TGIF! It's 7QT and FTSF!

Six super quick takes and one not so much quick as it is FTSF long take today. 

********** 1 *************

As of this morning, we still have four live pigs in their pen.  That right there makes it a good day.

********** 2 **********

I am done scrubbing my kitchen floor.  It just isn't worth it. 
It was looking all shiny and lovely.  The wood had a marvelous glow about it.  As I walked through the kitchen with my breakfast dishes, the salt shaker saw the sparkle and flung itself off the plate and onto the floor in a shower of glittery graininess .   I vacuumed it all up, then went to put the salt shaker back in the cupboard.  Wouldn't you know, the shaker was hiding some more ammo.  It unleashed the hidden salt all over the floor, the stove top, and the vent hood.
 
I don't care who you are, you're gonna be cussing after that.

*********** 3 **********

Driving toward the north on Wednesday, I was a bit disconcerted to see this in front of me.

Yes, a foot.  Hanging out the window.

I was even more worried when we passed this vehicle and all I saw was an ugly hairy leg attached to that foot.  There is a slight possibility his foot wasn't the only thing hanging out where it shouldn't have been hanging.

Ten minutes later, this:

We were going 65 miles per hour when Buttercup took this photo.  55 in the above photo.

Honestly, People, your vehicle is not your living room.  Your driver's seat is not a LazyBoy recliner.  Get your feet down and take driving seriously!

********** 4 ************

If you ever find yourself at a play date with a bunch of friends and their little girls, and your "free and a half" year old boy says, "I want to wear a pretty dress," for the love, let him wear a pretty dress.

Wings and Santa hat optional.

************* 5 **********

After nine years, we have reached the end.

It is the last day of school for Phoenix.

Never again will he drive to school with his dad and three siblings.

Never again will he come out of this school at pick-up time.

If you see me, don't mind the tears.

I can't seem to get rid of them these days.

Here he is.  My big, almost high schooler.

Don't worry, there will be a great, big, sappy post all about him on Graduation Day.

************** 6 ***********

Ever have that "I always feel like (pause for the beat) somebody's watching me" feeling?

Me, too.

************* 7 ************

It is Friday, so that means it is FTSF!  This week, our prompt is I blog because...

That's easy.

I blog because it's fun.

I used to think I wanted to write a book and get it published.  I've written several picture books and started several memoir-type books and left them sit to rot.

I've realized that I actually don't want to write a book.

I just want to write.  Books are too much pressure and not enough fun.

I enjoy the creativity of writing.

I enjoy getting a chuckle or two out of people.

I enjoy sharing the things I've learned in these many years of parenting.

I enjoy figuring out the best way to present an idea.

I enjoy finding interesting or unexpected combinations of words.

I also enjoy reading other people's blogs.  Besides the fact I have met some wonderful people I now call friends, I have learned.

Blogs give me the chance to read about a wide variety of people.  Their lifestyles.  Their experiences.  Their points of view. 

People are often much more open in their blogs than they are in their real life relationships.  I get to see what is going on in their minds and learn so many things.  And by knowing this, I can take the information into my real life interactions.  For example, I know (in passing) a few families with children who have Autism.  I would never be able to have long conversations with these families to find out what their struggles are, what they want from other people, what their children are capable of.  However, I read a couple of blogs written by women who have Autistic children.  By reading of their struggles, of their triumphs, of their children, I learn a bit about all children with special needs.  I am able to be more compassionate without being condescending.  I am able to be more comfortable in situations where the child's behavior might otherwise seem odd to me.  I am able to support that mom in a way I couldn't before.

Blogging also makes me think in other ways.  When writing, I am robbed of my usual storytelling/speaking tools.  You can't see my facial expressions.  You can't hear the tone of my voice.  You can't see the arm flails and the full-body spasms that sometimes come into play during an exceptionally good story.

When writing, I have only my words.  I have to figure out a way to get my feelings across.  When writing a story about a dead pig, I have to find a way to make it funny.  When writing about sensitive topics, I have to choose my words carefully so as to not offend people.  (Discussion can't happen if the person leaves in a huff because of my inconsiderateness.)  When writing about other people, I have to do it without hurting their feelings or embarrassing them. 

When I began blogging, I never would have guessed how much I would enjoy it.

I blog because it's fun.

(And I get to use parentheses.)

Have a lovely day!