Is My Blog Schizophrenic?

In the last few weeks, I've written strategy posts, posts about women shooting at half-naked burglars, hand histories, and monsters for sale on eBay. Maybe this is a call for help. Maybe I'm posting a myriad of junk as a cry for attention. In my own sick mind, maybe I think if the Blogfather, or Dr. Pauly see this, they'll actually give me a hint of direction in the blogosphere. People do read, not nearly enough for the voyeuristic side of my personality, and that last part in general makes me think about the eternal question...

Why exactly do we all blog??

Mrs. PokerShark asked me that very question this week. I had just tripled-up with the Uber hand... and the first thing that popped into my head is, "Damn--I really need to post about this!" I really wanted to share that with the community and the world in general, just 'cause it was so damn odd. But why? Before October, before I spent a day at work searching the (filtered) Internet at work for sites about my new obsession, poker, I had heard of blogs, mostly in the political arena, but the idea of blogging never even came to me. The first blog I actually read was Maudie's, and I saw all these links on the side to other people's blogs. I discovered the world of Iggy, AlCan'tHang, and Pauly. I read Chris Halverson's blog, and the rest. The blogs became like a daily ritual for me. I discovered Blogger, and realized that, hey, if it was good for everyone else, it would be good for me, too. Work, of course, has learned to filter most Blogspot addresses, and I can only read a select few at work, but I still keep up with most at home.

But I never answered the question---Why do I blog? Is it therapeutic to have an avenue to talk about poker when your significant other doesn't have the level of interest that you have? Is it because I have the aforementioned voyeuristic side? Is it because I like to write? Is it a longing to belong? Is it just because?

Well, here's my answer: D) All of the above.

I want to talk poker. Many of my friends don't play, or at least don't have the level of playing interest that I have (read as: They're Party fish, or They just go to the casino intending to lose.). So, I've turned to the internet and this amazing community that has developed to get my outlet, and even if nobody's listening on a certain day, I can speak my mind whenever I want.

I do have the voyeuristic side. I want comments. I want people to read my blog. I want people to take the (limited) advice I offer. I want people to gawk at the hand histories I post and go, "wow..." I want people to read the odd crap and drivel I post and think that I'm at least partially witty.

I also like to write. It's been an interest since my childhood, and I find that this continues to hone my communication skills.

A longing to belong. Yes, that's me too. I have many friends, more acquaintances, yet it never hurts to have a few more. I like the spirit of fraternity (sorry, ladies, not intentional) that the poker bloggers share. Yes, like any group, poker bloggers fight amongst themselves, but as some have learned (no names), if you piss one of us off, it's a long road back. Commnuity is a phenomenal thing.

And yes, I blog because I can.

My real problem, as detailed in the headline, is that I'm not sure where to take this blog from here. Do I focus on it becoming a strategy/math type thing, or should I leave that to those who are really good at it (like DoubleAs and HDouble)? Do I focus on telling a story, having fun, and entertaining, like April? Or do I shoot for the blogger-Moon and try to balance it all like Iggy, Pauly, and Maudie? I can never write a blog like any of you. That unique personality that all of you have is what makes you all so damn interesting and fun to read.

I guess maybe I answered my own question.

Tropicana AC trip tonight (for real this time), and report coming Monday or Tuesday. Monday is also my appointment with my oncologist. That report will be up Monday or Tuesday as well.

Happy Easter all.