Just Being

Yesterday, started with Emma’s neck bright red and bumpy in the distinct outline of a necklace she had worn for Halloween the night before. Thank you cheap costume jewelry for reminding me that my girl and I are only meant to be showered with jewels in the form of nickel free and stainless steel. One oatmeal bath and 1% cortisone application later, we were settling in for a lazy Sunday when Emma’s friend Brandy came a knockin’. Brandy is our neighbor daughter (daughter by proxy if you will) who lives three doors down and across the street. Her and Emma can play for hours on end, and usually do.

With Emma occupied and distracted from her itchy neck, I set to work cleaning the pantry.

It’s an obsession. I also managed to clean the downstairs bathroom and start a mean enchilada sauce for dinner. Chicken and cheese wrapped up in tortilla deliciousness, smothered in spicy cilantro red sauce, I think that’s pretty awesome. (So does Dan)

It was rainy and cold outside, but we were cozy and warm on the inside doing the things that families do, content to just be.

Blogvember?

I truly enjoy blogging. I really really do. But sometimes, I wonder why I blog. What started out as a way to update my family 3000 miles away turned into rants about society, links to interesting things I found in the blogosphere, a possible way to make money, an affirmation that the things I have to say have no real significance to anyone but me. Oh how I like to hear the sound of my own voice.

I find blog culture fascinating. How does one site garner more traffic than another? Why is it necessary to maintain commentary fraught with LOL's and smiley faces? I personally would like to say what needs to be said, share what needs to be shared, absorb random commentary to validate my thoughts and make a real connection. Are blogger's words really a reflection of their actual life or is there a lot of embellishment going on? How many bloggers out there are really keepin' it real?

Personally, I have found it hard to keep it real. Some things just aren't appropriate for blog consumption. This is a public place after all. Current employer and co-workers, Emma's classmates parents, neighbors, people whom I would like to not offend with my off the wall randomness.

Many times I have said that I will post everyday. For no other reason other than to have at least a 30-day accounting of my day-to-day. You know, the randomness that makes me, well, me. I have started and failed many times, there was supposed to be A Post a Day in May and then Blogtoberfest but as you can plainly see Blogtoberfest is coming to a close and I didn't quite make my goal. So here we are, heading into November, my second favorite month of the year committing once more to a post a day. I am calling it Blogvember. You have a better name? Lay it on me.