Since I have started “blogging” I have had several people ask me why I do it. To be honest I don’t think its a big deal either way, but for onlookers that don’t read blogs at all I’m sure they just think I’m strange. Some people think its a waste of time or think that your living in a virtual world. To that I would say Americans waste their time on much worse things and email/blogging is not different than writing letters like people have done all throughout history. So I wanted to take time to post on the issue of this blog and also an explanation of why I do it.
-Time- Although I reserve the right to cease blogging completely at anytime ,the single biggest reason I blog is because I have the time. I know your probably thinking that I shouldn’t have time since I have 2 babies. This is true when I am at home. I seldom have time to check email. Most of my post if not all I do at work. haha And now your thinking, “you have time to blog at work”? The short answer: 
Friends and Family
Old Friends-I am really bad at keeping up with friends. Even friends that I really respect and want to continue to have a friendship with. For me having a blog is like my constant open door policy. Having a personal space on the web is an easy way to keep in contact with people I don’t visit with often. Instead of catching up with people and going through the pleasantries everytime I see them they can “virtually” live life with me. This is much more effencient. Is that bad?
New Friends-Partaking in the blogging world is an excellent way to partake in discussion(below) and build new friendships. There is no way I would be able to meet all the people that I have met thus far without being apart of the blogging community.
Your people call my people-A blog is like a central location that friends and family can use to contact me for any reason. I am better about checking my comments(because I get emailed) than I am at checking my voice mail on my phone. All of this to say that it doesn’t take place of my everyday life it is simply another aspect of it. As a matter of fact it has increased and enhanced many of my relationships. Seriously though sometimes I don’t get voice messages for weeks.
Bleedover effect-this is a term I would use to describe the effect of having a blog. No matter what I post about there is a bleed over effect where the conversation/ideas bleed over into “real” life. I am a sucker for indepth conversations and usually keep my mouth shut exchanging pleasantries. (That is definitley a weakness but whos keeping track.) Blogging makes it a heck of alot easier to continue a coherent conversation in many different venues. I’m not surprised when I post something then talk about it with someone and then continue the conversation again “virtually”.
-Children- As if its not obvious http://www.randzig.com/ can often end up like a gallery of Jet and the family. Would you argue against this? If so not everyone gets to see Jet as often as you. Technology is able to connect family in a way we have never experienced.
-Uniquness- As most people know I’m a pretty typical person for my age. Wife, kids, house, and a Dodge Stratus Honda Oddysey. So while I’m pretty normal there are some nuances to my personality that I think make me unique. Thats not to say that they are attractive, charasmatic or whatever but hey I’m not claiming to be either. Blogging for me offers some sort of getaway from the routine of life. And to be honest gives me a chance to say…Hey, I’m not like you!…Which is totaly required when sticking it to the man.
-Web-Log- I’m not one to keep a diary thats for sure. I don’t intend this blog to be that way either. With that said obviously this is not like MySpace or what have you. There is a certain amount of reflecting that goes on here but not to the depth of a diary. I know I make grammar and spelling mistakes but does it really matter? Its pretty neat to see a log of things that interest me and how that integrates in a real timeline. And thats what this offers. I do have a myspace because I’m playing in a band but myspace is kinda weird to me. First of all its partially a blogging tool and nobody actually does that. Secondly everything you say is read by everybody. I guess you can send private messages but I don’t know how yet. People constantly leaving witty remarks and vulgar profile pics is not my thing. It is however a great example of community on the net but its not really my thing. Maybe I’ll learn to love it but most importantly I prefer the wordpress platform.
Thats why I blog. Ya dig? So don’t talk bad about the fact I do it when your the one sitting there reading the thing. ooooo SNAP!
-WordPress- If you think this may be something your interested in I would suggest using wordpress. At wordpress.com you can create an account and have a blog in a matter of minutes. At wordpress.org you can download the application and host it on your own server. Thats what I do. Hosting your own gives you more controll(sometimes headaches) and the ability to customize it. If your looking to just try it out go to wordpress.com and open an account. It would be a great introduction. Let me know if you have any questions.
Just a dude with a blog that probably shouldn't have one.
