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I was just about to turn in for the night morning,** when my Google Reader updated with a new post over at Best Gay Blogs that just so happens to review my site. You can imagine my surprise to see the picture of the wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man staring back at me.
I’m honored to have been chosen as a highlighted blog, a majority of the blogs that get mentioned on Best Gay Blogs are in passing or as short introductory paragraphs in a list with others.
The review starts by saying:
Here’s a blog that makes you think. Not always because of the content, but because of the way it’s set up. Actually it’s a great blog, but it’s not one of those pages where you know immediately what’s going on and who the author is. [...] and the posts have that aggressive, forward voice that you’ll either love or hate.
It’s actually quite spot on in that I speak with that exact “aggressive forward voice” in person and find that people either love or hate me. There is little gray area. I prefer it that way, because not knowing where you stand with someone can be a frustrating experience.
A bit further into the article the reviewer continues:
You’d assume, according to the title, Jestertunes is about music. And while there are posts that deal with music (and some mention the author is a musician?), most of the posts on the most recent page deal with anything from depression to eating healthy. All well written posts, dealing with sensitive, interesting themes you’ll enjoy reading. But then again, not quite clear in the sense that you understand the theme of the blog.
It’s hard to be pinned down to a “theme” as such on this page. I know that there are a wide variety of topics covered from music to politics to web design to random brain droppings that don’t fit in anywhere else. But it is all about me and my life and things that I find interesting and want to share. I figure that a reader pops over here and finds something that he doesn’t care for, chances are pretty good that the next post will be something entertaining.
I’m not a corporate-owned radio station that can only pick from a strict playlist. Reading this blog is a bit like going to a trippy independent film, you never quite know where you’re going to end up, which character is going to suddenly burst into song or draw sparkler letters in the air with his fingers; and you might occasionally leave the theater scratching your head.
The review wraps up with:
I guess the point of this review is to first mention this is really a great blog in many ways, but it’s confusing if you haven’t been reading it since it began. Just a simple paragraph at the top of the web page, a small blurb to define what it’s all about might do the trick. So we know what we’re reading and why we’re reading it. It could be symbolic; the posts expressing the “tunes” of someone’s life…the metaphoric beat to which they march…the music of their existence. But unless a blog is actually about rocket science you shouldn’t have to work that hard.
There is a certain amount of irony here in that I removed the “About This Blog” box from my sidebar a few days ago. I wanted to rewrite it.
But in the interest of letting everyone in on a little secret that I’ve kept to myself for a while, I’m finally going to reveal what Jestertunes is all about.
It starts with the nickname, Jester.
Back when I was working as a medic in Missouri, dating Toby and really figuring myself out, my boss commented that I reminded her of Danny Kaye in “The Court Jester.”*** She said I could double talk my way into or out of anything and leave everyone around me entertained, dazzled with bullshit and none the wiser.
I took it as one of the best compliments I have ever received and a nickname was born.
Several years later I fell into playing the role of Feste in a community theater production of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night (or What You Will). If you’re not familiar with the play, it’s one of Shakespeare’s few true comedic works. It’s the play from which every modern story of a woman masquerading as a man steals ideas. The character of Feste was “The Fool” or the “Jester.”
Shakespeare often used the jester characters as the narrator, and more often than not, the jester was the one character who understood all of the other characters and their motivations. He would be in the background of nearly every scene observing the action and he would relay his opinions to the audience. He was considered harmless by his superiors, but would often have a hand in the downfall of the villain.
Feste was particularly adept at entertaining the court with his songs that often revealed a secret or satirized the court’s actions.
I accused my friend Leayn who roped me into playing the part of typecasting.
The Fool is an ancient archetype, even occupying his own card in the tarot deck:
With all his worldly possessions in one small pack, the Fool travels he knows not where. So filled with visions and daydreams is he, that he doesn’t see the cliff he is likely to fall over. At his heel, a small dog harries him (or tries to warn him of a possible mis-step).
The Fool is the card of infinite possibilities. The bag on the staff indicates that he has all he need to do or be anything he wants, he has only to stop and unpack. He is on his way to a brand new beginning. But the card carries a little bark of warning as well. Stop daydreaming and fantasizing and watch your step, lest you fall and end up looking the fool. –aeclectic.com
So my friends, loyal readers, and newcomers to this site, perhaps you can see why I chose to call this little corner of the web world Jestertunes.
I’m the fool who observes your lives, sings his songs, spins his yarns, and hopefully entertains.
*I had to physically restrain myself from adding an “Alfie” to that post title.
** Insomnia really sucks.
*** For the youngin’s in the house, Danny Kaye was a movie star who was a singer, dancer, comedian and brilliant actor.
Oh dear god, Ryan Seacrest is wearing a Sanjaya Pony-Hawk wig. The fact that it’s a joke makes it less ridiculous than Sanjaya’s wearing of it for real last night.
Once again, I think a contestant got screwed by Sanjaya. But everyone else got it right. 
It’s been a while since the last installment of Ask Jester, and you guys have asked LOTS of questions! So many I may never catch up!*
