I have plenty of great ideas for blog posts in the shower or while driving. When I'm here at the laptop, though, I have nothing to say of value. In fact, the thought of writing depresses me utterly.

Someone asked me today: "Are you a writer?" I had to think about that. I guess the answer is yes, in very limited contexts. In ways like the AMAKS posts I referenced in my last posting. In the kind of badinage in which I indulge on the Red Hot Pawn forums. In stupid but carefully crafted email postings I send to people.

I guess that's why the Google Groups feature was so delightful to discover. I felt like a part of my writing was recovered.

My writing style has always been more or less exploratory, and I've long subscribed to the old E.M. Forster question: "How do I know what I think until I see what I say?"

But when I find myself with nothing to write, it makes me think that I'm not really thinking, either. Reminds me of the old joke about Descartes walking into a bar: the barman asks him if he wants the usual. He replies, "I think not," and instantly disappears. Har har.

I recently joined a new clan on RHP -- the Guttersnipes. You might recall my mentioning them in a post some months back (July 15 2006) for a funny comic they wrote. So far it's been a treat to get to know the biggest smartasses on the site. And to join their ranks, of course.