hold it
before I say too much much more I need to set a few rules. I was surprised that so many people were actually reading this right away-- that's a good thing, though because
rule one: this blog is public. who is my audience? everyone! This is me. This is not a diary of my deepest darkest thoughts. I am omitting some details and content, assuming that anyone with any authority over me is reading it. This is a DINNER TABLE BLOG meaning, would I say these things at dinner with my extended family in Virginia?
rule two: this blog is humanitarian. my perspective is openly humanist in any ethical discussion and rooted in principles of Kingian nonviolence.
rule three: I am not going to talk about religion on anything more than descriptive terms
rule four: likewise, I have very little to say about politics at home or abroad and nothing to say on more than simply descriptive terms
rule five: of course I mention travel, but this is not a travel blog. this blog is to establish a public presence to reach out to people I have connected to around the world. furthermore, this blog is to establish my public work as an artist
rule six: This blog is about me. I will not mention others, unless absolutely necessary, and I will not mention anyone by name (or any other clearly recognizable mark) irresponsibly.
rule seven: I will not write libel, rumors, or gossip. I refuse to deliberately misrepresent or defame anyone or any anonymous party.
rule eight: I will respond to any questions directly and shortly after I see them
I also have one rule (but only one rule) for you:
respect the spirit of this blog,
I hope to make some friends here. be patient with me as I work the details out. still not able to edit these entries but edit schmedit
mmml
justin
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
entry zwei
Got a call from the consulate today and I need to get a lot of papers pieced together to make it on time. It's stressful, and the cold here doesn't help. While everyone else is going back to work and school I'm completely committed to starting a new life overseas. I didn't remember this process when I went to Korea in 2008, but looking back it was a similar frantic feeling. I was in the warmth of Missouri in summertime, however, and this made it much easier: to find peace of mind all I had to do was walk along the nice fences of Town and Country, where I could hear fountains and watch horses.
The year of the horse is what makes all of this daunting, by the way, because that is why it is hard to get things done right now. I completely understand and accept this, but it shows the challenge that awaits. I'm experienced now and more determined than ever, but it is a rough thing.
I have more to say about everything, so much more. So much in fact that just today-- I finished-- my novel. My second one, in fact, which took way less time and was written completely by hand, unlike the yearlong snooze job I finished back in 2008 (my year, the year of the rat). This one only took about seven months and I regret not keeping track of the date I started. Like so much that I write I picked it up and then put it down one day last summer, the end of june and the beginning of july. Man I was inspired those days. I had returned from a coast to coast road trip--San Francisco to Virginia Beach-- and I sat outside in the warmth (ahhh warm Wisconsin summers) working on my thesis, when I got on this long personal rant. Sure enough I picked up the legal pad later and added more, flirting with the idea of making it a novel.
Before long I carried it everywhere and spent every free moment writing each of the 99 chapters slowly, waiting patiently for the right words. But here I am seven months later, 400 handwritten pages (I estimate 150,000 words) and all of it looks good and makes sense. Now the long boring part--typing it begins. At least this will mark the first time I've read it completely through. I have a long reading list this year but I get to start with the man I know best.
much much more later
justin
The year of the horse is what makes all of this daunting, by the way, because that is why it is hard to get things done right now. I completely understand and accept this, but it shows the challenge that awaits. I'm experienced now and more determined than ever, but it is a rough thing.
I have more to say about everything, so much more. So much in fact that just today-- I finished-- my novel. My second one, in fact, which took way less time and was written completely by hand, unlike the yearlong snooze job I finished back in 2008 (my year, the year of the rat). This one only took about seven months and I regret not keeping track of the date I started. Like so much that I write I picked it up and then put it down one day last summer, the end of june and the beginning of july. Man I was inspired those days. I had returned from a coast to coast road trip--San Francisco to Virginia Beach-- and I sat outside in the warmth (ahhh warm Wisconsin summers) working on my thesis, when I got on this long personal rant. Sure enough I picked up the legal pad later and added more, flirting with the idea of making it a novel.
Before long I carried it everywhere and spent every free moment writing each of the 99 chapters slowly, waiting patiently for the right words. But here I am seven months later, 400 handwritten pages (I estimate 150,000 words) and all of it looks good and makes sense. Now the long boring part--typing it begins. At least this will mark the first time I've read it completely through. I have a long reading list this year but I get to start with the man I know best.
much much more later
justin
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
entry one
woah hello here yeah. haha well this is my start.
first off I'm moving to China soon. idk what I can access there online. I won't be on facebook anymore and that will be strange, because that was how I kept track of everyone during two years abroad in Korea. I did see a blog run in China from blogger.com but this might require some technical work.. to get around but.. ah hell it is difficult trying to figure out all of this.
these first few entries are all tests -but- in a statement
the 8O (eight oh) blog is a means to communicate with all my friends and family back home, first and foremost.
of course there's more to be said about everything. will keep it brief for now
more later
justin
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