See the world spinning round

[austin_dern]

This year's April Fool's prank: announcing my retirement as head wizard, and wizard, on Spindizzy. It was surprisingly fun to compose a letter of resignation. I gave the terribly mundane excuse that I just wasn't up to the job anymore, which gave the prank its needed molecules of plausibility. (Come to think of it, not as many people as I expected reassured me I still had it.) Roofus_roo was ready to blame himself for the catastrophe, but Roofus_roo is ready to blame himself for all catastrophes, including alt.fan.furry, Leslie logging out early, and the Bush administration. Everyone else said, after the revelation, that they were scared for a few seconds, but realized it had to be a prank. Well, sure, of course everyone did, but I can't help thinking nikonraccoon, oliver_otter, Terra, and maybe tracerj had a few moments of doubt.

For the curious, the only times I've really been close to leaving Spindizzy were in 1999 when the volume of whiny complaints reached its all-time peak, and in 2000 when the place felt like more work than fun (I still owe natasha_nelson thanks for bringing more fun in by remaking me as an elastic coati). I had vague notions I should have taken a leave, at least, after my candidacy exam, but somehow never felt overwhelmed enough to do it. So I guess I'm in for the long haul.

But this prank was a lot of fun. Only one person, in whisper, called me an [ expletive deleted ]. I was expecting a larger lynch mob.

Trivia: Asteroid number 7334, discovered 17 August 1988 by A. Mrkos at Klet, is named Sciurus, after squirrels. Source: Dictionary of Minor Planet Names, Lutz D. Schmadel.

Currently Reading: `T. E. Lawrence': In Arabia and After, Basil H. Liddell-Hart.

Comments

Prank.

[tracerj.livejournal.com]

Actually, you can ask Mort, and my beloved krdbuni... I knew instantly it was a prank, and at no point during the day did I have any doubts. All I wondered about how how the heck anyone else could've bought into it, actually. I mean, if you'd REALLY intended to retire, you'd have waited until the day after, just to avoid any misunderstandings. *grin*

Re: Prank.

[austin-dern.livejournal.com]

Good catch, then ... although, of course, from my time zone it was already April 2 by the time I posted the prank. Running 13 hours ahead makes for all sorts of confusion ... though at least you in the U.S. are going to catch up an hour this weekend.

[butterfluff.livejournal.com]

I have found out that it is impossible to argue with someone who says he is burned out. Either he is, or he will get some rest and be back.

[austin-dern.livejournal.com]

This is true, although it took me a while to figure it out. I can be remarkably dumb when I try.