(I'm Not) Kicking The Blog Habit (Yet) - 2004 Repost

I published this in January of 2004. I write very differently now, almost never anything personal. Many times the thought crosses my mind to blog but then I think, why bother? If I want to get my thoughts down in writing I have no more need to share them with the universe. On another note, I wrote this before Facebook, before Twitter, before the vast majority of social media was out there. It seems rather quaint in retrospect. 1/2004

Too bad redesigning one's blog doesn't burn calories.
If so, the four hours I just spent doing it would have done me good.

A short, boring list of what I've ingested since the beginning of the Season of Overindulgence, which begins with American Thanksgiving, includes stuffing/dressing, (my) birthday cake, stuffing/dressing, candy, candy, fruitcake, candy (Christmas), booze, cheese, crackers, little sausagey things, cheese, cheese, cheese, guacamole & salsa dip, chips, and booze (New Year's). That pretty well sums up why I feel like crud.

So what's a good thing to do on New Year's afternoon, after having one too many kamikaze shooters on New Year's Eve? My idea of a "good thing" was an attempt to focus on my web page redesign. I use the term loosely, because I'm only a second-tier TypePad member and therefore can only monkey with the design/layout to a point. Colours though--what fun! I can choose any colours I want. So despite feeling very fuzzy, I plunged in. First, I changed my banner. The old banner was a stock pic I found when I moved from Blogger to TypePad, just over 2 months ago. It had been rather a rush job. My intent was to warn anyone with youngsters hanging over their shoulder, that I have some R-rated content here.

Even though at first glance the couple in my previous banner looked perfect, upon scrutiny one noticed that she'd been in the lake fully clothed including her socks, and they were all bunched up and goofy-looking. I like when something that you would think is perfect turns out to have flaws.

I've noticed that other bloggers seemed to going through some changes as well. Maybe an end-of-year ritual purging of the old?

Some bloggers are taking the purging thing to the extreme--they are using the end of the year as an opportunity to kick the blog habit. Yup. They are quitting--going off into the great land of RL.
I say, good for them. Most seem happy about it. Reasons cited include having said all they feel they can say, blogging taking away too much time from other activities/commitments, and blogging having taken on an addictive quality.

I shan't call the kettle black, as the old phrase goes, because I spend a lot of time blogging. I also spend a lot of time doing other things. If I had to pick one activity that I do less of because I blog, it's housework. I've fobbed some of it off on my two kids who are ages 11, and almost 21. The 11 y.o. had chores already, so I haven't given him much else to do--the occasional mopping of the floor, some vacuuming. The older one is on a very short leash right now. In the past, he wouldn't do his share--he did nothing to contribute to the maintenance of the house. He knows now that if he doesn't help, he doesn't live here.

The other activity that I do less of (though I wasn't doing much of it before) is watch television. Because of blogging, I forget to watch what were my favorite shows--and I really don't care, because I'm choosing between passively sitting in front of the tube, versus composing, working on my photography and reading--all on-line. I'm thinking the computer time wins out. Do I goof off on-line? Absolutely. When I'm finished with everything else, I'll go to FARK or elsewhere for diversion.

Well, this has turned out to be a exercise in navel gazing. It's about as good a thing to do with my spare time as anything else.

Comments

[Anne]

New design looks great, Cyn. Did I say that already? As for why I blog, its either this or therepy. This is cheaper. Although lately, not by much. :p Darn pro typepad :>

[Cyn]

Kelly: Thank you. I really admire your artistic eye, so your comments are taken to heart.:)
(And please, no offense to anyone else--there are blogs of many flavours.)

Ros: RL=real life, often used as IRL--in real life.
I think balance is the word of the day. If one needs to cut back on computer time because the demands of life (like paying bills!) require it, then it most certainly is the choice best made.
If you need to take a break Ros, I'll still be here when you come back. {{hugs}}

[Rose]

I spend way too much time blogging. I'm thinking of cutting back, just posting quotes and, occasionally, poems and articles. (I love posting quotes.) Unfortunately, I have way too much to do offline. I could also read/comment on other people's blogs on the weekends. (What does RL stand for, by the way?)

I'm of the belief, if blogging is cathartic for a person, then he/she should blog. It is far better to actively pursue one's interest rather than passively watch others live their lives (i.e., watch TV).

[Kelly]

This is beautiful! The yellow tones in the brown reduce the glare. Good choice.

I am also in the process of redesigning my blog, but I haven't come up with a format that makes me happy.

Keep up the great work!

[Cyn]

Wow! E-Doo, journaling since 1985?! I am so impressed with the consistancy and motivation. I must say that blogging has given me more incentive than ever to chronicle and reflect on the events of my life as they happen.

Yep, C.S. There's plenty of human interaction to be found on-line--it's just different than face-to-face (and I know that you do plenty of that in RL, too. ;)

Lakkris, I do indeed enjoy vicariously experiencing your life in the Big Apple, though you have plenty of personal reflection added to the mix to keep the human element alive and well.

And dearest Vanessa--what an incredibly talented writer (read her essay of New Year's Eve). Witty, observant, wry--what I wish to be when I grow up.

It never ceases to warm my heart that you all come by and add your thoughts here.

[lakkris]

I'm with vanessa, for me it's more the ability to read back and look at myself introspectively.

For those that are taking the big leap out into RL, it's a great place... I love it. I live it everyday, but I have to spend a little time chronicling my lifestyle here in NYC.

your new pic looks great!

[Cheekysquirrel]

I use to be a TV addict. TV doesn't hold much interest for me any more.

I now prefer to watch a DVD as and when I want to watch it and spending time on the computer.

Although spending time on the PC seems like a solitary past time there is a lot more human interaction than staring at TV screen, which makes it a lot more real for me.

I blog because if I wasn't expresing myself on my own page I'd only be doing it on someone else's. Might as well add content to my own pages with my ramblings.

[E-Doo]

The redesign looks great!

I look at blogging as a way to practice writing and a self-analysis tool. It's easy to distort one's perception of the past to make it appear in a better light. However, if an event is documented, it becomes impossible to lie to one's self or exaggerate about a something from the past.

I've been keeping a journal of some sort since 1985. At first they were written in spiral notebooks. Then computer disks. Then audio cassettes. And now finally blogging. I still have tons of journal entries from high school stored on Commodore 64 5 1/4-inch floppies. I have no idea how I'll read these again in the future, but I still have them!

[Vanessa]

When you think about it, there's really no purpose or excuse for the amount of time most people sit watching tv, so I say all power to you.
Nice colours!