Self-Editing

Since I've just recommitted myself to blogging (and since I'm a little bit narcissistic and a lot bit judgmental), I thought I'd flip through some of my old posts to see exactly what I had to say. Here are a few observations:

1. I say utterly, magical, and fantastic/fantastical/fantastic-o way too often.  Why haven't you told me?  I hope it's only in blog form, and not in real-life conversations.  Either way, I promise to work on this, because it is totally, utterly lame.

2. It's a little embarrassing to see how many times my blog has made some kind of reference to getting back on the blog "train" or blog "saddle," as well as how many times I've apologized for long absences.  Hopefully this time my commitment to the blog will stick, but I kind of feel like Robert Downey, Jr.  in the '90s.  Perhaps if I truly kick the quitting habit this time I can star in an Elton John music video to commemorate my triumphant return.  That would be awesome.  I love that music video. And Sir Elton. Not to mention RJD.  Hmm...maybe if all seven of my followers launch a big campaign we can make this happen, because lip synching is one of my top five talents.

3.  My dog is much cuter than the pictures on this blog suggest.  I'm thinking specifically of the image in this post.  I mean, yikes.  Here's an image that is much more representative of the fellow.

Ruff Waldo Emerson

The Believer

4. I can't believe that I neglected to mention the incredible magazine subscription my brother Brian got  me for Christmas this past year.  Are you familiar with The Believer?  It is self-described as: 

"A monthly magazine where length is no object.
There are book reviews that are not necessarily timely,and that are very often very long.There are interviews that are also very long.We will focus on writers and books we like.We will give people and books the benefit of the doubt.The working title of this magazine was The Optimist."

Rise again, nod to me, shout, 
And laughingly dash with your hair.”
 -Walt Whitman, Song of Myself

Put together by many of your favorite McSweeney's peeps, I would describe it as postmodern and hilarious and yet earnest, too. (Note: I wanted to use the word fantastic as one of my descriptors but--thanks to my recent self-editing--I've realized that would be redundant and annoying.)   Thanks for the gift, Brian.  And by the way, thanks to my brother, Brett, as well, who happens to be growing his hair out in an admirably Whitman-esque coiffure, sans beard.  Brett gave me a beautiful copy of 1Q84 this past Christmas, which I blogged about a few days ago.

A little self-editing can be a beautiful thing.  Except when it comes to hair.  In that case, take a cue from Whitman and Brett: no editing needed.