This week in the Blogerati Files - Joey deVilla's"The Adventures of Accordion Guy in the 21st Century"

Describe your blog in 10 words or less.
The road not taken, taken. Hilarity ensues.

Why did you start your blog? Blogiversary?
My blog's birthday is November 10th, 2001. I started it while working at OpenCola. It was during the period where my responsibilities on our major software project were being whittled down. At that point, my contribution to the project was my work on the "About" box and the installer, which meant that I only had a half hours' worth of real work to do on any given day. That left seven and a half hours at the office, some of which I filled by looking for freelance clients; the rest I filled by taking up blogging.

Has blogging changed you or enhanced a personality trait?
I used to be an egomaniac; now I'm a big honkin' egomaniac!

But seriously -- blogging has done wonderful things for me over the past four years. It brought me back to something I used to love back at University: writing. I used to be a major contributor to both the main paper at Queen's, The Queen's Journal, and the humour paper run by the Engineering Society, Golden Words. Blogging is the continuation of what I was doing back in my student paper days.

I've gotten a ridiculous amount of mileage out of my blog -- possibly even more than from the accordion. I've met wonderful people and made new friends. It's saved me from a liar and identity thief. It landed me my current job at Tucows. It gets me speaking gigs at conferences and appearances on TV whenever they need a techie's opinion. Most importantly, it's what Wendy used to do a background check on me before deciding to come up to Toronto to visit, which led to us going out, which in turn led to our engagement and in a few weeks, our wedding.

For something started out of complete boredom at a job that had become unfulfilling, it's a hobby that's paid off in spades!

Do you have a favourite post from your blog?
I'd be hard-pressed to pick a single favourite. I have a few I really like:

"Stagette", in which I got invited out of the blue to join a limo full of women on a stagette ride through San Francisco while there for a conference

The "Worst Date Ever" series. Everyone's got one story inside them that must be told; this is mine. I wouldn't be the same person if it hadn't happened to me. Plus, it's funny as hell.

"The Girl Who Cried Webmaster". The next time someone tells you that meeting people online is dangerous, here's a counter: I met her in real life and was saved by a online stranger.

"Engage!", in which I announced my engagement to Wendy. I'd been keeping it secret for a week.

Strangely enough, those entries are all related to dating in one way or another.

Ever met a stranger who already knew you through your blog? How was that?
Many, and it's always great when I do. If I've made even just one person smile or given someone food for thought for even just a few minutes a day, I'm happy.

I owe Cory Doctorow a big debt. He's linked to my blog and complimented me; that sort of thing coming from a BoingBoing editor is like a gift from the gods.

The best blog-related stranger encounter ever was during Wendy's first visit to Toronto. I was showing her around Kensington Market and Chinatown when someone I hadn't met before -- "Zorbs" from Zorblog -- pulled over in her car and yelled "Hey, Accordion Guy! I wish I could make your party tonight, but I've got a previous engagement!" There's nothing like looking like a player when you're on a date.

Thanks, Zorbs! I think I owe you a couple of drinks for that one.

Lose any friends or muck something up because of a post?
Never. The trick is to never betray a confidence and to never say anything about someone on your blog that you wouldn't say to their face.

What's happening in Toronto right now that the rest of us should be watching?
I'd say it's the continuing evolution of the city.

Choose someone, living or dead, to write your biography. Why did you make that choice?
Michael Chabon, because nobody captures romance and geekdom in the same breath like he can. It would be a graphic novel, and illustrated by Chris "Achewood" Onstad, Jeffery "Wigu" Rowland, Jeph "Questionable Content" Jacques, John "Scary Go Round Allison" and Mike "Death to the Extremist" Zole.

Zole would illustrate the love scenes.