active support on site. New people with new ideas and you'll probably have a better connection with some of them. It's all good stuff.

Where will you go?

No where. You can still drop me notes (I'll start forwarding DD request to the necessary person), I'll still be posting, I'll use some free time to maybe, I don't know, WRITE. I'll also still be sponsoring contests if you bug me enough. I get too many notes that I often lose ones about contests after reading and moving all the DD ones. I'll still be hanging out, but I just won't be with hat.

However, make a note that I will have less of an entourage. There's no real reason to try and be my friend anymore, unless you get along with me. That is not as easy as you think!

Okay, so, tell me...what's the real reason you're leaving?

I'll tell you as long as you don't tell a soul.

Okay?

Good.

...

I can't live in a world that doesn't have !vivus.

I will insight some laughs with that one.