I made it through a full month of NaBloPoMo. It’s been so long since that happened that I can’t even remember the last time I made it. Or made it through a month of blogging without NaBlo to nudge me.
That’s a good thing. Sort of.
I didn’t write the posts I was hoping I’d write. But, I also didn’t fall back on a month of blogging about books (and not entirely because I didn’t get much reading done this month, either.)
I also didn’t make the time to write that I’d hoped I would. A few days, I did. But mostly, I jotted off something quickly, at the end of the day, just so I could say “I blogged.”
That’s OK. It’s a hell of a lot better than I’ve been doing and part of the experiment is to figure out whether I even enjoy saying anything at all. Turns out I do. Sometimes. Maybe even “Often” if I’d actually give myself some time to do it.
Tomorrow is the start of a new month — I’m not sure I’m ready to sign up for another full month, but then again — why not? Even if I only get a few fun posts out of the month, getting back into the habit just might be worth it in the end.
Maybe.
November was fun so let’s just see what happens tomorrow, ‘k?
Once upon a time, you could write a post about almost anything and be fairly confident you weren’t going to be attacked, ridiculed, questioned, or called out as having completely missed the boat.
I’m not talking about the traditional hot button topics like abortion, circumcision, bottle feeding, religion, alternative sex topics, politics — those always have been hot button issues and probably always will be.
No, I’m talking about things like recipes and family stories and lists of favorite things. Those types of posts used to bring in discussion. People who could relate said so. People who had ideas to share did so. People who couldn’t relate or didn’t have anything to add, either stayed silent or left a comment indicating they’d read the piece but didn’t have a lot to add.
In today’s hyper-active internet, no topic is safe any more.
Post a recipe, someone’s going to have something negative to say about it.
Post a list of favorite things, someone’s going to call you out for missing something.
Misuse a comma and you’re fucked. An apostrophe out of place and you’re even more fucked.
The peoples, they are passionate. And I’m not just talking about other peoples. I find myself doing it, or close to doing it, a whole lot more often than ever before.
It’s so bloody easy to let our personal (or professional) passions get the better of us. It’s hard to read with a gentle eye. It’s hard to stop and look at the individual behind the post. Who is she? Where is she coming from? What led her to post this recipe, story, list, idea? If we stop to look and listen. Stop to think about the person behind the post, would we be less quick to react from a place of passion? Would that allow us to have more proactive and positive online interactions?
We’re not all professional writers, recipe developers, politicians, activists, etc. Most of us are just people who want to share ourselves with others. Our posts aren’t perfectly polished. Our ideas aren’t perfectly formed. Our experiences are colored by our environment. Our beliefs are informed by our histories. We’re also not that interesting in changing others at every drop of the hat, so there’s no reason to get your hackles up if someone posts something counter to your beliefs, opinions or experiences. And, we really do not want to be changed, improved or informed about all of our shortcomings (in your opinion) at every drop of the hat.
I need to remember to use my passion wisely and maybe not always take things quite so personally. How about you?
When we brought Skeeter home in August, TW read about 50 dog training books. And she surfed the web looking for dog training tips, techniques and videos. She has tried on all sorts of methods and I’m never sure whether she thinks The Dog Whisperer is an idiot or a God. Or whether she prefers some other dog training method over another. Skeeter is probably unsure, too. I don’t know, she seems to take it all in stride.
It will come as no surprise to you to learn that TW signed us up for a beginning dog training class. It also won’t surprise you to hear that I have made fun of her for this, whined about it, been snarky and sarcastic about it and came close to not going to the first class — which was last night.
Dog training class. Not. My. Idea. Of. Fun. (Even if I hadn’t had a long day, if it didn’t require us to leave during rush hour, and if TW wasn’t on Prednisone.)
First Day of School
We were supposed to arrive “early” for class, which didn’t happen because see above traffic issue. When we arrived, there were already a whole lot of dogs in the waiting area with a whole lot more people. There was one dog who barked constantly (this comes up again later) and a bunch of puppies who were very busy sniffing each other and a lot of people who were very busy trying to keep their dogs from sniffing each other. And it was mayhem and I was not having fun.
Skeeter, on the other hand, was very happy. Dogs to sniff. People to sniff. A man with treats and he didn’t even make her sit for them. Dogs to sniff some more which caused pretty much every dog there to growl at her because Skeeter does not understand the doggy cues that should tell her that other dogs are done with the sniffing. (We have a kid who had trouble learning this, too. Hopefully it won’t take Skeeter quite so long to learn these cues as it took that child.)
When we finally were led back to the training room, I thought things were going to be fine. We sat down on the wall, away from other dogs and people and then the room began to fill up and dogs began to snip at each other and there was much panting and the barking dog from the lobby just kept on barking.
Waiting for teacher
The trainer came in. He stood in the center of the room. He talked. He introduced a couple of his people. He talked some more. He asked everyone to introduce themselves and their dogs. One person managed the intro before he took control of the barking dog, who still barked but barked less often because he was getting walked, tugs on the leash, and attention from the trainer. So it did get a little quieter, which was nice.
By the time about half of the folks had introduced themselves/their dogs, he was pretty done with that and stopped asking owner’s names and just asked about dogs. I didn’t blame him, really. Everyone was restless and we all had name tags on (unless our dogs had eaten them off, ahem.)
A little boy was there by himself, with a young golden retriever mix and the puppy was annoying the other two dogs around him so they got moved to a corner by the door. Which didn’t help much so they got moved out of the room with another trainer. While we all had to sit there listening to the guy talk about training methods. And we all had to try and keep our very antsy dogs still, which was not fun. For any of us, really.
About a half hour into this, a gorilla came in with a bunch of balloons (not kidding) which was confusing and distracting and would have been a lot more interesting than listening to the trainer. Unfortunately, the gorilla gram wasn’t for us and we had to keep sitting there with an antsy dog listening to the trainer.
At some point, the golden retriever was returned to the room and another trainer took over keeping him busy. With treats. Skeeter did not think this was fair at all. She was forced to sit still, she was yelled at for jumping on the little old man sitting next to me, she was not getting treats. She wasn’t even getting walked and corrected like that dumb barking dog.
No fun. No fun at all.
So she chewed through her leash. Not kidding about this either.
What did we learn at the first class? We learned to say “Yes”. As in to wander around the damn house saying “Yes” to the dog and handing her treats. (You can see a good video explaining this technique here: The Power of Yes (sorry I can’t embed, WebMD is stupid, even if they do have good dog videos.)
The dog lays down on her bed. We say “Yes” and hand her a treat. She follows us into the kitchen, we say “Yes” and hand her a treat. I’m peeing and TW is in the bedroom and I hear muffled talking and say “What did you say, I’m sorry I couldn’t hear you.” and TW says, “I was just saying “Yes” to the dog.” I’m on a conference call and in the background, I hear TW luring the dog away from the prairie dog cage and then hear her say “Yes” as the treats go all over the floor (that’s a lot of yes… and err it might have been me who spilled the treats, whatever. I’m trying to paint a picture here.)
“Yes.” “Yes.” “Yes.”
Elly thinks this is stupid. Why should we give the dog treats and say “Yes.” when all the dog is doing is sitting on the seat in the car. What the hell else is she going to do — roll down the window and jump out? (Elly may or may not have said “hell”… I’ll leave it to you to decide.)
Oh, it’s also important to say “Yes.” before you present the treat. Not after. Not while. BEFORE. So we’ve explained this to everyone in the house and we’ve asked each other if we are saying it “BEFORE” and OMG how many times can two women say “YES.” in one 24 hour period? I’m already going a little nuts and wondering why we didn’t decide to say “Si.” instead. TW wonders why we didn’t decide that our “Yes.” word would be something more fun like, I dunno what would be more fun when you have to say it 500 times a day, every day, for the rest of our lives. Or what seems like it might be the rest of our lives.
I did kind of break the rules and watch another video that talks about the closed hand training so we’re kind of doing that along with the “Yes” training. Don’t tell the trainer guy. He probably won’t like it but at least it’s a little more interesting than just wandering around the house saying “Yes. Yes. Yes.” all the damn time while sprinkling a trail of kibble behind us.
I sure hope she catches onto this “Yes.” thing in a week, like the training people say she should. Right now, she’s all for it — until something more interesting or troubling catches her attention. Then she’s all fuck the treats, I’ll have those later, lemme freak out because you’re going to leave me in the car for three minutes while you get your coffee. Or who needs a handful of kibble when we’re about to go into the damn PetSmart and I can shoplift some treats.
I’m screwed, aren’t I?
I’m going to have to walk around with a pocketful of treats and greasy hands saying “YES.” for the rest of my life, aren’t I?
How long has it been since I blogged here. I mean really blogged here. For awhile I could say that it was no big deal, I was still blogging on BlogHer but I can’t even say that any more, not really. The extreme coupon series was nice but it was written for a BlogHer-type audience, specifically. The Johnny Mac Pippin series was fabulous, and much closer to me really blogging but still, not completely “me”.
Is there a “me” as blogger anymore? It’s time to find out whether I have something to say or whether I’m just going to be the kind of blogger that I’ve been.
But first, I had to have a new blog template. I have needed one for a good two years, probably longer. I’m pretty sure folks had decided I was never going to get my act together and hire a designer and make it happen. I’m pretty sure BlogHer community member, Laine, had just about given up on me ever reaching out to her to make my blog pretty again. But I did it! And better yet, Laine did it. Laine made my blog pretty again and she made it so darn easy.
She wanted to know what I wanted and I didn’t know. I couldn’t even tell her what colors I wanted or what fonts I wanted, and lord knows fonts are important. What’s awesome is that not only did Laine give me a blog I love, she didn’t curse me for being so unhelpful about the design (even in the face of #Sandy barreling toward her!) That’s the kind of blog designer I need — someone who gives me a great blog and doesn’t get completely exasperated with me for not knowing what I want ’til I see it. That’s probably the kind of blog designer you want, too, so go visit Elaine Griffin Designs. She’s awesome and I will never be able to thank her enough.
What’s even more awesome than a new blog design, built by a BlogHer member, is a new header created by a BlogHer member using another BlogHer member’s gorgeous flamingo photos! Yep, my blog was built by BlogHer(s) — or to be more specific, by BlogHer Chatterers.
Those flamingo photos up there — not stock images. They were shot by Karen L. Sandoval who is one hell of a photographer and one hell of a woman, too. Karen graciously allowed me to BUY them from her (she wanted to just let me use them for free but I’m a big fan of paying women for their work so I twisted her arm. They’re worth paying for and she’s worth paying. Darn it.)
So here we are — new blog, another NaBloPomo — anything might happen.
What the hell. I’m gonna give NaBloPoMo a try again this year. I came close last year but didn’t quite manage it. This is going to be my year. I swear it. Maybe.
I’m turning over a new blogging leaf, starting now. As I recently told my friend Lori — I’m not sure I’ve got anything left to say, but it’s time to find out.
We went to Starbucks this morning, it is Wednesday after all. I was extra excited about going because I knew I was going to be helping to create jobs for the USA. I knew this not just because I saw a press blurb about it last week but also because I sat in on a conference call with Starbucks CEO, Howard Schultz (and led by BlogHer Co-Founder, Lisa Stone).
I always make small contributions to whatever charitable program Starbucks is promoting in their stores. It’s what I do. Starbucks gives me my Quad Grande Non-Fat Caramel Macchiato three days a week (and on holidays and special occasions) and I support causes they ask me to support. It’s the least I can do, really. And I have found that every single cause Starbucks has promoted has been one that I’d be happy to support.
HIV, Fresh Water, Literacy. Yep, Yep, Yep.
Creating Jobs for USA. DEFINITELY.
So I bought ten wristbands this morning and chatted about the program with my baristas who thought it was extra cool that I’d been in a conference call with Howard, heh.
Those ten wristbands cost $50. That’s less than I spend at Starbucks in two weeks (less than I spend at Starbucks in one day if all of the kids are home on a coffee day.) That $50 goes an awful long way:
–Every $5 = $35
–$50 x $35 = $1,750
It takes $20,000 to create (and sustain) one new job. My contribution HELPED and yours can too.
You don’t have to buy 10. Just buy one if that’s all you can afford or all you choose to give. That’s one quad grande nonfat caramel macchiato… it’s worth it.
(If you’re a small business owner or considering starting a small business – you should consider applying for a loan at Opportunity Finance, which is where the funds being raised by Creating Jobs for USA are going.)
That’s today’s prompt, the first prompt for NaBloPoMo. I literally laughed out loud when I read it. And then I cursed. A lot.
Awhile back, I tossed out the idea, on Joy’s blog, that maybe I don’t blog anymore because I’m too busy reading other people’s blogs and helping other people blog to actually do it myself. And that maybe, just maybe, those bloggers have stolen my words.
Stolen as in – what’s left to say? I mean really?
I read thousands of posts everyday and some of them are wickedly good. I shake my head in agreement. I smile in recognition. I sit with my mouth hanging open in awe.
What really is there left for me to say, at the end of the day, that has not already been said?
The truth is – I’m not sure I know what I used to like best about writing. I just don’t have the time to do it, much less think about it.
And yes that makes me a little sad.
Let’s see what happens this month. Will I really write anything at all?
