hey, i’m sorry to hear it matt, although i also understand why this may be necessary. take as much time as you need. i look forward to your return, whenever you are ready to resume guilt-free blogging.

will you still be dropping by DL? hope to see you tonight…

Thanks, Noz. I will definitely continue to attend Drinking Liberally — I’ve made too many friends there, including you, to stop.

I wish that I were able to compartmentalize my life in a way that would allow me to write the dissertation and keep up the blog. Unfortunately, I’m an all-or-nothing type of person — and for the last year, I’ve woken up every day thinking about the blog first, and the dissertation fourth.

Even through I had an idea this was coming, I’m still a little surprised. I guess I was just holding out hope that you would change your mind. Anyway, take care of the things you need to take care of and come back as soon as you are able. I will be holding my breath, so don’t take too long I look funny when I’m purple.

Thanks, Chris — your support of this blog over the past year has meant so much to me. It’s friendships like ours, which have come about because of blogging, that I’ve treasured most over the past year.

No one needs me to tell them that this blog is only one drop of water in a vast sea. There are so many amazing blogs listed in the sidebar on the right, and more are started every day. I will miss being part of the waves they create, but I hope that the absence will be temporary.

Good luck with your dissertation, Matt.

Take care –

Thanks, Kate. Keep in touch.

I’m sure there will be plenty of things to write about here when you return, and plenty of readers who will be waiting.

But until then, work hard on your dissertation, put all your good energy into it. Best of luck to you.

Sorry to hear the news, but I wish you the best in finishing your offline endeavors. Take care!

Take care of yourself, Matt.

My pointless, sarcastic & off-topic comments will return when you do.

We’ll be here.

i was checking here for a post all weekend, and was glad to see one up again today (till i read it). i will certainly miss your unique perspective, matt, but i do understand why you need to take a break. and i hope it is indeed just a break. in the meantime i will just count myself as fortunate to be able to talk to you in person!

This is a true dissappointment. But, all you can do is do what you must.

Best of luck with everything, Matt.

Matt,

I completely understand your decision. I’ve enjoyed reading your blog and getting to know you over the year. Good luck with your dissertation and enjoy your freedom! Drop me an email sometime…

Agi

Priorities change, which at least leads to hope that they can change back. Best of focus on the dissertation.

This is sad for us, but good for you. PLEASE get the darn dissertation finished, so you can come back to your true calling!

Whoa…blindsided me. We’ll miss the posts, but wish you all the best for the dissertation!

I thought it would come to this sooner or later, I was hoping, selfishly, later, but this isn’t about me, it’s about you. I’m glad you’ll still be heading to DL, I’ll certainly miss stopping by the ‘coat all day though. Maybe I will just for old time’s sake. That Rovian Sit n Spin is still being nominated for a Koufax though, gotta find the right category when they come around.

Well, that’s too bad, although you’re definitely doing the right thing. It’s time to get that dissertation behind you.

I guess I’ll just have to teach myself to fish from now on, and not rely on the fishy handouts that I’ve been getting from the TC all this time. It’s a good thing. I need to be more self-reliant.

Say it ain’t so Matt!

Good luck with the dissertation. I for one will keep checking hoping for perhaps a late night grain of blogging inspiration.

Any thoughts on licensing Caption This Photo or Parse This? :)

yo man,
no worries.
i gave up daily blogging a long time ago. After awhile it got to be little more than Go Read What Atrios said, or Boy, Gilliard nails it today, with no real writing on my part.

Giving up daily blogging really freed me up to write longer pieces, more esoteric stuff, and things that have nothing to do with politics, which makes up the brunt of my blog now. (even though I do the politics from time to time).

I won’t presume to speak for you, but for me, blogging gives me the audience I need as a writer but without the stress of deadlines. I hope you keep writing, and use the time off constructively to try different approaches to writing.
Good luck and see you tonight!

Hi Matt, just to say this publicly - you have my deepest respect and admiration.

Now kick that paper’s ass.

See you tonight (and the rest of you good folks!) (probably - I still don’t know if I can make it), or soon in any case.

I can wholeheartedly second Karl’s sentiments.

Matt, you can always take the blog up again, even if it takes awhile to get the traffic and rhythm going.

As the daughter of someone who went ABD much to his future professional detriment, I’m glad you’re getting your priorities realistic and right.

No fair…I only just started coming here!

On the other hand, I understand very well how time-consuming these goddamn things are.

I hope you’ll come back to it, when you feel up to it. I’ve enjoyed your posts!

Best of luck with your dissertation, and do drop a line when/if you’re up and running again. Or if you feel like saying hello.

I’ll miss reading your posts every morning; but I’m hoping your return once the dissertation is done. Lots of good luck!!

We will all miss one of the most important blogs out there in the political spectrum. But it never goes away…and you will come back to it. Best of luck witha swift dissertation and defense. Cheers on that, my friend.

Hi Everyone,

I was offline yesterday from noon on (what a strange experience that was), and just came back to find all of these amazing comments. Thanks so much to all of you who have written here, or contacted me offline — your support means the world to me.

best,

Matt

I can totally understand your decision. Blogging takes lots of time out of life. My blogging has dimished considerably since I started my new job.

I have really, really enjoyed your writing and I hope you can come back to it someday. Enjoy your time off and write a kick-ass dissertation! :)

Matt, it was good talking with you last night, and I know I’m going to miss your thoughts. I do hope that when something particularly moving strikes your fancy, you’ll consider firing up the computer and writing about it. You found your voice, and I know you’ll continue using it in a variety of ways, even if not on the blog.

Take care, my friend. And don’t stop dropping by D/L!!!!

also a very recent reader here, but just wanted to say good luck!

Glad to see that this is only a temporary break–albeit possibly a long one. Best of luck, and we’ll be watching for your return.

Matt

Tattered Matt Signs Off…

Matt from The Tattered Coat is (temporarily) hanging up his blogger’s badge while he works on what I can only imagine is a very time consuming dissertation. If you’ve read even a little of his site, you know it will be amazingly well written.

Matt…

I’m bummed. This site has been elegant and elegiac in harsh times. Please keep writing stuff in our comments sections. Dan

Will miss your posts considerably. In your absence, I will branch off to more of those listed at right. You’ve already turned me on to Drinking Liberally. I am attending my first Tallahassee one tomorrow night.

Like the rest, I will continue to check in so when you do finally pick it back up (you will pick it back up, won’t you?), I won’t miss too much. Thanks for all of the insight and eloquence. And the silly pictures of Rove, Bush, et al.

Good luck on your dissertation.

Good luck with the dissertation; I will miss your site. Thanks for turning me on to so many other Philly bloggers.

I know how it goes — there are times when bloging threatens my ability to sustain a regular job, let alone an undertaking that consumes lots of motivated mental hours. Good luck getting out the other end of the tunnel — I hope it’s a happy bouncing thesis!

[…] at Tattered Coat is taking a break from his blog. He’ll be missed. Permalink| […]

You know, sometimes you’re going to find that you accidentally write something not related to your dissertation, and you’ll think, hell, I might as well stick it somewhere…

Hanging up the Tattered Coat

Matt from Tattered Coat is ceasing to blog to focus on his dissertation. I am sure this was a tough call for him since his blog has really exploded over the last year or so that I have been reading

Matt, it pained me to read your post, but I completely respect your choice. I will miss not reading what you have to say. Be well always and good luck with your dissertation.

Wait … what?? And have I ok’d this break of yours??

I feel stupid for sending you that e-mail ealier, probably should have looked before I leeped

Wow, I just found you, Matt, and I’m disappointed I won’t be able to read you anymore. However, blogging is tough stuff, especially when you’re having to provide so much content daily. Hope you can take it up again when life permits. You have a truly wonderful voice that will be missed.

Best of luck.

Good luck. We’ll all miss you while you work!

Matt, yours is the first blog I’ve ever consistently read. I’m going to miss checking in periodically during the day — it’s added a little pep and a little reality to my seemingly endless hours at the office. I call them my “refreshing little Tattered Coat breaks”.

I’ll look forward to having them again sometime in the future!

Because it’s a reflex:

Friday Random Shuffle for 11/04:

1) The Long Grift - They Might Be Giants Wig in a Box
2) Deputy of Love - Don Armando’s 2nd Ave Rhumba Band
3) The Unorthodox - Mr. Lif
4) The Trick Is To Keep Breathing - Garbage
5) Ladybird (Green Grass) - The Fall
6) Mr. Bingo - Tom Verlaine
7) The Seventh Seal - Scott Walker
8) Second Lovers Song - Townes Van Zandt
9) Taita Cañeme - Nuyorican Soul
10) Hook ‘N’ Sling (Pt. II) - Eddie Bo

Favorite Song: Deputy of Love
Least Favorite: The Trick Is To Keep Breathing
Favorite Album: Scott 4

Hope you come back.

(the blogger formerly known as “Frogsdong”)

Best wishes with the dissertation! I’ll miss Tattered Coat, particularly “Caption this photo”.

“Tattered Coat” will be missed. Good luck with your dissertation. I shall be keeping you on my blog roll so I don’t miss out on your triumphant return.

I just sent you a note. Dr. Pepper and I will miss you. Good luck with the dissertation and at the MLA. And then come back to let off steam!

Hey Matt,

I know it hurts to give up bloggery for the pettifoggery of diss writing, but I’ve got your back. And think of the vast rewards: 5-10 years of trying to get tenure and a press run for your first book of 600-800 copies! Seriously, I’m sad to see less chatter in your tatters, but I think it’ll feel great to get a full head of steam on your diss. Pass more work as it comes along, and good luck!

I am shoocked .. say it ain’t so!!!
I didn’t think we actually had to finish the dissertation.
Did Antonella put you up to this to make me feel guilty? While I will be sharing your pain every step of the way - I always respected (and secretly envied) the fact that you have built something both compassionate and powerful on this box, so don’t be too hasty to let time ravage its impact, who’s to say this isn’t as important, if not more, than a dissertation?

All the best, and good luck!

Couldn’t we just say this is “A Break in Something” instead? An important component of my day is no more. Ugghhh!, as Carlie Brown would say. Come back, Matt. Come back soon.

I fully understand, Matt. My creative writing has suffered because of blogging. Will miss your posts, though.

Though we’re all sad to see you go, I do like that you quoted my favorite Ernest Hemingway story.

In honor of Matt who has hung up his Tattered Coat for awhile, I hereby carry the Random Ten torch . . .

1. Waitin’ For A Superman - Iron & Wine
2. Medication - Queens of the Stone Age
3. Scarecrow - Beck
4. Tanto Tempo - Bebel Gilberto
5. Poverty - Culture
6. Lambs Bread Herb - Tommy McCook
7. President - Wyclef
8. Stem / Long Stem / Transmission 2 - DJ Shadow
9. Don’t Panic - Coldplay
10. Concrete Bed - Nada Surf
*Bonus Track: Forever for Her - The White Stripes

Favorite Song: Tanto Tempo

Least Favorite Song: Waitin’ For A Superman

Favorite Album: Beck Guero

What will I do without my daily dose of liberalism?! Daily posting is time consuming –I actually had to really cut back on commenting everywhere, doing four posts a day is already a huge obligation.
Best of luck on the dissertation…hopefully you can slip out to a Philly blogger meetup. I’ll go if you and Karl do (and promise to be my bodyguards) ;)

Christmas came early for a group of soldiers trying to whittle away their last month in Iraq.

I think a lot of people say, “I support The Troops”, and to different people, it means different things. To some people, it seems it’s nothing more than a mantra they chant to convince themselves of our country’s righteousness. To others, it’s a way to show support for The Troops without pretending to subscribe to the sketchy ethics and questionable morality of our country’s leaders. And finally, there are those who don’t SAY “I support The Troops”. They just DO. Thanks, Matt.

-A group of soldiers trying to whittle away their last month in Iraq for whom Christmas came early

Hasn’t it been long enough?