Resolutions, Pirates & an Invitation

Note: For those of you not interested in being subjected to an (over-) analysis of my life, please omit the bracketed text.

[New Year's seemed like a good time to look at my life—or lack thereof—and figure out what exactly I was doing with it. I took the beginning of 2007 as an opportunity to examine all those areas where I could be doing better and make practical plans involving proactive behavior and the power of positive thinking. The blog was one of those areas to analyze.

It's been almost a year of blogging and for some reason the blog, non- or not, still feels like a massive blob of negative energy that says "So you want to be a writer? And you can't even manage to write occasional paragraphs to entertain a small group of supportive friends? Good luck, sucker." And then it goes, "Mwhahahahahahaha."

But just getting rid of the blog altogether seemed like a cop-out and an admission of defeat. I do want to write more, and the blog forces me to do that. But then again, that's also the reason it's not good—because I write when I feel like I should (because weeks have passed), not when I'm inspired. So then I got to thinking about why I never feel motivated to write anymore. When I thought about everything I used to enjoy writing about in the past, I realized the one thing they had in common was that they were all shared experiences that I wanted to capture. These days, 97.5% of my time is spent by myself and transcripts of my interior monologues do not make good stories (case in point-these last few paragraphs).

I know some of you might disagree, but I really don't like being the center of attention. This is really what underlies all my objections to the whole concept of blogging. I've always been more of a team player. (Again, I know at least one person who objects to this self-assessment, but I stand by it.) Maybe the hippies of Olympia have rubbed off on me, but I want to make this blog more of a community experience.

So, as part of my 2007 resolutionary strategic plan,] I propose that we make this blog a collaborative effort. Meaning that y'all can post now, too. After all, your comments are far more entertaining than my posts. I can give anyone permission to write, so just give a shout and I'll send you an invitation. It'll be fun. It's not an obligation, just an opportunity. Think about it: more frequent posts=increased procrastination for all!

But in case you are not convinced that the blog needs multiple authors, I offer you the following.

Last night as I was drifting off to sleep and worrying about the impending start of J.O.B. Search, Phase II, I had a thought. I actually grabbed a yellow legal pad and wrote these notes thinking I would make a blog post out of them in the morning.


Why I Want to be a Pirate

sketchy work history is not a problem
have experience ripping people off on the ocean (Manchester Marine)
eye patch
i've been told i smell like laundry.*
rum sounds good


*If i remember correctly, this might have been the one reason why I might not make a good pirate. I have no idea where I was going with "eye patch."