To blog or not to blog...

A New Blog-Dawn

2011-03-28T03:10:00.000-07:00

I'm back... after a surprisingly (I've surprised myself) long blog-break. Nonetheless, I have been writing in my head all this time. But, in my opinion, some things are just too irritating / weird / funny, etc. not to be put down in writing. I'm sure you all agree.

Blogging issue #9

2009-10-06T06:04:00.000-07:00

Recent experience has taught me that if you have blog fans, commissions will subsequently follow. "Please write about this [a particular subject]. Please do it." And then you do. But what next?

Many blog fans are rather shy about taking the ENORMOUS step of commenting by text. They prefer to talk about what they enjoyed later. In person rather than on paper. Fair enough. But those who are brave enough to commission, but too shy to comment? A perplexing predicament, indeed! What to do?

I've already written about being a blog bore. (I shudder again). But in a situation like this, it's really hard not to be.

"So you read the post I wrote? The post you commissioned? You did? ... OK..."

Yawn... sometimes blog bores even bore themselves....Zzzzzz...

Blogging issue #8

2009-09-02T05:29:00.000-07:00

I'm back from my (accidental) summer break! And you thought I'd suffered the same fate as so many lazy blog address hoggers who had gone before me... ye of little faith... and you call yourself a blog fan. :-)

Andrew Motion - you are partially correct. However, the ideas remain, as does the desire to express them. Prioritizing certain blogs (who am I kidding, a certain blog) has been the issue... but NO MORE!!!!

Funny little things coming up - watch this space/these spaces...

Blogging issue #7

2009-05-19T06:06:00.000-07:00

I've created another blog! When you next see me, you're more than welcome to ask why. In the meantime, shall I just say that I hope it doesn't stunt my creativity... you know, like a stressed-out poet laureate (poor Andrew Motion)

Blogging issue #6

2009-04-05T13:30:00.001-07:00

Well, what do you know... I actually have some blog fans.

Some of them leave comments (thanks to you). Some of them don't (well, thanks to you anyhow). They talk about my blogs publicly and refer to bits that I've even forgotten about.

It is quite an honor. I appreciate the... well, the appreciation.

However, having blog fans comes with its own set of responsibilities. You see, they insist that I write more, more, MORE...

Now I know how Britney felt... I'll be trying my best.

Blogging issue #5

2009-03-10T15:18:00.000-07:00

We all want comments!! No-one with a blog can pretend that they don't. Sure, it's not the raison-d'etre of a blog writer, but a comment or two here and there is most certainly not unwelcome.

So, what about adding comments to your own blog? I do this from time to time. In some ways, it's like re-editing, but in public. Or to further develop an idea. To add examples or observations of things that have arisen after posting.

But it occurred to me today - could it be viewed as a little bit sad?

Is it like getting your book published... and then buying every single copy?
Playing catch... with yourself?
Telling yourself a joke... then laughing heartily?

No, of course not...(shudder)

Blogging issue #4

2009-01-22T01:24:00.000-08:00

So you create a blog. Or maybe you create 3. And then you use it/them to record some of the funny little things that you see. And then you forward the link to friends.

And then you meet with these same friends. And they tell you some of the funny little things that they've seen. And then you... well, no, you can't, can you? Because they've probably read it already anyhow. Nobody wants to be a blog bore.

You know you're really really fashionable when...

2009-01-05T05:06:00.000-08:00

Further to my previous post, I can now confirm, reader, that I am a (purple-wearing) trendsetter.

I entered a nearly-empty shop. I joined the queue. Well, in fact, I was the queue! I made my purchase. All over in about 2 minutes.

Nothing strange about that, I hear you say. But wait. Let's re-visit the scene. Transaction completed, I turned around to see some 15 people behind me in the queue... the queue that I had begun.

Coincidence? or Magnetism?

Mmmmm... Thinking about watching the Truman Show again.

Unfashionable is fashionable (it's official)

2008-11-17T06:18:00.000-08:00

Haven't you heard? Purple is THE colour... again.

Last autumn, purple was IN. No chasing up and down the highstreet in search of the ultimate purple item for me, oh no. Probably two thirds of my wardrobe is already purple (and has been for some years, to be honest). So there I was: fashionable quite by chance. And quite frankly, that must be the most fashionable a person can be, by accident, without trying, right?

Well, what do you know? Purple is IN for a 2nd autumn in a row.

How does that work, I wonder? Is it like an actor winning an Oscar 2 years in a row for the same film? I guess he wouldn't refuse it.

Blogging issue #3

2008-09-30T07:24:00.001-07:00

What do you know. We have set up a blog at work for one of our directors. Fantastic - just what I need. Yet another blog I can keep an eye on... you know, for the number of comments (George knows what I'm talking about).

It's not obsession. I'm just a conscientious worker.

And I don't even feel competitive about it. If he ends up with more comments than me, well... bravo for the company - it's all about teamwork, isn't it...

Blogging issue #2

2008-09-15T05:40:00.000-07:00

Oh dear. I've just created a third blog. I evidently need Bloggers Anonymous for real.

I just couldn't help myself. Yet another idea. Yet more desire to write and write and write. Then, all it took was a little test to see whether the blogging title was free (affirmative) and there was no looking back. Had one of those lazy blog address hoggers gotten there first - you know, those individuals who have managed to reserve an excellently catchy blog title but have then dared to show a lack of appreciation for the treasure in their possession by not posting since 2002 (i.e. do you reckon the blog web-address of what you are currently reading was my first choice?) - it would have perhaps stopped me in my tracks... but no.

I have gone into this with my eyes open. I understand the responsibility that I have now conferred upon myself. I am determined not to be a lazy blog address hogger. Just a multiple blog address creator. And there's no harm in that, I'm sure...

Blogging issue #1

2008-09-12T14:16:00.000-07:00

My name's M* and ... I set up 2 blogs at once and I don't know what to do (cue applause, caring glances, someone nodding in the corner). I wonder, does Bloggers Anonymous exist yet? It probably does, but yeah, I'm behind. So here I am with 2 blogs, but I'm finding it hard to be faithful to both. Yes, I should have thought about that before I made a commitment. I thought I was grown up enough to take on such a responsibility, but I feel unfaithful, a little bit sneaky, a blog rat. How did it come to this? Greed, I guess. I thought I could have it all. Now I realize my mistake. But no, it's too late to go back now. I'm just going to have to ride this one out. It's the least I can do for all 3 of us...

Oh, and one more thing to prove that I'm unashamedly unfashionable

2008-09-04T09:16:00.000-07:00

This relates to last Autumn... yeah, even this post is SO last season

I enjoyed a quiet chuckle to myself when I heard that purple was “in” this autumn. Purple just happens to be my favourite colour and so the idea of becoming the most fashionable girl in south east London just by wearing the clothes I always have was quite satisfying. No, I’m not mocking the fashion industry. I watched “The Devil Wears Prada” more than once last year and recognize that it’s serious business. However, without wanting to sound desperately old-fashioned, there is one trend that I just cannot understand: the short dress (or should I say, the long t-shirt?) Please don’t get me wrong, I’m not a prude. However, whenever I see anyone sporting the aforementioned frocks, I get flashbacks of a recurring nightmare I used to have whilst still at secondary school. In fact, I’m sure it’s a dream that most of us have suffered at some point during those insecure adolescent years, if not later on in life. The general synopsis is of walking to school / to a disco / to a bowling alley / to any other place pimply teenagers frequent, feeling confident and carefree only to find that, shock, horror, you’ve absentmindedly left the house minus your trousers or skirt. Of course, realisation of this oversight coincides with the moment that everyone else on the planet notices and points and laughs: shudder. There was always that risk with thick thermal tights (perhaps the same issue with long-johns for the guys) which create such a comfortable and warm condition in the wearer that they might forget the need for overgarments, resulting in that horrible nightmare never being far from my mind each winter. Therefore, you will understand my feelings being a mix of commiseration, admiration and confusion on seeing the short dress + opaque tights combo being modelled around town. Commiseration: “Oh no, that poor girl, she forgot to put a skirt on.” Admiration: “Wow, that girl is so brave, she doesn’t even care that she’s forgotten her trousers.” Confusion: “No, silly me, it’s a deliberate fashion move… but why?” Perhaps the joke’s on us and there is a fashion designer somewhere sniggering at having subtly persuaded a generation of women to walk around half undressed. Or maybe I just need to get closure on my teenage psychosis, take the plunge and get one for myself (I’ve heard they do them in purple too).

Intro

2008-09-04T06:26:00.000-07:00

So here we are. Blogging like it's 2008. I used to keep up with technology, me... I would regularly have a flick through the latest Argos catalogue to keep up-to-date. But then, I spent a year in a country where Argos doesn't exist and since then I have been a bit behind. Never mind. Today is another milestone in my never-ending quest to feel like a member of the 21st century. The objective of the blog is to 1*communicate with a friend of mine who also has a blog (achieved), 2*enjoy looking up my blog and finding it (achieved) and 3*seeing my "Profile Views" number increase (achieved...-mainly because of 2*) Maybe this message will be read by millions. Maybe not. But in any case, Argos have received a free endorsement. Complimentary gift vouchers would not be unwelcome.