Personae and Masks

Again, sort of on the topic of metablogging, I was discussing the whole blawging experience with a friend today, specifically how my “real” or social persona interacts with the blawg persona (such as it is), and how those two reflect, or fail to reflect, who I am. 

In a way it’s fascinating.  I used to sit back and let rumors go about me – I think my fav. was that Firecracker and I were heroin addicts, living in Boston, with a couple of malnourished kids. 

In one sense, I think the blawg covers most of the “main things” in my life – certainly how I spend my days: studying, poetry, biking, cooking, etc.  As such it reflects my dominant interests, but in many ways might lead people to completely the wrong conclusions about what each of those activities entails.  (Poetry, of course, would probably be primary area for odd and subjective impressions to creep in.  In a way, poetry is an oddly personal thing, dearly held by people, and it’s vaguely horrifying for many to hear what I actually think about it.)

Anyway, after chatting with the Firecracker, I’m inspired to, in an effort to promote or discourage misconceptions of myself, share are some random things about the real me not thusfar mentioned on the blog – probably not to be mentioned in any kind of detail:

*I did a second Sr. thesis on the Lord of the Rings (back when it was unfashionable).
*I saved a ship in distress.
*I’m a good shot (.38 preferred).
*I put a nail through my foot.
*I spent an hour on a hurricane barrier during a hurricane.
*I can cross country ski and snowshoe.
*I was homeless for 3 weeks.
*I have swum with dolphins.
*I used to have cornrows (purple).
*I spent a year drunk.
*I spent a year not drinking.
*I was detained by the Garda because I matched a terrorist profile.
*I have read a book bound in human skin.
*I think I gave my best poetry reading at a gay bar in Houston.
*I have been chased by dogs 5 times, but never caught.

 

Comments

[Cori1047]

It's refreshing to see that studying law doesn't take the poetry out of all of us. When I graduated, I thought I'd never be free of "factual analysis" again. Luckily, it came back in time.

I'm not so priveleged as you to have been published, save for self-publishing to friends and occasionally in my blog. Half law, half personal, I'm out here as "The Bardd before the Bar".

Greetings and respect to a kindred spirit of sorts. Be thee welcome, and blessed be.