For me, the coolest thing about blogging is the sense of community. As most of you know, I originally started this site mainly to try and find a group of like-minded fathers who were dealing with modern issues of parenting. As time went on, I found myself connecting with all kinds of parents (dads, moms, dads who wanted to be moms, moms living with other moms, etc.) Eventually, this community grew even wider and began to include many people who were not even parents but who shared either my interests or my strange sense of humor.
That's the beauty of the internet.
Online, you can find people who not only share your own interests but also might even share your bizarre idiosyncrasies. In fact, it's safe to say that, these days, you can find pretty much anything online. Interested in the afterlife? Well, then, sell your soul and send out your last-emails. Sick of traditional holidays? Celebrate Steak & a Blowjob Day instead. Or maybe you want to spend your days looking at the world's cutest photos? Or how about Dwight Schrute's "Lost" theory? And do I even want to mention the video of the infamous breast-feeding cat?
As for blogging? Hell, who DOESN'T have a blog these days? (When you have free time, check out these real-life celebrity blogs by M.C. Hammer, Gene Simmons, Moby,and RuPaul.)
Anyway, as usual, I digress. Like I was saying...blogging, for me, is about community. And although I'm a 37-year old man, husband, father and friend, I can't escape the fact that I'm also Asian-American. It's not only an important part of who I am and something I'm proud of but it's also an important aspect of raising my daughter. I want her to grow up being proud of her Asian background yet assimilated with the world around her. I want her to celebrate her ethnicity but also respect the amazing diversity of the people around her. And, above all, I want her to grow up with a philosophy and culture of inclusiveness, rather than one of separatism or xenophobia.
So, because this is one of the many things I think about as my wife and I raise our tiny, little girl, I'm proud to announce that I've joined a group of fellow Asian-American fathers in starting a new blog. It's called Rice Daddies.
The two tag lines we've been using on the site are "the kind of guys Amy Tan doesn't write about" and "the Asian dads you wish you had." I think that might give you a general idea of what kind of attitude the blog will have. And while we'll be discussing many aspects related to race and parenting, the site is hardly restricted to those topics. Whether you're white, yellow, brown, black, or green...I think you'll find that a lot of the issues being discussed are relevant to all of us.
So come over to Rice Daddies, check us out and let me know what you think. I just put up my first post ("I suck at math and I don't know karate.")
(As for regular MetroDad posts, thanks for all your concerned e-mails about my week-long absence from blogging! I'm ok. I didn't fall under anything heavy. BossLady and I were down in Florida all week with the MetroGrandparents and we spent most of our time teaching the Peanut how not to eat sand, poke jellyfish or stare at old people. Whatever free time we had was used teaching my parents repeatedly how to use their VERY FIRST MICROWAVE! More posts to come during the week! Thanks again for your concerns!)
Steak and a Blowjob Day? That's the best idea I've ever heard. I'd love to overhear the conversations at Hallmark before that holiday.
"Look, this card has a big hole in it...what's that for?"
Posted by: CroutonBoy | February 27, 2006 at 01:42 PM
Very cool idea, MD. I'm of Italian descent and it's important for me to make sure my kids always respect where they came from. I think it's something we all need to teach our kids.
Posted by: Anthony C. | February 27, 2006 at 02:04 PM
Herr Hausfrau must NEVER know about Steak and a Blowjob Day.
Posted by: misfithausfrau | February 27, 2006 at 02:06 PM
Hi MetroDad! I just found your blog because my friend recommended it. Just saying hi and thanks for all the laughs.
Posted by: rach | February 27, 2006 at 02:41 PM
I would love to join the rice daddies blog! Can I? Can I?
Posted by: renefjr | February 27, 2006 at 02:46 PM
RuPaul & MC Hammer have blogs. Crazy world we live in. You know, eating sand never hurt no one. Are we going to get to see any picture of the Peanut playing in the sand? Like the new site. My family's polish and I agree with you, it's important for kids to know their roots.
Posted by: Melissa | February 27, 2006 at 02:48 PM
Glad you're alive, MD. Was starting to get worried about you for awhile. A whole week without a new post? Please don't do that to us again.
Posted by: Brent | February 27, 2006 at 02:58 PM
glad to have you back!
Posted by: Nina | February 27, 2006 at 03:26 PM
Well, you're right about one thing...if you can imagine it then there's probably a blog about it. :-\
Posted by: tod | February 27, 2006 at 03:58 PM
Glad to see you back MD.
Steak & a Blowjob day sounds great. I'll resist the lame attempt at humor by NOT saying anthing about former President Clinton.
Posted by: Kemp | February 27, 2006 at 04:15 PM
Great new site, MD! Looking forward to reading more.
Posted by: the weirdgirl | February 27, 2006 at 04:51 PM
I'm starting a blog for those with Finnish roots called Ice Daddies. We'll be discussing when to implement vodka into the child's diet (in vitro), how to keep an open mind about suicide (one less mouth to feed, and have you noticed it's fucking freezing here?), and how to openly express one's emotions (haveIshownyou mynewcolorscreenNokiawillyoumarryme?)
Posted by: Luper | February 27, 2006 at 07:30 PM
Wow, your blogging energy continues to amaze me. Congrats on the new blog!
Posted by: landismom | February 27, 2006 at 09:25 PM
Very first microwave?
I'm guessing they're not email kind of people, then?
Posted by: Queen of Ass | February 28, 2006 at 11:05 AM
MD,
I was wonderin' what was up...had me jonesin' for a MD blog fix!
I, like many a people out there, are hooked on the wit, humor and randomness of your blog. I'll be sure to check out the new blog.
Can we assume that we'll see less posts that we've become addicted to, or do we get MORE.MORE.MORE???
Glad to have you back!
Posted by: LeeMarv... | February 28, 2006 at 01:51 PM
Happy to see you are back and safe!!
I am afraid I will become addicted to the next blog!!
By the way, brilliant idea... I might be opening a blog for european-gypsies!
;)
Posted by: Pepa | February 28, 2006 at 05:18 PM
Even though I'm just a honky white chick, I'll follow my favorite daddy blogger anywhere! Sounds interesting, MD. Can't wait to read what you write on the new site!
Posted by: Leora | February 28, 2006 at 06:35 PM
I must be a complete loser or very bored- I just spent the past three days reading all of your blogs.. DUDE- can Peanut BE ANY CUTER? I think not...
Posted by: Inza | February 28, 2006 at 07:05 PM
I will have t check out rice Daddies. Yoru description of what to do in Florida is very accurate.
Posted by: bill | March 01, 2006 at 03:17 PM