It appears that everything I’ve tried to keep my personal blog going has fizzled out.  I’ve tried schedules, I’ve tried pictures, I’ve tried everything.  While I’m not going to say this particular blog is dead, I’ve certainly developed a cynical attitude towards the medium in general.  The month (or year, for that matter) off has been nice because I haven’t had to think: “Hrm,what should I write today? I have to write something!!”

Dear Public Diary:

Fuck you.

Close your eyes and move on if you’re not ready to face this reality: The art of the personal web blog is dying a sad death.  Since I started a web blog in 2003 (Jesus, has it been almost six years?) I’ve come to the following conclusion: Internet addicts keep personal blogs when lonely, in need of vindication, and/or to convince themselves (and others) that everything is okay.   The more contented and/or involved you are with real life, the less you feel the need catalog the events to nobody in particular.  That’s not to say the 2003 version of me was a wreck, but I’m too satisfied with my world right now to regurgitate events in paragraph form.

The personal weblog is a self-serving me-me-me-me-me fantasy world; a platform where I write a story where I can be the hero, villian, and victim all at once.  I agree that it’s a good way for distant friends to keep an eye on things, but on a day-to-day level, nobody is better off knowing what I did last weekend - nor I theirs.  When I write an intentionally cryptic post, I’ve lost 99% of the readers, so what’s the point?  If I use names, places and events, how can I expect somebody outside my inner circle to follow along?  When I use this platform to take passive-aggresive shots, I’m basically saying it’s not worth it to confront issues (petty or not) in person, but certainly worth it to air grievances to a mostly sympathetic audience.

I guess what I’m saying is that by focusing solely on myself (as is the usual case with these posts), I’m leaving everybody on the outside and only I benefit.  Sure that may be fine for some but if you keep looking inward, you stop looking outward. That being said, I’m not declaring this blog dead and I will keep writing stories from my universe.  I just won’t bother you with the inward details unless it’s big or something.  Stay tuned?  Yes Indeed.

Looking for updates? Here’s a look at a 10 day span:

3/14 : Leave for Aruba
3/15 : R&R in Aruba
3/16 : R&R in Aruba
3/17 : R&R in the AM/Fly Back from Aruba in the PM
3/18 : Work/Laundry/Band Practice
3/19 : Work/Explain Chic-a-go-go to strangers in the office kitchen/Band Performance
3/20 : Work/Band Practice/Catch Jason on his short visit
3/21 : Appear on Live local television/Work
3/22 : YMCA/Music Store/Band Performance
3/23 : Visit the parents

March Madness, indeed.

It snow picnic around these parts of the Midwest. I understand our minor inconvenience of slush and ice has nothing on the 20 inches they got back home in Milwaukee, stranded cars around Madison, or the six thousand tornadoes that whipped the south. Considering all that, I’m not too bummed out about the weather.

News

January segues into February and my state participated in Super Tuesday. My voting experience was a characterized once again by my abuse of the principles of democracy. I voted blindly for circuit court judges. If I ever wind up in front of a circuit court judges, I’ll make sure to remind them him or her that “I might have voted for your appointment” followed by either: “and now I know why I shouldn’t have” or “and I’m glad I did.” Yes, I’m a bad citizen…but at least I showed up.

Also: Realizing that I’ve been in the same voting precinct since the last presidential election makes me feel a lot older.

In other news, my bosses rewarded me and my co-workers with a very nice token of appreciation and our said our annual bonuses are supposed to show up in two weeks. Once again, I’m duped into the mindset that settling for paychecks at a job with absolutely no self-fulfillment is more appealing than actually determining if I should start over in a new industry. It’s a tough trade to contemplate.

Weather

I’m still not sure what weather should mean when I write a newsy post. Any suggestions?

Sports

Still going strong with the YMCA routine (3 months and counting). The motivation for bi-weekly six am workouts is easier to drum up and I’ve shed five pounds while converting fat into muscle. Thirty minutes of repeatedly picking things up and setting them down followed by thirty minutes of fake-running in place is does the trick.

Also: during a workout this week I eavesdropped on another classic conversation where one person tries to explain to another that more snow does not mean Global Warming doesn’t exist. Gah.

…and finally

From me to you, my you tube account has been updated with numerous short videos shot with my digital camera. Random highlights of 2005 - 2007 range from Don King’s awesome command of the English language to footage of me crossing the Mississippi River in my car with the windows rolled up. Compelling stuff, I tells ya.