Your Blog Is a Big, Friendly Dog
In August, I shall attempt to blog every day. Because I am a crazy person. Come find out what led to this momentous decision!
Once upon a time, blogger Judy Dunn and I had several exchanges concerning the concept of a blog as a lab.
No, no, no. As you’ll see if you click through that link above, I don’t really mean that a blog is a big, friendly (and apparently put-upon) dog. What I mean is that a blog is a laboratory where you get to make a splendid mess in an effort to see what happens when you mix a bunch of stuff together that most people wouldn’t dream of mixing together.
My Latest Blogging Dog Experiment
I don’t know why this idea popped into my head.
Well, that’s sort of a lie. I’m pretty sure that this idea popped into my head because I subscribe to sci-fi writer John Scalzi’s blog “Whatever”. Mr. Scalzi blogs every day. This triggered in my head the thought:
Now, the part I honestly don’t know the because for is the part where I think I might be able to do this just because I see Mr. Scalzi doing it.
I guess it’s because of reasons, yet again.
Monkey See, Monkey Do
Ooh aah. I deserve bananas.
So. I shall embark upon an experimental adventure: For the month of August, I shall attempt to blog every day.
Because I obviously don’t have enough to do and I am a crazy person.
I don’t know what shall come of this, if anything. Maybe it will result in things most glorious. Maybe it will serve only to highlight my lack of an inkling of a conceptual hypothesis of reality. Maybe it will break me forever of stringing together prepositional phrases.
Zounds.
So, we’ll see. Josh has indicated that he might consider joining me in this venture, though I have yet to hear from him a definite yea or nay. On Twitter, @AstridBryce has offered me incentive as follows (click to embiggen!):
My dearest, most darlingest readers, prepare yourselves for pulchritudinous cramazingness.
Or a zombie-ish apocalypse.
I said that I figured a lack of structure was going to run me aground. Plus, I tend to blog long. I need short ideas.
Will you give me cookies if I do it?
I heard your lack of structure concerns but did not equate them with a definite answer one way or t’other. ; )
YES. I WILL GIVE YOU COOKIES. HOMEMADE ONES.
Is the homemade cookies thing a trick? Are you a terrible baker of things?
The lack of structure continues to be a concern. Can I start now and bank some? What are the rules?
Ack! Whatever happened to flying by the seat of one’s pants?!?
Okay. First off, I am a mediocre cooker of things, but I AM AN AB-FAB BAKER OF THINGS. When it comes to cookies, you need fear neither disgustedness nor illness nor inadvertent death. This I swear.
Second, you may certainly start a blog cushion now and apply said cushion as needed during August.
Third, there is one rule. Are you ready? Here it is:
1. There are no rules.
And if you get that reference, I will give you more structure. ; )
Okay, I’m kind of seeing the dog as metaphor for blog (or blogger) now. Because, like golden retrievers, labs are: big, beautiful, friendly, lovable, and attention-seeking.
” For the month of August, I shall attempt to blog every day.”
To which Yoda would say” “Try? There is no try. There is only do or not do.” (Or something like that.)
Just kidding. However, I think the blog-as-lab part will be a better test if you actually do post every day. Because then you will have some amazing data to analyze. You go, kiddo!
*sigh* Judy, I sit corrected. You are right, indeed: If I take out the “try” and replace it with “absolutely will,” I’ll be far more likely (1) to succeed in blogging daily and (2) to get a measurable benefit from doing so.
My only reason for qualifying the announcement with “try” is that I never know from one day to the next what this pregnancy business will bring. ; )
Still, pregnancy or no, what you’re saying holds true.
So, thanks for the firm nudge as well as the encouragement! Both mean a lot to me. : )
Good luck! Cookies are a great motivator. I recently baked a batch of snickerdoodles.
Thanks, Anna! And yes, baked goods are a lovely motivator, indeed. I’ve never tried baking snickerdoodles; maybe I’ll make some of those when I make Josh his chocolate chip cookies at the end of August. ; )
Three more days to go! You have done an amazing job this August. What kind of cookies do you want?
I feel I owe full disclosure: I am not a good cook. My husband, however, is a fantastic cook. He has promised to help me with the cookies. Basically, he will make the cookies while I help with small tasks that have no chance of hurting the final result.
Did you know that a great way to soften the butter before mixing it in is to literally beat it? I love that step. I attack the butter with a stick (our french style rolling pin). Most people just microwave the butter, but beating it is so much more satisfying.
Good luck these last few days of August, and good luck with life in general. Just remember, you are awesome, no matter what.
Hi Astrid!
Thanks so much for your encouragements. I’m sorry I’ve taken so long to reply. The last few weeks of pregnancy were way too full, and then life turned upside down when the baby came. It’s still not rightside up yet, and probably never will be…. ; ) Everything blog-related (writing mine and reading others’) has fallen mostly by the wayside.
But at least I’m somewhat functional now! So hopefully, I can get back into blog stuff one step at a time.
Are we still on for cookies? This reminds me that I also owe Josh some, since he met his blogging goal, too. I wonder how difficult it will be to bake cookies while taking care of a baby…hmmm….
I hope all is well with you! I clicked over to your blog and see that you’ve been blogging more. AWESOME. I’m jealous. : ) Keep it up!
Courtney
I’m glad the cookies inspired you. I think you deserve three dozen for your fantastic efforts. What kind of cookies would you like?
Don’t worry about the response time. Have you ever heard Jonathon Coulton’s song “You Ruined Everything, In the Nicest Way”? It’s about the birth of his daughter. I don’t think life will ever be the same again.
By the way, I think you blog more than me. Go you. Let me know what kind of cookies you want, and how to get them to you.
Take care and good luck.
As I mentioned in answer to your other comment, an email concerning cookie details is forthcoming. ; )
No, I haven’t heard Coulton’s song, but just the title sounds like it fits perfectly! I knew going into this that my life would get turned upside down — but it’s one thing to know it and yet another thing entirely to experience it! ; )