You can’t see me in this photo but I am lying flat on my back, the victim of a stray coconut. Can’t say who threw it at me, just that it happened.
Out of respect to new readers I need to let you know that you won’t find me in that photo. Hell you’d be hard pressed to find a shot of me anywhere in this joint. I tend to be the shy and retiring sort of fellow who prefers to operate from behind a mask. That is because I have secret fantasies of becoming a really cool superhero.
However before I do that I need to get my butt into better shape because that superhero spandex is pretty damn unforgiving. There is nothing more embarrassing than being the chunky guy in the spandex and though I can combat that by stuffing a salami into my pants I prefer not to.
And that my friends is why in just a few moments I am going to hit the treadmill. Not to mention that I am exhausted from lack of sleep and wrestling with the renovations that are going on around here. I am a writer, not a designer. I can see what I want to do. I can write about it and describe it but I can’t translate that vision into action with the same precision.
If I didn’t have my own set of rug rats enrolled in private school I would gladly pay someone to do this for me, but I can’t swing it now. And since I can’t swing it you get to enjoy watching me swing the sledge hammer. Funny thing is that in person I am relatively handy so it is not like I can’t do anything with my hands.
Next time someone takes a picture of me from behind I’ll flex and show you the mighty muscles I have developed over years of massive amounts of exercise. Woohoo. Can’t you feel the burn. Aren’t you jealous.
Don’t be because you are a better you than you are me. Really, you couldn’t be me if you tried and you wouldn’t want to be. I am a storm walker and you really don’t want to be.
I am also feeling a bit crazed, confused and frustrated. Blame that on a million different things, but not fifth grade math because last night I made it my bitch. Really, those fractions cried and begged for mercy.
Anyhoo, I am clearly a bit slappy but I like to think that makes me a better father and certainly a better dad blogger. Part of the way that we learn how to do things is by doing. Let me repeat, learn by doing and not by watching.
OTOH, (which stands for on the other hand) there is something to be said for reading the manual before you jump in. Unless you are like me and confident in your ability to learn how to fly, build a parachute or develop the ability to levitate before hitting the ground.
Actually if you are me you are built out of concrete so when you hit the ground both of you crack. Just remember that when you get to be my age you start to notice that the nick, scrape and bruises don’t disappear as quickly as they used to. It is kind of frustrating because I don’t feel like I am forty something. Ask my kids how old I am and they’ll tell you that dad still runs with the children.
It is true. Some people run the bulls but I scoff at them. Damn bulls aren’t nearly as crazy or as nasty as an overtired child. I should know, I am a Taurus and we know all about being a bull.
More Changes
Brothers and sisters, social media is about people. It is about developing relationships with people. It is about walking out among the people because you are one of them, no better and no worse. Ok, I am lying, I am better than some of you. Certainly more obnoxious, but that is me.
Really, this blog is a decent representation of me. If you read it cover to cover you will learn things that some of the people in my life don’t know and might not ever. Some of that is because they don’t ask and they don’t listen. And some of it is because I don’t volunteer.
This blog is like me and you- a work in progress. It is filled with changes and is constantly evolving. If it works the way I want we’ll see growth here and within or so I hope.
If you are reading this and not part of the community here I want to stick out my hand and invite you to join. In the near future we are going to revisit the About Me page and I’ll share again with you what I am trying to do and what I am about.
But for now let’s do this. I am Jack. I am a writer and a father. I am a dad blogger, but I write about more than just blogging. My goal is to become a published author and to play center field for the Dodgers. Somewhere in between I expect to be the shortest power forward to ever play for the Lakers.
Welcome to the blog. Hope you decide to subscribe, fan my page and hang out with us. Say hi in the comments. Got to run for now as work beckons.
P.S. Here are the last five songs to shuffle through my iPod.
- I Was Wrong– Social Distortion
- I am on Fire– Bruce Springsteen
- Sympathy For the Devil– The Rolling Stones (still one of my favorite versions)
- The Prisoner– Iron Maiden
- Sunday Morning Coming Down-Â Kris Kristofferson
I always wanted to be the shortest center the LA Lakers ever had, but that wasn’t happening either. lol And I was listening to Sympathy for the Devil a couple of days ago as well.
I think that most people’s blogs are some kind of representation of themselves, and I also believe that’s a good thing. Those are the blogs worth reading because even if the topic isn’t a great one, the personality of that person makes it worthwhile to read. That’s why I always tell people to write from their feelings, even if their teaching something, and others will feel that and respond to it well.
Some dreams never die. I’d be willing to assemble a team of friends and take on Bill Russell and company. Of course I am talking about now because I figure that if a group of forty somethings can’t beat seventy year olds we have no business playing. 😉
I agree with your advice. It is sound. Write from your feelings and good things tend to happen because like you said people do respond. That energy we put out, it is matched and acknowledged.
IMHO, learn by doing is definitely the way to go! just get dirty and get it done.
Kind of pasty for a LA surfer dude……just sayin’……
You should probably put up the ‘don’t mind my dust’ sign as you are still open for business and the game is on the big screen, the beer is cold and the couch is comfy; come on in……
We are all evolving, as we should be; we are Transformers……….:)
And now I’ve got the theme song from the Transformers cartoon playing over and over in my mind. Thanks for that Bill:) (and no…I don’t watch it now. My kids did though, and like Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, the tunes stay with me:)
Hi Bill,
I spent the majority of my time as a kid outdoors. In high school I was on the swim team and we practiced at an outdoor pool so I was outside for several more hours for that.
The point being is that I tan easily and I spent a huge chunk of my life being asked if I was mixed because my skin was so dark. I am quite white compared to what I used to look like.
Anyhoo, you are right, I should put up a sign letting people know that we are still open for business. Hope you are enjoying your Sunday.
Hi Jack.
I switched from Blogger to self hosted WordPress last week and getting to grips with the ten zillion (give or take a few) WordPress options, widgets and plugins.
I am still looking for the — for me — right lauout. I never changed the contents of the blog, subject wise. I like it the way it is and I hope my readers do too!
// Jan
Hi Jans,
I know what you mean. When you leave hosted and move to self hosting you have so many more choices to make, but it is a good thing. It provides you with so many more options and so much more control.
“It provides you with so many more options and so much more control.”
Amen to that!
Hey Jack
No doubt you really dressed well with Genesis it’s very great review I didn’t use it ever but most of my blogger friends are happy with that.
Hi Rizwan,
Thank you. I really like Genesis- it has been great.
I LOVE the new look! I’ve been considering asking my computer guy about Genesis. I’ve got Headway theme right now. And since I’m totally useless on tech/back end, I will not brave the heights you’ve taken to do it on my own. What were the key reasons you decided on Genesis? What were you using before?
A couple of things (unsolicited constructive feedback…if you don’t want to hear it, just turn the volume off, haha!)
I’d love to be able to read the quote in the header. I of course know it off by heart, but the black font disappears into the beautiful hills. And it’s just too dam good a quote to get lost.
Also, once you navigate off the Home page to other tabs, it might not be obvious as to how to get back to the Home page. Intuitively I just clicked on the header, but without a Home tab, and knowing some of the issues I’ve dealt with (example: people didn’t realize that if they clicked on RSS feed button at my place they could choose an email option, so they didn’t sign up. I’m correcting that in the next iteration of my site), people might be a tad frustrated about getting back to your Home page.
BEAUTIFUL job Jack! Cheers! Kaarina
Hello Kaarina,
I have used Thesis, Headway and now Genesis. Thus far Genesis seems to be the easiest. I don’t know if some of that has to do with the the experience of tweaking the other themes, so keep that in mind.
The decision to switch to this theme came from having seen what other bloggers like Julie and Erin had done to their blogs. I think Jason might be using Prose too.
Anyway, it is a WIP but I feel pretty good about it and I very much appreciate the feedback. I expect that I will probably swap out several headers. At the moment I am sort of playing around, but your point about the text is important.
And I will see what I can do to make it easier to navigate. Thank you again, much appreciated.
Hope you are having a great weekend.
Yea, it’s Prose 🙂 The writer’s best friend.
Hi Julie,
Yes it really does seem to be a writer’s friend. Thank you again for your feedback about Prose, it made the decision to switch much easier.
Hey Jack,
I’m in 🙂
It’s awesome that you decided to go with Genesis. I believe that you won’t have any big problems with your blog from now on. I’ve been using Genesis for a few months and I’m very happy with it. I know several other people who are too, and I’m sure you’ll get many to help you if you have any questions.
Hi Jens,
I am excited about the change and I think that I like the new look very much. Still a lot to do, but it is really coming along.
I agree with Jens there Jack!
Genesis is wonderful indeed and all the new changes on your blog look great as well. I really think you are doing superbly 🙂
Looking forward to more changes now 🙂
Hi Harleena,
Thank you. Thus far I am really happy with it. I am slowly but surely learning how to make it work.
I kind of enjoy this creative process. Thank you again for your comment, I really appreciate it.
You certainly have eclective taste. Is that how you spell that/ It looks all wrong, but I trust you know what I mean.
Hi Bridget,
Eclectic is a good word for me- I listen to anything and everything. I definitely have my favorites, but overall I just love music.