Mourning the Munsters.

If you can’t do it justice, leave it alone.

I can’t help but feeling like so many things would be better if this piece of advice were applied. One such example is The Munsters’ Scary Little Christmas. Sure, it’s over ten years old – but I’ve only just seen it for the first time, so it’s news to me. And though typically I am loathe to be heavy-handed criticizing anyone’s creative efforts, I’m comfortable labeling this as utter crap.

Sure, there are more important things in the world – but I grew up on the likes of the Munsters and the Addams Family. So this is my childhood you’re besmirching, Mister Liebmann. This is my history you’re turning into a joke, Mister Emes. This is my ‘happier time’ that you’re making into a big steaming pile, Mister Haas.

And it is not appreciated.

Popularity: 93%

Large Weather We’re Having.

This is how it happens, really. I build the new blog, make a few posts over a few days… then get busy, fall off the wagon… and finally stare at the most recent entry starting to gather dust and think… sooooo. What to write about.

The truth is, I talk all day along.
Seriously, all day.
Instant messages.
Basecamp entries.
Emails.
Skype chats.
Skype voice.
Phone calls.
iChat conferences.
Authoring documents.
Twittering (some).

And that’s just work related. Sure, I design too – and I build. But the halcyon days that I can just slip purely into a creation role and ignore most communication are few and far between. More often, my creative work is dotted with various forms of communication all throughout it. And that’s not to say that I’m antisocial; it isn’t that I dislike talking to people. Rather, it’s this: at the end of the work day, I have made so much chatter that I’m often compelled to just be quiet. Even I get tired of listening to me some days.

You might have noticed – that being compelled to be quiet… and being compelled to blog… are in direct opposition to one another. The crosswinds are enough to create bizarre doldrums filled with ‘draft’ posts in various stages of completion, from a single sentence that didn’t go anywhere to three paragraphs that you just can’t seem to end properly.

No, it’s not really a tragedy that I have trouble staying committed to blogging – but it does annoy me enough to ponder it.

And who knows. One day when I am wildly successful at happily publishing daily, I may delete this post. For now… my commitment to publishing will have to be satisfied by me saying… I’m going to have to get better at this publishing thing.

Popularity: 94%

Talking to Myself.

Just last night, I made a post that said this:

Work: I enjoy my work, and I enjoy my job – as much as anyone can expect to, anyway. But I’m pretty well tired of tap-dancing around people who can’t handle hearing that they’re failing. Hey – guess what. You fail. I fail. We already know you’re good at what you do, it doesn’t mean you don’t screw up. When you do, can we just admit it and move on to fixing it? I’d like to do the same when I screw up, if that’s cool with everyone. I move for no more complicated scenario building for how nothing is anyone’s fault or everyone’s fault. I don’t care whose fault it is, I just want to fix it and get on with things. Please. Pleeeeeease.

And I’d now like to add the other end of the spectrum to that.

Can we also not flip out as though one failure means that someone has gone totally off the reservation and should now possibly be shot on sight? It’s just as tedious as musical blame chairs, really – and a huge waste of emotional energy. A stupid mistake does not mean someone’s IQ or talent has suddenly evaporated. It does not mean they are suddenly incapable of doing their job. If heads need to roll for some other reason, then just say that. But please, for the love of all that is sane – could we maybe not act as though they’re suddenly a body snatcher that needs to be dealt with?

Popularity: 100%

A Simpler Life.

It almost sounds like something I like to call an idiot revelation – which is, for the previously unexposed, when you realize something that makes so much sense that you’re pretty sure you’re an idiot for not having realized it before. That a simpler life is a good thing… definitely qualifies. And it’s not just any one particular thing. I’m pretty over clutter as a concept.

Work: I enjoy my work, and I enjoy my job – as much as anyone can expect to, anyway. But I’m pretty well tired of tap-dancing around people who can’t handle hearing that they’re failing. Hey – guess what. You fail. I fail. We already know you’re good at what you do, it doesn’t mean you don’t screw up. When you do, can we just admit it and move on to fixing it? I’d like to do the same when I screw up, if that’s cool with everyone. I move for no more complicated scenario building for how nothing is anyone’s fault or everyone’s fault. I don’t care whose fault it is, I just want to fix it and get on with things. Please. Pleeeeeease.

Apartment: This is where the physical manifestation of the clutter lives. I could be generous and say… I have too much stuff for this sized apartment (or at least this sized apartment with about two shoeboxes worth of closet space). But the simpler answer seems to be – I just need to have less damned stuff. But then, see – I’d like to get rid of a fair amount of the stuff I have, too… and replace some of it with things that look simpler. Even more than that perhaps, I’m over the building itself. The bathroom of non-stop maintenance issues (from black mold to the sink being clogged with latex paint because of the ceiling damage from a leak), the door hinges that look like they were screwed in a whopping eighth of an inch (in plaster, no less) and so come out at every opportunity, the maintenance crew that shows up for about 1/5 of the appointments they make. Tired of having to call the rental agent multiple times to get anything accomplished, tired of the floors that tilt nearly 15°. Tired of the ghetto stairwell. There’s no cleaning this part up, though – the answer will have to be a move. I have my eye on something in Va Beach at the moment – but that’s just the first thing I came across I liked. Something right on the beach has some appeal too.

… there’s more, of course.

But I started to write the next parts… about finances, and relationships, and paperwork, and and and… and realized that it would be only slightly more difficult to do stuff about it than it would be to bitch about it. So I think I’m going to add a subcategory in here called “Simpler” – and anytime I do something to accomplish this, I’ll pat myself on the back here. Being realistic, I’ll probably bitch here some more too.

Popularity: 100%

Yes, I need this.

Having recently traveled, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s just not terribly realistic (or smart) to travel without a computer. Which means that I’m going to have to get a laptop. I’ve had one before – a 12-inch Mac that I literally melted. That is – I fused the reader arms to the spinning hard drive. Though it’s ridiculously more expensive, that might be an argument for the new hard drives. We’ll see.

At any rate – I need a laptop. Not just so I can roll down to Fair Grounds and look cool sipping my quad soy latte with with sugar in the raw… but because too much of my life is stored online for me to be away from it for days. And while I love my iphone – it’s SO not good for much more than token stabs at staying updated. Fifteen minutes of looking at the itty bitty screen and I’m ready to mug the guy next to me on the platform for his laptop case (that probably contains a PC).

So laptop it is. This one, to be exact. :)

Popularity: 92%

Easily Offensive?

Pretty much. It’s kind of the opposite of inoffensive. And while I don’t feel particularly offensive, that doesn’t seem to have any effect on what actually happens. So, fine – easily offensive it is.

I have had a number of blogs and websites over the years. Always splitting what the people I work with get to see from what friends get to see, from what another set of friends gets to see. WOW is that tiresome. So, no more. It’s all going here. One blog, one facebook, one all of it. The name should be warning enough; only enteratyourownrisk.com might have been better.

So, sure. On the one hand – I’m thinking it’s crazy. Do clients really need to know that I occasionally paint my hair silver and go do shots of Irish whiskey while watching an EBM band perform? Do they really need to know that I occasionally sleep til noon on the weekends? I don’t see why not. And besides… it’s not like I have plans to publish lurid romantic details. But if I’m hating a political candidate today? It could show up here. As could a temporary obsession with Nightmare Before Christmas merchandise. And, well… if that causes me trouble at some point, then it’s trouble I deserve, isn’t it?

At 37, I’m okay with taking the heat for who I am. ;)

That said – if you’re easily offended? You might wanna stay the hell away. =P

Popularity: 91%