You didn’t ask for it, but Hiding in Plain Sight is my gift to you and the internet at large. Publishing here is rewarding in its own right, but the real joy comes when we stumble onto something together and get to chat about it. Those shared discoveries, and the conversations that follow, are what make this blog come alive! Unfortunately, I need to step back for a while. Don’t worry, though- new posts will continue to go live every morning.
Eagle-eyed readers may have noticed what my friends and family already knew: I’ve been out of work since December 3, when I was one of the white-collar employees swept up in a massive reduction in force at the plant. I’ve chased leads, leveraged networks, sent résumés, and done all the things you’re supposed to do as best I can. Nothing has stuck so far, and it’s stressful.
The end-of-year holidays are a uniquely terrible time to be unemployed, and this Christmas season has been especially disheartening. The most frustrating part was that I was in the middle of addressing some long-standing issues until, poof, there went my health insurance.
I’m hopeful something breaks my way soon, and I think it will. I have a few networking opportunities lined up that I’m grateful for. In the meantime, though, obsessing about this blog has helped steady me. From the moment I staggered home after being let go, my days have boiled down to four things: wrestling with Indiana’s new unemployment portal, maintaining a routine, applying for jobs, and writing. It’s been the only way I’ve felt productive. I like to work. I need to work. Schlepping around the house is anathema to me.
Fortunately, all that research and writing has led to a ton of posts in the queue; more than fifty. Trouble is, I’m burned out! I need a breather, so I’m planning to step back for a couple of months, about the time my stockpile starts to thin, and let myself recharge before I dive back.
From your side of the screen, nothing should feel any different. Posts will still go live every morning, and I’ll still be right there responding to your comments when they come through. I’ll also continue writing the rest of my Delaware County Patriots series every Friday until it wraps up late next month. If something big happens -like the Muncie Mall finally coming down or another old schoolhouse toppling over– I’ll jump back in, grab photos, and post about it.
Otherwise, Hiding in Plain Sight will cruise along on autopilot for a while as I take the time to sort out what comes next for the other parts of my life. The lights will stay on, though, and the topics I’ve found interesting over the last month or so will ooze out onto the internet as they always do.
If everything goes to plan, a couple of months away will give me the space to figure out the next steps forward. Key parts of that include focusing on finding new work, getting my health back on track, exploring a few new projects, and resetting my spirit. I’m hopeful that good things about this next chapter come into focus soon. Until then, thanks for walking these courthouse squares, dead malls, schoolhouse ruins, artesian wells, and other half-forgotten places with me.
Best of luck to you. I just know you will find employment soon. You are a very talented person. I hope you get to address your health issues soon. I have always struggled with anxiety and depression and 2-1/2 years ago was diagnosed with autism. Right after that, I lost insurance coverage and therefore, therapy. Bad timing. After a short period without, I got covered again. Since then, I’ve been trying to learn about and deal with that, and I have spent 2025 tackling trauma therapy for long held-in issues. 2026 will bring you good things!
Thanks, Linda, and wow, that is a lot of stuff to deal with at once. I’m hoping 2026 brings us both good things!
I’ve done just the same, built up a huge backlog, got burned out, stepped back, let the backlog burn down, and then came back. I think it’s just part of the cycle of being a daily or near-daily blogger!
I hope one of your networking leads turns into something solid. And it should be illegal to lay anyone off in Q4.
Thanks Jim. Pounding the pavement is time-consuming, but this has been a special kind of suck at this time of year. The blog has kept me sane.
I have enjoyed the daily posts. Thank you for providing this each morning.
You’re very welcome!
Good luck on your job search. Best to you on your healthissues also.
Thank you! Hoping for the best.
I am hopeful that good things come from your networking, especially now that the holidays are in the rear view. And I hope that your time away does good things for you.
Thanks, Jim. Prospects suck right now but we’ll see.
Ted, I just found your blog tonight. After about five hours of searching and very pleasurable reading, I came to your announcement. I must admit that I am a bit sad – well maybe more than “a bit” – but I certainly understand. I ran a huge genealogy website consisting of more than 100 pages for Darke County (OH) that I was constantly updating and adding pages to as new/old information was found and sent to me by our many viewers. The site was all self-taught hand coding which made it easier for me to update, but also made the site less transferable when I unexpectedly lost the funding for the original webspace. Also, in my daily schedule during those days, I worked full time at Indiana University Bloomington and raised three children as a single mom. So, I really do understand! I had a terrible time adjusting to the fact that all that work was just gone. In my mind, it died a very slow death. Luckily, that won’t be the fate of your blog! I shall look forward to seeing much more in your autopiloted uploads. Thank you for all of the time, energy and sweat of your brow that you have given to your readers.
Hi Jane! Five hours- wow! I’ve tried to make this blog a place that’s easy to dive down the rabbit hole, and I seem to have. Running as much content as you have is exactly what I’ve been doing, minus the hand-coding (although there’s a certain aspect that dips into HTML, Javascript, and CSS here).
I’ve got this blog backed up, I think, and would hate to see it go the way of the dodo. I couldn’t. I’d mourn it just as you did your own work.
Thanks for being here! I’ll interject with new posts (I’ve done so with Saturday’s) as it runs on its own. I’m really grateful that you’re here and appreciate my efforts! Welcome aboard. I appreciate you!
Ted
Good. To hear that Ted! Keep up the good work
Thanks, Jay!