Today was all about wedding invitations. I never realized there were so many different kinds, and yet there isn’t any that is quite what we’re looking for. *sigh*

I’ve submitted three pieces for potential publication. I’ve got my fingers crossed and I set us up to attend Balticon in May. So now, in keeping with my vow from last year, I’ll have to complete a major writing project or I cannot attend.

Wednesday is the first meeting of the local Coast Guard Auiliary and it is my intention to attend. This is in relation to a promise I made myself a long time ago.

And finally, both Renee and I have been out doing a little geocaching and photography. Below is a photo by a downed tree that was just amazing.

Gorgeous Wedding Cake from O Holy Sweet

We’re getting married. I’m excited and terrified.

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What kind of impression does it give?  I created this site separate from “Day In Washington” so I might be able to clearly separate my personal life from my professional interests.  But that doesn’t really make much of a difference.  Not really.  If I were a recruiter or an employer, I would definitely persuse an applicant’s personal website, regardless of what they may or may not do related to the separation of portions of the site.

So what that really means is that there really isn’t anywhere where it is “safe” on the Net.  Anything said in anger (or stupidity) will come back and haunt you.  Other activities such as political affiliations and donations to specific groups can be seen and judged.  Did you give money to Lambda Legal, or were you volunteering with the local Republican party?  So what is the safest thing to do?  Not participate at all?

I can see the allure in not putting up information about yourself on the Net but realistically, depending on the field you are in, that is almost impossible.  For example, I work in Washington DC, specifically in lobbying.  There are so many opportunities to provide testimony or statements or comments for regulations, proposed rules, briefings, conferences and even Congressional hearings.  Much of that then becomes a part of the public record and every day, more and more are posted online.  Many social groups and organizations such as curches and local softball teams post pictures and articles about their activities.

What that means is that there really is almost no way to truly escape having something of you mentioned on the Net.  So what is the solution?  Control you image.  Control what you say and what is said about you.  If someone does a Google search, make sure that the site you’ve created is one of the first they find, not the drunken college photo from your misspent summer in Cancun.  Use what you have available to you to put your best face forward.

Now to make this discussion personal again, I have to admit to some ambivalence as to keeping this site:  www.DayAlMohamed.com up.  Or at least available as a blog.  I don’t blog here.  I work significant hours and lately, that is about all that I do.  When free I podcast to:  www.DayinWashington.com but not here.  In addition, I cannot say that I have spent a lot of time even writing fiction.  So perhaps it is time to withdraw from my efforts to “keep up appearances” and simply keep this as a static site and let DayInWashington be the only blog.

But I am loathe to let this go.  The other site is purely professional and there is no place there for posts about my writing, my fencing, my travel…my hopes, dreams and fears.  Of course, that may not be something world is ready for yet anyway.  *smile*  But it does smack of giving up, not on just the posting but on sharing my other activities and loves.  Things that I spend my time and my life on.  Why should anyone care?  I don’t know.  Sometimes people do.  After being inspired at Balticon, I learned about podcasting through people’s websites.  Renee’s Photo Sunday’s came from an idea on someone else’s site.  My list of things to do in my life came from some one else’s.  Heck, even my most recent inspirations that sent me careening back to writing poetry (which I haven’t done since high school) was in part supported by poetry on blogs.

Obviously, my mind is not yet made up. 

I recently completed the first episode in a series of small shorts, “Rapunzel – The Outtakes.”  The first one “Ooops!” is about a minute long.  It was a lot of fun to do and was a great way to destress after a VERY rough week.

I know that there are some lighting issues that I couldn’t see while I was working on it and a couple of times I bumped the set/camera while working and didn’t quite realize it, but overall, I’m pretty proud of my first Lego-attempt.  Renee set up the camera and let me go…

Anyway,  below is the film clip which I shall now send out far and wide.

I haven’t managed to add any more dialogue to my screenplay short (or work on the alternative I have in mind), nor have I been very good about keeping up with my podcasts.  Day in Washington hasn’t had a meaningful update in some time and I completely missed a hearing and will now have to reconstruct it from the webcast alone (something that is not easily done).  And Unleaded – Fuel for Writers hasn’t had a post from me in weeks.  Renee has been attempting single-handedly to keep up with the daily schedule of casts.

So mostly, this update is a reminder of everything I have to get caught up on!