The only point of this post is to say: I’ve written a lot of posts for this blog.
I was going to wait till I got to post number 1,000 to say anything, but according to my calculations I’ll get to that post in 1.42948718 years (precision counts) and I’m impatient.
So I wanted to say that I’ve been writing this blog since April 2011 and think I’ve met my goals for it. See my “About” page for those stated goals. My primary goal, being an unsuccessful blogger, I’ve largely met. Face it, almost no one has heard of this blog and by internet standards site traffic is close to zero.
One goal accomplished.
Next thing I listed was bunch of different things I was going to explore in writing. Most of those I have met, but I do feel that I’ve let down my readers by not offering many essays in literary criticism and have been neglecting any substantive work on intertextual analysis of literary works. I was thinking of a series of blog posts comparing Melville’s Moby Dick to Steinbeck’s East of Eden. Sadly I’ve largely abandoned that project as I keep falling asleep while try to do close readings of either book.
In paragraph 5 of my “About” page I mentioned that I delight in bad jokes, bad poetry, and have a need for power tools. I shamelessly post my bad jokes and pictures of my power tools. And yes, I have been known to start showing pictures of my power tools when people at work start showing their cat/dog/kid pictures at the office, “Yes, cute puppy. Hey, have I shown you my new track saw, it’s a beauty.”
But about poetry – I’ve kind changed on that. When I wrote the “About” page, I was thinking more of Vogon poetry, (as in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, see the link here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vogon ). At some point after starting this blog, I received radiation treatment for my prostate cancer and one major side effect of that treatment has been a love of poetry and desire to write it (I was hoping for x-ray vision as a super power, but instead I got poetry).
Sometimes, I even write a good poem. Quite different from my stated goal. I have considered rewriting my “About” page, but normally after I look at it I think, “Darn that’s good, I’ll leave it alone.” Although there are times I wonder who wrote it and who is the Andrew person the author is talking about.
Another side effect of the radiation, I guess.
Okay, okay, I love this line, “I am at one with my duality.” Ha! I laugh every time I read that line. I am not sure I wrote it – likely I stole it and forgot who I stole it from.
Back to the goals. I did state that I had boundaries for this blog that I wouldn’t cross and that I wouldn’t say what they are. Since I’ve never written about what I won’t write about, I’ve achieved the goal of not telling you what I won’t write about. As to whether or not I have or haven’t crossed a boundary I’ve set for myself – I’m not telling.
I did mention in there that I am the “gray beard” at work – as in the oldest guy in the office. Recently I found out that I am in fact older than the CEO and founder of the company I “work” for.
I, in fact, do have a gray beard. Well that is when I let it grow out it’s all gray, but I shave every day so no one will know that my beard is gray. So far I don’t have any gray hair on my head (and yes, I have a full head of non-gray hair when most of my friends went gray last decade). Heather has suggested that I should grow out my beard just to have some gray on my head. I’ve countered that when my hair turns gray I’ll grow a long beard, let my hair grow long, tie it in a pony tail and wear tie dyed tee-shirts like an elderly hippy who’s escaped the 60’s. It’s an empty threat really, sigh …
Well, I was only writing today to tell you I’ve been at this awhile and will keep writing stuff.
So please join me some time in the fall of 2020, when I get to post 1,000.
I promise I’ll write something interesting for that post.
Andrew
Andrew's View of the Week 
Keep at it Andrew we’re loving it!
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The pressure, the pressure! 🙂
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So glad you’re still here writing. To last this long and still be fresh and relevant is a tribute too you. Can’t wait for 1000.
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I hope I haven’t gone stale by 1000 – there are days that I wonder if I’m past my sell by date.
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“I am at one with my duality.” That sounds soooo Andrew!! Congrats on 778 and let’s go for another 778 (but leave the cancer thing out this time…!!). Love your bad jokes, your good prose and poetry, and mystified at the whole woodworking thing. Cheers!
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That’s me – all over the place.
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I’m almost afraid to read my About page, Andrew. I forgot all about that. I know that when I started my blog I didn’t have much of any idea of what I was preparing to start. It didn’t take much courage because I was convinced no one would read it, and that included most of my family. That we’ve managed to find camaraderie through this medium is enough for me. Someone very close to me is just about to start treatments for prostate Cancer. I’ll have to tell him to be prepared for new talents. I wonder if he’ll develop an interest in poetry! I do plan to share your book of poems with him. Congratulations on 778. And cheers to many more!
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Since I wrote my “About” page, I have changed a few things about what I had originally planned. For me this started out as a way for me to force myself to write regularly. Having an audience is a great bonus. You friend should do well, but there are a number of odd side effects.
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You made me check — I’ve only done 293. I could point out I haven’t been at it as long as you, but even allowing for that I’ve got quite a ways to go. So instead I’ll just say well done, Andrew! You kept your quality up, tried new things and been entertaining to boot. In my book, that counts as success. 👍
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now the pressure is on – keep up the quality…
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I like your thoughtful look at your ‘about’ page.
I’m going for 1000 posts too – with a goal of this fall when my 10th blogging anniversary rolls around.
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I’m looking forward to reading that post.
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I’ve written a series of posts on the topic of ‘Wordplay’! https://gogreygirl.wordpress.com/tag/quotes-wordplay/
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I’ll check it out.
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Congratulations! Write on! 🙂
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🙂
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Hmmm… After a little laughter about the goals that you may or may not have achieved and that you won’t tell us whether you did or didn’t achieve those goals that we have no way of knowing whether or not you even have, I thought this was a really fun read. Your mind is scary… That’s not a bad thing just kind of how mine works all the time… My wife asked me to not grow a beard anymore as it is all gray. Not the hair on my head distinguished sideburns aside, but that’s it. Good luck!
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You know, my wife is always telling me, “you’re scary.” I think I’ll leave the “did I or didn’t I,” for post 1,000. 😉
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I hear ya!
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Your About page and your accomplishment of goals say nothing about your rabid stable of fans who depend upon your wit and crotchety wisdom to get through their week. What about that goal, Andrew?
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That’s more a wonderful side effect. 😉
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Hey, congrats on Post 778! I figure any time we can get words out of our brains and onto the keyboard (especially as we…ahem…mature, it’s worth celebrating!
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At my age I’m starting to appreciate my dad’s words, “Any day above ground is good.”
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A classic post that should be in every personal blogger’s trunk of templates. Go Andrew!
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It’s a fun way to get a post out. 😉
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Standing by and enjoying the bits, pieces and sawdust of your life.
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Well, you should have been in my workshop yesterday – lots of sawdust.
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An entertaining post, Andrew. Your poetry book is only available in print and Amazon doesn’t like shipping to South Africa because the books get stolen. I hope you will release an ebook soon. Do post about it if you do.
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I didn’t know that. I only asked about the US and the UK. I didn’t have a plan to do an e-book for this title, but if that changes, I’ll be posting it here.
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You wrote something interesting today. I chuckled as I read each word. Onward!
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On second thought, I did not chuckle over each word. I did however chuckle my way through the entire piece! Blessings always.
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at many words then.
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On second thought, I did not chuckle at each word. I did, however, chuckle my way through the entire piece! Blessings always……
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Whoops! This must be my crazy night. I’m going to bed. I’d like to blame it on my computer, but …….
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Good night! 🙂
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I’ll admit to a little giggling on my side while I was writing it.
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I am glad you will “keep writing stuff.”
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I’m going to write me a whole box full of “stuff.” 🙂
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Hitchhiker’ Guide is my jam! Also, that moment when you can’t remember if you thought of something or if you saw it somewhere and forgot about it, I can fully relate to.
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I still quote the guide from time to time!
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