Today marks the third anniversary of this weblog in its current form. (My weblog is actually almost four years old, born on 16 March 2001, but I spent the first ten months floundering, finding my way. I had a short-lived web journal as long ago as 1998.)

There are times that I consider giving up this forum. There are times that I long for more readers, or more comments. There are times I want to change the format, to focus exclusively on writing or computers or photography.

Sometimes I wish my weblog were more like kottke or waxy or the busblog. But then I realize: those people are not me, and their weblogs do not reflect who I am. I like their sites precisely because they're different than mine.

In truth, I'm pleased with foldedspace. It is, in some small way, a reflection of me and of my varied interests. "I like that you write about so many different things," people tell me. I like that, too.

In real life, I'm chatty. I'm introspective. I like playing with my friends' children. I love my cats. I rant about computers and comic books and the dead skunk under the trailer house. I read Proust. My weblog reflects this. Yes, I probably dwell too much on each of these things, but so what? This is my forum, and I'm free to use it however I see fit. Ultimately, this weblog is for me, and not for you.

There is room on the web for all sorts of weblogs. No single method of weblogging is the One True Way. There's a place for the mega-weblog of links. There's a place for the guy who only writes about Macs. There's a place for the political nuts. There's a place for the mothers. There's a place for the high-school sophomore who writes angst-filled poetry. And there's a place for me.

I've said it before, but it bears repeating (this time in the words of Brenda Ueland, author of If You Want to Write):

Everbody is talented, original, and has something to say.

I believe this. It's the reason I advocate weblogs as an important communication tool for everyone. It's the reason I host a weblog for any friend or family member who asks.

I believe that everybody is talented, original, and has something to say.

On this day at foldedspace.org

2004 — Top Films of 2002 & 2003   Rating the top films of 2002 & 2003. Learning to use iChat. Resisting the urge to eat Girl Scout cookies.

2003 — Obsession   My new 105mm macro lens just arrived.

2002 — Kris' Grandmother   On Thursday, Kris' Grandmother called. She calls infrequently, and at odd hours. She's called at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday. She's called at 10:00 p.m. on Friday. She calls when she's thought of something to say and she believes there is a possibility that somebody will be awake on the receiving end.