“YOU ARE IGNORING YOUR BLOG”
So sayth TJ, so it has been done.
The problem is thus: most of the stuff I want to write about, I’m not permitted to write about. When 99% of your life is X and Y, and you cannot write about X and Y, it’s very hard to find the time and desire to write about the 1% of of your life, Z, that you can write about.
Do you want to hear about how my mother-in-law took my bucket-o-cat-cr@p and put it out in the rain?
Do you want to hear about how my front tires have become exceptionally loud?
Do you want to hear about my new wall at my office?
Do you want to hear about how I’m becoming a pretty good VMWare-wrangler?
Do you want to hear about how my son is loving being “goalie” as we play water polo with a blow-up basket ball hoop in the pool?
Or how I’ve saved $20 in water by not using a dishwasher for a month?
My two-month non-WoW anniversary is approaching.
Netflix over the Internet is fantastic, except the selection both sucks and blows.
Ratshag is cuddly, but I didn’t cuddle; quit asking.
Should I discuss my favorite iPhone apps?
I need a better iPhone case but I won’t spend as much on the case as I did on the iPhone.
I need a second iPhone USB cable for work as the iPhone battery is, in a word, horrible stinky nasty-poo.
OK, here’s a quick story:
We got a part-time Linux sysadmin to come to our software development lab to help out the full-time sysadmin. The new guy is pretty great, even helped me with a special script that eliminates about thirty-minutes of work when I’m running four virtual machines at the same time. So the programmers, test engineers, and some QA and CM flunkies were discussing how we needed to tell everybody how awesome he was so he’d get to stick around. I had to set them straight.
“Wrong path, children. That’s not how one keeps quality people from being poached by the rest of the company. Spread the work high and low that Chester (nhrn) is a noob, a goober, and hardly worth the air he breathes and the heat his body generates. Ruin his good name, and only then will he not be a target for some manager to try to steal from us.”
They grew quiet, and then nodded their heads. For the rest of the day, we besmirched the poor man’s name to all who came into the lab, including developers from other companies, just to make sure they didn’t get any bright ideas.
Some day, when all the cr@p is behind me, I might be able to write about the stuff I want to write about, we’ll see. But for the time being, I’m going to try not to be boring. Instead of being boring, I’m just going to shut the heck up. I’ll write what I can, when I can, but the time between posts could be excessive. I apologize, but I gotta do what I gotta do.
Hope you can wait this out with me.
2-month non-wow anniversary is approaching?? Holy crap!!! has it really been that long already??? Glad to see you’re still blogging. I keep looking forward to those Daniel vs. Brain arguments. Keep up the good work!!
Are you kidding Daniel?! Waiting for it makes reading it all the more worth while!!
I like hearing about “boring” everyday topics. It keeps me sane knowing that other people care about stuff that in the grand scheme of the cosmos, isn’t important. That’s why I started reading BRK. WoW isn’t really that important to most people and it can be a pretty boring grind at times, but it’s fun to read about other people’s feeling about the game and what they enjoy.
So write on about those tires, iphone or Netflix. Let brain convince you that watching cruddy old foreign flicks on Netflix will make you more cultured. It’s keeping me sane!
We’re just glad to hear from you ^_^
Sorry you can’t talk about X and Y right now, but sharing your regular life with us is great as well- it’s good to know that other people go through the same things in everyday life.
Hope your job is going well- write when you can
Best wishes
Laurin
Dude, your “boring” writing blows most people’s “riveting” writing out of the water. Just talk about your life, edit out the stuff you can’t share (or mask it), and we’ll read it, happily.
I started reading your work when I was looking for hunter info. The knowledge brought me back as a hunter, the humor kept me coming back when I rerolled a priest, the stories about life outside Wow are why I followed you over here when you gave up the game.
Write as the muse hits (it helps), you can always hit publish in a year or ten.
Keep the shiny side up, greasy side down, and the headlights pointed towards home.
We’ll be here when you get back.
Nope nope nope. Write it down as it happens. Just don’t post it. Maybe never post it. But the writing it out is good for you, I bet.
Meh, whatever, you know full well I’d read whatever cr@p you post, after a months long gap or whenever the cr@p you wanna post it! And i’ll eat it all up! Or at the very least, skip read, nod sagely as if taking it all in, and wait patiently.
But you know, if you wanna discuss your favorite iPhone apps, that is at least something i can comment on knowledgeably… possibly.
I’d like to read about the VMware stuff. we just implemented it.
Grats on the new wall!
am i the only person who wants to hear about the bucket o’ cat crap?
I’m gonna second Zaw. I’d third him if I could – do split personalities count? Write down your X and Y stuff, but don’t plan on sharing it. In fact, encrypt the h0ly cr@p out of it. Journaling that stuff for a man with your skills and temperament is probably better than any sort of therapy – and some day it may make for great material to be re-worked into a new form.
And in the mean time, yes, please do elaborate on the bucket o cat cr@p.
Steve
/Agreed with so many others: write the cr@p down, but dont post it.
One thing you could do is to follow up on the promises you kept giving us about more Airman Howell stories. Surely we haven’t everything was was worth hearing about your days of guts and glory?
Man, I have to admit…that cat crap sounds VERY interesting…and I’d bet my life savings (if I had any) that you could make it funny as all hell. I’ve noticed you’re able to take something simple and turn it into something absolutely hilarious.
Don’t worry about “neglecting” your blog. I told you before we’re all here for you and we will continue to be. We love ya, man!
Let’s see..
VMWare – Yes
Water Polo Goalie Son – Yes
Wall Art – Yes
Netflix – Yes. In fact, I’ll do you a favor, and link you a thread of awesome. This thread: http://www.gamerswithjobs.com/node/42544 is 9 pages of discussion regarding all the hidden gems of instant watch. Some of them have been pulled, but for the most part, they’re still there.
Ratshag – While anything dealing with him is somewhat frightening, it’s also hilarious; yes to those.
All in all, it’s like other folks have sad: Anything you’d consider boring and not worth writing is generally far, far more hilarious than anything else on the internets. It’s why we’re all still following you around like eStalkers
Blogs aren’t supposed to be interesting. They’re supposed to be there. Kinda like gas stations and toilets. No one appreciates them until they’re gone.
*sits back with a cup of something hot and waits*
Hey Big guy. I agree write it down it will help you get things straight in your head and heart. I know it helped me. I am going on one and a half months of non wow, and besides the friends I made playing I don’t miss it.
Keep strong and I look forward to your next post.
James
Don’t worry, we’ll still be here. In between posts we’ll just sit back and re-read the old stuff. It never really get’s old.
And for your sysadmin guy? You’re so right. People won’t take him and you’ll get to keep him. I’m living proof of that. *nods*
I was working at a client. Every day the PM of the project would go to the department lead and ask how I was doing. It was always, “He’s extremely smart, but doesn’t know crap. Why’s he here anyways.” you know those types of things right?
Anyways, as you’ve probably guessed at the end of the project I end up getting and accepting an offer to work for the client.
True story!
We never did hear about Airman Howell and the Heineken Red Star-fueled Halloween bunny.
And yeah, we can wait this out with you, because I think I speak for everyone when I say we’re also all here for you.
Now, either give us more on the wet bucket-of-cat-cr@p, or tell us about the Heineken Red Star-fueled Halloween bunny
Now Daniel-san,
I’m quite sure I’ve read something you wrote about blogs, let’s see:
“Don’t Listen to WoW-Bloggers
WoW-Bloggers are generally cruel, smelly, malnourished muffin-heads, and notorious for giving bad advice. Do what you want; it’s your stinkin’ blog for cryin’ out loud.”
See?
[b]Do what you want; it’s your stinkin’ blog for cryin’ out loud.[/b]
Whatever you’ll be writing Daniel, we’ll keep reading it =]
I’ve read everything, and I keep checking for new posts =] Don’t let stuff get you down, keep on going mate!
I want to hear about all those things. Whatever comes into your mind (that isn’t a no-no topic of course, do what you have to and please, please stay out of fire and green stuff that hurts.) To be honest I love your freeform writing more than in-depth analysis of hunter damage – since I don’t play a hunter and have no plans whatsoever to ever play one. I like the Writer BRK/DP better than I like the Hunter.
Somehow it’s just a bit comforting to hear your voice every now and then, even though it may be some time in between. Just like Aaron put it so excellently. I had never thought about it that way, but he’s pretty much right. (Not that I’m implying that you’re blog is about as interesting as a gas station or a toilet… hm.. that didn’t come out well, did it?)
/waving my pigtails and sending you my warmest greetings from the corner of my world
Hmmmm
“bucket-o-cat-cr@p”
Nope. I got nothing.
In the words of a famous Australian…. “Please explain?”
Cheers
Peter
I bet we pretty much all know EXACTLY what X and Y are, I’d love to hear about the bucket of cat crap.
Are you gaming at all? Are you ever going back to Wow? Those are my two big questions.
It’s not what you say, but how you say it. I know, cliche, but still. It’s true. Your silly stories about work and stuff are what people come hear to read
As Euripides mentions, it’s all about the delivery man. It’s what separates a genius writer/comic from a horrible writer/comic – even when comparing the exact same material. So I’m certain your cat crap bucket stories will far surpass someone else’s. So please, continue to serve us up any ramblings that you see fit
On a side-note, I can’t help but detect very subtle hints of WoW, just dying to come through in recent posts? Yea?…No? Oh well, maybe it’s just the “hunter” in me. But I’m feeling, or hoping, that there may be some exciting things in your readers’ and followers’ future. *cough*eventuallycomebacktouspleaseohplease*cough*
I find it amusing that you are living with your mother-in-law after the wife has left. As a mother-in-law, this amuses me greatly.
Write as you will, I check the page every morning.
In no particular order…
-Airman Howell stories
-Bad movie reviews on bad movies
-Tell us about that wall. You made two or three references to not having it now you do. What’s up with that wall?
On another note, I too have taken a step back from WoW…I can say it was for the better.
wait?!?! why do you have a bucket of cat crap? why did your mother in law put it outside? why does she have access to your bucket of cat crap?
hell yeah we want to hear about boring stuff! i second the call for more airman howell stories, i’m willing to bet you’ve got another billy joel story or two to be told, and how can we not want to hear about the wall?
if it helps to get your creative juices flowing write about what you want to write about too…just don’t publish it. hell never even save it as a draft, but on some random sd card or thumbdrive. when you’re free to discuss it gives you plenty of content, 1 the original post and 2 a “looking back” post. kind of like a then and now diary.
good to see you back around…cheers mate!
I hate to see the pain in your words. You have made me LOL and smile many many times with your storys. Take care of you and your boy. If you cant talk about X & Y….maybe its time again to talk about H & I.
Sounds like a time for fresh Airmen Howell storys to bust out again.
Now see what you’ve done, Daniel? A simple mention of a rain-filled bucket-of-cat-crap leads to all this speculation but nothing solid. Well, not since the rain got to it at least….
maybe
)
yes
yes
not really
probably
no
cool
true
?
no
no
no (not really into iPhones if you can’t tell
Stories about buckets o-crap yes
Stories about the little guy yes
iphone apps yes
My husband got the Ncase for his iphone from the Apple store. It’s a nice color (red), but it is still slick. He likes it a lot but I’m a clutz and was afraid I’d have it slip out of my hand.
I’m getting this case, a friend had it and it looked really good. Seidio CSR3YIPH3G-BL Innocase II (Saphire blue for me comes in other colors too). It’s got a rubberized feel to it. But doesn’t make it hard to slip into a pocket and feels like if I drop it, it might keep the phone a little safer.
Daniel, the reason I like reading your blog because every single post makes me laugh! No other blogger can quite replicate your style or pizzaz! As you can see from all the comments above, us, your readers, will keep reading your blog through thick and thin, WoW and X&Y, etc! Oh, and if ever the opportunity arises, I would love to hear more podcasts (if you can find a topic to broadcast about).
Bucket-o-cat-crap.
Indoor cat’s litter box.
MnL put it out for some lame reason like it’s smelled, or whatever.
It rained.
Anyone ever seen litterbox litter when it gets wet. /Hint, it absorbs pee, crap and water, until it reaches saturation, and, when left long enough, will turn into concrete. Then you have a boat anchor of cat crap.
But no doubt Daniel could tell a better story.
I’m just happy to hear what you can talk about, when you can. No pressure, no worries. I enjoy what I can get. You’re about the only WoW blogger whose personal blog I cared about once they left, because you seem like an awesome and entertaining kinda guy.
I’d be interested to hear more about your VM-ware experiences… I’ll be switching over to that side of things down at work in a few weeks.
Daniel, when you asked if anyone wanted to hear about the bucket of cat crap, I thought, “is that supposed to be a trick question?”
That could end up as legendary and the nuclear priority styrofoam cups story!
Maybe…
When you stopped WoW blogging and came over here, iirc you were straight forward about how your posting was going to be:
“There’s not going to be any schedule, no daily-post, no spending hours and hours working on material. I might use this place as a sounding board for my book, though, so be warned. There’s lots to do still, especially links and pictures and knick-knacks. Again, please be patient as I make this place into a home.”
I’m sure everyone here understands. We always want more but we’re a hideous ravenously life-sapping mob of interweb vagrants, so don’t mind us.
Daniel, you could post a cat cr@p story and we’d read it.
I’m confident you can even make a post about belly button lint interesting.
I’m just happy to hear from you! I think we all are.
WTF? I wanna hear ’bout the bucket ‘o cat crap, in fact I would happily read anything you wrote just because it was you who wrote it and I’m 113% sure that every other fan of yours feels the same.
Anyhoo, enough of my rambling, carry on good sir. Best wishes and luck from Scotland
“Do you want to hear about my new wall at my office?”
YES!!!
I’m imagining the bucket with the cat crap had to go and the garbage men wondered if you were breaking up the back patio.
I’m intrigued by the $20 savings by not running the dishwasher. How enlightened, green and when do you do dishes? When you’re out of spoons?
And it actually sounds like you have people who haven’t looked down their glasses at you. Is the raspberry flavoring now in the morning coffee at the office or is it still too new?
Curious, my left front tire is loud too, but I’m not sure it’s the tire. Kind of sounds like a baseball card is stuck in the wheel well.
As everyone here has said and which I will echo, we just like to hear your “voice”. The few readers to my blog like the “when I was young” stories I trot out. Why the Air Force? Did you ever dream, at age 9, you’d have a backyard swimming pool? What was summer like when you were 15?
*salivates at the thought of ‘young Howell’ stories.
Do you want to hear about my new wall at my office? Yes
Do you want to hear about how I’m becoming a pretty good VMWare-wrangler? Yes
I also request more Airman Howell, more son Howell, and more programming/office survival stories.
Daniel, would the lot of us followed you to this blog if we didnt want to hear about these things?
I know well you cant write about the things that you NEED to write about now, which totally sucks. But we’ll be here, checking up on you until and after you can. Until then, buckets of cat crap and office walls are perfectly acceptable topics… my personal blog is pretty darned boring, too, but I’m not the one who can make those things funny and fun to read. 
You are, and thats what keeps us all coming back. 
Two words: Airman Howell.
Seriously.
Bucket-Of-Cat Crap…. how can you lead us on with that and not explain! (Though one commenter did a good summary.)
After 3 posts about your lack of walls, of COURSE I want to hear about the new one.
VMWare? Heck yes. Like why would you ever run four instances of it at once? I used it once to try and emulate a Mac-Box on a Windows-Box. Failed. But fun.
Yes to all the rest too.
Daniel, you could right about paint drying, and it would be entertaining. In fact if it was in Brain vs Daniel format, it would be HILARIOUS. (Brain: Are we watching paint dry? Daniel: Yes we are Brain….)
Write what you want (can) when you want (can). You may be surprised at the audience that will be here to devour it.
‘Sides, keeps your mind fresh and clear and sometimes gives perspective. And if you read all our comments, it may even give you insight. Or at least bewildered amusement? I guess?
Just be you. Most of us will get along with that just fine.
Are you missing WoW at all after 2 months or do you find you’re missing the people you used to chat with more? I went back after a 12 month break and while it was great to catch up with everybody i’m finding after 6 months that if you arent raiding (got family so no time for that) it ends up being a dailies/rep grind/bg repetition and i’m slowly getting fed up of that.
Anyway, i’m still beating you 4 walls to 2, your move
Omg you got a Wall?!! When did this happen? Seriously Daniel, I enjoy whatever you write…. and if you don’t have the time, or inclination to write – that’s ok too. This shouldn’t become another “job” that you dread to do or feel pressured to maintain. We just like you and think you’re a pretty cool cat with a great sense of humor and nice writing style. Hang in there and drop a line whenever you want.
WALL! Shiny wall! Is it just another modular cubical style wall, or is it something cool like a floating wall of text? Wall of text crits co-worker for 9999…
Yay! Wall!