26 June 2011

A time for reflection


Why do people blog? Why do they think what they write is something that others will want to read about? I've tried blogging several times over the years and after a week or so it goes the way of the dodo. I don't know if it's because I feel my life isn't interesting enough for people to be excited about or if it's just because I'm lazy.

Actually, I do know. I'm lazy.

I know a lot of people ignore the posts I make on facebook using services like Miso, Gowalla and Instagram, but I really love using them. It's an easy way to document the day to day things I do, the shows I watch and the places I go. Every now and then I'll go back over my posts and remember the things I've done. I like that. A blog like this takes a lot more effort.

So I turn 40 this week. It's a point in my life where I'm supposed to be successful and have everything everyone wants in life. So I'm not there yet. I'm working at an entry level job that I'm pretty happy to have at this point. Things are starting to turn around so I am optimistic about the future. I'm a bit disappointed that the travel plans I had made for this birthday had to fall through, but I'm sure it means bigger and better things later.

The past year and a half since I have written a blog post have been interesting. Being unemployed was not great, but there were many experiences that made up for it. Getting to be better friends with the gang at Blue Beetle comics was surely a highlight. The shows I did at South Simcoe Theatre was another. The chance to play a lead in a musical was great, and the experience of The Drowsy Chaperone was more than I expected. Ending the theatre season with the play readings of Four Play was a great challenge for me and I'm excited to try that again next season.

One thing I never would have done if it hadn't been for unemployment was indulge a secret dream and play Santa Claus at a mall. It really is an honour to bring smiles to children at the holidays. Getting the chance to bring smiles to the faces of my friends at Walt Disney World this past December was the icing on the cake.

Speaking of those people, I feel so lucky that through this medium of the internet I have been able to make such great friends. I never dreamed back in the summer of 1999 that a simple question on a message board would lead to decades long friendships.

So, what is the point of this blog post? I don't know! I just wanted to get down how I'm feeling right now. I feel blessed to have such great friends who support me, a family that loves me and a life that I'm enjoying. I guess I can't ask for much more than that.

The minutia:
Podcasts: many including Pop Culture Happy Hour, This Week in Travel and Coaster Radio
Restaurant: Pie with on of my oldest friends Rob Wrigley (let's not go years before seeing each other again)
Comics: The Simpsons/Futurama Crossover Classic (which I read at Chapters without buying it)