Blogs I'm reading today

So, this little corner of unreal estate allows me to publish opinions all over the blogosphere. (What is it about that word that reminds me of "the information superhighway"?) Check out some of the places I go regularly:

The Rebel Sell blog: haven't read the book, but the insights are deep
Ironic Sans: awesome name for a font and a terrific blog (he came up with those pre-pixelated shirts for use in reality TV shows)
Design Observer: thoughts on design & culture
Three Minds @ Organic: marketing-watch site, including outstanding viral and e-campaigns

Of course, there are a bunch of personal sites I visit as well, but I don't know you well enough to tell you about them.

I refuse to be a statistic!

I am taking a stand: I refuse to be one of the 45% of people who drop their blog within three months of starting it. I admit, I teetered on the edge, but I'm back and in full effect!

Well, medium effect. My bride just finished her paper, and it will take a few days to get back to full production. Now my little girl is turning two and then the wife goes back to the books at the beginning of May... Whew.

I had a little boost yesterday: I swung by the downtown Funky Pickle for a slice (nasty - ALWAYS order fresh, Christopher), and watched a pretty young twenty-something read the Oodle Noodle review that ran in Vue this week. She was spending time with my words, completely oblivious to the fact that the "tiny fingers" in the title were attached to the toddler scarfing pizza beside her.

As a writer, I get a bit disconnected from the result of my writing. Sometimes I'm so buried in the production of the articles that I forget people actually read them. It give me quite a thrill. Thanks, anonymous young lady. Please know that it took everything I had to avoid introducing myself. (I wanted a random-sample poll about how much ink I spend on my daughter.)

Spent the rest of the evening at the park. A good soiree all around.

A nice place to visit

Yowzers, but it's been a long time since I visited the ol' homestead. Still looks good around here, though. I enjoy the freedom of wandering around, reading and posting comments to the Wide World of Blogging, rather than offering up my own particular insights into the Universe in general.

Plus, when you're paid to write for a living, it can stop being a recreational activity, y'know?

Anyways, updates for my legions of Thrallformation-starved fans...

• I took the editing gig for Vue's Dish section, which means that I not only write about eating, I also mangle what other people write about eating. The Ultimate Cosmic Power factor is low, but it's challenging to herd the stylish cats who now write for me. Be nice to your friendly neighbourhood editor: their job is tougher than you think.
• With two bars showing up on a urine-drenched stick, we are celebrating an upcoming arrival for the end of November! (Woohoo!) We debated "Rowan" for a boy or girl, but my beloved bride has cooled on the name, so I'm currently engaged in a stealth-campaign for "Cohen" if it's a boy. (Stole it from my coworker's friend, and it rocks. I love you Leonard - call me.) If you have any suggestions, let me know and we'll mock them behind your back.
• My Lady is toiling away at her online Masters' program in Counselling Psychology, which is both more wonderful and brutally harder than it looks. Spare a thought for her as you complain about your day at work: sure, she gets to be at home (going stir-crazy), but you don't have to maintain a particularly attention-starved toddler, grow an infant inside of you and pursue higher education with drying apple juice stains on your text books.
• Of course, a new arrival means that we will officially burst the seams of our sweet downtown condo. Renovations are more-or-less under way, and we're hoping to list it in Edmonton's uber-hot real estate market for the beginning of June. Then we'll be homeless! Yay!

So, that's it. If you want more updates, beg me. Otherwise, read Vue Weekly to find out where I went to eat this week. Or visit my latest favourite site, The Gallery of Regrettable Food, for images of food you will never, ever want to eat - plus the funniest commentary this side of... um... funny.

However, if you want to buy a gorgeous downtown condo on the top floor, I may be able to hook you up. Two bedrooms with a breathtaking wood-burning brick fireplace, five appliances and an apartment-length east-facing balcony in a secure building. Saltwater pool, sauna and exercise room on site! It doesn't get any better than this...