Why bother to blog?

I have decided to keep a blog in part because I can't for the life of me seem to keep a journal. As a historian I am increasingly concerned about the sources (or lack there of) of personal accounts left by this generation. With the wealth of electronic sources, such as this blog, the use of hard copy paper and pencil means of chronicling one's life is dwindling. So then, you might ask, why am I keeping a blog. First, I can't seem to keep a journal. I've started several, but struggle to enter more than two or three entries before my attention wanders and the journal is abandoned. My intent with this blog is to print my entries on a yearly basis, thus creating a hard copy, journal-like printout. My hope is to have some sort of record, even if only for my family, of my life.

So, enough on the drives to preserve something for posterity, assuming that posterity will even be interested, and more about who I am. I live in Santa Cruz with my husband, Luke, where we are both graduate students at UCSC. I am in History (Modern Europe), and his is in electrical engineering (adaptive optics, control systems). We were married about a year ago (July 3, 2005), after living together for 3 years, dating for 4 and a half, having been friends for nearly 6 years. I'm a San Diego native, but have fallen in love with Santa Cruz. After battling the traffic and smog of LA, I relish living among the redwoods of costal California. When I'm not grading or trying to plow through work, I can be found in the dance studio, knitting, or just generally enjoying the outdoors.

I intend to use this blog as a space for both professional and personal reflection. You can expect an eclectic mix of postings regarding my latest knitting or quilting project, frustrations and inspirations from my TA experience, and a log of my research for my MA (and hopefully, PhD) thesis on the Ritchie Boys.