I do not know if
there is a tradition of inaugurating blogs with a mission statement, but regardless
of whether there is, I will risk being unfashionable and boldly begin the
tradition here. In a few paragraphs I’ll dip into why I’m writing, what I’m
writing about, the advantage of pessimism, and how the California drought will
affect my blog.
First and
foremost, I hope that this blog will keep me in the practice of writing. I like
to write, but foresee too many possible futures where I do not write. Secondly,
I aim for self-improvement through discipline. I have many 'unexpressed
thoughts’ that seem to make sense, but when required to express them, I suddenly
discover them very disappointing—some shriveled prune of the fruit I imagined
growing in my head. Without being forced to articulate oneself, thoughts fester
and fade. It is a difficult and worthwhile endeavor to sit down with a vague
thought, figure out exactly what one means, and then labor it into precise
words that actually signify things. Here, I will practice this skill, and
hopefully not allow my thoughts to fester unexpressed. And finally, I am
starting a blog because it is a hobby. Hobbies, I am coming to understand, are
a healthy thing. Between the dispositions of ‘wastoid’ and ‘contributing member
of society’ are hobbies. I hope to never become a ‘wastoid’ but see signs that
I might be inclined to do so, as evidenced by the Summer of 2011, a certain
Andre Nickatina concert I attended and then ‘de-attended’, episodes of my
sophomore year of college, and my mindset upon waking up every morning of every
day.
So, in the
non-existent tradition of inaugural blog posts, I will now hint at the humble character
behind this blog. What’s my name? Any literate TSA officer could read it off my
passport: Mike Gioia. Though the passport actually reads Michael Frederick
Gioia, and also finds it necessary to disclose my age, weight, height,
birthplace, and eye color, which will most likely not be discussed in this blog. Is it a handsome face on the passport? This I cannot comment on. I see it
all too often staring back at me from miscellaneous bathroom mirrors and shop
windows to care for it. If anything, when I see it there is a vague sense of disappointment
accompanied by the thought ‘is this the person who’s been masquerading around
as me for the last three hours’?
Now, continuing
in the non-existent tradition of inaugural blog posts, I will now outline my
territory, that is to say, the topics one can expect to find in this exciting,
new blog. Expect brief posts on books, movies & television, bay area rap,
and possibly, the cities I’ve lived. I don’t presume my thoughts are
interesting to anyone, but I figure I can contribute to the ‘wealth of
knowledge’ on the Internet. I take for granted that anything I want to know
will be on the Internet. However, quite often I’ll Google a book or movie or
place and find scant information on it. So I figure I can fill in some of the
web’s holes. Now someone Googling La
Bonne Table or Dan Duryea or Celly Cel’s first album or Frank the Homeless
Guy on Emerson Street will find one more option for information on them. I will
try to post on things that are non-existent on the Internet space. Slowly I will help translate
the real world into information on the web. The Internet only works because of
people posting when no one asked them to, right? Well, consider me part of this
brotherhood of the unwarranted and unsolicited.
One
of the few blogging traditions that I am
aware of is blogging about mundane events in one’s life. Expect this idea taken
to the very extreme here. Expect reviews of glasses of water I've drunk, the
cup's shape, its temperature (the cold ones let you leave fingerprints), and
maybe even details about the water inside. Now if you're the type who wonders
about ice, well I am sorry to say you will be disappointed by this blog. I will
not be concerning myself with ice in any way or form in this blog. But I
suppose water is a liquid form of ice, so perhaps in a very intellectual and
philosophical way I will be talking about ice. But I won't be formally addressing
the topic of ice. Nor will I be giving much thought to whether there is a
coaster between the glass and the table. And if you're the very queer sort who
wonders about the table, well I am sorry, for here is one more reason why this
blog may not be for you.
However, because
of the drought California is experiencing, I am nobly forgoing my plan of
blogging about glasses of water for the moment. Such a topic would be a drain
on my state’s water tables, and would surely, due to my vivid writing, drive
many people to drinking a glass themselves. This is a great and lamentable
shame, as I assure you, no one so vividly evokes the experience of a glass of
water as I do, but it is absolutely necessary sacrifice we all must endure for the
welfare of our nation’s greatest state. So what else shouldn’t you expect?
Certainly, do not expect any more inaugural mission statement blog posts, as
this, despite it’s high excitement and definite allurement, is the only inaugural
mission statement post you will be seeing. Printing and posting it to your
refrigerator is both recommended and commended.
Now
it has been claimed that I am a ‘cynical person’, and that one can only expect
‘criticisms’ and ‘problems with things’ from me. However, I have a problem with
this definition of me. I will concede that the following are true: I have a lower than average opinion of
most people, events, and things; I have lower than average expectations when someone says so-and-so or such-and-such 'is so absolutely great'; and I think people are vain, weak, susceptible, and more
inclined to fault than good. I include myself here too. But I firmly believe that this cynicism is, in an
odd way, the more optimistic take on life. Because I hold these convictions on
people’s overall lousiness, I go into life constantly reminded I need to meet the world with
patience, tolerance, sympathy and charity. This is what every one of us absolutely needs,
and therefore what we are obliged to give. I know I would be nowhere
if people hadn’t afforded me these necessary courtesies. Though this belief’s root
is pessimism, I believe it is generally a good way to see the world. Approaching life with this understanding of things, I am all
the more often touched and surprised by the world because of it. So, expect this special
branch of optimism here—the school of low expectations.
And so, in bravely pioneering the grand tradition of inaugural blog posts, I have declared my blog’s
mission, touched on topics I will be discussing, explained how the drought will
be regrettably impoverishing my total realm of topics, and outlined my basic
philosophy on life for you (This will be a fun blog, won’t it?). Whether you
want it or not, expect to see more.
Pasadena
July 2015
