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Like a splinter in my mind
Unfortunately, no one can be told what the Matrix is. You have to see it for yourself.
-Morpheus
I’m a little frustrated. I’m a new blogger, and I’m liking it a LOT. I’ve made some new friends, laughed so hard at some blog posts (and comments) that I’ve snorted various beverages all over my monitor (coffee and Coke Zero, and once bottled water with Cyrstal Meth Light Ice Tea that my beautiful wife forced me to drink), and learned some new skills. I’ve really enjoyed writing. I haven’t seriously written since I was in college, and even then, it was just for obligatory ten-page research papers for Art History, or my Musical Theory and Composition class. Nothing fun. Writing blog posts is FUN! It really is. But…
I feel like I haven’t hit my stride yet. Found my groove. Laid down my beats. I’m having trouble finding a consistent story in my life that I can hit every day to bring a sense of continuity to my blog that will keep people interested. That will keep ME interested. I’ll be honest: I’m not blogging with any fantasy in my mind about earning money. I ran some Adsense ads (more out of curiosity than anything), and got virtually nothing. I’m blogging to entertain myself. That’s it. I love the interaction, the give and take. I love the ability to reach out and touch people. I love putting my (mostly) anonymous face on the internet for other people to see.
And there’s the problem.
Like yours, my life is complicated. I’ve written thirty-nine posts, and only scratched the surface of what’s really going on. With me. With my life. I want to blog about these different facets, but it’s almost as if I should start four or five different blogs to capture it all, and frankly, I can’t work that hard.
I’m sure that everyone has this problem. How do you filter stuff out? How do you determine what you will focus on for your blog? Do you consciously decide to never blog About Aunt Margie? Or, That Time You Went To Vegas As a Stripper? Or, Your First Horrible Marriage and the Subsequent Even Worse Divorce Followed By Three Years of Pure Hell Until You Met Your Beautiful Wife? Heh. There’s a doozy.
So… meh. Here’s example of something that I want to blog about, that entertains me. My German mother-in-law (Oma) has been staying with us these last two weeks. I love her. She and I get along, defying the stereotypical relationship of a mother and her daughter’s husband. She sent my beautiful wife the following joke, which is significant because the joke is in English. When Julia married me, Oma redoubled her efforts to learn English by taking classes in Germany (which she still attends today); her English is excellent. She could live in America with no trouble. If she wanted to.
WARNING: The following joke is slightly risque, and may not be safe for work.
The engaged girlfriend said: “The other night, when my boyfriend came back home, he found me with the leather bodice, 12 cms stilettos and mask. He saw me he said, “You are the woman of my life, I love you…then we made love all night long.”
The mistress stated: “Ah! me too, the other night I met my lover in the office and I was wearing the leather bodice, mega stilettos, mask over my eyes and a raincoat, when I opened the raincoat… he did not say anything…..but we had wild sex all night.”
The married one then said: “The other night I sent the kids to stay at my mothers for the night, I got myself ready, leather bodice, super stilettos and mask over my eyes…my husband comes back from work, opens the door and says: “Hi Batman, what’s for dinner?”
Posted: October 9th, 2008 under blogging, jokes, life.
Tags: blogging, jokes, love, Oma, wife
Comments
Comment from Midlife Mama
Time October 9, 2008 at 6:14 am
LOL Funny joke; I’ve heard that one before.
You are an excellent writer; and I love blogging too, for all the reasons you’ve mentioned. And I also have angst over what to write — do I write for myself? Do I write so others don’t leave in disgust? Am I controversial? Funny? Angsty?
Like you said — meh. Just do what ya gotta do. Write what you like. Some days it may be funny, some days it may be autobiographical. We love to read it all!
This blogging thing allows people to be a voyeur into our lives, but in a totally non-creepy way. LOL
Comment from Twenty Four At Heart
Time October 9, 2008 at 7:52 am
I know you want an opinion from me because I am so experienced with a whoppin’ 6 months of blogging under my belt. When I began my blog I did not tell any of my in laws about it because they already hate me enough. I didn’t want to give them more ammunition. I did tell my parents, and now I wish I hadn’t because there are many stories I’d love to write about, but feel I can’t. I know some people run 2 blogs. One known blog and one anonymous one. I don’t think the anonymous ones get any readers though - so then why not keep a journal? Isn’t the point of blogging to 1)Write and 2) Share?? The other thing I’ve noticed is that after only a measly 6 months you develop an audience. An audience that has an expectation as to why they come visit and the types of things they like to read. They may not be too receptive if you step too far away from the norm. Or maybe they will be? It is unpredictable. Sometimes I write posts expecting a huge response and get very little response. Other times I’m floored by the number of comments on a post when I didn’t expect them. If you figure it all out, be sure and share!
Comment from Smart Mouth Broad
Time October 9, 2008 at 9:47 am
I love the joke. I’ve heard it before too but enjoyed it just as much the second time as I *sigh* forgot the punch line.
I love what you write. I know that there are those that say to be successful with blogging that you have to find your niche. I think you’ve found yours. I haven’t been a reader for long but I love what you write. Seems like everyone else does too. A little of this, a little of that. Keeps it interesting. When you’re ready to share more, dig deeper, we’ll be here. Happy blogging.
Comment from Smart Mouth Broad
Time October 9, 2008 at 9:50 am
Oh and I forgot to mention that thanks to MHS everyone in my family reads my blog, so yes, filtering is necessary. If I write about something personal, the subject gets final approval rights. The funny thing is no matter what I write, they all WANT to be mentioned. Bunch o hams.
Comment from Jan
Time October 9, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Okay, I’ve been seeing you comment on all my buddy’s blogs, so I had to come over and see what you’re all about.
You’re quoting The Matrix and wiping binary goo off of your floor.
You are SO going on my blogroll.
Comment from Jan
Time October 9, 2008 at 12:11 pm
OH - yeah, well, the whole hitting your stride thing? Um, it never comes at all to some of us.
A little of this, a little of that.
Ahem.
Comment from thistle
Time October 9, 2008 at 4:59 pm
ummm…is there supposed to be a theme…oops. I plan to have no theme as i hope to be able to write whatever i feel the need to express myself on. the biggest problem for me is that i haven’t written in ages and find that some days it takes me a while to finetune things to a point where i feel it’s ready for public viewing. My only fear is work-related posts as there is some confidentiality i have to respect plus my boss is a freaking unpredictable head case herself and i need to be a little wary of her…
sometimes the best blogs are the littleknown ones who don’t have a niche so you don’t have t be aslave to them…case in point point ‘This Fish’…her early stuff was great, girl got over 100,000 hits her first year, lately i’ve found her stuff somedays to be thinly veiled advertblogs that are linked to things like magazines and the latest trendy workouts…not interested in that! thanks very much….write what you want…and now i’m going to go work on the brevity aspect of my own writing…
cheers,
T
Comment from Julia
Time October 9, 2008 at 5:17 pm
I like what you write, always different, and I always get a feeling that you will come back to that topic to dig a little deeper. And I can’t wait for it:-)
Comment from Sprite’s Keeper
Time October 9, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Great joke!
Just keep going it. I have never read a blog just off the “ground” that didn’t stumble as it found its voice. I only wrote about my daughter when I first started, but branched out into other arenas like picking on the husband.. You’re still interesting and that’s what keeps me coming back. Just stay with it.
Comment from goodfather
Time October 9, 2008 at 11:04 pm
Thank you all for your comments! Rather than write one huge comment that responds to each of you personally, I’m going to write a blog post that responds to each of you personally ;).
Comment from phhhst
Time October 10, 2008 at 8:26 am
Coming in late here. But for what it’s worth. I’ve really only been at my blog for a couple months. Not sure if I want a niche. I enjoy the freedom of that.
I figure it will evolve into what it should be. And a misstep here and there won’t kill you.
I love your writing so far BTW
Comment from Jen
Time October 10, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Ahh, the eternal question of: what is this blog?
Every writer faces this. I’ve been doing this for several years now and hit this wall occasionally. I blog about whatever. Whatever inspires me in that moment. My blog would likely be classified as a “mommy blog” - but it’s a heck of a lot more than that. I prefer not to have a category, so I won’t feel pigeon-holed into blogging about only certain things. If you feel Oma and her adorable joke deserve their own entry, then they do. It’s yours. You own it. Since you haven’t written in a while, it will take you a bit to get used to it and find your rhythm. I do hope you keep up with it. But always remember to write for yourself, never for your readers (I fall victim to this often!).
Comment from Midlife Slices
Time October 12, 2008 at 1:45 pm
I’m a day late and a dollar short as usual but I’m still throwing in my two cents.
I love reading your stuff. You write from the heart and that’s always the best. As for hitting your stride. Uhm….when you figure that out, please share with the rest of us who are just muddling along and treading water in the same ocean.
Comment from blissfully caffeinated
Time October 13, 2008 at 3:42 pm
“That time you went to vegas as a stripper…” That’s blogging gold right there my friend. I suggest you mine it for all it’s worth.
Comment from oshea12566
Time January 14, 2010 at 7:39 am
I know I am over a year late to this post, but I want to let you know I really enjoy your blog. I hope you keep writing. I struggle sometimes with my blog. I get very few comments, yet my stats say I get about 17-20 readers a day. Did I find the 17-20 readers that read a post, smile or vomit than go on there merry way? I think I did. By now, I am sure you found your groove and I hope you keep blogging. (Especially about going to vegas AS a stripper..)
Comment from Tricia
Time October 9, 2008 at 5:10 am
Please thank your mother in law for me. That joke provided the perfect laugh to start my morning.
About blogging…I’ve been blogging for almost a year, and I have a serious love/hate relationship with my blog for all the same reasons you’re struggling with. There are several stories I want to tell, topics I want to tackle, but I’ve caused some uproar with my family in the past by writing about certain things, and now I filter more, which is so incredibly stifling. I’ve also found that attention spans are short and people are afraid to engage with serious or controversial content, which also frustrates the heck out of me. Blogging is intentionally public and if I didn’t enjoy and covet the readership and feedback, I’d be journaling and not blogging. I’m not sure how to find a groove, but I hope when you find out, you’ll share the secret.