Forging Friendships With Unlike-Minded People

We are attracted to like-minded people. We form friendships and romantic relationships with those who share our similar interests, goals, beliefs and core values. Just look at the people you surround yourself with. Notice the familiar flavor.

And because they are familiar the bonds are effortless, comfortable and strong. Rarely do we step completely outside our comfort zone and approach someone that is nothing at all like us! Because to do that is scary and seems awkward, like filling space with the echo of crickets where conversation should lie. So to avoid chirping insects, sweaty palms and restless feet we stick to those we share common ground with. We stick to like-minded people.

No one would question why I'm friends with the people I'm friends with IRL (In Real Life as they say) because we compliment one another. We match up just perfectly. But when it comes to the online world some of these relationships not only surprise others, but have left me scratching my own head!

Take "Sally" for example. (I'll be using the fictious name "Sally" to protect her identity.)

I'm not sure two people could be more different - "Sally" and I. It's always baffled me that she reads my blog and likes my writing. I feel like I would be highly offensive to her (ex: The Manwhore Relapse post). I like using the word "fuck." She prefers saying "fudge." That's not very like-minded. So I once tried bringing her over to the darkside, corrupt her and get her to swear. I believe I got a "f*ck" out of her. The asterisk is as far as she's going to go. She made it to the light gray side.

She's a pair of properly pressed slacks.
I'm a pair of broken-in torn bluejeans.

She's been known to give out hugs.
I've been known to get into fist fights.

She goes to church on Sunday mornings.
I'm coming home on Sunday mornings.

She enjoys curling up with a good book.
I enjoy...well, let's just leave it at that.

Good people come in all kinds of flavors and mindsets. Of course most of us will never know this because we will never reach out to anyone other than like-minded people. The only thing that "Sally" and I have in common is that we both agree the sky is blue and the grass is green. Oh and one other thing - blogging.

That’s the beautiful thing about writing. We’re not just connecting our thoughts and emotions with words. We’re connecting with complete strangers with our words. If it wasn't for blogging, "Sally" and I may have never even exchanged pleasantries. She would stick to her like-minded folk and I would stick to mine. So maybe having a blog is the perfect introduction?

Bloggers are just good people. They're good to one another because even despite all their differences, whether they type out all four letters of a curse word or drop an asterisk in the middle, they will forever share one common ground - a love for the written word. And sometimes that's enough. Sometimes one similar interest is all it takes to get a conversation going. To spawn many more conversations. To forge the most interesting and most unlikely of friendships.

Thank you written word.

90% Of This Blog Will Be Gone Forever

I haven't written here in 2 weeks. Instead I've spent that time wondering if bloggers have a shelf life? Or perhaps I've simply outgrown this side project I once loved. People change. People grow. People move on. And it's ok.

I started this blog over 6 years ago and there was a time when I posted daily, including weekends! I knew I couldn't keep up with that pace and eventually went for quality over quantity. Needless to say, there is a lot of garbage I've written. So I've done the math. I've written over 1,000 posts and at least 90% of them are complete shit...in my humble opinion. That means I will be deleting the shit ones, roughly 900 posts! Maybe more.

Actually, this whole blogspot address will be gone forever. What little content I do choose to save will be moved over to a self-hosted WordPress/Thesis blog with a new domain name, new title, new design, and a whole new message. I've been really excited building it and I'm eager to introduce everyone to it! It's been a slow work in progress, but I feel will be worth the wait to readers. A change/move that is long overdue!

I need this fresh start if I'm going to continue writing, to feel inspired again.

I'm sure there will be people screaming "NO, LEAVE THE ARCHIVE UP HERE!" And they will try reasoning with me that it's nice to see where I've started and how long I've come. While I appreciate your loyalty and the love, I respond with "I simply can't." I can't change and grow if I cling to the past. And that's exactly what keeping all these old, stagnant posts around feels like - creative clutter. When I look back at them, I don't even feel like I'm reading me. I'm not that same person anymore. And those old posts simply don't help move me in the direction I am moving. But most importantly, they don't provide value to you - the reader.

Over the last few years I've realized something that every blogger could benefit from knowing...

No one really cares about me. No one really cares about any blogger. What people care about is what the blogger can do for them. What can this blogger teach me? How will reading this blog benefit me? In short, a good blog should be less about YOU and more about THEM.

Therefore this blog will be moving in a new direction. A better direction. A direction I'm sure you're going to love because it will be less about me and more about YOU!

After all, I already know me. What I don't know a lot about is you. Let's change that.

xoxo,
David



PS (For those still heartbroken by the news, look at my "virtual spring cleaning" this way. Things are only going to be improving. The writing will be better. Content will properly organized and easy to find. I'll be interacting with every reader on a more personal level. And I'll be giving away an UNBELIEVABLE prize to celebrate launch day, TBA. It's just my way of saying thanks, to you the reader, for sticking with me through the growing pains.)

Don't Lurk. Say Hi!

I once compared blogging to oral sex.

One person gives (the blogger writes a post) and the other receives (the reader enjoys their work). Sometimes the receiver reciprocates (the reader leaves a comment) and sometimes they don’t. Now I don't know about you, but I like my sex like I like my blogging. It should be a two-way street. However, I often find myself more happy with being the giver - in blogging and in oral sex. So in a way, I really don't mind if I don't receive. Still, it's nice to at least give your favorite bloggers a reach around (AKA, post a comment) every now and then to show them their work doesn't go unappreciated. And for many, myself included, it motivates them to keep going...to keep writing that is.

Conversation is as much a part of blogging as writing is. Of course to get the conversation going, you have to build a community - build up your readership base. And to build up your readership base, you have to write content worth reading and conversing about. Unfortunately for me, I seem to have lost that talent.


I'm not trying to be a David Downer or throw myself an Internet pity party, but I can't help but notice something odd. Although my subscribers continue to go up, the comments have drastically dropped. Just a year ago I averaged 50 comments per post (with a few over 100). These days I average around 20 per post. I'm not quite sure what's going on. If people are just reading/commenting on less blogs because they've become busier and/or lazier, which I would totally understand. Or if my writing just plain old sucks, which I would also totally understand.

I've never been shy when it comes to admitting that I hate my own writing. And because of the harsh criticism I place upon myself, I always strive to live by my motto - "write like no one is reading." But let's be real. It's better when what you write is read.

After all, isn't that why people blog? Not just to better understand ourselves, but with hope that we may better understand others. That connection, although virtual it may be, fills a void. It fills those empty spaces a writer finds themselves in. The gap between our words and another's world. That's what community provides, a link. I can say I "write like no one is reading" all I want. But the truth of the matter is that an audience of one just isn't any fun. It's like masturbation. Self-gratifying? Sure! But not as fulfilling.

If reaching people didn't matter and we truly didn't care what anyone thought, then we would be content with writing privately in our Moleskines and tucking them under our bed mattresses. We wouldn't put our words out there for public display. Comment sections on blogs wouldn't exist and bloggers everywhere wouldn't bask in nerdy little highs from seeing a new comment appear on their latest post. (Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about.)

January 1, 2011 marked my 6th Blogiversary. That makes me a bit of a dinosaur in the blogging world. And because I'm feeling old and crusty, it's time for a fresh start. I've written over 1,000 posts in 6 years. Hundreds of those will soon be deleted (only the best will remain). Why? Because this blog doesn't make me happy. It's not something I'm proud of. I want to get excited about writing again. That is why I'm in the process of designing a new blog! A WordPress Thesis Theme blog with a whole new look, new posts, new domain name and will come with more awesome!

I hope you will join me. In the meantime, stop being a lurker and go be a comment whore! I'm sure there are dozens of blogs you read and never contribute a word on. It's time to change that. I've never started reading anything that I didn't have a single thought on upon completion. And chances are neither have you.

One Word

"Encapsulate the year 2010 in one word. Explain why you’re choosing that word. Now, imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2011 for you?" - www.reverb10.com

My initial response to that question is, "how girly!" It’s so Eat Pray Love. Choosing one word to define a place, or a person, or a year. Then I sat with it for a minute. And you know what? I kind of like it. It doesn't matter if it’s girly or not. It doesn't matter if whatshername already mentally stole the longer version of my word because we still share the same brain. And it doeesn't matter if I'm 3 days tardy on posting this. None of it matters. Because summing anything up in just one word gives clarity. As this year comes to a close and a new year is almost upon us, having clarity is a beautiful thing. It’s cleansing and renewing. I can’t think of a better way to end one chapter and start the next then with a single word on a stark white page. So without further adieu, here is my 2010 word and my 2011 word...

My word for 2010 - Unexpected.

If it’s ok with all of you, I’m not going to explain why I chose "unexpected" as my 2010 word. (And Mom if you’re reading this, no I didn’t get anyone pregnant!)

My word for 2011 - Free.

Just writing that word causes me to let out a giant sigh of relief! Ahhh. Free. Free my mind. Free my heart. Free up some more me time - free time! Free to travel a lot more. Free to work a bit less. Free to start my second company located all the way on the back bottom belly of the globe. And free to do as I please. Just free.

What's your word?



***NOTE***
This post is my submission for Reverb 10, an annual event and online initiative to reflect on this year and manifest what’s next. Learn more at www.reverb10.com

Want more? I’ve set up a Tumblr account strictly for my Reverb 10 project. Although I can’t promise I’ll keep up with it regularly. Remember, my word is "free" and not "commitment."

Status Quo Queasy

Sometimes I leave really long angry/venting comments on really well written posts. And sometimes I turn my really long angry/venting comments into a post of my own. This is one such instance. Inspired by Elisa Doucette’s The New Status Quo.

The status quo is the existing state of affairs. Living the way life has always been lived. Traditionally that meant going to college, getting a job, getting married, having a couple kids, tossing in a Golden Retriever and framing that picture perfect life in with a white picket fence. The problem with that image is today it’s not the life most young adults envision for themselves. It may be the life your parents have and the life they wish you to have, but it’s not the life you want. Like any good rebel, you rebel against that image. You reject the status quo! And instead of a follower, you deem yourself a leader. A dreamer. A thinker. A changer. A doer. An innovator. You boldly scream "FUCK YOU" to corporate America, sell all your belongings, pack a small bag and float wherever the wind blows you. You decide you’re going to make the rules and not live by anyone else’s. You kick down the white picket fence and in Jerry Maguire fashion ask, "who’s coming with me?" But unlike Jerry Maguire, you're not onto anything new. You've simply joined a new bandwagon - the new status quo. The minimalist lifestyle, location independent, traditional status quo rejecter, wantrepreneur, blah blah blah.

Remember those emo/goth/punk kids we all went to high school with? They all thought they were so different for dressing in black and listening to alternative music. But the reality is they weren’t different at all! There were 50 of them at the same school and thousands more just like them at other schools. And their so-called alternative music wasn’t much of an alternative at all! It was mainstream and not unique in the least...just like them. They too felt they were rebelling and rejecting the status quo. Laughable.

All this talk on the Internet about living a minimalist lifestyle and being location independent and rejecting the status quo really does make me laugh (and vomit). They think they are changing the world and opening up people’s eyes to some brand new way of thinking and living. NONE of it is brand new info at all! It’s taking the same age-old hippie mentality from the 60s and digitally repackaging it to fit modern times filled with tech savvy peers. So instead of burning their bras in protest, they add a Twitter hashtag to let the public know where they stand on a subject matter. And instead of hanging a paper banner on the side of a rusted VW van, they paste a pixilated one on their glossy blog. Same message, just a different way to deliver it.

Maybe it’s just me, but I’m not cool with couch surfing after the age of 22 when I should be an adult with an actual home address. And I’m not cool with only having one pair of crusty socks I have to wash 7 days a week because having more than a dozen items to my name clouds my minimalist thinking. (What kind of A.D.D. shit is that?)

The reality is that thinking and doing and living for oneself has been going on for years! So all the minimalists, location indies, status quo rejecters and wantrepreneurs can stop acting like they are onto something new. There are millions of you out there and you can’t click 2 links deep on the web without bumping into one of your clones/drones.

I look at it the same way I look at religion. I don’t give a shit what people do or believe in, just don’t cram your beliefs down my throat and insist everyone should follow you. I don’t cram my entrepreneurship lifestyle on everyone because it’s not FOR everyone. And that is perfectly fine because running your own company doesn’t make you better than everyone else. And it certainly doesn’t make me different than any of the other billion start-up founders out there. What I would like to see is for everyone to stop bashing each other's lifestyle choices regardless if you follow the traditional status quo, the new status quo, or no status quo at all. What makes one person happy won't necessarily make another person happy. One lifestyle does not fit all.

I realize this post makes me sound like a hypocrite because I’m bashing those who bash others. But that’s exactly my point! To show them how it feels to have their lifestyle choices bashed on the same way they bash on the lifestyle choices of others. And to show those following the New Status Quo that what they are doing and preaching about isn’t some new revolution they started. But mostly it’s to show those following the Old Status Quo, or no Status Quo at all, that they aren’t some loser who’s doing it wrong. There is no right or wrong way to live. Like I said, one lifestyle does not fit all.

It’s VERY IMPORTANT to remember that the Internet always makes things (and people) look bigger and better than they truely are. So when you see countless blog posts and Tweets and all this talk about rejecting the status quo, you'll be mislead into thinking everyone is doing it! Then you'll probably fall into the mind trap of thinking "hey, that might work for me too - that will make me happy." But more than likely you'll discover it's not the right fit. And I don’t want anyone to ever feel bad about that.



***NOTE***
Related post of interest and equally as offensive:
11/9/09 - You're Personal Branding Yourself As A Narcissistic A-Hole

Finding Your Unique And Beautiful Voice

Every blog, every book, every movie, and every song essentially tells the same story. Sometimes it’s about love. Sometimes it’s about loss. Sometimes it’s about joy. Sometimes it’s about pain. Sometimes it’s about growth. And sometimes it’s simply about change.

Sometimes I get so cynical when it comes to blogging. Everyone writing about the same thing. Regurgitated info and cloned wisdom that millions before me have shared and millions after me will continue to share. Everyone seems to be an expert on everything and they all want you to heed their advice! The great epiphany! The blogger’s manifesto!

Post after post about how to live my life - live a minimalist lifestyle, live a location independent lifestyle, live life with purpose, find your passion, follow your dreams, reject the status quo, say fuck you to corporate America, become an entrepreneur, travel the world, find balance, be positive, be yourself, be the best version of yourself, find yourself, find someone to love, hug a stranger, hug a tree, build connections, drop toxic relationships, practice good karma, eat right, exercise often, read more, write more, read more than you write. Now write a blog. Now write a book. Now rewrite the world! Revolutions, movements, and chants of inspiring change. None of it is revolutionary or even innovative. It’s all been said and done before by millions and for many, many years.

Throw out dry statistics about Gen Y this and Gen Y that. Complain about the quarter-life crisis. Talk about personal branding and social media until we are all so sick of it that if I see one more so-called personal branding expert/social media obsessed fame whore starving for attention on the Internet that I’m going to personally choke slam them! Preach about how to make better use of our time. How we can be getting more done, but also how we should be taking more time to just enjoy the ride. There was even a post floating around out there telling people how to breathe, which is good because I don’t know how to breathe! I’m suffocating here! Paralyzed by the pen in my hand which cripples my mind. Taunted by the blinking cursor on a blank page 1 document. Struggling to rediscover my voice. Wanting to write everything! Forcing myself to write anything! Failing miserably at both!

Are you catching the irony here? I’m no better than anyone else. I’m guilty of writing a post instructing people on how to properly breathe! After nearly 6 years of blogging and well over 1,000 posts, is that all I have left to talk about - proper breathing techniques? When it comes to Internet, there is virtually nothing new that you could possibly say that hasn’t already been said. If you even THINK you have something new to say that hasn’t already been said by someone before, you are not only delusional but also narcissistic. And that’s exactly my point. Blogging is hard! What exactly do any of us have to offer this online world that is worth a damn to anyone?

Answer: Your unique and beautiful voice.

Yes, your unique and beautiful voice is what makes it different. It’s what makes you different and sets your writing (and your story) apart from the rest. It’s why you can get away with writing on the same topic that’s been written on millions of times before by millions of people before you. It's why people subscribe to your blog because they subscribe to the belief that you possess the ability to say something different. Or rather, say it differently.

The fashion and the music industry have realized this long ago. And like a runway show and like a beat, blogging is not so much about creating new, but giving something old a fresh perspective. The key is finding your unique and beautiful voice. When you figure out how to do this, tell me how.

Forced Creativity

"A writer is somebody for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people." - Thomas Mann

asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;
asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;
asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;FUCKasdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;
asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;
asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;
asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;
asdfjkl;asdfjkl;FUCKITYasdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;
asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;
asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;
asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;asdfjkl;FUCKFUCK

And the worst part...I am not a writer.



Related post of interest. 7/20/06 - Stifled Creativity

#BiSC Breaks The Cardinal Rule Of Vegas!

The Cardinal Rule is the foremost important, most paramount rule of all! And for the past 5 days I’ve watched countless bloggers break this Cardinal Rule when they Tweeted and blogged about their Bloggers In Sin City weekend getaway! You know the saying - what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. It’s like the first rule of Fight Club - you don’t talk about the Fight Club. So why are all you silly girls sharing tales, photos and even videos of what happened in Vegas? You’re allowed to commit sins IN Vegas, but what you’re not allowed to do is commit the Cardinal Sin by talking ABOUT Vegas! Every time a Tweet passes through my TweetDeck app or a new blog post appears in my Google Reader about the BiSC meetup, I feel like I should shield my eyes. That I need to look away because that is info I should not be privy to. It should never be shared with the outside public, AKA non-attendees.

Right about now you're probably wondering..."Hey David, you're a blogger. So why didn't you attend BiSC?"

My answer is a simple one: "Because I don't have a vagina."

I don’t have a vagina. I don’t fully understand the required girl lingo. And I can’t picture myself running into anyone's arms and squealing "EEEEE" at an ear bleeding high pitch. Basically, I just wouldn’t fit in. I’m too tall, too flat chested and sometimes I have facial stubble. I’m a dude. Or at least I was last time I peered in my pants. From my understanding, Bloggers In Sin City had 69 attendees, the vast majority which were girls...with one gay guy tossed in. So you see, BiSC is more or less a chick fest. It's a yearly event where bloggers from all over get together to party in Las Vegas. And apparently blog about it upon their return?

Now you would think after hearing tid-bits of info about a massive sex toy giveaway, some buff bodied blogger girl dancing on tables, lesbian kissing, a stripper pole and a dead hooker that I would want to hear more! However, despite my curiosity being peaked, I will refrain from indulging my ears. Why? Because WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS IS SUPPOSED TO STAY IN VEGAS! I don't even want to hear about the dude in the argyle sweater vest than no one would fuck. Because afterall, no one fucks a man in an argyle sweater vest! And further more, who wears a fucking SWEATER in the Vegas desert? So ladies, thank you for not getting him laid. He needs to learn how to dress himself properly first before he even thinks about venturing into dark, warm love caves.

Out of all the tales, I'm most curious about this so-called dead hooker. Was she a REAL hooker and is she REALLY dead? Because if this story is true, then it may just beat out my tale from my last Las Vegas trip. Without giving TMI and sticking to the Cardinal Rule of Vegas, I got a "model" (or so she claimed to be) to go back to my hotel room with me. Sounds awesome so far, right? Well it turns out she was more of a model/coke head. I found this out when she asked to use my bathroom, heard a thud and knocked on the door to ask if she was ok in there. The girl was lying on the floor, ODing on me! But I won't get into all of that because WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS IS SUPPOSED TO STAY IN VEGAS! Remember that BiSC girls.

If I do attend next year's BiSC meetup, which isn't likely because I most likely won't have grown a vagina by then, I expect at least 3 of you dirty whores (said with love) to accompany me to a strip club. Not Chippendale's! I'm talking about a REAL strip club, a female strip club. And without naming any names, I know at least 3 of you are into that.



***NOTE***
Related Post: 9/21/09 - What Happens In Vegas Doesn't Always Stay In Vegas
A heartwarming tale of how one of my lustful sins in Vegas (literally) followed me back across the country and showed up on a doorstep. And how, on the very first date, I had to explain to a girl that I had already slept with her roommate. AWKWARD!

Use Your Words, Just Not These Words

I was never an English major and I don't pretend to be an expert in my native language, which is English. Although I probably should be an expert because it's the one language I've been speaking and writing all my life! I've always been somewhat embarrassed by the fact that so many people from other countries can speak fluent English, but most Americans barely have a grasp on their own language, let another a foreign language. It's disgraceful and perhaps even a bit ignorant. I'm not bilingual, but I do speak a little Italian and French (emphasis on "a little"). However, if I'm not going to learn more of foreign language, it seems only right that I should be making a greater effort to hone my English...especially my writing skills.

Use your words. It's a phrase people say in an effort to get you to express yourself more clearly, to open up the lines of communication. While sharing your feelings can be hard, finding just the right words can sometimes be even more difficult. But the biggest challenge I find is trying to resist using words that serve little to no purpose in getting my message across. They only add confusion or unnecessary fluff. But just like a bad habit, I can't seem to drop certain words from my vocabulary.

When I write, I have a bad habit of overusing these words - literally, actually, honestly, truthfully, seriously, really and just.

For the most part, these words don't add any really value to what I write, or at least in the manner in which I write them. They're like filler material. I either squeeze them somewhere inside a sentence for reasons unknown even to me. Or I'll tack them on to the beginning or end of a sentence like I'm creating some type of ambiance - making the sentence bolder, more dramatic. Oooh, ahhh. In fact today I said to someone "actually I have family that lives there." Now why did I need to say "actually?" Like I would be lying about where my family lives? Using words like actually, honestly and truthfully in any statement just makes you look like a well versed liar. When in reality I'm just a bad writer with bad habits that he needs to break.

Truthfully, I do this all the time. I actually have a really hard time not literally writing the word honestly just before I'm about to give my opinion on something. Seriously, it's just weird.

What is your vocab crack? Any word/s you can't shake your addiction from?

Really, I'm Fine

Yesterday I read a post titled You’re Not Really "Fine." And today it hit me. I’ve been saying "I'm fine" a lot over the past month - at work, out with friends, to my family, and even home alone with my dog. Not only do I tell others that I’m fine, I also I tell myself I’m fine. I do it because we are told by all the Zen gurus that you should fill your mind with positive thoughts. That you are what you think. So I tell myself I’m fine and hope that saying it enough will convince some part of my brain to not only believe it's true, but make it true. That's self-affirmation at its finest!

I admit it. I’m guilty of saying "I’m fine" sometimes even when I’m not. I’ll say it mostly because I don’t want to burden other people with my feelings. I know most people only ask how you are or if you’re ok to be polite. So my "I’m fine" response is my polite way of quickly answering the question I know they don’t REALLY want the full answer to. Plus, it's uncomfortable and guys aren’t as good at expressing their emotions as women are. We are taught to be strong and in control of our emotions and the situation at all times. To lose that strength or control is embarrassing. I lost that strength and control. And it was embarrassing.

Therefore, saying "I'm fine" will save me from humiliating myself in the future.

It seems crazy that someone/something that once made you feel so incredibly strong has left you feeling so incredibly weak. You probably have no idea what I'm talking about...but that's fine. Anyway, I think I'm fine now, or at least getting there. I hope it's also fine with everyone that I continue not to talk about it. I would like it if we could all try to forget "it" (that shower scene), perhaps pretend "it" didn't happen. I wish I could do a Tosh.0 Web Redemption and redeem my manhood. But unless or until Comedy Central comes knocking on my door for that opportunity, I'm just going to say "I'm fine."

Really, I'm fine.


***NOTE***
This marks my 1,000 post! It also marks my return to blogging. Or at least I'm going to give this blogging thing another shot, even if the passion to write hasn't come back yet.

Saying Goodbye To Blogging 1 Post Shy Of 1,000

I turned the water on as hot as I could stand it. Steam quickly filled the room and choked out the air as I stepped naked into the shower. (The next part is embarrassing and humiliating to admit.) Facing the water, I closed my eyes. I took a deep breath and held it as I interlocked my fingers tightly behind my head and leaned forward into the stream pouring down. Titling my head toward the ground, I allowed the water to wash over my neck and back, hoping to release the built-up tension in my shoulders and constriction looming deep within my chest. Then a giant exhale. With my forehead now resting against the shower wall and my forearms squeezing the blood surrounding my temples, I remembered to relax. To stop trying to hold on to it. To let it flow through me like rain. And it did. And as a result, I kind of lost it. I started to cry - a very rare occurrence for me! Although I can't be sure if they were tears or just water droplets from the showerhead falling to my feet. Either way, it doesn't matter and neither does this confession. This story has nothing to do with blogging. Although it does help explain some of the recent events happening in my life which have led to a few decisions, including this one...

Today marks my 999th post here on The Rest Is Still Unwritten. It also marks the day I say goodbye to blogging.

I've always said that the day blogging ceases to be fun for me is the day I step away. That day has come. So I'm stepping back (backspacing?) from writing. I've enjoyed the 5+ year journey, but I no longer feel inspired to write. Lots of things still left to say, just no energy or will to say them. What was once a creative outlet that I've describe as "therapeutic," now feels excruciatingly painful for me to continue. The joy just simply isn't there...and neither are the words. It should go without saying, this makes me incredibly sad.

This isn't an impulse decision. It's something I've been mulling over for some time now, evidence of this Tweet (pictured above) from last week. I considered deleting the entire blog and not saying a word as to why, but I felt that wouldn't be fair to you, the reader. Plus, I didn't want to deal with answering countless questions of what happened, people thinking it was just a system glitch. Instead I'm allowing my little corner of the web to stand as is. You're welcome to browse through the rather extensive Archive. But I can't say when, if ever, I'll return.

My realization is one that is not...umm, happy. In the past, I've seen writing as a gift. For it has given me the ability to express the things in my everyday life that are often too difficult for me to verbalize. So I put pen to paper in my coveted Moleskine or I blog about it here. I write it all out and I write through it. This time it's different. This time I can't write about it and what's even more difficult is that I've realized I have no one to even talk about it with to help me cope. I don't have that type of relationship with any of my buddies or even with anyone in my family. It's like emotional paralysis where feeling too much is leaving me numb. So instead I'm choosing to share nothing. I'm keeping quiet and keeping to myself.

And if the day comes that I feel the urge to write here again, there won't be some lame teaser Tweet to build up online anticipation or a dramatic comeback post! I'll simply slide in just as quietly and unannounced as I slid out.

Because in the end, I want to live by my motto - Write Like No One Is Reading.

xoxo,
David


PS (Please don't e-mail me wanting to suddenly be my friend and offer your ear. While I appreciate the kind gesture and I'm sure you mean well, this letter is not my plea for help. It's more or less a PSA as to what is happening on my blog. Also, I'm sorry if this news leaves anyone feeling disappointed. But understand that life happens. And when it does, we cope the best way we know how. Perhaps this will only be a short hiatus. So keep me in your reader, keep me linked and check back soon. Again, my apologies.)

Stupid Is As Stupid Does

I don’t know what I was thinking, apparently I wasn’t thinking. I took a story (a personal matter) and purposely twisted it, taking it out of context to create a humorous tale to post here on my blog. Stupid.

STUPID.
STUPID.
STUPID.

I’ve since apologized and removed the post I had published here earlier today. Still, I can’t take back what I did. Believe me, I sooo wish I could! I fucked up. I feel smaller than a midget, worse than an asshole, and dumber than a rock. I don’t know what my problem is, but I deserve the ending result.

I won’t say more than that because I’ve already shared entirely too much with this virtual world. So I’m going to shut up. But before I do, let me just re-emphasize one last thing...

I’m so, sooo sorry for what I’ve done! My intention was never to purposely hurt anyone, embarrass anyone, or let anyone down. I don’t expect forgiveness. I just ask that everyone doesn’t judge me based solely on this one act, on my sheer stupidity. I messed up. I was wrong. Now I have to live with it.

(comment section closed)

Are Bloggers Real Writers Or Just Literary Dabblers?

I like to write. I like to blog. But am I a writer because I’m a blogger? Some say yes. Some say no. I say..."I am not a writer. You will never see my name embossed on a fine leather book. The dream of being published does not exist for me. At least that’s what I say in my About Me section here on my blog. Although these days that’s no longer entirely true. I do dream of being published and having my name embossed on a fine leather book. But, I still don’t see myself as a writer. I’m a blogger, a literary dabbler. I’m not a REAL writer. And if you’re a blogger, I’ll tell you exactly why you probably aren’t a real writer either.

The vast majority of bloggers are not writers and very few bloggers can actually write well. Ouch. I know. Believe me, this realization pains me too. After reading Modite's post on this and seeing countless other posts around the web debating whether or not bloggers are writers, it got me thinking.

Just because you put pen to paper doesn’t make you a writer. Just like putting paintbrush to canvas doesn’t make you an artist. To me, you can’t call yourself a writer or an artist unless you get paid for your work. Most bloggers don’t get paid for their work/words.

When I say I’m not a writer, I say that because I don’t get paid to write. Therefore I don’t feel it’s right to call myself a writer. I enjoy writing and do it as a hobby (for lack of a better word), but the title writer should not be applied to me or any other blogger who doesn’t get paid for their words.

I would think that REAL, paid, talented writers would feel somewhat irritated at every Joe Shmoe running a blog labeling himself a writer. It’s discrediting to the title "writer." I think writing is a beautiful profession and it’s a title that should be earned, not given to yourself just because you can self-publish anything under the sun on Blogger or Wordpress. Let's be honest, anyone with a computer and an Internet connection can blog. Those aren't exactly high credentials for a writer.

Can blogging be a good playground to hone your writing skills? Most definitely! Are some bloggers so talented that they should pursue a freelance writing career? You bet! Although my feeling is that you shouldn't apply any title to yourself or call yourself an expert in anything unless you have the paper to back it up. Paper meaning - show me the degree/certification/license or show me the money. Unless or until that happens, you're just a literary dabbler like me. Blogger Boy.

Agree? Disagree? I would love to hear your thoughts. I don't want to be cynical and I hope my love of writing will one day flourish beyond some minuscule web address on the net filled with my random ramblings. diamondkt.blogspot.com is what I am and all I'm afraid I’ll ever be to the world. I am reduced to being a blogger (an unpaid one at that) and nothing more. I don't want to be just another wannabe writer lost among the millions of other wannabe writers living their dream thru a Blogspot address. But right now, that's exactly where I am.

Celebrate 5 Years at The Rest Is Still Unwritten

January 1, 2010 not only marked the beginning of a new year and a new decade, but also my 5 year Blogiversary here at The Rest Is Still Unwritten. 5 years! Good God! If you had asked me 5 years ago if I would still be blogging, my answer would have been a sound no. Afterall, I registered an account with Blogger back in 2002 but never published a single post until 2005! Since it took me 3 years to even write my first post, I really didn't expect to stick with blogging for more than a month at best. But somehow, someway, and for whatever reason I'm still here. 1,825 days later and I'm still writing. As I creep up on my 1,000th post and have already surpassed 5 years of blogging, I will do my best to recap a bit.

The PostSecret card I created to thank my muse.

I’ve always said I write for an audience of one (myself) and I started this blog because I was craving a creative outlet in my life. That is as true today as it was 5 years ago. However, I would be lying if I said all the feedback (both negative and positive) I’ve received from readers over the years didn’t matter to me. It’s been a HUGE push to keep writing! You’ve given me an ear to listen when I had none. You’ve given me support when I needed it the most. And you’ve given me encouragement when I truly doubted myself. You’ve calm me down when I was mad. You’ve pulled me up when I was sad. And you even smacked my ass when I was bad. You’ve laughed at my stupidity. Rolled your eyes at my manwhoring ways. And you shared a collective aww when I said or did something that was just so effing cute you couldn’t stand it!

So for that I thank you all! I thank you for reading. I thank you for commenting. I thank you for the e-mails. And I even thank you for the friendships. Yes, I said it. It sounds really geeky and rather unbelievable to say, but I’ve actually formed some real life offline friendships through this virtual world of blogging.

When you visit my little corner of the web, you’re not just reading a blog. You’re been getting a glimpse inside my mind, heart, and soul. Which is often scary, I’m not going to lie. Little pieces of me. Some beautiful. Some ugly. And some just completely misunderstood. But they all make up who I am. Then together we sort out the puzzle pieces and make them snap into place to complete a new and improved David 2.0 (or so that is my hope).

In essence, that’s all blogging is - growth. Personal growth, emotional growth, intellectual growth, and perhaps even spiritual growth. Growing as a person in life and capturing it in written words. To me, that’s a pretty beautiful and powerful thing. Looking back at some of my earlier years in blogging makes me cringe! The way I write seems so different now that I hardly even recognize that guy from 2005. But I think that’s a good thing. It shows growth. Now for a look at that growth. In celebration of my 5th Blogiversary, here are 5 stats about my blog. And in celebration of 2010, here are 10 posts I've chosen to note based on reader feedback.

5 Years of Stats
Subscribers: 2,000
Visitors: 235,000
Posts: 1,000
Comments: 18,000
Twitter Followers : 700

5 Years of Posts, Reader's Choice
Most Hated: 8/22/09 - Tracy's Facebook Fuck-Up Gets Her Screwed Twice
Most Loved: 9/11/09 - Save The Last Dance For Me
Most Shocking: 10/5/09 - My Deepest, Darkest Secret
Most Controversial: 11/05/08 - One Giant Leap Forward And One Giant Leap Backwards
Most Embarrassing: 9/3/09 - The More You Know
Most Inspiring: 1/19/06 - 1 Second Added To Your Life, What Will You Do With It?
Most Intriguing: 1/23/06 - 101 Things You Didn’t Know About Me
Most Raw: 10/20/09 - The Manwhore Relapse
Most Informative: 12/04/09 How-To Avoid Entering The Dreaded Friend Zone!
Most Heartbreaking: 2/10/06 - Permission

As you can see, you can learn a lot about a person through blogging and even more about yourself. Over the past 5 years I’ve learned so much! But what really resonates with me, thanks to all of you, is that I’ve learned that I have a little writing talent and should pursue it outside my blog. So I’ve pushed myself out of my comfort zone and into new experiences/challenges that allow me to put pen to paper in a whole different venue. It’s scary, but exciting at the same time. Don’t worry though. I’m not breaking up with blogging. I committed 5 years of my life to this relationship, so I want to see where the ride takes us.

***NOTE***
Lastly, I want to thank my friends at 20SB.net (20 Something Bloggers) for making me a finalist for the 2010 20SB Awards! I'm up for for 3 different categories! See what they are and vote for your favorite bloggers here.

Love Harder

"Most people have a harder time letting themselves love than finding someone to love them." - Bill Russell

(remember that quote)

It's almost New Year's Eve and 2009 is coming to a close. You've probably been expecting me to do a year end wrap-up post like everyone else is doing on their blog lately. Now normally I would, but if I've learned anything at all from 5 years of blogging (well January 1, 2010 will officially mark my 5 year blogiversary), it's that life is interesting. In good ways, bad ways, and ways we will just never fully understand. As bloggers, we write about our lives in hopes of understanding ourselves and read about the lives of others in an attempt to understand them in relation to us. Still, no matter how much we write or how much we read, we can't comprehend the feeling of a freight train hitting us until it actually does. Life throws you curveballs (or rather cannon balls) and pain throws your heart to the ground. Picking yourself up sometimes requires asking for a helping hand. Today is that day.

If you don't know who she is, allow me to introduce her. Her name is Brandy and she is a 28-year-old Canadian girl with a strong desire to change the world. On December 20, 2009 her blog went silent. All she wrote was..."Life happened. I’m on an indefinite blogging break." Then she left this plea, asking for a prayer.

My name is Brandy. And I have a blog.

And a plea.

I use my blog to showcase the crazy I meet everyday, share the stories of the kids I teach and document my love for tequila, dairy products and the abdominal muscles of Ryan Reynolds. Rarely do I talk about personal issues on my blog- as personal as the dude that I adore (who I actually met through my blog- single ladies, let that be a very good reason to blog, the possibility of meeting someone as wonderful as my man), but I need your help. And it involves my dude.

He’s a guy who made math comics for my class, so they would love learning about addition. He’s the kinda guy who sends my friends gift cards when they are having hard times, who remembers every story I ever told him, who was the first person I celebrated with when I got a teaching job. He’s the guy who sent flowers to me at school- dozens of my favourite pink roses just because he loves me. He’s a guy who has spent a year patiently explaining (and re-explaining) everything there is to know about football during the important games when silence is preferred. He’s made me word puzzles and comics and stayed up late playing Scrabble with me (even though I beat him almost every time). He’s listened to me cry about school and family and jobs. He is everything I never knew I needed and everything I always knew I wanted.

The holidays have hit us hard. He’s recently been told he may have something called multiple myeloma- an incurable cancer, that gives a person an average of five years of continued life. Though this news has came as a shock, he continues to be exactly who has always been- spending his time worrying about me, rather than worrying about himself. He’s the most selfless individual I know- (he stayed late on Christmas Eve to work, so his co-workers could leave early) and a post like this would never be something that he would promote or encourage but when I’m overwhelmed and feeling helpless, the blogging community has always given me tremendous support and comfort, two things I desperately need at this time.

As I write this, the future is uncertain and we aren’t sure what’s happening. He’ll need to see an oncologist soon, to verify what’s going on in his body. My hope is that everyone who reads this think positive thoughts and if you are a person who prays, could you add him to your list? (You can refer to him as ‘brandy’s hot awesome dude’). If you don’t pray, please keep him in your heart.This cancer is only a possibility and I believe that the prayers and positive thoughts of people can make sure it never becomes a reality.

I want to give a big thank you to the blog owner who scraped their original blog plans and graciously put this up. My goal is to get as many people as possible to see and read this post. If you are reading this and want to help, copy and paste my plea into your blog or send a link through twitter, so more people can keep him in their thoughts. I would be so very grateful (even more grateful than I am to my friend who first showed me the picture of Ryan Reynolds on the cover of Entertainment Weekly. If you haven’t seen it, google it. You. Are. Welcome).

I realize this all sounds dramatic, a Lifetime movie in the making- but this is life. Right now. And I’m throwing away any hint of ego and am humbly asking for you to pray or think kind thoughts. If you are able to pass this on, thank you and if you know anything regarding MM- please email me (my email is on my blog). This isn’t a call for sympathy or a plea for pity. It’s just one girl hoping you can think positive thoughts for the person she adores. If my current heartache provides you with anything, let it be with the reminder that life is short, love is unbending and no one knows what could happen next. Maybe it is silly, but I really do believe that positive thoughts can make a huge difference. Thank you for reading this and if you haven’t already? Please tell someone you love them today.

I did.

Situations like this are all too real and hit home for many of us, myself included. That is why I am sharing this with you, in hopes that with me, you too will send much needed prayers and good thoughts their way. Because I can't think of anyone more deserving of a happy new year.

Oh and remember that quote? "Most people have a harder time letting themselves love than finding someone to love them." I also want to congratulate Brandy in not only finding someone to love, but allowing someone to love her back even harder.

Happy Festivus from The Rest Is Still Unwritten!

Since the holidays are upon us, I will not be blogging as often as I usually do (which is at least twice a week). I know, I know. I’m sorry. Everyone needs to unplug though, including me. So for the next 5 days I’ll be M.I.A. from the blogosphere. However, if you are feeling antsy for some compelling thoughts from me, don’t freight! Although I will not be publishing a new post to the blog, I will be sending out new Tweets from my Twitter stream! Try to control your excitement.

You can expect at least one or two updates per day. Compelling, thought provoking, controversial, offensive, hilarious, filthy fun. That pretty much sums it up. Some of them may even be sweet. You know, because I have a heart, or at least this time of year I pretend to have one.

So if you are looking to escape your relatives over the holiday for a few minutes, swing on by my blog and check out what I’m rambling about. And of course you can always follow me directly on your mobile phone via Twitter @davidstehle

Happy Festivus!

(Wikipedia: Festivus)

Choose BrazenCareerist.com's Best Blog Post of 2009

You may or may not have heard of a little blogging network called BrazenCareerist.com I shouldn’t say a "little" blogging network because with thousands of registered members, they aren’t little at all! Brazen Careerist is a career management tool for next-generation professionals. Or in other words, it’s where thousands of cool, hard working Gen-Y Bloggers hangout. Brazen Careerist focuses more on a blogger's professional life and less on their personal life. Although there are the occasional personal posts that slip in, like the ups and downs of dating. Afterall, dating can feel like a second full-time job to some!

Back in the Fall of 2008, I was contacted by Brazen Careerist Co-Founder Ryan Paugh. He asked if I wanted to join a new network called Brazen Careerist. The site had just launched, so naturally I had never heard of it. I remember asking myself..."What is Brazen Careerist? Who is this guy? And why did he pick me?" After a bit of conversation, Ryan convinced me to sign up and give it a shot (the early days of what Brazen Careerist looked like). Over a year later, I’ve watched it explode in growth! During that time I’ve had 16 of my posts featured on Brazen Careerist’s frontpage and enjoyed reading dozens of posts written by other talented bloggers from around the world. I don’t work for Brazen Careerist and I’m not getting paid to plug them. So when I say if you’re a blogger and you’re not part of this network that you’re missing out, it comes from the heart. That warm, squishy, little, left corner inside my chest cavity.

Last year Brazen Careerist did a "Top 100 Posts" list from their launch year. Yours truly stole the #73 spot with the most controversial post I had ever written at the time. According to Ryan it was also one, if not the, most heavily commented posts to ever be featured on Brazen Careerist. It received roughly 50 comments on BrazenCareerist.com and roughly another 50 comments here on diamondkt.blogspot.com

I wrote that post the next morning following Election Day 2008. It was about my views on Prop 8 being passed, a law in California that denied gay couples the right to marry. To me, I just couldn’t comprehend how we can create such a historical moment as electing the first ever black President, and in the very same night, be prehistoric in our views and beliefs when it comes to voting on Proposition 8. In 2008 we were ok with a black man, but not a gay man? The post, 4/5/08 - One Giant Leap Forward And One Giant Leap Backwards

That was 2008 and this is 2009. So this year the folks at Brazen Careerist have switched it up a bit. Their staff is not going to select the 100 greatest posts from 2009. Instead they are asking YOU, the reader, to select the best single post from 2009. Then whoever’s post receives the most votes will be crowed "Brazen Careerist’s Blogger of The Year" and win a $150 Amazon gift card. I was nomination for this post about the inevitable death of the newspaper industry, 6/3/09 - Save Newspapers? Um, No Thanks

I’m not going to be shameless and yell, "VOTE FOR ME!" Although I wouldn’t mind if you do, I’m not going to ask you to do so. Simply because I don’t feel that post was my best work of 2009...and because I’m trying to have some shame this time of year. Instead I'm asking you to just enjoy reading a bunch of interesting, well written posts over the past year. The topics are quite diverse and come from a wide variety of bloggers, each with their own unique writing style and different personal views. They are broken down into 8 different categories - Career Management, Working, Entrepreneurship, Social Media, Marketing/PR, Generation Y, Relationships, and Culture. While you're browsing, if you feel one particular post stands out to you, case a vote for it! Here are the official rules along with the list of bloggers and their posts up for the coveted "Brazen Careerist's Best Blogger of The Year" award...

Brazen Careerist's Best Blog Posts of 2009!

Cerebral Constipation

Nothing is more daunting to a writer than a blinking cursor on a blank page 1 Word document. I hate it! It taunts. It teases. It ridicules me to no end. I’ve been verbally constipated before, but this goes deeper. This is more like cerebral constipation. And it’s serious. I feel like an artist with a blank canvas, tons of paint, but hands too crippled to move a brush. I have a pen. I have a keyboard. Both begging to be touched, but my mind simply refusing them the orgasmic pleasure that is the written word. They remain pure, but unfulfilled. Lifeless. Empty. The cursor keeps blinking at me, like a traffic light screaming to GO! The drive to write is definitely still there, but my fuel line is fucked up as I choke and sputter on poisonous fumes.

I don’t have the extra time, the necessary energy, or the needed direction to finish a thought let alone compose a sentence. Thought process confused. Head feeling scattered, but yet overflowing with puzzle pieces that don’t snap into place anywhere I try to fit them. I have at least dozen posts in draft and a dozen more in a virtual desktop folder lying in wait. Countless catchy titles and powerful phrases, thoughts and ideas scribbled on minuscule pieces of paper. These can be found behind me as I leave a Hansel and Gretel trail wherever I roam. None have made it to publication, but yet many are worthy of a big stage appearance.

My left brain is not speaking to my right brain. I’m not sure if they are fighting or if it’s just a technical difficulty, a dropped signal. Whatever the case may be, I would like them to reopen the lines of communication. Because quite frankly, I can’t take the court jester in my head anymore. The one that keeps laughing hysterically as he slaps me upside the back of my skull with my own Moleskine. It’s not helping my creative writing juices to flow again. It’s simply causing a blood clot. I’m secretly wishing for brain hemorrhage to occur. To bleed it all out, so I can write it all out.

Writing has always been my creativity outlet. It’s what relaxes me and comes somewhat effortlessly to me. Although these days, I find no greater challenge than trying to mix words with pleasure. Writer’s block is painful enough, but when you have too much to write about and suffer from cerebral constipation, it’s excruciating.

More Cool Tech Gadgets - FREE Giveaway!

So a little good news/bad news today regarding my blog and you the reader...

Bad News: My blog didn’t generate enough buzz during the HP dm3 contest. So I don’t get a second laptop to give away to another lucky reader.

Good News: HP was impressed with the amount of hype my blog did create. So I'll be doing future promotions, more tech gadget giveaways!

I can’t tell you what they will be because I don’t even know yet myself. However, when I do get word, I’ll pass it on to you immediately via my blog and my Twitter. That way you can take advantage of the free goodie goodness that is a shiny, new tech gadget!

As you're probably already aware, there are two things I love in life - writing and tech gadgets! So when I can combine the two, my heart nearly bursts with love. Although now that my first giveaway is over, I’ve discovered that I lost some followers and subscribers. I'm a little sad about that, but it's ok. It just means they’ll miss out on my future awesomeness...and of course more tech gadgets I’ll be giving away for free!

I would just like to reassure those who may be thinking that my blog is going to turn into some ad-laden, promotional pushy, constant contest/giveaway extravaganza that nothing could be further from the truth. My blog has been and always will be a place where I write. It’s my creative outlet and I’m not interested in changing my mission statement. So the same content that you’ve enjoyed over the course of my 5 years in blogging, and has given me nearly 2,000 subscribers, it’s staying. I will keep writing. I hope you’ll keep reading. And in the process I’ll toss a new laptop or some other cool gadget your way to say thanks for being loyal.

xoxo,
David

HP dm3 Laptop Winner Announced!

***NOTE***
The follow-up post to 11/23/09 - Oprah Gives Cars, I Give Laptops - Get Yours!

Today is the big day! After 1 week, we had nearly 4,000 comments/entries and 300 Tweets! There were countless mentions around the web from various websites, blogs, Facebook, Digg, Craigslist, etc. Now it's time to announce the winner of the new HP dm3 laptop! After a rather time consuming process, I managed to collect all entries (yes, all multiple entries were counted) and randomly drew one name from the pile. So without further ado...

drumroll please

The winner is...James!

Congratulations to James for winning my first ever giveaway prize, a brand new HP dm3 laptop with Windows 7! I will be in touch with James today to get his mailing address and with HP to make sure it is shipped directly to him ASAP.

I want to thank all of you for your participation in this giveaway contest. I was very pleased with everyone's enthusiasm and I hope the buzz everyone created was enough for HP to want to give me a second laptop to give away too! If you didn't win, don't be too sad. There will be more opportunities to win cool tech gadgets in the near future. So be sure to subscribe to my blog and follow me on Twitter that way you'll be the first to know when it happens!

Also, a special thanks to Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft for selecting my blog to give away such a great prize to one lucky reader.

Happy Holidays from "The Rest Is Still Unwritten" :)