Tenth Musee

My whole life, I’ve considered myself an only child. Even when I had step-siblings — especially when I had step-siblings — I considered myself the one and only, my parents’ sole offspring.  And that part is true — I am their only child.  But at 15 years old, I was told that my dad — the last of the famous international playboys, apparently — had other children before he married my mom.  My mother knew, but they kept it a secret from me in fear I would spill the beans to my well-to-do maternal grandparents, who didn’t know — understandably.  She passed away with that secret kept.

There’s more to this story, but none of which I feel is the business of the Internet.  Maybe a book someday (man, it would make a good semi-fictionalized memoir), but not the Internet… not yet, perhaps not ever.

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Well, I succumbed. I signed up for a Yelp account today.  I think I may actually like it.  I’ve already given 3 reviews and it’s nice that you can review pretty much any place.  Love that.  I’m not sure how involved I’ll be in the events… but I have been looking to meet new people and make some new friends, so perhaps this will be an avenue for that.

I’m hoping it might get me a little more excited about the Internet again.  I’ve been feeling a lack of community excitement, you know?  When I started blogging, it was exciting… everyone was getting to know everyone else… exploring new territory, blogging was fresh, blah blah blah.  Now it seems as if it’s gotten more about self-promotion, more ‘insta-success’ expectation, everything in a Twitter-sized Pownce-filled Plurk-laden serving.  Yet with all of our social networking, I feel like the internet as a community has turned more inward as opposed to reaching out, or at least, that’s how it seems.  With the advent of RSS feeds, people rarely comment anymore, where in the beginning, that’s how people got to know each other and found new blogs to read, not by lurking via Google Reader.  And I’ll admit, I’m guilty of this as well.  Life is busy and feeds make it easier.  Times change…

I’m kind of in this wedge where I don’t have children, so I don’t fall into the mommyblogger groups and communities of which there seem to be so many of these days and where so many women my age tend to hang out.  Many of the bloggers I knew that used to run with the “single crowd” have now gotten married and/or had babies. I got older, they got older and that’s where they are in their lives.  That’s a good thing and I’m happy they have a place to do their mom thing… not only for them, but for Kathy and because it pays my bills!  You go moms, get down with your bad selves. 

But my other interests, like design and stuff, well… I never see or talk to many of my colleagues until it’s SXSW time, for the most part.  We have a few colleagues that we know and love, but mostly because we’ve invested time in those relationships.  With others there can sometimes be an ever-so-slight feeling of competition. I think that prevents me from developing stronger friendships, regardless of how much I like the person, which is kind of disappointing.  And that’s not necessarily on them; we’ve been stung by that bee before and I’m officially allergic to drama.

I feel like I don’t really have a niche right now and I could stand to explore new things and other interests.  I’m hoping Yelp will be a nice way to get to know new people and new businesses in my area, whether or not anything ever comes from it.

If you’re a Yelper and want to add me to your friends list, please feel free… especially if you’re in San Diego!