Tuesday, June 28, 2005

Why Blogger?

About a year ago I heard about blogs while watching a show called “Screen Savers” on the Tech TV channel with my semi-tech-geekish hubby, Guy. I thought to myself, “Why would anyone want to put a journal online for who-knows-who to read?” A few months passed and I began to realize that for an illustrator (Guy), it could be a handy way to put a sketch or other art up in log-type fashion where people could look at it and make comments, etc, but I still figured it wasn’t for me.

Not too long ago, we started reading blogs of a couple of Guy’s young men. Boy are they clever! And then a strange thing happened. While reading these two boy’s blogs, we stumbled into a whole community of people we know. I’m still trying to work out why a few of our old high school friends know our neighbors the stunningly handsome Nate Perkins and Mat6t, but there was some connection somehow.

Anyway, these are a few things that finally convinced me I’d try blogging:

• One, lurking is rude. I figured if I was going to read other people’s stuff, I ought to be brave enough to be read. Mat6t gently reminded his readers of this.

• Two, if I blogged I could count that as a journal and then not feel guilty on family-history-is-the-topic Sundays. One more thing not to feel guilty about? Hook me up!

• Three, it could be fun. There are quite a few people in this little community I wouldn’t mind keeping up with.

• And four, I was inspired by teenagers.

I love teenagers. I loved being a teenager and I miss teaching teenagers in high school. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not trying to re-live the glory days or anything—I don’t want to be a teenager again! There are things in the past that are best left there. But teenagers know some things that adults sometimes forget. I just had the chance to spend three whole wonderful days with teenagers and these kids reminded me how to do some things I sometimes forget when I’m busy being a grown-up. Like how to live in the moment and have a great time. And how to wrestle. How to jump around, yelling and singing rediculous things and dancing until 1 in the morning. How to tease and laugh (till your sides hurt—remember that?) and not take things too seriously. And how to notice and write about really funny things. I’ll never be the writer Mat6t is. But maybe I can remember a little bit how to see things in the novel way teenagers often do. And that’s fun.

Like asparagrus and chimleys. Maybe I’ll write about those next.

14 comments:

Otto said...

For a while I taught 13-14 year old Sunday School. It was my favorite calling. Maybe I just feel more comfortable around people who act the same way I do (some of the time).

Kactiguy said...

I never grew up but I guess that isn't enough to keep you feeling young. It takes a bunch of teenagers. I understand...sniff. btw I took the kids to Arctic Circle to meet with some of those bloggers. I was fun. You missed out.

Lorien said...

Guy-AAAARGH! You know how it kills me to miss a good time. I could have been playing road kill with an oreo blizzard and old friends. But instead I'm up at the Homestead.... in my own hotel room... with peace and quiet....hmmmm. Maybe that was an ok trade.
Otto-I just got released from YW a few months ago. I had spent a total of about 8 of the last 9 years there (between two wards) and really, that is home. Now I hang with the RS ladies. Ohhhhh ya. Guess what our last meeting-formerly-known-as-homemaking was? Hormone replacement therapy. Gotta keep from flashing, baby!

topher clark said...

Lo - I wasn't going to tell you about Guy coming to AC, because I thought he was keeping it all a big secret. But now that he's told you, can I tell you how great it was to see him and how freaky it was to see how big your kids are?

We missed you and we will do it again when you can come.

PS. I cannot comment on teenagers, because collectively I hate them. But maybe I should change my attitude.

Lorien said...

Collectively they are idiots! I think we all had our moments at that age. It's when you get to play with them a few at a time and really get to know them that it's fun.

Nate Perkins said...

Don't forget that we reminded you what it is like to spoon. That's very important.

Lorien said...

How could I forget? And I thank you for that, Nate.

Christian F said...

Hey Lorien. Great blog -- it's strange to run into old friends like this.

I count my blog to keep myself from feeling guilty about not writing in a journal and I have created a blog family tree (a list of whose blog influenced whom to start blogging) to keep myself from feeling guilty about not doing genealogy.

Lorien said...

Hey Christian! It is kind of an odd but fun thing, this cyber world of friends.

blog-ealogy, you are doing it, your blog-ealogy. (sung, of course, to a familiar primary tune) I would fit in there on your tree somewhere after Mat6t, Nate, Chris, Otto, you and Kacy. Presumtious to insert yourself into another's blog-ealogy tree, I know.

Chad said...

Lorien, I'm not up on Otto's circle of friends but I sort of knew Guy through him way back when. I didn't realize he was your husband. And, furthermore, that he is an illustrator. I'll have to keep that in mind next time we are looking for some original artwork. (I work at a chilren's museum). Consider me as one of those "who-knows-who's" reading your blogs. So far so good.

Lorien said...

Children's museum? Cool. What museum?

Chad said...

The Children's Museum of Houston, rated the best one in the country (shameless plug). Our web site is not as good as it could be but it's at www.cmhouston.org.

Lorien said...

Sweet. We'll check it out.

Anonymous said...

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