Ground rules

I have a little confession to make. I don't read blogs. I am serious. Well, I mean, I do have one friend who has one and about every three months or so I'll look at hers - but that is it! Really!

I guess I really have mixed feelings about them. Can they be a fun and interesting outlet of journalism? Are they the new media creative non-fiction? Maybe. The problem is, when I hear about bloggers interviewed on the news I think, "Who the $*&% cares about what this person is saying about (insert topic of the moment here)? They're not an expert or journalist." I always got the impression that the blogosphere (ick!) was full of self important adolescent-adults who for some reason or another thought every one just had to hear what they had to say.

So, it is with great curiosity and a little discomfort that I am now writing on a blog. Part of me is thinking, "damnit, how did I get into this?" The truth is I needed no prodding at all. I heard about it and thought the idea sounded kind of fun. I am coming to grips with the fact that I just might fall into that category elaborated upon above.

Since I have no experience writing or reading blogs, I had that moment that every one who has ever written something on a deadline has had; you know, that ohcrapwhatthehellamigoingtowriteabout moment! I asked myself, what makes a good blog? I answered, "well, shit v. i don't know - you would have an idea if you read blogs, eh?"

I did not spend all night reading blogs to write about what makes a good blog. That would be weird. Instead, I gave some thought about what boundaries I would set for myself to make this as little like the horrid conception of blogs that I have as possible and maybe to make it more interesting for whomever is reading the blog.

So far, here are my ground rules:
1) I will not speak of my relationship in a negative way. Not even in passing. No one is interested and that is just plain uncool. Still, I imagine it could be tempting so I have to write this rule to keep myself honest.
2) I will not bring up the mundane tasks of my life in a facebook/myspace sort of way. This is not the place for me to talk in 1-2 sentences about what a hard week it was having 2 exams and 2 quizzes and that I am making kielbasa for dinner.

That is it? That is all I could think of? I really don't know if it is good enough. I doubt it will guarantee interesting writing. #3 could be to use the word "I" a little less because I'm already a little embarassed about the level to which I've used it in this post. I don't know.

I should be clear - I only intend these rules for me - everyone else can write about their kielbasa dinners to their hearts' content.