Ryan is the author of Oktober5, the blog we’ll be reading for the next two weeks. Make sure to visit his site and subscribe to his RSS. And now, let’s hear from Ryan.
First of all, I would like to thank the academy . . . .
Just kidding. I’d like to thank Chuck for being crazy kind enough to feature me. He’s a genuine guy who wants to help other people, and I don’t want his efforts to be without reciprocating gratitude.
1. Who are you?
My name is Ryan and I live in New Mexico (formerly known as Mexico) with my family, which includes my wife, Sarah (a regular contributor to Oktober5), and my son, Dad-gum-kid (a regular contributor to Pampers).
I work framing pictures one day a week and spend the rest of the time pretending to look for a job, but really I’m just hocking all my valuables on Craigslist in an effort to satisfy my son’s insatiable need for more Pampers. I have six brothers and one sister and the scars to prove it. I’m Mormon, red-headed, freckled, scrawny and shy–the perfect target for school-yard bullies. And I like long walks on the beach.
2. How would you describe your blog?
My blog is yet another blog about nothing. I figure if Seinfeld can do it, so can I. He made a show about nothing and now stars in Microsoft commercials and is insanely rich; I blog about nothing and . . . .
I have four main categories on my blog: writing, technologies, photography, and miscellaneous. It should be no surprise that miscellaneous holds the most posts by far. In a sea of how-to guides on starring in Microsoft commercials, my blog is more of a web log or online journal of personal thoughts and interests. Revolutionary, no?
3. Why do you blog?
You mean besides wanting to star in a Microsoft commercial? I blog because it feels good to get out what I’m thinking. I enjoy the process of creating organized words from the mass of random ideas, experiences and words that make up my life. It’s also encouraging to get the occasional comment that reminds me I’m not the only weirdo in the world. And if that weren’t enough, I blog to entertain. I love making people laugh and think at the same time.
4. What blogs do you love?
Okay, here we go: Scribblous because it’s written by my favorite wife; Remo Savisaar’s photoblog because he takes awesome photos and I don’t understand a word he says; The Art of Garth for his creativity; Catatonic Kid for her insight into depression and unbeatable, almost poetic writing; Garfield Minus Garfield for its resemblance to how I feel almost all the time; Pun Intended because it makes me laugh and think simultaneously; The Ever-changing Thought because of his spiritual quest for self-mastery; Illuminated Mind for his often backwards approach to self-improvement; A Cricket in a Garden for the feeling and emotion she puts into her words; Blogging Without A Blog for not being a typical (i.e. boring and lame) blog about blogging; and last but not least, TJ Hirst for her great writing and the inspiration she gives me to be better.
5. What’s something interesting about you that has nothing to do with blogging?
I’ve moved five times in the last two years, my favorite color is white, I don’t like peas, I strongly dislike stray pieces of my wife’s hair getting stuck between my toes, and I’ve nearly achieved the rank of Lance Corporal Gold in Battlefield 2142.
6. Which 5 of your posts would you recommend for new readers to start with?
Going out in a chariot of fire
Why do dreams go fizzle pop?
A spoon full of gratitude makes the madness go down
Five collages for you - A sampling of photographs
Writing Life Cycle - One of my wife’s best, I think.
I hope you come and read Oktober5 and enjoy it. The best compliment I’ve ever received from someone after they read my blog was that they enjoyed it. That’s all I hope for.
