Northern exposure

When I first started this blog, I was adamant in that I wanted this to be as anonymous as humanly possible. After reading about the experiences of other bloggers, I decided that at least for the time being, I didn't want people to know who I was, especially if I was revealing things about myself of a rather personal nature.

Flash forward over a year, and now 193 posts later (including this one), and reading about the experiences of bloggers that have been outed, it makes me wonder if the ability to remain even remotely anonymous is simply a myth. I look at folks such as Petite Anglaise, and Girl With A One Track Mind (both excellent writers, mind you), and realize that while my blog isn't anywhere near as famous or visited, it still gives one pause for thought. They were both outed, and in the case of Petite, was dooced (Lost her job related to her blogging).

I have consciously avoided blogging about certain subjects in depth, such as my job and my marriage, the latter being at the request of Mrs. Nighttime. While it is a form of self-censorship, as with most bloggers we elect what, and what not to reveal out to the world. There are bloggers who are extremely open people, and their blogs are a reflection of their personalities. The only one or two subjects of an extremely personal matter that I'm open on are my liver transplant experiences, and my battle in the past with depression.

This said, I am now struggling with the notion of revealing at least, my first name and face. There are a few bloggers that I have become quite friendly with, and communicate with via Facebook or Skype, or in the case of Violet Sky, have met face-to-face, which was a nice time. So the question I pose to you out there is this:

What are your feelings about what you choose to reveal, or not to reveal, and the advantages and disadvantages of each? I'd also know what you do to protect yourselves so that not too much gets exposed.

I await your advice and counsel.

Catching up.

So, where to start this post? It has been so long since I last blogged that I wondered whether or not I had simply lost the urge to blog, or to write, for that matter. I have come to discover that I need not be concerned. Sometimes, stepping back from a task, even something that I might love, creates new opportunities not yet realized. I can say that it has been a difficult month and a half, starting with Nelson's death, and continuing through to the start of the holiday season here, and trying to pull out some sense of joy amongst all the senseless things I see around me.

Nelson's funeral was as expected, an extremely difficult and sorrowful event. To die at 45 is never an easy thing to deal with for those left behind. It's worse when looking at the legacy he left behind (his family, friends, colleagues and students) makes all realize what a loss this world has suffered. He was an only child, which made it even worse for his mother. It was however, not without its lighter moments, of which Nelson would have approved.

During the wake the night before, a priest that knew Nelson well commented during his eulogy that Nelson had a habit of being late - for everything - something that was not lost upon my brother, his best friend of 38 years. My brother then commented to me as to how they used to tell Nelson to be somewhere half an hour before he actually needed to be there because of his preponderance to to be late.

The next day at the funeral, which was actually in a chapel on the grounds of a Greek Orthodox seminary (Nelson converted to Greek Orthodox from Roman Catholicism some years ago), we were standing and waiting for the coffin to be brought in, and I took note that the time was 10:10 am. About a minute later, his coffin was brought in and I chuckled to myself. The funeral was due to start at 10 am. Leaning over to my brother, and his friend Marc (the third member of the trio of childhood best friends), I said, "You do realize he's late to his own funeral, don't you?" I suspect that it took all of my brother and Marc's strength not to burst out in hysterics, but we all knew Nelson would be laughing right along with us.

After the funeral, we went to Nelson's aunt's home in the Throggs Neck section of the Bronx, and gathered with his family and shared memories. The wound of his loss is still very fresh for my brother, but he is doing better these days.

Now, the rest of the month and into this month was relatively uneventful, save for one event from last week.

I FINALLY BROKE INTO A NATIONAL PUBLICATION AS A FREELANCE WRITER!

Yep, it finally happened. I pitched a story to this magazine:

http://udsakron.org/services/kaleidoscope/

about this theatre company here in Rochester:

http://www.rocartistsunlimited.com/

I knew about the theatre group through my own connections in the theatre community here, albeit with not a lot of details. One of its officers however also sits on the board of directors with me at my theatre, so I began to ask him some questions about Artist's Unlimited and found that there was a great story in the making. I have time to write it, as the magazine only publishes in January and July, but will be starting on the preliminary interviews after the first of the year.

I am hoping that this is the break I have been waiting for, and that it will lead to other national publications, if not just more work in general. I would like to be full-time freelancing by this time next year, as I already missed this years' goal due to, well, due to me not putting in the effort I should have.

I have also gotten myself on to Skype, and have been talking with the ever so lovely Zoe over at MBIAT. We've had some great conversations, and I have resolved to visit Belgium to meet her and Peter over at Antwerp Calling as well within the next year or two.

So I now resolve to get back into the swing of things and try to blog a minimm of 2-3 times per week. Here's hoping.

Beware of Canadians bearing gifts...

...for they just might become a good friend. As I mentioned, Violet Sky trekked across the border to come to Rochester's Lilac Festival this past Thursday, and to have a blog meet with yours truly. As she mentioned on her post, this was my very first blog meet, so I am no longer a virgin, and I don't even feel dirty about it.

I have to give her a lot of credit; the weather, at least at first, was decidedly uncooperative. I thought for a bit that she might cancel on me, but it's obvious that those who live up in the Great White North are made of even heartier stock than we are. The rain was coming down pretty hard on her trek here, and as I waited at one of the two Starbucks that I frequent for her arrival, I was getting suspicious that the festival might turn into a total washout.

I needn't have worried, as it turned out. She pulled into the parking lot, and I spied her as she was walking towards me, and as we recognized each other from the pictures we sent to each other, we both broke out in big smiles, and hugged warmly. While it was still raining pretty well, she was sans umbrella, and I thought she was probably thinking: "I'm from Canada. Umbrella? I don't need no steekin' umbrella!"

After deciding that the first best thing to do was to grab some lunch, and then head off to the festival, we hopped into our cars and I guided her down towards Park Ave, to one of my fav restaurants, Sinbad's. We dined on falafel kebabs, and generous portions of humus with sides of pita wedges for slopping it up. She commented on the size of the food portions, and I had to remind her that this is America. *wink* While we were eating, the sun broke through, and the day took a turn for the better, weather-wise.

While at lunch, we talked about a wide variety of things, a little about our lives, how we got to where we are today, a little about Burlington, where she lives, and then she surprised me with a small gift:

A little bit of Canada in a nice wrapper turns out to be:
Along with this little thing that is now proudly displayed on my fridge:
After stuffing ourselves silly, We hopped in my car for the ride to my theatre (that she mentions in her post) that will soon be closing its doors to move to a new location. Along the way there, I showed her the mansions of East Ave in Rochester, which were at one time the homes of the very rich movers and shakers in the city, including the George Eastman House, former home of the founder of Kodak (now a museum).

After taking her onstage and backstage, we hopped back in my car, picked up hers, and headed off to the festival. Miraculously, we found a good place to park, and headed off into Highland Park, site of the festival. Taking in the sights and sounds, and smells, we stopped for some liquid refreshment, and just talked and talked. I felt a little guilty, as I know I can have a tendency to monopolize a conversation, but I think that we found out we had a lot in common, especially when we were in my car earlier, and I put a CD in that she instantly recognized.

"Wow, that's Pat Metheny!" she blurted out. I had no idea she was a big fan of his, and had seen him to boot. There was no doubt now that we had formed a good friendship.

We cruised through the festival, and it was time for me to leave, as I had to get to a meeting that my supervisor decided to shcedule for that day. We said our good-bye's, hugged, and I gave her directions back to teh highway from the park.

Now, it's my turn to return the visit, hopefully sooner rather than later. This blog meeting stuff is okay in my book.