greatly exaggerated, etc.

Comrades, I am not dead.
I have been pulling six-day weeks at work and I've had the nastier cousin of the stomach flu, so things have gotten...messy. But. I have a lot of content backed up just waiting for some finishing and maybe some polish, so you'll see me back with an escalating vengeance soon, I promise. Sorry for the vanishing act, everyone.

In the meantime, some metablogging. It looks like, in the near future, I'll be transferring to WordPress and getting my own domain. I met with Ampersand the other day, on account of we're practically neighbors, as it turns out, and he's helping me with some of the make-shinier. Those of you who dropped kind webdesign-help offers, I may call on for some consultation, but it looks like Taking Steps is getting an upgrade, folks. I'll also, I hope, be taking part in an exciting new group project. Tremble, interwebs!

And speaking of both neighbors and group projects: while nerding out over comics and coffee last week, Ampersand and I determined that there are a whole lot of blogfolk here in Portland--even just in Southeast Portland--and that it would be a grand thing to all get together for beers or noodles or something. We brainstormed some suggestions as to venue--I suggested the Lucky Labrador brewpub, which is nonsmoky, ADA-accessible, pet-friendly, large, and, let's face it, basically your ideal NPC Tavern. ("Could I have the stout and a small Caesar?" "Traveller, have you heard of the troubles to the North?" "I, uh, really just want a pint of stout." "Many villages have been ravaged by the--" "You're not even the waiter, are you?") Still open to nominations. Portlanders, drop me a line or a comment, let me know if you're interested, what sorts of times you'd be free, places you think might be nice, especially in Southeast for ease of bus access. We'll try to be accommodating as possible in the organizing.

Anyhow. You'll start to see me around again. There were no assassins. Be advised.