Oct

8

XF Closure

Filed Under Announcements, Blogs & Blogging, General, Photography | 9 Comments

On Sept. 3, I wrote a draft stating that I would be closing down X-Press Files for good. But I hesitated with the decision — in short, I dillydallied — and the draft was never published. Ironically, I even kept updating my blog more often than usual after a short, planned hiatus (in fact, shorter than the unannounced blog breaks I’ve had a countless times in the past).

But now, it’s definite: XF will be laid to rest. Let me explain.

Last week, I bought the October 2008 issue of Reader’s Digest at the Relay store in Neuchatel, after my weekly Niveau A2 French class. (I tell you, it was pure joy to be able to buy a copy of RD after all these years of looking for copies of the original English version amid the German and French ones usually displayed at the newsstands in Biel-Bienne, a bilingual Swiss town.)

Reader’s Digest published an erudite remark made by award-winning actor and director Clint Eastwood, which is included in a selection of quotable quotes that make up the new book Wisdom by Andrew Zuckerman:

There was a time in my life when I was doing westerns, on the plains of Spain. I could have stayed there and probably knocked out a dozen more. But the time came when I said, That’s enough of that. As fun as they were to do, it was time to move on. If a story doesn’t have anything that’s fresh in it, at least for me, I move away from it.

Those words in bold letters struck me in the most profound way. They echoed my blog sentiments so well that it seemed like Clint Eastwood and I had had a meaningful discussion on life over a cup of coffee one fine day (okay, I don’t really drink coffee, but you know what I mean.)

I confess: the thrill for me to maintain XF had long been gone. I had mechanically churned out one uninspired post after another these past months merely for the sake of this activity called “blog updating.” As a result, posts were not as ‘fresh’ as they used to be back then, when I was joyfully writing my personal migrant tales and thoughts in this blog and happily basking in its therapeutic wonders.

The passion is gone, and with it, the freshness of it all. I feel it’s time for something new. Change, in my book, is a good thing. Wonderful things happen to those who embrace it.

I’d like to thank you, dear readers (especially the active commenters), for joining me in this joyful ride that was the X-Press Files (formerly called X-Pat Files). It was fun while it lasted — at least on my part.

I wish you all the best. Let’s all have a good life. Cheers!

OCT. 17, 2008 UPDATE: Freitag, my newest blog, goes live today. Meanwhile, Jolly J! (my anecdotes blog), has just been updated.

(Note: The photo above, taken in Bern two years ago, was one of the pictures featured in the inaugural issue of “Swiss Peeks” in August 2007. Two issues of the photo book — “The Red Makes It” followed by “Reflecting on Switzerland” — were published right after the first issue, “Seeing the Light.”)

Oct

3

Christian Magazine

Filed Under Announcements, Faith & Values, Mailbox | Comments Off


I’ve been receiving copies of The Good News magazine since last year (I signed up for a free subscription online). So far, I’ve been satisfied with its content.

The GN editorial staff presents world news in the light of the Bible (this is important to me) and features helpful articles on Christian living, providing practical solutions to the challenges individuals and families face alike.

And yes, this magazine is delivered to your doorstep for free. In these times of economic crisis, it seems to me like a great deal.

Anyway, I received a letter from the GN people today. Part of it reads:

We’d like to continue sharing The Good News with you, but we need to be sure you want to continue to receive it. Soon your last issue will be posted to you, and then…no more.

…You can keep The Good News coming for another two years — FREE. Simply return the card in the envelope we’ve supplied.

It’s fairly an easy decision to make. Surely, I don’t like to miss out on future issues packed with information as well as insights. So, YES, I’d like to renew my Good News subscription. I’ll mail the confirmation card pronto.

If you’d like to receive your own copy of The Good News magazine, click here for more details.

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