A BLOG IS BORN

This blog will celebrate it's third birthday in June. In nearly three years, I've had 1,130 posts and 100,556 hits. My deepest thanks to everyone who has taken the time to look at, read and comment on the stuff I post here. I sincerely appreciate it and it helps to greatly allay the fears I had while dining in the restaurant pictured above. Allow me to explain.

May, 2012. Judy and I, along with our good friends Chad and Kathy, took a trip to New York City. One night, we had the pleasure of dining at Da Marino Ristorante Italiano at 220 W. 49th St. The restaurant was literally right behind our hotel, which was located in Times Square

The atmosphere of this restaurant was old school. The staff friendly and outgoing. And the food was very, very good. I'd go there again should the opportunity ever arise and I recommend it to anyone visiting New York.

While we dined, the subject of writing a blog came up. We had a spirited discussion about the possibility of my beginning a blog and writing about all of the pop culture stuff I know and love. Judy, Kathy and Chad were all extremely enthusiastic and supportive. Me? Not so much.

I was worried that no one would read it. I was afraid that no one would care about what I have to say about films, books, comics, pulps, etc. After all, I would just be another voice in an increasingly large space known as "the blogosphere". How to cut through the clutter? How to stand out?

Everyone who has ever taken up a writing career of any kind wants to know that someone will ultimately read the words they've committed to paper (or screens as the case may be). At least when I was a freelance writer, I knew the various publications I worked for had a certain, guaranteed readership. And besides, I got paid.

Doing it for free and just hoping that people would eventually find my blog, read it and enjoy it, was a huge leap of faith for me. My wife and friends were convinced that I could do it. I had to be shown.

June, 2012. I come home from work and Judy announces, "guess what you have? A blog. I set one up for you. Now start writing." I did and here I am. Thanks honey, for believing in me.

By the way, I don't believe I've ever publicly stated some of my basic ground rules for this blog. No religion. No politics. Nothing work related (good or bad). Try to be nice and not say bad things about any living person. I think I've managed to abide by those rules.

Oh, and after dinner that evening, we enjoyed a performance of ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS, starring James Corden, at the Music Box Theatre. It's a hysterically funny British comedy with plenty of slapstick and physical humor, which I enjoy when it's well done and it certainly was that night.

So my thanks to my wife and my friends and to Da Marino Ristorante Italiano for a memorable night and the start of this blog.

Who knows, maybe the restaurant will put up a historical marker over our table. Or at least give me a discount the next time I eat there.