First Post

Here I am, joining the world of the bloggers.

Wow.

Did I ever think this would happen? Not really. I'm kinda slow with technology and popular trends (BTW, I'm looking for a Splash the Whale Beanie Baby. I just started a collection. If anyone knows where I can get one, let me know).

I guess we have my sister, Tammy, to thank for this. She talked me into it. I guess that's okay, because she does say nice things about me, and she even gave me an award once--even if it was a 'woman' award.

So welcome to my blog! Please make yourself at home. Remember that I can't afford a maid service, so if you make a mess, please clean up after yourself.

I wish this debut was more exciting, but I don't know how to add balloons and finger foods and fanfare to my blog yet. Ta da! Maybe that will have to do.

I know there are literally thousands (give or take) of you who have been anxiously awaiting this debut. The media circus outside my house has been relentless over the past several days. Some of you may have seen the feature that Good Morning America did on me this morning. Let me just say that the camera wasn't exaggerating: I really am that good looking. If you missed the story, you can see it here. I hope that the link works. I'm still new to this, and I haven't figured out how to add links yet.

My blog has only been alive for less than a month, and it hasn't even had a post until now, but that hasn't stopped so many of you from emailing me in anticipation of the first posting. I received many interesting questions such as, 1)"'Stubby Red Pencil' is a really dumb name for a blog." and 2)"Where did you get the name for your blog?" and 3)"Why did you name your blog after that?!?" and many, many others. I'll answer the questions in the order they were received.

1) The first one isn't even a question, so there's no need for a response.

2) I got the name for my blog from the stubby red pencil that is pictured above. More on that later...

3) I named my blog after that stubby red pencil because the 73 other names and phrases that I tried before this one were already taken. I really was scraping at the bottom of the barrel when I thought of "Stubby Red Pencil." So the short answer to your question is... because no one else wanted it.

You're probably asking yourself, "How did he come across such a nifty piece of writing tool?" My friends, that pencil is actually the remains of a pencil that I have used for a couple of years at my job.

You: Really?

Me: Yes.

You: You seriously have used a red pencil until it was a stubby little nub?

Me: Absolutely I have. I wouldn't lie about something so insignificant.

You: Why doesn't your work buy you a new pencil?

Me: Have you seen where I work?

I'm an accountant. Accountants are generally pretty cheap. I use a red pencil to make little marks on my work papers as I prepare tax returns so that I know what numbers I have used and what ones I haven't...

You: [YAWN!]

Me: I know. Sorry about that. I'll try to be more exciting in the future.

So here I am, a blogger. I have now officially entered a world where friends and family members can stay caught up with each others' lives without the bother of actually talking to each other or the pain of seeing each other in person.

Hooray for me.