The Rob BlogIt's Better Over Here.

2010 -Blogging is dead. Long live the blog.

To The Faithful Underground…

I have always envisioned www.robalderman.net as a place where all things Rob could occur. Over the years, I’ve been lucky to have had my hands in enough projects that there are plenty of little things to discuss. I dig input and conversation, so these little talks are valuable to me, and hopefully to you.

This is terribly egocentric of course, but that’s precisely what websites are for. Someone has an idea and builds a website out of it. I have several creative plans for 2010, including finishing my novel, recording an EP (which begins shortly) and a fun little project with The Slinky that will involve two things that should ALWAYS be mixed together- Cleveland Locals and Film Reviews. (more on that soon…)

You know, keeping an online presence these days is a tricky proposition. The technology seems to change quicker than most writers can keep up with.

This is inherent to the genre, as writers tend to be inwardly creative and push through into an outward expression. This means that their art is really simply for themselves and there is no need to keep up with current trends in technology…that is until they realize that their readership has moved on to the “communication of the month”. Never underestimate the power of a healthy ego.

So, I have been plotting my return to the webernets, and I have to say that I’m pretty positive that I’m going to stick with this Wordpress format. I like it. (The debate now is whether or not to finally sever my ties with blogspot…sigh.)

Social Media guru types like Steve Rubel have said that Blogging is dead. Rubel and others believe that the age of the blog and RSS is gone and the age of life-streaming has come.  At first, I agreed. Blogging was feeling so cumbersome. It is much easier to send out snippets of info through tech like Posterous. (which I still love…now more than ever)

Now, I’m not so sure that Blogging is going the way of the Dinosaur. Instead, I think that it’s changing…evolving. The internet is a fickle mistress, and I believe that in 2010, we may see a return to meaningful blogging again. The reason is that I don’t think people can live on Tweets alone.

I love a quick snack, but that doesn’t take away my need for a healthy, full dinner. You know what I mean?

So what’s ahead for the Rob Blog in 2010? More full meals and less snacks, for one.

Will you like what I’m serving?

I sure hope so.

2010, You sneaky little Ninja.

To The Faithful Underground…

Tonight is the last night of 2009. We’re going to celebrate “Shack Style” of course. In fact, Shackstravaganza is the only official coed gathering on the shack schedule, not that the sexes don’t intermingle accidentally at other times during the year.

I’ve been thinking about tonight all week and it’s funny, but my view of how I want Shackstravaganza to be tonight completely mirrors the way I want 2010 to be.

Fun but not crazy.

Yeah, you heard me right. I don’t want nor do I need a particularly exciting 2010. Trust me when I say that the past 5 years of my life have held more than enough drama and excitement. Nope, give me a nice quiet fellowship with my real friends this year.

In fact, 2009 was so tense that I’m still a little shocked that 2010 is upon us. Beware 2010, cuz it’s obviously a sneaky ninja. I never saw it coming.

Now, as far as things I’d like to accomplish in 2010, it’s a short but important top-ten list for me.

1.    Finally publish the book that Bob Waycott and I worked on. It still has some technical things that need finishing.
2.    Be a good professor, co-worker, boss and underling. Since I’m all of those things, it would be nice to excel at them.
3.    Record an EP solely on my terms. I have over 16 albums that I’ve done with various people over the years, but I’ve never done one where I just relaxed and let it happen. I’m going to invite all my friends to contribute. No deadline.
4.    Finish my novel. It’s in the Horror genre. Yep. It’s true.
5.    Spend more quality time with my wife. It’s amazing how much that helps.
6.    Fly Fish
7.    Reconnect with God. This isn’t as easy as you might think. My relationship with God has been pretty rough over the past several years. I think I’m going to relax a bit more and try to simply spend time with God. No agenda, just time.
8.    Blog more and launch our movie review site. I’ve missed you fine folks.
9.    Mentor my oldest son. There is a big difference between parenting and mentoring.
10.    Relax. 2009 was a good year, but it was tough. We faced a lot of challenges in the health care industry this year, so work kept me hopping. In addition to this, there were many personal family challenges we went through. It is my sincere desire to relax more in 2010. Chill. Write. Sip a fine bourbon and smoke a good cigar. Yes.

What are your plans for 2010? Got anything good up your sleeve?