Here We Go

So, it’s taken me a while to start this thing, this blog. I’m finally doing it and am not one hundred percent comfortable with that yet. But here it goes anyway.

Why am I starting a blog? Good question. As my friend Dustin’s blog--blogsareaboutego.blogspot.com--states in the title, blogs are about ego. All writing is, though, and that is a fact that I am coming to terms with as I venture deeper and deeper into my attempts to be a writer. Writers feel that they have something someone else wants to hear. This is egotistical. But, ask anyone who writes and you will get the same answer as to why we write—we have to. It is not really up to us. Like a junkie, if we go without for any length of time, we become irritable or worse, and the need builds until we sit down and get some words out. I have been writing for a number of years and only recently have I wanted anyone, much less encouraged anyone to look at any of it (besides in college where those pesky workshops force you to show other people your writing). I mention this only to further the point that writing itself is less about the writer thinking he has something to say, and more about a need to say something. And so, writing is less about ego (hopefully) and more about necessity.

Blogs, however, seem to be more ego-driven. They venture into journalism and away from artistic endeavors. Journalism means to say that the writer has something to tell a reader. It is not writing for writing sake. But, in the end, you, reader, have that fantastic quality in yourself—free will. It is ultimately up to you if you log onto your computer, check your email, check your bank account, send some emails, read some celebrity gossip, and eventually bring your eyes to rest on this page. This, in the end, is my solace in starting this blog: you can take it or leave it. I accept no responsibility for time wasted looking at this thing. It is your time. Do with it what you please. If you come here, hopefully I can offer you some mild entertainment. Or, at the very least, an update as to my goings-on for those of you who might give a damn.

Moving on.

What you will find on this blog. In the early stages I expect this thing to be a re-cap of my daily events of my life in Brooklyn, which as the sub-heading above implies, may not make for the best reading. (Closed circuit to listeners of The Hold Steady—since I’m living and writing in Brooklyn, does that make me a Brooklyn writer?) This expectation is a result of the fact that this is a big, new city and there is a lot to take in, and therefore, even if I’m not taking full advantage of everything the city has to offer, a lot to tell. And, since I am apparently incapable of sending mass emails, this will offer people who care to know, a place to see what I am up to.

I hope that for your sake and mine that this quickly becomes a place where you can read things of greater importance and of greater interest. What that will be, I’m not sure. Thoughts on books, music, politics, life, love, etc. As noted above, I take no responsibility if the content is actually of any importance or interest. I will try and I will hope. As I figure this thing out—I am not very technologically advanced—I will try to offer links to other things on the web that I find interesting, and which I think you may as well. Like, for instance, my friend Trevor’s blog, http://theamazingpudding.vox.com/. Unlike me, Trevor is technologically savvy, and therefore his blog is filled with videos of concerts and other fun stuff that just make my old computer move at a snail’s pace. He can also be counted on to take pictures at social events, and so, if you need a re-cap of an evenings events—for any reason, see St. Patrick’s Day post—The Amazing Pudding may offer some helpful hints. Two other places I will direct you right off the bat are where my New York roommates/friends can be found on the internet. This goes along with everything I’ve mentioned so far, as it gives an update on me out here and directs you to interesting things on the world wide web. Chris Koza is at www.myspace.com/chriskozaband and Kate Casablanca can be found at www.myspace.com/casanovakate . The living situation out here is one of the best things about this little adventure I’m on. Chris still says some of the strangest things you will ever hear, and getting to know Kate has been nothing short of wonderful. Plus they are both so motivated and doing such great work creatively (Chris is a musician and Kate is a visual artist), that I am forced to try to throw my hat in the ring and get to work on my own art. More on them and the living situation to come.

This maiden post is becoming burdensome, so let me throw in a few last things here and let you go (if you’ve made it this far, remember the disclaimer).

On the name of the blog, This Is How I Love You: I wanted to use a line from one of my poems and this fit the bill. It seems to work since, if you know me at all, you know that I am drastically more comfortable expressing myself with the written word than with those spoken. So, in a sense, this is how I show my love to those who care enough to come see what I’m doing…with my writing. Also, as stated above, lacking in tech-savvyness, I accidentally created another blog when I was trying to make this one (don’t ask). It is www.readingthemrightnow.blogspot.com, which is another line from a poem I am working on, one that I took from Dustin (an act of reciprocity for the title to his blog). Even in what should be mundane emails, he has quite a way with words. I plan on making this a site you can link to for things of a literary nature. What that means, I’m not sure. Don’t go there now. There’s nothing there.

A quick example of why I am the most boring person in Brooklyn: spent my weekend nights this past weekend watching The Last King of Scotland and Pans Labyrinth, rather than going out in “the most exciting city in the world.” And today? Haven’t left the apartment. Spent the day cleaning; making a whole bunch of iced coffee, because it’s disgustingly hot here; then doing this. It makes for good reading, doesn’t it?