Of Mice and Men
So I really did intend to jump ship over at myspace, but then some more friends joined on, and some old friends I hadn't seen in years started to contact me, and... anyway, I've still got a spot over there. Although the criticism still stands, the benefits of using it to keep up with those friends won out.
So blogging... I thought I might do it more when I started up this blog. But as it turns out, I don't have a lot to say.
More precisely... I don't have a lot to say to the world in general that I think would be worth reading. I have plenty to say to friends and acquaintances, when we're actually talking about something. But thoughts that are worthy of the world-at-large? What I'm writing right now sure doesn't qualify. So why am I doing it? Perhaps procrastination. I'm rather busy with plenty of other things, and don't really have time for this. Perhaps a vague feeling of obligation. I signed on, got an account, started a blog, and then abandoned it like a bad mother. I see other friends being very attentive to their blogs: writing entries on them, attending to the look and feel, feeding them, singing them lullabies, changing their poopy diapers... so I start to feel like a neglectful parent, and start to look over my shoulder for social services, who will doubtless come to take my blog away and give it to a more responsible and caring blogger.
Someone said "the road to hell is paved with good intentions." Samuel Johnson, the famous lexicographer, said "hell is paved with good intentions," and St. Bernard of Clairvaux said "hell is full of good intentions or desires." But someone put "road" in there at some point. Robert Burns said "The best laid schemes o' mice an' men/Gang aft a-gley," which is more perspicuously rendered as "the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry." Such is the state of my blog. As the name implies, it really does stink.
By the way, the title of the Steinbeck novel Of Mice and Men is a reference to the above quote. It's not a novel about mice and men, it's a novel about plans--hope, dreams--going bad. That's why Lennie dies. Hope I didn't ruin the surprise for anyone.
So blogging... I thought I might do it more when I started up this blog. But as it turns out, I don't have a lot to say.
More precisely... I don't have a lot to say to the world in general that I think would be worth reading. I have plenty to say to friends and acquaintances, when we're actually talking about something. But thoughts that are worthy of the world-at-large? What I'm writing right now sure doesn't qualify. So why am I doing it? Perhaps procrastination. I'm rather busy with plenty of other things, and don't really have time for this. Perhaps a vague feeling of obligation. I signed on, got an account, started a blog, and then abandoned it like a bad mother. I see other friends being very attentive to their blogs: writing entries on them, attending to the look and feel, feeding them, singing them lullabies, changing their poopy diapers... so I start to feel like a neglectful parent, and start to look over my shoulder for social services, who will doubtless come to take my blog away and give it to a more responsible and caring blogger.
Someone said "the road to hell is paved with good intentions." Samuel Johnson, the famous lexicographer, said "hell is paved with good intentions," and St. Bernard of Clairvaux said "hell is full of good intentions or desires." But someone put "road" in there at some point. Robert Burns said "The best laid schemes o' mice an' men/Gang aft a-gley," which is more perspicuously rendered as "the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry." Such is the state of my blog. As the name implies, it really does stink.
By the way, the title of the Steinbeck novel Of Mice and Men is a reference to the above quote. It's not a novel about mice and men, it's a novel about plans--hope, dreams--going bad. That's why Lennie dies. Hope I didn't ruin the surprise for anyone.
posted by Jonathan at 10:41 AM
2 Comments:
i like your blog. now i can keep up with you all the way over there in california! i like hearing what you have to say.
Hello there. Being new to blogging and easily amused, I discovered your blog by looking to see who else listed Augustine's Confessions among their favorite books. My roommate and I very much enjoyed the photo. How did Gumby manage to hike all the way up there on those short little legs? Amazing.
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