In 1922, Andre Citroen commissioned an expedition across the Sahara Desert. It was the first time the great expanse would be crossed in motorized vehicles. Of course, Citroen provided their half-track trucks for the journey.

Lately, my blog has made me feel as dry and dusty as the Sahara, without the benefit of the blue ribbon of the Nile, the mythology and folklore of the fertile crescent, or the possibility of discovering a forgotten pyramid to break things up.

A week or so ago, I announced a blogging hiatus, and I did some thinking about what I want to do here. I’ve just revamped the look of the site – but I do that once or twice a year, anyway – and took a step I’ve never done: I eliminated ALL of my previous posts. All of them. All the way back to 2002.

When I started writing online, I meant it to be writing practice, to keep the juices flowing. Now, however, I write for a living. I write every day. I just don’t always write what I want to write.

I could, I suppose, use a paper journal, but I’ve never understood the point of writing things no one else will see. So, I’m reclaiming my blog, in my own way. I’m not promising it won’t sometimes be an open journal, because, essentially, it is. Artists keep sketchbooks. I have this. I’m not going to commit to a schedule – I don’t need to. I write every day, remember?

So, this is my great expedition. No funky French half-tractor/half-jeep, just me, and my brain, and endless mugs of really strong coffee.

I hope you’ll share the journey with me.