Seven Things
I know enough about Google Adsense to realise this title will probably bring up an ad that says something to the effect of, “Do YOU Like Miley Cyrus?!” But anyway…
I haven’t been blogging much lately. I probably won’t be doing too much until the new year. I confess I felt a lot of guilt from breaking out of my blogging routine and that Sundays felt weirdly empty without the weekly religious observational rant. But the truth is this is the end of the year, there are festivities to be had. It is also a time to reflect. I am increasingly excited about 2009. Not in a wishy-washy “it’s time to start anew” way. Rather I have big plans for the year. I concede I don’t feel very accomplished as 2008 draws to a close. But this was an important year, I learnt so much that will help in 2009. But this kind of sentiment is for another (future) blog post.
Jeb Dickerson has recently started a new blog and to introduce it, and himself, he started by posting a 7 Seven Things About Me type meme. He requests that I do the same. So without further ado…
Seven Things You Never Knew You Never Knew
1. My family don’t know that I blog or make videos or podcast. Given that I resigned from my previous job to focus more on these pursuits, and that my family know nothing of them, there is a general expectation that I do nothing. When an aunt asked me at a family Christmas lunch recently what I had been up to, I choked momentarily, wondered if I could just pretend I didn’t hear the question. Eventually I sort of murmured, “Not much, research.” The next question was something about me getting a job in the new year. I said that this was something I intended to do. My brother-in-law interjected with some condescending remark. I don’t know why I can’t find a way to be more honest about these activities. I’m quite proud of them, but I’m also wary of being criticised and trivialised. (I do intend to get a job in 2009. Though at this stage I am only considering part time employment so I can continue to develop my websites and ambitions.)
2. Next year will be my tenth year anniversary from completing high school. It is also the ten year anniversary of Metallic Scream – an interactive multimedia cd rom full of original music, lyrics, poetry, and photography. I’ve decided that it is time to make music again. My parents have bought me a keyboard stand and some cables for me for Christmas. I’ve ordered a beautiful Yamaha Audiogram 6 Computer Recording System. I’m excited at the prospect, but, again, nervous about sharing the results with the world. I love singing. I uploaded a few random singing videos on YouTube and was always hurt by critical comments. But life’s too short not to do this. I have one song basically finished, in terms of the songwriting, and hope to have it up on my YouTube channel some time in January (perhaps to coincide with my birthday). I hope also to release a new original song every month of 2009.
3. When I grow up (lol) I want to be Jerry H. Cooke.
4. I liked YouTube better before it had an Australian site. It was fun for a while being able to differentiate so easily between Australian and non-Australian content creators, and I am honoured to have a handful of really close Australian friends who create videos on that site. But for the most part I think it distracted me from my earlier group of YouTube friends. People who I stumbled across, and who stumbled across me, in quite organic and beautiful ways. I like believing that this really is a world wide web and that connections are exercises in serendipity and that you really truly know when you find one of your ‘peeps’ because you know them, and know they are kindred spirits.
5. I own a ouija ‘spirit’ board fashioned like the one in the television series Charmed. I’ve never really used it and keep it on mostly as a potential video prop. I do however love mentioning it at random intervals and am frequently fascinated by the horror it seems to inspire in both Christians and Occultists. (Interestingly, mentioning “Aleister Crowley” has a similar impact.)
6. I am acutely aware that I process the world in certain ways and attempt whenever possible to surround myself with people who experience things differently. For example, I love Jordan‘s energy and creativity, and Leuke‘s positivity and ability to be ‘totally happy’ most of the time.
7. I have next to no time for New Year’s eve. And, yet, I am completely enchanted with Chinese New Year. I suppose it is my love affair with Asian food and culture coming through. But there is just something magical about it. The Chinese zodiac and the parades and dances and constumes. To me, traditional “New Years” is about people drinking too much and being subjected to grandiose firework displays.
1. I completely understand – I’m not as entrenched in the blog/video/podcast world as you, but I still recognize they are very (for me at least) personal expressions. And sadly, family is not always the ideal audience for such expressions.
2. Wow, very impressive John, really. I haven’t heard any of your songs (but guess where I’m headed next?), but that you have the internal strength to pursue something of great personal value despite naysayers says a lot about you.
3. I don’t want to grow up.
4. Haven’t delved into Youtube much, but your description of the world wide web is spot on and I love to think of it that way. Do you think that’s bound to change? With the growth of everything internet, will there naturally be a segmentation? The breaking down of the whole into smaller parts? And does that take away from the experience?
5. I played that game (ouija) when I was about 9 years old and it scared me to death. Never played again, and I see that pattern continuing for the duration.
6. I think for creative people, this is natural. Life isn’t so rigid as to allow for only ‘our’ way of thinking. We (and I’m counting myself in the ‘creative’ camp – which is quite a departure for me, actually) recognize the value in different thought processes, ideas, expressions, etc.
7. I’m a rat. :)
Cheers.
John that was an amazing post! It was very well written and I found it extremely entertaining
As I read from #1 to #5 I was highly entertained with it… Then I read 6 and was just blown away by the fact that someone has said that they love something about me. I was saddened when I finished 7, why? Because one of the most amazing blog posts I’ve ever read just ended.
Thank you John, this post has made my year!
Yes Mr adsense I do believe I am probably smarter than Miley cyris, her being a ditsy blond and all but no i will not take your survey I have more important things to do like commenting on johns blog.
this blog was great! although serious in parts I found other parts really funny, especially 3 and 5, haha
goodluck in the ney year with the songs and music, I know you will do well. =)