Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Birthday Post 2008

It's my birthday and, for the life of me, I can't think of what would be fun to post about. Posting about how cool I am seems needlessly arrogant because anyone who knows me doesn't need convincing. Posting about cool memories of the last 32 years seems like something I will be doing once my last kid finally leaves the house, so why do it now? Besides, in a recent conversation with a friend, she commented on how blogging seems to have become so meaningless and I am leaning towards agreeing with her.

(TANGENT: Click Here to see who else I share my birthday with.)


I imagine this global audience reading my every word between here and myspace but my blog tracking software shows somewhere between 30-60 readers and I'm guessing that 10-15 of those are family who either don't relate to or are offended by half the stuff I post anyways. So is blogging just another online time waster? What else do I do that wastes time and doesn't contribute to my health?

(TANGENT: To explain my bond with Bob Marley, I offer the following. On the day I was born, Marley, his wife, and manager Don Taylor were wounded in an assault by unknown gunmen inside Marley's home. Taylor and Marley's wife sustained serious injuries, but later made full recoveries. Bob Marley received minor wounds in the chest and arm. It was two days before "Smile Jamaica", a free concert organized by the Jamaican Prime Minister Michael Manley in an attempt to ease tension between two warring political groups, The shooting was thought to have been politically motivated, as many felt the concert was really a support rally for Manley. Nonetheless, the concert proceeded, and an injured Marley performed as scheduled, two days after the attempt. The members of the group Zap Pow – which had no radical religious or political beliefs – played as Bob Marley's backup band before a festival crowd of 80,000 while members of the Wailers were still missing or in hiding.)


I am 32 years old now. Let's aim high and say that I will function productively up to the age of 80. I have already used up 40% of my life expectancy. Am I happy were I am at? (That was an introspective pondering that made the final cut but not meant to be answered in front of my millions of readers).

(TANGENT: Click Here to see the first image that Google provides for December 3, 1976.)


I have 60% of my life left. If you knew you only had 48 years to live, what would you do?

4 comments:

Nicole Shelby said...

well...i know it my opinion doesn't effect what you think...

however, i must disagree: blogging isn't just a time waster. i enjoy reading your blog. as a person who loves life and people (specifically my family), and loves to document it (because i can never remember a thing)...i love to see your thoughts in writing. i love to read what's occupying your mind. i love to think unexpected things because you broached the subject. i love to imagine the reactions of people reading your words.

and for someone who is questioning the validity and weight of an online blog - you have quite a few!

Scott H. said...

I know I already called ya but Happy Birthday again! The only reason I blog is to share my life in a simple effective way with family. Who cares if they agree with what you put? At least they know where you stand. I really don't care about the other readers, friends and stuff are cool but rarely do I get a comment from someone I don't know.

But I'm not doing it to be like Peter or Valentine Wiggin (Locke & Demosthenes), although I would love to speak out and be heard on issues, I realize that for whatever reason, I just don't get visited by any family. So yes, blogging loses it's savor if that's your goal.

But if you didn't blog how would I be able to leave this completely irrelevant babble when I only came here to say this:

Happy Birthday!!

And I agree with what Nicole said too...

Christopher Maloy said...

Happy Birthday TJ!! I would apologize for being a day late but having a December birthday, I know you know the busyness and neglect that comes from December birthdays... hahahaha! And P.S. it sounds like you were trying to be too introspective and philosophical to have a "Happy" birthday...so lighten up ;) and enjoy your birthday week! (days just aren't long enough)... and have a happy one... and look forward to when we can go celebrate our birthdays together at Tucano's! WooHoo! - Heidi

Gina said...

Happy belated birthday, TJ!

I, too, enjoy reading your blog. I find it quite amusing and thought-provoking.

As your birthday present, I present you now with "Prop 8 - The Musical"

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/c0cf508ff8/prop-8-the-musical-starring-jack-black-john-c-reilly-and-many-more-from-fod-team-jack-black-craig-robinson-john-c-reilly-and-rashida-jones