Photo Break 12/4

Final Glow of November (Big Sur, CA) by AprilM from WonderPhotos

 November has recently ended and in the midst of kid's homework, playing taxi cab driver and a few loads of laundry, I have attempted to figure out some more about this blogging thing.  I have learned that it can be quite rewarding to get several posts up in a week.  I have also learned that I do not have the time, energy or brain power to do it as consistently as I would like.  So, with the beginning of December, I have come up with a plan...

December First (Pajaro, CA) by observing from WonderPhotos

  My plan is to put something quick, easy, and beautiful on my blog  that may bring peace your soul or maybe just make you smile.  And since a beautiful photograph can do just that, on those days I just can't get a regular post together, I will be posting a photo that I love and brings peace to my soul and hopefully yours.

Most of these photos will be of nature, especially country shots.  Since I am a country girl living in the city, country shots are a respite from city life.  Shots of the ocean, like today, will be rare.  Even though I live very close to the ocean, it is not what brings peace to this girl's soul.  Here in SoCal you usually have to fight traffic and crowds to get to the beach and--well, those are not my favorite things.

These photos will usually not be my own since I am not a photographer.  I will do my best to make sure that I am not bootlegging someone else's work but only post what is fair and legal.

I will call these quick, easy posts, "Photo Break".  Whether it is a break for me or a break for you from reading my ramblings....I'll let you decide.

Top o' the Mornin' to Ya

"Lighting Up The Clouds" by Ralfo from WonderPhotos

I just LOVE the world outside in the morning.  I don't necessarily like getting out of bed but I love mornings.  My brain (not my body, just my brain) is pretty active in the morning.  I think it's my most creative time of day.  So why do I try to do my blogging at night? At night: I'm tired, not nearly as positive thinking, and sometimes just plain 'ole cranky.  Alas, in the morning there are many responsibilities to be taken care of and limited time for doing "my" thing.  And, to my my dismay, there are other things I would like to be doing in those early hours also, such as taking my dog and myself for a walk.  What to do?  What to do? 

Not enough time in the day or poor prioritizing?  It's neither.  Either there are not enough mornings or mornings are too short.  I would like to make a motion that mornings be lengthened and evenings be shortened.  Do I have a second on that?  
 

I believe in creative problem solving, Sam

What To Do If Nobody Reads Your Blog

What SHOULD you do if nobody reads your blog?

Jump up and down and stamp your feet. (It releases tension.)

Have a pity party and sing, "Nobody loves me, everybody hates me." (Stop before you get to the line about the worms.)

Eat a quart of ice cream. (Unless it's winter and it's cold, then skip that part and get some hot chocolate.)

Write better blog posts. (Wanted: Writer-good writer to write blog posts. Poor pay. No benefits.)

GET A LIFE, WOMAN!!!  (No comment.)

Signed, Anonymous (I'm not claiming this post.)

Too Tired to Blog?

Well, since this is the fifth post I've put on my blog this week, I have met my goal of 5 posts in one week.  I guess there's a first time for everything.

Today was quite a day.  Because it has been a little stressful around here lately, I took my kids out to breakfast - on a school day no less.  We're home schooled so I can do that.  It is a rare and special treat. It went downhill after that.

My boy did a job on his ankle over a week ago and got a 3rd class sprain.  It is still quite swollen.  Looks gross too.  He was in pain today and didn't get much work done which means we will have to cram before his next class. Not fun. I am getting more exercise waiting on him though as he can do practically nothing. It's pretty tough doing  anything on crutches.

My girl who, who has been working hard and getting A's in biology, freaked over the one chapter of chemistry in her book.  An hour of much explanation later, she still wasn't getting it.  We both decided it was best to put it aside and go to plan B tomorrow.  It is my job to figure out what plan B is.

I solved all my problems and went and got my hair cut.  I'm sure you understand how that is related to all of the above.

Well, I thought I was too tired to blog but look how much I wrote.  The lesson I learned from this is that if you think you are too tired to blog - DON'T!  You'll just end up complaining.  Spare your poor readers and just go to bed.

At least I can learn from my mistakes.  Thanks for listening, Sam

Guess Who Left a Comment on MY Blog???

                                       A VIP commented on my blog!


Miz Boo, herself, left a kind comment on my blog after I stole material from her.  She is a sweetie.  I feel...
I feel..... validated, acknowledged, and... and.... encouraged.  Thanks,  Miz Boo!

Miz Boo gave me some advice for blogging consistently.  It would be perfectly selfish of me to keep it to myself, so I have decided to share it with you.   :)

Hi Sam,

Thank you for leaving your link. Let me encourage you to write five days a week. Just do it :o) Even if it is a quote or a scripture or a picture with a funny story ....Lots of times you will have a comment about that quote or scripture and words will flow from that.

Look thru a stack of pictures and a funny memory will come to mind. I like those posts.

I see you are Linda's friend. She is lovely.


(Linda, you must be a VIP too!!! And just think, I know you in person.)

Wasn't that nice?  I am going to try to act on her good advice.  Let's see how many weeks in a row I can blog for 5 days.  Maybe I should just try for 5 days in one week first.  That might be a little more realistic. This is Day 2!  Here we gooooooo............ 
                                                                       See ya tomorrow (I hope),
                                                                                   Sam

So What's Keeping Me from Blogging?

What's keeping me from blogging?  ME, that's who!  I make everything too difficult.

I had to sit down and have a little talk with myself.

I need to be entertaining. (Just be yourself. Life is NOT always entertaining and you are sharing your life.)
I need to address multiple audiences. (You don't have ANY audiences.)
I need to write in an intelligent manner.  I must think carefully before I write. (Yea, good luck with that.)
I need to get someone to proofread my posts.  (It will never happen.)


"Sam," I said to myself, "you are making this way too hard.  You are not out to win any awards (You couldn't if you tried.).  You're just sharing your life with whomever wants to read about it.  Your only audience will be whoever likes what you write when you are being yourself.  The real question is, Would you still want to write if nobody read it?"



I had to think about this a minute but the answer is, "Yes, I know it's crazy but I just need to write.  I feel like those painters who just need to express themselves and paint.  (Actually, I have no idea how those painters feel because I can't draw a straight line.) I just want to write, so if I am enjoying it; that's good enough.  It's like knitting or any other hobby.  That's it.  It's a little hobby to amuse myself with even if nobody reads it."  (Sounds good, huh?  It's a lie.  I will cry if nobody ever, ever, in a million years reads it. Well, maybe.)

"Sam, my dear, you're weird."

"Weird can be wonderful."

 Here are some quotes about writing I stole from Miz Boo's blog. http://booshay.blogspot.com/
 
"People have writer's block not because they can't write, but because they despair of writing eloquently."
(Anna Quindlen)

"If I waited for perfection, I would never write a word."
(Margaret Atwood)

"Don't get it right, just get it written."
(James Thurber)


"Lower your standards and keep writing."
(William Stafford)

                      Signed, The poorly punctuated, imperfect, wannabe blogger,
                                                                 SAM

     I read a great blog post from Pioneer Woman yesterday.  Her post "Ten Things I've Learned about Blogging" really motivated me to blog more often.  Pioneer Woman has a right to give blogging suggestions seein' how she is blogger of the year and all. If you are having trouble getting your blog off the ground like me or if you just want a good (really funny) read, I suggest you go check out The Pioneer Woman.
Warning: You will laugh.  You will laugh a lot.

 http://thepioneerwoman.com/blog/2010/09/ten-important-things-ive-learned-about-blogging/

                                                                                   Happy Reading,
                                                                                           Sam