“O bla di, o bla da, life goes on…”
I rarely update this blog with anything worthwhile. Mainly because the idea of a personal “public” blog has long ago become extremely undesireable to me. I always say I should write something, post something, even some pictures. But I never do. My time is completely overtaken by life, graphic design and Cupcake Rehab. Not that that’s a bad thing.
Years ago, I had a website hosted on a free site (envy.nu). Not long after, I was offered hosting by a friend of mine. She wasn’t always a friend of mine, but through the internet we became friends. She hosted me for a long while, then I was hosted by another friend of mine (also met through the internet). Finally, a third friend of mine (guess how I knew him!?) purchased for me the first incarnation of MARILOCA and I had my own domain. Long after those websites were gone and our “blog” world fizzled out and disappeared, me and these friends have remained close through the past 6 or 7 years. I find them to all be amazing people. Me and these friends often joke that we invented the social networking website. We had blogs/websites with “top 8’s” and “friends lists” way before MySpace or Facebook or even Friendster (Is that still around?). And we created these sites from scratch- wrote the HTML, installed the CGI and PHP scripts, installed everything ourselves and most of us used Greymatter. If you’re an old school web-head, the mere mention of that name will make you wistful and sentimental, those of you who aren’t… know this: Noah Grey invented blogging software, way before Moveable Type, Wordpress or Blogger there was Greymatter. So we essentially did all that stuff before that stuff existed, but without the wonderful option of a “private” account. And from that experience and the experiences I’ve had since… I can tell you a few things.
The concept of the social networking website can be a wonderful thing.
It can also be an absolutely horrendous and vile thing.
I’ve been found by people I wish to not be found by, ever. I’ve been stalked, harrassed, and otherwise hounded by psychotics and lunatics for many years. But I’ve also met some incredible, talented, and most importantly nice people I never ever would have met otherwise. Artists, bakers, musicians, writers, moms, dads, photographers. Fascinating people with fascinating lives and stories. People I don’t just consider “internet friends” but friends. Period. On the other hand, people can snoop and find things out about you that you’d rather they’d stay out of. But also, you can find people you haven’t seen/spoken to in a long time and missed without even realizing you missed them. But then again… you “see” people you’d rather not see often through mutual friends, and therefore are reminded of their existence in the world when you’d much rather think they fell in a sewer and were washed away. So there are two sides to every coin, this “internet” being no exception.
But all the good things have vastly outweighed the shitty. Anna, Yoyo, Percy, Jenny, Rain, Tania, Melissa, Jamie, Becky, Rosi and all the other people I’ve met through any of my websites or blogs are way worth it.
For instance, one of my friends from way back when recently found me on Facebook. How, I don’t know, probably through a mutual friend. But I’m very glad she did. I always enjoyed reading her writing and reading about her life (she moved from Hawaii to the Netherlands 6 years ago and has since spent that time traveling abroad). But her blog is here and her Flickr is here, and they’re both filled with beautiful writing and beautifully inspiring photography. Thank you for finding me, Joey!
“Who let the dogs out?”
August 17, 2009, 2:14 am
Comments ClosedSo next month I’m donating some homemade doggie treats to the 2nd Annual Just For Fun Dog Show in Seaford, Long Island. I was supposed to attend (with Jay and Indy in tow, of course) but Jay’s work schedule is all switched so I don’t know if I’ll be able to go. However, I am donating some treats to be raffled off, and Yoyo donated these beautiful reversible doggie blankets for raffling off as well:
If you’re interested in going or donating something to be raffled off, please e·mail me. And keep an eye on Cupcake Rehab for more, I update way more over there!
I also want you all to go to Yoyo’s blog and her store and buy stuff from her. Her things are beautiful, handmade, quality items and they’re super affordable.
