I don't need readers, do I?

It occurs to me (when reading the statistics that blogger provides to blog authors) that nobody reads this. I can't say I blame them, for the sporadic and rare updates. I can't say I blame them, for the uninspired content, either.

 One of my least interesting posts had 88 reads. Some of my best--ok, it's a relative thing--maybe 2 or 3.

 I have a "real" journal that will never find its way to the Internet, where I process my thinking and emotion for my own eyes only. And, I regularly write and publish (letters, newsletters, etc.) to a specific audience (like, say the parents of students at my school, for example).

What is this blog--not private, but not really public, either--all about? It is not, as discussed in a previous post, a travelogue, as it was maybe originally intended. I don't know.

But, here it is, for whatever it's worth.

Life is good

Let's not forget that life is good.

I'm not preaching to you but to me. I've been grumpy lately. Short tempered. My wife has taken to quoting a pop song at me: "someday, I'll be living' in a big old city; all you're ever gonna be is mean." I'm not mean, really I'm not. Ask anybody. Except my family I guess. If I'm honest with myself as I reflect, yeah, well, I've been short tempered, impatient, and harsh.

 It's just that I've been getting wrapped up in my often stressful job, and the safe place to "let my guard down" is at home. That's not fair, and it's not right. What happens is I forget that opening sentence. Lose perspective in the moment.

Life is good. Here I am, in a hotel outside of Paris, gearing up for a relaxing/exciting weekend, sitting poolside enjoying a beverage, watching my family splash around. Just back from a wonderful week in Rome, which will get its own blog post. Sure there are a variety of crises and situations awaiting my return to work in a few days. Sure some of them are increasingly urgent. Sure my aforementioned "wronged" family does things (or rather, individual family members do things) that rightfully frustrate and drive me crazy. I just need to remember, and everything will be fine. More than fine.

Because life is short, and, life is good.

Saving Face(book)

I'm a little ashamed. Or, at least, a little sheepish. My Facebook friends often use status and comments to make pithy political statements, or to take strong, hard stances on social and political issues. I sometimes agree, and sometimes disagree, and sometimes have insight and argument to add to the discourse.

 In my head.

 To read a timeline (which I am repeatedly promised "is coming" by mandate, to my profile) of my (infrequent) updates and comments, you would conclude that I am a vapid, trivia-absorbed, Pollyanna with a penchant for shallow thinking.

 "It sure is cold this morning."
"I'm enjoying a beverage at the Coffeehouse."
"We are headed home from vacation; we sure had a great time."
"Happy Birthday!"
"It is nice to catch up with old friends."
"The high school football team won the championship."

 I don't post anything too controversial. To anyone.

Many of my friends take impassioned stands, posting stories, videos, comments and sometimes even rants on issues like gay marriage, NCLB, education policy in general, poverty and wealth, political positions and candidates from the far right to the far left, and whatever else finds its way across the newswire.  In the comments section, they will (most often politely) argue with one another over one or more of these topics.

Even here, where I posit more prolifically (albeit still infrequently), I play my personal position cards close to the chest.

It is not that I don't have opinions.  I have a personal stance on most issues.  All issues, in fact, if you count "neutral" as a stance.  I simply prefer to keep it that way--personal.  For me, this internet is far to public, and far too permanent a platform.  If you want to know where I stand (and I suspect most of you don't really care a whole hill of beans), come on over, let's share a beverage, and I'll give you a piece of my mind (for whatever it's worth).

Or, maybe we can just talk about the weather.