Friday, May 24, 2013

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!
7 quick takes sm1 7 Quick Takes Friday (vol. 218)



Finish the Sentence Friday

31 comments:

  1. Couldn't agree more that blogging can be so much fun and I too enjoy it so very much. Thank you as always for linking up with us!! :)

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  2. I couldn't tell you how many people we see driving with their feet sticking out the window around here. Usually it's when they're on the freeway on the way to the beach though, so I suppose they have an excuse ;D

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    1. A flimsy excuse, but an excuse. The guy driving his work truck, though? Maddening.

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  3. LOVE Love love the pretty dress with the wings and Santa hat! Gotta appreciate a free spirit! At that age, I could often be found climbing a tree in my pretties dress and a baseball cap. No idea why I was so attached to that cap - I'm not a b-ball fan, and I hate hats, even in winter?!? Oh, and I have a cousin who always drives like that - makes me CRAZY. I keep trying to convince her she's going to lose that leg someday, and maybe a few other body parts in the process! Scares the bejeezus out of me thinking about her getting in an accident that way!

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    1. Me too! Sometimes my kids will try to get away with sitting in the car with their feet up on the dash or the seat in front of them. Each time I try to ignore it, thinking it's no big deal, but I just can't. The feet must be down.

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  4. So simple and yet so true. I blog because it's fun too. But not as fun as driving with you and seeing those weird guys doing who knows what while they are operating heavy machinery. Impressive picture taking at 55 mph!

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    1. It happens so often, my kids are getting quite good at taking high-speed photos. They're even starting to anticipate it, getting my phone out before I tell them to. :)

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  5. This is one of my favorite of your posts- EVER. (Do I say that a lot? It's because you're good.) You have such a dry humor- the comment about "I don't care who you are, you're going to be cussing after that" and the photos of the feet, and your sweet boy in his dress...then that tender reflection on your Phoenix. You take us on a ride, lady. And thank GOD you think blogging is fun- don't ever quit! You are good at it.

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    1. I'm going to stop believing you if you say it one more time. :)
      I hope it's a fun ride!

      Thank you for being so sweet.

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  6. Pigs have neither escaped nor thrown themselves into their water tank? Hallelujah! (The story of you hauling the dead pig out of the water tank was the first blog of yours that I ever read, by the way.)

    Keep the darling picture of Cuckoo for future use. One day, when he's in high school, he is going to act up about something, and you now have ammunition.

    I couldn't be happier that you blog.

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    1. I know! Celebrate!

      I have boatloads of ammo to use against my kids, and they know it. Hopefully, all of that photo-taking will make the years of 3 and 4 kids in high school at the same time a little easier for me.

      I couldn't be happier that you read. (Ha!) And blog yourself. :)

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  7. I don't feel really great about a foot hanging out of the passenger window. Now the ones above are just wrong. I might sit "criss cross applesauce" as a passenger but as a driver even on cruise control by feet are where they are supposed to be. And you are correct - books are too much pressure but don't let that stop you if its the only "excuse" you have ;-) I would love to see a vlog of your usual storytelling speaking -that would be cool!

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    1. I also give leeway to the passenger. Driver, on the other hand, none.

      I finally realized that I don't need a book. I'm getting all that I want simply by writing here. Plus, I get to meet my readers. With a book, not so much.

      As for the vlog, I barely have enough knowledge to WRITE a post. I can't even imagine how to vlog!

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  8. What? You don't celebrate Hang Your Foot Out the Window Day???? (Don't worry; neither do I.)

    I do enjoy parenthesis, though.

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    1. Hahaha! Every day the little boys and I are listening to the radio when the DJ says what "day" it is. They like to know if we need to change/add to our plans. (for example, on "pancake day" we would have to change our dinner plans.) With some of the odd "days" out there, a Hang Your Foot Out the Window Day would not surprise me. :)

      Parentheses are awesome.

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  9. I think I like your last point best. Or (is that Cuckoo?) in the dress. Awesome stuff. And keep up the good work :D

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  10. You're so right that scrubbing the kitchen floor is worthless. And I'm not sure I know anybody who wouldn't cuss at the salt shaker. At least it wasn't glitter because that stuff never goes away. I got a kick out of the fact that to tell a story in real life, you use body spasms and arm flailing - me too! Awesome. Blogging is SO much more fun than writing a book. Mine are gathering e-dust in the bowels of my hard drive where they will likely remain forever.

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    1. Thank you for the affirmation!
      Glitter is despicable. Actually, it is outlawed at the kids' school.
      People sometimes comment on my loud, physical storytelling. I don't understand how people DON'T do those things.
      I promise to blog and never write a book again.

      Delete
  11. (especially) the parenthesiseses! that and the:

    "When I began blogging, I never would have guessed how much I would enjoy it." I couldn't agree more...I would not have believed the person who would say that.
    (yes, I am a skilled writer person...lol)

    good post

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    1. Whatever would I do without parentheses?? I don't want to know.

      This blogging is surprisingly fun, isn't it?

      Thanks.

      good comment :)

      Delete
  12. You blog for some great reasons! I've found that the reasons I blog have changed over the years too. My husband and I started blogging to share about our adoptions, then I wanted to write a book, then make people laugh and now I do it for so many more reasons - friends, satisfaction in accomplishing something, etc.

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    1. Why thank you. You have made quite the change in your blog. Especially the kicking the husband out of it part. :) How disappointed was he?

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  13. I am so glad I found your blog! I have enjoyed it ever since! You are like a breath of fresh air! I love your sense of humor, I love your life style. You are someone I'd like to pal around with. No - I am NOT stalking you! Just saying.....you seem like a wonderful person and someone I'd like to be my friend if we ever were to meet. Your kids are adorable. :)

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    1. Gotta say, this is a comment to go in the Comment Hall of Fame! So sweet you are.
      I have no doubt we would be fast and wonderful friends, going on all sorts of crazy travel adventures to obscure, off the beaten path places. Who says we can't meet at...say...the World's Largest Paper Clip Chain? That's halfway between us, right? (Totally making that up. Is there a World's largest paper clip chain? I'd love to go there.)
      Thank you! I think they're pretty cute myself. :)

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  14. That free and a half year old has STYLE!
    When my son graduated high school I was a weeping idiot for a week.
    Next year, I'll do it all over again with my oldest daughter.
    Sniff....

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    1. Style in spades.

      I have been crying all flippin' year long. It's beyond ridiculous.
      I have someone graduating every year for the next 12 years. Buy stock in Kleenex.

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  15. I can't lie... back as a teen I maybe would do the whole foot out the window bit. My legs are hairy too... Muahahahaha! You are only supposed to use your right foot anyhow *shrugs*

    How excited is Phoenix? Looking forward to seeing posts on/pictures of the graduation party. And Kudos to letting the little one wear a dress! I doubt many parents would.

    Hmm... so you've attempted some writing/memoirs, but let them subside? What about The Pig Wranglers. Was that one of the titles? :) I'd think it would be easier to incorporate your humor and style in a memoir/novel due to all the blogging you've done.

    I blog being it's fun, but also to write consistently.

    I also use parentheses a ton! And "..."s lol

    Jak at The Cryton Chronicles & Dreams in the Shade of Ink

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Thank you for taking the time to tell me what you're thinking!