What is this? What am I doing?

It's my basic contention that blogs, and all writing really, are only as good, clever, innovative, fun or interesting as their authors.

In my case, I can be some or none of these things within the course of a couple of sentences. I'd average about two of the five on any given day. Because of this, I expect little to no readership of this blog. The point is that in writing this, I'm not only fully aware that that no one else gives a shit. I'm nearly counting on it.

For me, this is an exercise in discipline. While I write at work all day long, I write very little for myself outside of work. This is an effort to change that. A little place to go, clear my head and just write. Just for me. About anything. And maybe a little of everything. A collection of daily thoughts, jokes and stories. Things I just learned. Things I wish I hadn't. You know — stuff.

Basically, I'm practicing.

Although this way of writing seems light years away from more traditional diaries, essays and columns, in the end it's just a glorified pen and paper, right? It's a journal. A notebook. A doodle in class. It's a note to a girl that you never sent.

Here's an example. I wrote something silly at work today and my friend says to me, "You should put this on the blog." I thought "This is just silly. Stupid even. Why would I put it on the blog?"

Later, I thought, "That's why."