Blogger blog blog

Here I am!

It's my first post as an official blogger. I have thought about putting up a blog for some time now, but something has always held me back. I've had my own opinions about blogs and the real motivation behind writing them. Do people write blogs to send not-so-cryptic messages to one they may be out of sorts with? Or, for some thrill that people they don't know are reading? ...And now it's amazing how concerned I am with what other people are thinking as I write this. (wow. *she's* self-absorbed. or "I hope she doesn't think this is going to take the place of personal responses to my emails" ). It's funny. I notice how different I am in the presence of different people. I act differently around my movie night friends than I do around my landmark friends and differently still around my family. Well, here I am in Japan with a laptop and Beth Orton to keep me company. I have this great opportunity to see who I am when all I've got is me to be around. The beauty of it is that different people are reading this, and I don't feel any pull to *be* any which way. I can only express myself as I experience myself.

It's true, sometimes I see everything good in the world. Sometimes I'm bitter and angry and lamenting on grudges I feel powerless over. Sometimes I know for certain I can do anything. Other times I'm sure I have to settle for the practicalities of life. I know there's a balance somewhere. I think this will be a good little experiment, if nothing else but to quiet the chatter...or at least verbalize it somehow... (uh...blogalize it?)

***

So why am I writing this? Well, for several reasons really. I know when I read blogs, I feel closer to the writer in some way. I want to know what's going on in their lives on a daily basis. Even if I don't always write them, I can know how they are and what they're thinking. Being in Japan is wonderful, but I don't want to be outta sight, outta mind. Ideally, I want to share and be shared with. I want to know your thoughts and ideas, where you went this week, who you bumped into, who made you laugh, who tugged at your heart, or...what you had for breakfast, if that's the kind of mood you're in.

And sure, I also want to jot down bits about experiences I'm having here in Japan. Most recently, I survived trains in Tokyo at rush hour. We were packed so tightly that I might have just sit on the lap of the guy in front of me. We probably would have both been worlds more comfortable. There were moments when I might have been able to just pick up my feet and float the rest of the way. Now I know why they play a whole concerto while people are boarding. Probably some futile (fugal) attempt to keep the peace. Ok, well I thought it was funny as I was keeping my sanity on the train.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Love,
lis.