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| I’ll be out in a minute! |
I know content is King, but lately I’m obsessed with the bells and whistles of my blog. So much so that I can’t seem to produce content on a regular basis. I don’t have writer’s block, per se, but I definitely have a tendency to blow off my blog in favor of twitter, facebook, email my household responsibilities…talk about avoidance issues! The truth is, I miss putting my blog before my family, myself, my need for sleep, and our need for food and clean clothes.
In lieu of maintaining my blog regularly, this past month I’ve exercised more than ever in the hopes of banishing this leftover-from-having-4-count’em-4!-kids belly. Is it working? Tooootally…everywhere BUT my belly. Have you seen my thighs, ass, and breasts? Hello…anyone? If you happen to see a couple of perky C cups (ha!) running around please let them know I’ll take them back, no questions asked.
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| Except socks…I’ll never get on top of socks for a family of 6! |
I’ve cooked less frozen food than usual and planned some well-balanced meals and snacks…Take THAT frozen Costco pizza and boxes of mac n cheese! I’ve slept more than usual, too, which is saying a lot because my normal schedule is anything but normal: I used to wake up by 5:30 a.m. and go to bed around 12:30 a.m. So, I’m definitely having less sleep-deprived tantrums in the middle of the day. Most significantly, I’ve cleaned and kept up with laundry which I’m to be commended for is hardly satisfying at all.
What’s missing is the balance of putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard. Plain and simple, blogging gives me this inner satisfaction that folding laundry doesn’t (like I actually fold it). I don’t go around the house desperately asking my husband, “Have you noticed I posted today?” But I do follow him around pathetically pointing out how on top of laundry I am…like I need his praise in order to feel good about it.
I’ve also had a tendency to avoid writing because I’ve fallen out of the daily habit. I don’t mean daily posting, but just jotting down my ideas on a daily basis…maybe an introduction here, a sarcastic thought there. I’ve racked up excuses galore, from brain clutter to having an online identity crisis, but I place the most blame on what I call “blogging limbo.” As in, I’m feeling done with Blogger but haven’t yet made the switch to WordPress. So, why contribute to what will become my old blog when I can start creating the blog of my retirement dreams? Problem is, where to start with making the switch…a headache in itself. But really, it’s time.
So this post serves two purposes. One, getting me back in the game of sharing my thoughts and two, letting my readers know that very soon I will be attempting the dreaded switch to WordPress and I hope you’ll follow me there. Content will still be King because I have ideas I can’t wait to share, but I think some new bells and whistles will give me the same feeling of shopping after I lose my baby belly…MAKEOVER!
Since I’m officially announcing that my blog is under construction, I’d like to stick with that theme and leave you with a cool mama idea. This is great for kids who are obsessed with construction zones and vehicles as my boys were (still are) just a couple of years ago. I would pop some popcorn and take them to watch live construction in action! They loved this and could sit for a loooong time watching construction workers do their jobs. I kinda got into, too! Before I had kids, I called any yellow construction vehicle a bulldozer. Now I know what a front-end loader and double-drum compactor are, thankyouverymuch! Returning often to see all the steps it takes to build a building is a great opportunity for learning and bonding! This is turning into a great metaphor for constructing my new site!
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| Way better than a Bob the Builder video! |
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| The stuff memories are made of! |
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
LOL! I love your determination to find a peaceful spot to blog! I never thought of that one…
Oh Robin, you should give it a try!
Been missing you!
d
I have to say, I am liking WordPress. And they just updated the writing editor so you can have just a text box and not all the buttons and everything — just you and your thoughts…..
It just made blogging easier for me, but I do find the photos take time and Photobucket doesn't take in that interface. Still, I like Blogspot for Uma's blog and WordPress for me. ; )
Looking forward to hearing more about your life and musings….HUG
WHAT a fantastic post! I am TOTALLY feeling you, Christine! Your ability to capture the sheer breath of thought that is riding my mind is fantastic. And BTW- I'll be looking for some construction sites very soon!
Why word press? In my experience word press entails getting frequent reminders to upgrade to the new version which at times can make your plugins not work. Blogger will save you time in the long run and their new interface really lets you easily design template. With word press you might need a designer and you might need to pay for hosting the site.
Blogger has a very clean interface, whereas WP has unlimited options which is a pro and a con.
All in all both do the same thing.
I was wondering where you went! I'm also thinking of moving to Wordpress, but maybe later when I've been doing this blogging thing a little longer. Also, I'm really tech challenged, so Blogger works for me right now. Good to have you back!
@Sheila, thanks for sharing your pros and con about WP. Every little bit of info helps!
Ahh, Jeanne, your comment is a nice welcome back to my blog…thank you! I'm glad you can relate because, well, I love and admire your blog, so it means a lot to me. Definitely give live construction a try!
@Anonymous duly noted
@Alison THANK YOU! for lifting my blogging spirits! I can let you know how it goes (unless I chicken out!), but one thing I keep reading is better to change sooner with less content than later and lose content.
I don't have any reason to switch to word press. I follow some blogs that are on it and think it's a pain. But I'm techno-ignorant, so I'm sure there must be advantages.
I just stopped by from SITS and I love your post today. You write much better than your laundry skills…don't give it up! (I just mean you write very well! Be sure to make time to do it, though with 4 kids, I'm sure it's a challenge.)
I love the kids eating popcorn and watching construction! lol A very clever idea!
Oh, Eve, I'm starting to feel like I have a Blogger and Wordpress angel on each shoulder whispering sweet pros and cons in my ear…just when I think I'm all decided, I start to cave in and appreciate what I've done with Blogger. Still, I am way too curious about Wordpress to not give it a go. Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement!
I have a very specific "I don't do socks" laundry policy. I think my head would spin — very Exorcist — if I had to do it for six.
Who knows what I could be doing if I wasn't putting everything else off to blog. Actually, I do know and it's terrible and involves volunteering for the community. GAH! Who wants to do Good Works?
Sure, sleep is nice and a someday flatter tummy, but do what inspires you regardless of the platform or provider. My daily writing routine consists of writing until I fall asleep on my laptop.
You got this! And we're beyond the Bob the Builder face, which was almost as awful at the Thomas phase. If I ever have another one, I'm doing it.
Clearly I need sleep. Phase not face.
@Liz, I mostly fall asleep reading on my laptop and then I have strange dreams, especially if I was reading your blog last! 1, 2 Freddy's Coming for you…
I love this blog post! The shot of you and your laptop in the potty says it all! I've been too busy parenting lately to blog so I know how you feel. It's a tricky balance – either you feel mom guilt for the Costco mac n' cheese meals or blog guilt for not posting frequently enough. (-: It's all good though. Bye for now
@Ado, yeah in the end, we are our own worst enemies as far as guilt trips go. But comforting comments and tweets go a looooong way…hint hint!