Today, fourfour turns a year old. While I know that 365 is just another number, it seems like a good time to thank everyone who reads whatever nonsense I'm spewing about whatever piece of pop culture that's grabbing me and compelling a response at any given moment. Seriously, thank you. For so many years, I felt like I had no voice, and now I feel like I do, and it means more than I could probably express. (So I guess the moral is that I have a voice, it just isn't always reliable?)
The Internet plays tricks on the mind, so forgive me if I sound a bit deluded. I know I'm not committing acts of journalistic transubstantiation here, turning criticism into literature. But I guess that's what amazes me, that people could possibly care about what I have to say, as slight and trivial as it almost always is. fourfour is nothing more than a collection of things that amuse me, in whatever capacity and to whatever end. I see something that stirs a reasonably coherent response, I record it. This is just my media journal, presented as accessibly as possible.
To say that everything I post is soulful seems a bit faulty, though. I try to make it that way, but you know, when I'm taking screen shot after screen shot after screen shot, clicking and clicking and clicking hours away on animated gifs that will loop for mere seconds, there are times when I ask myself, "Rich, how the fuck can you possibly claim that what you're doing right now is self-expression?" I usually drop that thought pretty quickly because OMG! ROTFL! Jade is sooooooo funny!!! And also, because I really don't have an answer. Nor can I tackle a question I ask myself about this site even more frequently: "What the fuck is my point, again?" Although the fact that fourfour is the No. 1 Google hit for "too short I love getting my nuts rubbed" makes me think I might be getting closer to an answer.
Really, though, I don't mind taking my time to find my point, as you may have picked up in one of my rambling, overwritten excavations of, I don't know, Mariah Carey's career or some horror movie or, heh, ANTM. I've amassed a lot of cringe-worthy stuff over the year, stuff that would be torture for me to go back and reread (though none of the entries just mentioned make me want to throw up, thankfully). I know that I'm sometimes (often?) totally wack, that I can come across as an apologist for some rotten piece of pop culture or as a doting father who won't shut about about his fucking kid, or in my case, fucking cats. (In my defense: instead of the Ghost World screen shot that's above, I almost posted a picture of Winston wearing a hat made to look like a cake -- candles and all -- that says, "Happy Birthday." But I didn't. See? I'm learning.)
So thanks most of all for putting up with my wackness, and for making doing something that pays me pennies on the hour seem worthwhile. I don't think I've ever felt this allowed to be myself, or this encouraged to say exactly what I have to say. The acceptance is overwhelming.
I ready because of the zaniness... you never know what you're gonna get! =)
happy birthday!.. ish
Posted by: Grant | May 31, 2006 at 10:18 AM
Happy birthday baby! You give me cramps daily. And, I LOVE Winston. He makes me want to upgrade my beloved Boudreaux.
Posted by: sugarbaby | May 31, 2006 at 10:24 AM
May all of your birthday wishes and dreams become a tangible reality in the coming year!
& Thank You!
Posted by: Arthur James | May 31, 2006 at 10:28 AM
O wait...it's not YOUR birthday but the blogs....ooops.
That goes to show you how "quick" your avid readers are....:-)
Posted by: Arthur James | May 31, 2006 at 10:31 AM
You're an insanely entertaining and clever writer. Period. I rarely watch these shows or listen to your style of music, but I read this site every week, because it's that good. Hell, I even used to hate cats; not anymore! So, go on, enjoy yourself. Let the success rush straight to your head and give you an ego the size of Tyra's. (Rub olive oil on your forehead, you don't want stretch marks.) It's ok. You deserve it.
Posted by: CMTG | May 31, 2006 at 10:38 AM
Awww! I would have killed to have seen a cat in a hat, especially your cat since he has that natural pissed-off, put-upon look. I only wish I had found this site at the start of cycle 6.
Happy birthday, birthday baby!
Posted by: Teri | May 31, 2006 at 10:39 AM
No thank you! No need to thank us, and yes I speak for all us!
I look forward to your recaps, and your cat pics.
Posted by: karen | May 31, 2006 at 10:41 AM
I love your blog and seriously I should be thanking you for all the laughs and recaps you have done over the year.
It was just last night I was watching the Liz Taylor interview on Larry King (her first in 3 years) and I was hoping that you were watching it because it would have made for a genuis post along the lines of the great Liza one you did..
I love your sense of humor and Winston!
Posted by: Steph | May 31, 2006 at 11:08 AM
it may be true that age ain't nothin' but a number, but congrats are in order nonetheless. and don't worry, your wackness is part of the reason we love you. you're like a blogging pioneer of the wickety wack.
Posted by: svrb | May 31, 2006 at 11:09 AM
I can't believe it has only been one year! Happy Blogbirthday! Just keep it coming... the only desire I have is to bring more chunk content; I think we all miss that!
Posted by: duane | May 31, 2006 at 11:17 AM
awwww! happy blog birthday!
Posted by: bethanne | May 31, 2006 at 11:21 AM
Happy Birthday fourfour. And well done Rich for building this little site up and making it the success it is today. You're a really clever, funny guy and you deserve all the praise you get. Now go eat some cake.
Ella xxx
Posted by: E | May 31, 2006 at 11:31 AM
Happy Celebration! You've made me giggle many a time when I'm supposed to be working (shhhhhsssh). Keep up the cattiness ;~)
Posted by: Angela | May 31, 2006 at 11:39 AM
Happy blogaversary!
Posted by: karsh | May 31, 2006 at 11:46 AM
It is we who should be thanking you. I can only imagine how many hours of work you put into a ANTM or ProjRun entry! Happy 1 year, I'm so glad to hear this website brings you as much happiness as it does us, your obsessive fans. CNTM won't be the same without you.
Posted by: Jamie | May 31, 2006 at 12:03 PM
Congrats and a heartfelt thank you for the time and effort you put into making us all laugh (and for sharing pics of that lovely piece of man meat you have hearts in your eyes for). I have been thinking about what the appropriate words of thanks are to the man who introduced me to Being Bobby Brown (Landon - yum), ANTM, Swan Brooner, that overweight, bitter "metalhead" from that MTV weight loss show; who validated my feeling that Madonna is a caricature of the many incarnations of her old self; who made me consider that, just maybe, there is one cat out there that is worth worshipping....the list goes on and on. There are no words my friend, but I will try to express it with a phrase that my sis and I use , "I love you like moms love dads, but not like our mom loved our dad (insert LIfetime movie soundtrack and flashback to one of many dysfunctional family episodes where moms boyfriend runs into dad in hospital lobby after moms latest round of "maintenence" at our local family plastic surgeons office). Rich you are the best. You are up there with David Sedaris on my "list of people to be stranded on a desert island with". Thanks again for a great year.
P.S. What will it take to see Winston in the hat?
Posted by: Tipsy McStaggers | May 31, 2006 at 12:07 PM
Happy Birthday, fourfour! May we enjoy many more years of wackness, cat photos, and ANTM recaps. I can only dream of the craziness and Tyra-isms Miss Tyra will spout by ANTM cycle 35. Hope we see it together!
You're doin' good, Rich.
Posted by: jmjm | May 31, 2006 at 12:12 PM
Happy BLOG B-Day!
Posted by: Marlaina | May 31, 2006 at 12:16 PM
We totally fucking love you man.
Posted by: Aaron | May 31, 2006 at 12:23 PM
I remember when you said "i'm going to start a blog and recap being bobby brown." and i thought... wow. there probably isn't anything in the world that would be better for you to do and me to read. Thanks for being continually awesome.
buh buh bye bye buh buh bye bye.
Posted by: EdieFalcofelicityhuffman | May 31, 2006 at 12:54 PM
i'm in the process of building my own blog as a direct result of you! happy birthday and may you go on fourfourever.
Posted by: eliot | May 31, 2006 at 12:59 PM
Happy Birthday fourfour, and congrats go out to you Rich. This isn't easy keeping a blog of this nature and for this long. You continually make us laugh, and for that, I thank you!
Posted by: Luv | May 31, 2006 at 01:01 PM
Thank you for making me laugh! You're the best out there. Congratulations Rich!
Posted by: Kat | May 31, 2006 at 01:02 PM
Things FourFour has taught me:
I must find a chunky, bald boyfriend, or I'll die unhappy.
It's not just me, Madonna IS the worst.
I'm pretty sure I'm a fag-hag wannabe.
Perhaps most important of all:
I adopted a needy cat. I'd never even HELD A CAT before I came to know Winnie.
So, thank YOU, Rich! And Happy Birthday, FourFour! I love you!
Posted by: Scout | May 31, 2006 at 01:10 PM
Thanks for making us laugh every day, Rich! Your writing is really good. Keep up the good work, and give the kitties a big hug!
Posted by: Miss Kitty | May 31, 2006 at 01:12 PM