I really do not enjoy writing (hence the title of this blog). Mostly I do what I have to: answer emails, build syllabi, write articles (actually think about writing articles) and the occasional birthday card my wife sets in front of me. That is the extent of my writing. What I love doing is reading - I read several blogs each day, online newspapers, gossip sites, tech sites, comics etc. I have them tab bookmarked in my browser and reading them all is a daily ritual. So why don't I spend some of that time writing a blog myself?

What I am slowly coming to understand is that as much as we tout reading as a brain engaging activity it is relatively passive when it comes to reading on the internet. I click to some point - read until I get bored (about 3.2 seconds) and then click onto something else to read. I do not have to make a commitment to what I am reading. It is a scavenger-ist activity - go in, get what I want and move on. If the video doesn't load fast enough - move on. If the article requires scrolling or going on to another page - move on. It's like I'm a rock skipping along the water - the only difference is: I never sink.

I'm not the only one that is feeling this: Nicholas Carr writing for the Atlantic Monthly is having similar feelings - in his article "Is Google making us Stupid" (link: http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200807/google) he talks about the lack of time more and more of us are spending on deep reading (like books), involved writing and other time consuming and brain engaging activities. He contends that the internet is changing the way we interface with knowledge - and we are all becoming rocks skipping along the top of the water and never diving to any depth.

But what does this have to do with my lack of writing? I'd like to say "Everything!!" - it is all Google's fault. Then I would be able to relax and know there is nothing I can do about this and continue on my happy way. The problem is that I did not enjoy writing way before the internet came into existence. I have always been a reluctant writer. Technology has not made the reluctance go away. I do use the tools that technology has developed - Inspiration, word processors, spell checkers, the internet. However none of these has changed my "feelings" about writing. They have altered the experience - but not healed my affliction. The internet has not made it any easier for me to write. But it has given me a great excuse. And that is this: what if there are just those of us that need to be the consumers of the written word - of internet content, and we were actually just born to surf. All the internet has done is set us free.

Published!

It is not a big piece and it is not peer reviewed but it is something and I'll take it.

See it here:

Elephant in the Room an article for principals.

Splash

Splash
Originally uploaded by Veglandia

I need to be near the ocean soon.

The Drive

Rolling, originally uploaded by Veglandia.

I have to admit I love driving. I have about a 90 mile round trip commute every day and I never get tired of it. I drive through the desert and i listen to music and/or books on tape. I think, I zone, i recharge. I drove to Portland a couple of weeks ago - 17 hours of driving bliss. I was planning a road trip to Texas but decided to take the train instead. because besides loving to drive - I love to ride and look out the window too.

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

A year of getting smarter

Today I turn 49. It's more weird than evil. I don't feel that much older on the inside but I do look a bit older on the outside.

The problem is that I have not figured out how to live my life in a way that makes me feel like I'm living my life the way I am supposed to be living it.  I have problems with the way I live life. 

I procrastinate.

A lot.

I spend more time wasting time than getting things done. I am constantly behind. 

I make huge plans but rarely carry them out. 

Most of what I have accomplished in life has been almost completely by accident.

I write in short clipped phrases and have little depth.

This list could go on for quite awhile and that is what is bothering me. Shouldn't I , here on the bring of my first half century, have it a bit more together? I'm thinking I should too. The goal then is to spend the next year working on getting smarter. (and additionally: thinner, finisheder, artier, fitter and several other -ers.)

But I am not so sure how to do all that. I fear making a list of goals which I can later re-negotiate or ignore completely.  Lists swirl around in my head on a regular basis. I daydream in lists of things to accomplish. Or change. Or learn. If I had picked one thing from all these lists years ago I would now know how to play the guitar or the cello, or be able to juggle clubs or have several articles, books and or film scripts written. I would know several languages and be able to paint, draw and sculpt. And would also know html, java, xml and ruby on rails. 

Mostly I know how to stumble (www.stumbleupon.com) read online news and daydream.

BUt if I where to make a list it would look like this

1. Write everyday and get published. (It's a tenure thing)
2. Exercise way more.
3. Explore photography and learn how to control light.
4. Develop my relationships at home (sad that it came 4th isn't it)
5. Eat as healthy as possible
6. Art more

There are a few others but they are more personal. 

Let's see what happens eh?

I'm reading this 9 years later and realize that on the surface not much has changed. I still pretty much have all the same goals. Except #1. I'm published and tenured and that is a good thing. Basically I could move number 1 to the end of the list and move the rest up one. And I'd add one more goal: Work on my connection to my higher power. My spirituality. Maybe even meditate. Maybe.

Big plans

I have big plans for this blog - watch what's coming starting November 27, 2007