My First Little Baby Bloggity Blogger Bloggiepie

So I've started "blogging." This is my obligatory "I'm now a 'blogger'" "blog." (I apologize in advance for all of the quotation marks. They are intended to imply my distaste for the word "blog," which I will explain presently.) (Also, if you are expecting good grammar, this is not the correct blog to visit. Because I don't always care about that.)

I don't really like the idea of a "blog." I'm not sure why. I think I'd like them better if we just called them "weblogs" since that's where the slang came from, because then we don't have to admit that the internet has taken over our lives more quickly and drastically in the past ten years than we can really keep up with. If the word "blog" was incorporated into our vocabulary before we even figured out what it was an abbreviation for, let alone decided to start keeping a log of our days/thoughts/rants/journal entries on the web, what other shortcuts does the worldwide web allow us to take in communication and what do we miss in understanding the world around us? Also, I never liked the idea of "blogging" because I have a fear of being trite, cliche, or cheesy. And then I realized, meh. It's cliche to not want to be cliche, so I'm going to ignore that fear and start keeping a weblog.

Most importantly, if we called them weblogs instead of "blogs," I would feel like I was constantly in a Star Trek episode. (Note: this is a good feeling).

SO, what can you expect to find at this particular weblog, and why should you follow it?

I dunno about that last part, that's up to you.

I might share my random thoughts throughout the day. I might ask you to join me on a theological excursion or to excuse me while I launch into a political rant. I might share a story about my dog. (Actually, go ahead and count on that one). I've had some recent thoughts on rain or Christmas that I might share. I might complain about life or I might share how deeply I was moved when I went for a hike and sat next to a waterfall.

One thing is certain about the purpose of this weblog. When I have reached 100% of my fundraising goal to move to Cairo, this is where I will share my stories, observations, and a few pictures with you. It is where I will attempt to keep in touch with you all while I am living on the other side of the world and feeling disconnected from everyone I love. It is where I will attempt to share glimpses of my experiences in Cairo.

Oh, I suppose this is also the time and place to tell you about the name of my weblog. Recently, life has been difficult. For me and for a lot of people around me. And I think it will continue to be hard, because that is life. So when you're in the storm, you have to figure out how to get through it. One of the things I have been turning to is books. Lots of books. (So I have no idea where this came from, and as soon as I remember I will credit the author). The thing that stuck with me on a very visceral level was the author's description of darkness. He or she said that we usually run from darkness out of fear of the darkness, but that if we turn and walk into it, eventually the earth will keep turning and we will be met by the sunrise. As much as I am antsy to get out of this time and place in life, I am more committed to living fully and learning from each moment than I am to escaping the pain.

So here I am, and here is it.