3628 posts over four years. That is an average of 3628 posts for every four year period. All the while I have made few observations of note on the war that began weeks before the blog did, on the state of Canadian politics, on me, on blogging. But I did great Friday bullet point chats. Yes! It started just after I left my thirties and on my next birthday I will be 45.
No phrase captures what blogging means to me more that "plea for help". While there have been highlights like astronaut art, Tantrama City and a careful examination of my relationship with pork, it has not been without its downside. The obvious cut and paste gap fillers, the riding of too many band wagons, the shoddy appeals to science, religion and law. But there has been sport, there has been travel in the states, there has been...sports and travel in the states.
And there has been you. While I have let my real life relationships drift, I have met exactly three...no, eight more people because of blogging. I mean met. The rest of you hide behind anonymity or silence. But for all of that only two have been banned with two others ripping out of here on that sea on confused anger and self-inflating indignation that likely is the hallmark of the rest of their lives. In the end - and like so many of us - I can honestly say on a daily basis thank God there has been beer. It it weren't for the beer blog I would have packed this in years ago. And Hans. Thank God for Hans. Gary's nice, too.
Now I have to rush again...a little late for work...again.
Comments
Hans - April 25, 2007 10:21 am
I'm getting all choked up, Al. I guess the funny thing about me and genx40 is that I knew you before blogging. That kind of context adds an element of civility and a level of interest to my participation that I don't use at other blogs. I gave up commenting at other blogs I visit awhile ago unless I'm feeling particularly piqued. But here I feel comfortable mostly because I actually know Al (a little) but also because of the variety, intelligence and humour of the content. (Kinda didn't get the whole Tantramar thing, though....)
I used to have a job where I had way too much free time. Then I didn't have any job. Reading entertaining blogs helped pass the time. Now I have a job where I have alot less free time but I have a computer at home now too. People aren't blogging like they used back in the hey day and they don't comment like they used to on blogs. I think people online maybe experiencing "engagement fatigue" where they are getting tired of active participation in a multitude of discussions on "issues" or "perspectives"; they may be recognizing blogs for what they are: personal rantspaces or hobbydrivers. I've certainly enjoyed reading and participating here but, having been here from the start, I have noticed the decline in commenting and/or changeover in readership.
I don't know if you are thinking about hanging up your skates or just being generally reflective, but please be assured that I have appreciated your efforts in bringing this blog to my daily routine. If you give up, though, I will survive and I may even tune into the beer blog again!
Alan - April 25, 2007 10:36 am
No, I am not in a packing it in mood but four years is a frigging long time. The greatest benefit to me has been the speed and quality of my writing - which along with forced mental waking up is my ulterior motive in all this. I think you are also right in that the popularity of blogs arose perhaps after this one started and declined maybe after the realization that the war in Iraq was generally recognized as an issue.
Hans - April 25, 2007 10:46 am
War in Iraq?
Alan - April 25, 2007 10:54 am
Short form = the wa'aq.
Hans - April 25, 2007 11:19 am
The wa'aq is whack.
Temujin - April 25, 2007 11:46 am
This sudden bout of emotion has nothing to do with the destruction of the Red Sox last night, does it? :-)
I know I was especially emotional after the game.
Paul of Suffolk - April 25, 2007 12:53 pm
"a little late for work...again"
Sounds like me - beer, lateness and blogging - a common cause.
gary - April 25, 2007 4:35 pm
Thank you. I am not too bad. You are a fantastic and excellent guy.
You are much taller in reality than this typeface would lead a person to believe.
Alan - April 25, 2007 4:53 pm
I was at least font 32 before the age of nine.
Jay Currie - April 26, 2007 5:21 am
I thank god each evening that there is beer. And, should you ever venture beyond the confines of Eastern Ontario and Northern New York State all the way to Victoria I will buy you several.
I suspect that most of us blog for the sheer entertainment of seeing just how fast we can type semi-coherent thoughts, or, in your case, bullet points. Somehow that is enough because it has to be enough.
Hans - April 26, 2007 9:28 am
The impressive/insane thing is the regularity with which you post. If you can do this every day for another four years, that is some pretty wack shit.
Alan - April 26, 2007 9:50 am
There is the voodoo of if I stop I will quit but I have also made this a discipline and I am a very undisciplined person otherwise - I don't think I would have imagined let alone started running twice a week if I did not have this daily structure. That in itself, Hans, is some pretty wack shit.
Don - April 26, 2007 10:38 am
You rock!
John Gushue - April 30, 2007 8:00 pm
Congratulations on the landmark ... One question: does the title (particularly the numeral) still apply? Would Gen X > 40 be better?
Just kidding.
Keep it up. Hoping I can one day buy you a real beer ..
John Gushue
St. John's