Fourier Analysis is a mathematical tool which can do a number of things: separate out signals from noise; help identify patterns or trends in data; filter out all unwanted data and focus on a single signal; use approximations to make generalizations; make approximations of real world signals (think electronic music); combine harmonics to get a stronger signal. That's what I'll be trying to do here!! Won't you join me with your comments?

Friday, July 6, 2007

Lurkers Anonymous

Hi, I'm FA and I'm a Lurker. I first got started doing this when I visited a friend, Jenn in Holland and I was hooked. From there it escalated and I found "myself" in various blogs all over the net. While Jenn reminded me of myself in my early thirties with my initial confusion and wonderment at life in the Netherlands, Soccer Mom in Denial lives the life I might if I had done some things differently. In fact, her handle could be mine as with two girls I was not supposed to be a "Soccer Mom". Life seems to laugh at her just as it does at me and I have spent many an afternoon entertained by her blog entries and thought, "There but for the grace of God...". And then I stumbled onto 'Twas Brillig and got caught up in her Soap Opera Sunday and Flashback Friday entries and I just couldn't stop lurking. I didn't feel that I could comment. Me, who discusses with strangers on the bus or in the shops in any of 3 languages. But I felt odd, just dropping in and giving my opinion. I didn't really belong to this world. But I couldn't stop lurking...

It got really bad one day when I saw all the links Jenn had posted and I couldn't resist finding out who these people were...Gunfighter has such a wonderful male point of view and I share so much of his political orientation that I would love meeting him in person. Next I followed Jenn's links read what Anno had been blogging. Again I read so much that resonated that she could be my sister. Especially her blogs on her ex-pat experiences are things I can relate to. Maybe in the future I can join with her and update how things have changed since her visits. But in any case her writing captivated me. Then there was the fellow Texan Shelly who has such a similar childhood that I almost passed out from deja-vu overload when she blogged about her piggy bank. I had that piggy bank! Reading Worker Mommy makes me almost jealous at the calmness and creativity she has in her approach to life. Well, okay, I am jealous, but it doesn't stop me from reading and I hope to get up the courage to comment soon. She seems to have a really neat bunch of blog-friends that I also been lurking at.

I know, this is really getting out of hand now. Especially when I find myself identifying with a few R-rated blogs such as the ones by Cathouse Teri and Crystal. I consider them my voyeuristic pleasures. Ah to have the freedom of expression these ladies have! Though I'm not sure I would want to live their adventures, I get serious pleasure out of reading about them and regularly ROFLOL times.

And then when I need to be reminded that no matter how frustrated and unhappy I am in my life, I really have it great, I turn to Sweet and Salty Kate. Her heartbreaks and courage facing them have made for riveting reading that I have only been able to take in small doses they have been so moving. She has made me reach out with my mind and prayers and some day I hope to have something profound enough to say in a comment to her.

Yes, I am a Lurker. I should say Recovering Lurker. I have taken the first steps. I have made a few comments. I have started a blog. I have entered a contest and responded to a meme. I have now made a few links. I hope in the future to have a blogroll and pictures an buttons and...

As we say in LA, one blog at a time.




6 comments:

anno said...

I'm beginning to wonder if we should refer to Jenn's blog as a gateway blog... just look what it leads to!

Brillig said...

You feel free to lurk anytime, but since when you do comment, your comments are SO GOOD, I'd love to hear from you more often!!

And I agree with Anno--we should make an award for Jenn's blog--"Most likely to introduce us to someone cool!"

Anonymous said...

I love it when you visit, and you don't have to lurk (but you can if you want to). I urge you to just get in there and talk some Texas sass with me. If you don't, you will forget the language LOL! I look forward to seeing what comes out in the wash as you keep writing.

soccer mom in denial said...

Lurk away, my dear! It is just nice to know you are out there.

And thanks for the compliment. Life does seem to laugh at me, and us, huh?

Fourier Analyst said...

Anno and Brillig --
What a great idea! If I can ever get the hang of buttons (newbie problems at the moment) I will design a "Catalyst" award for Jenn. We can maybe have some on-line ceremony or such and make a big deal of it!!

TEL and SMID --
Thanks for the "lurking license". I promise to comment more if only for the opportunity to "Talk Texan". Thanks for dropping by!

Gunfighter said...

Aww shucks, ma'am!

The next time you are in this part of the world, you just let me know!