By Way of Introduction

One of the prerequisites for creating a 'blog seems to be having something to say, preferably something useful or interesting to someone else. I can only hope that this is the case with me; I have plenty to say, that much is true. As to how much that will interest others, I am less sure.

Regardless, I want to write. I want a daily record of thoughts, opinions, feelings, etc. I hope to post something every day; obviously I cannot guarantee that. As Judd Nelson so correctly observed in "The Breakfast Club", it's an imperfect world, and I fit right in.

I was a English Literature and Writing Major years ago, and fancied that I would make writing a hobby/career while working in other venues. That lasted for a couple of years, until real life concerns, disappointment and general ennui conspired to more or less end my writing discipline. I've tried various formats to get myself motivated; APAs, online writing groups, etc. Nothing stuck, though I suppose the obligation is not on the format to "stick" but on myself to stick with it, regardless of the fate of the format.

So here I am. I hope to jot down story ideas, cultural rants, maybe some poetry as the mood strikes me. I used to think that the tyranny of writing something each day even if you had nothing new to say was kind of pointless, and that waiting till you were "ready" was wiser. Now I think there's a real purpose to just slugging away day after day, building a record of thoughts and ideas even if most of them go nowhere. Someone wise once said that a goal is just a wish if you don't write it down, and I think that is pertinent to this endeavor. All the great story ideas in the world will be eventually forgotten and never acted on if they don't get logged somewhere, and for now, for me, this is that somewhere.

I love movies; science fiction, horror, all types really. Not so crazy about most of the stuff I'm seeing lately, though. And while I used to be something of a television addict, I find that besides news I have less than a handful of shows that I can't miss. No one seems to have any new ideas, and no one seems to be able to create likeable characters in interesting, believable stories. Even the "reality" shows aren't real, at least in the sense of connecting on an emotional level with the audience and reflecting something of their own experience back upon them.

Books? Heh, well, I'm ashamed to admit how long it's been since I read a book. Another passion sacrificed for less meaningful pursuits. Still love classics like Hawthorne, Poe, John Steinbeck, Stephen Crane, and look to them as the template for what good writing can be.

I also enjoy talking about politics, though that fine art has become brutish and increasingly shrill of late. Heaven forbid anyone look at both sides of an issue and not come down squarely on one side or the other.

That may be enough for an introductory post. At least, it may have to be, since I'm running late. I might write something about "SpiderMan2" tomorrow. I'll try.

Till then,

Michael