I Got Plenty of Nuttin' and Nuttin's Plenty For Me!and Pay It Forward

I spent the day working on the Ski Jacket in the hopes that I might finish it by Friday. There would be photos, but there was enough stress to keep me from remembering that I have a camera and it was probably the gloomiest day in years around here. Dark, rainy. Dark. It was just plain miserable and apparently I went with it. I really hope that it all turns out okay  (the sweater and the weather, heh). Ski Jacket is soaking right now so that it can be blocked and finished up. Now, if it doesn't bloom too much and I find the perfect ribbon for the inside life will be better.

It seems that this final week of posting has turned me all introspective. I have learned things about myself and others and was not surprised to find that when I put my mind to something, well, I think some of you know me well enough.

It turns out that today is the first real day that I just don't want to blog. I'm actually writing this last night, so it is Tuesday's post that I don't feel like writing. I'm surprised that I have not been totally stumped most of the month. I actually have more posts in my head than days left in this month (don't be thinking I'll be posting every day just go get these off my chest!). But, I should focus. Since I just don't feel like writing, I think I'll make a little list of things I have come up with over this past month of posting.

• I can post for a whole month without having to resort to embarrassing my family (too much) or to personal hygiene stories.  You did almost get an ode to my Neti Pot, and you might yet in the future.  If you don't have one, you really should.
• Sometimes my favorite posts to read consist of a picture and a few words.  I was never good at that before.   I'm improving.
• Not all posts need pictures.  Well, I do really like pictures.
• Sometimes you start a post with one idea and by the end something totally unexpected and kind of fun comes out.  Last Wednesday is an example of that. 
• Often I sit down to write without a single thought in my head and once I get going I find I have to edit out a lot of words and ideas.  A journey of a hundred miles begins with a single word step.
• When blogging every day everything is a potential blog post.  That has me looking at my day in a totally different way, and there are so many posts that are still brewing in my head.  Driving to work and the girl in the car next to you is smoking with one hand and sucking her thumb with the other?  Blog post.  How the heck she is steering is beyond me.  My daily breakfast of Fiber One and soy milk?  Blog post.  Hey-not as boring as it seems, I use that Fiber One to add fiber and crunchiness to a lot of foods.  Stuff rocks.
• I am forgetful and so many posts that are in my head will probably be buried behind the rocks in there forever.  Bummer.  Some of them were good.
• Some of them sucked.  Be glad.
• I envy people that easily share their lives on the blog.  It isn't as easy for me, probably because I think so many of you have much more interesting lives than mine.
• Blogging brings more comments and people into my life.  That is a good thing.
• Blogging brings more comments and people into my life.  Oh the stress and anxiety that comes with all of that email.  I try to answer most or visit blogs and leave comments, but there is the daily blogging and the knitting and the family and work and excercise and......  I am really trying, if you haven't heard from me, forgive me.  For instance, if you asked me what my favorite teas were, I promise.  That is coming.
• I made it through the month without posting about Princess.  Surprise!  I have a cat, rather, there is a cat that lives here.  We hate each other.  I may still post about her someday.  At the moment she is glaring at me from across the room.  This usually results in a stare down that I always win.  My girls swear she winks in response to a wink.  Right.
• I have depended on my MoFo grrls to keep me in the zone.  Without them I might not have made it.  At the very least it wouldn't have been as fun.
• I'm surprised and amazed that so many of you come back every day to read my drivel.  Aren't you bored out of your minds yet?  The encouragement that you have given me has been a major key to my persevering. 
• I am looking forward to and dreading my first day without posting.
• I'm sort of sad that the month is ending.  Relieved and sad.  I hope I have made a little more a habit of blogging. 

I am sure there will be more reflecting back on this month, but for now I have to take my sweater out of water and block it. Toes crossed.

I was the first to comment on Sandy's blog today. Joining again, that I am. Here is the scoop:

The idea of the exchange is I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on this blog post requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet, and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog - this means you must have a blog, sorry blogless readers.

If you are one of the first three, please follow through. I promise I will. It may not be much, and it may take all year, but you'll get something. Paper cut snowflakes. Those woven potholders. Crochet toilet paper cover. A Christmas tree made from Reader's Digest magazine. Heh. Remember those? You could make an angel that way too. Well, those are just a few of my ideas. We'll just have to wait and see what I come up with.

****Edited to add:  Let me be clear, PIF is for the first three commenters that mention that they want to participate.  If you don't, just don't bring it up or say right out that you would rather not. 

November 27, 2006. Blogging about blogging.  And not a single picture in sight.  This is difficult for me.

Comments

[Norma]

You know it, GIRL! Every single thing you posted about blogging is what I know and live in my blogging. Did you do a brain suck when I wasn't looking? :D

Awesome.

[margene]

You're having trouble because of the sweater. It took your will, you'll get over it. As Norma said...the stuff about blogging is the same for us all.

[Carole]

I just now signed up for Pay it Forward at Textile Junkie or I'd do it here gladly. I have loved your daily posts and am so glad you did this.

[Cheryl]

A handmade gift? How nice are we talking? What if I make a bookmark and print it up on my computer? Haha! Obviously this is not the exchange for me. But look at you! You're a real blogger now! Long introspective posts, no pictures, deep thoughts on community . . . how far you've come in a month. Our little baby's all grown up.

[michelle]

Oh the lessons learned with this little exercise :) I can't wait to see your ski jacket!

[Marcia Cooke]

I'm going to miss reading your "drivel".....it was so NOT drivel!

[Danielle]

Hey, I want presents! Sign me up for the PIF exchange :)

[Danielle]

And, because I got greedy and clicked the "post" button really quickly, I just wanted to tell you how much fun I've had reading your posts this month. I hope you've developed a new blog habit and post more frequently in the future ... at least, more than once a month!

[Lynn]

It sounds as though you've learned something about yourself from this daily blogging - that's good! So maybe you should make 2008 the Year of Daily Blogging - think of everything you'd learn.

Kidding. Somewhat. Not that I have time to blog daily for even a month, much less a year.

As for PIF, well, I wish I could join in the fun, but I don't think I can spare the time, alas. Maybe once I build up a store of little handmade gifts, I can do these sorts of exchanges without feeling burdened by Yet One More Damned Thing.

[Julie]

I'd love to do the PIF exchange!

I've enjoyed reading your daily posts this month :)

[Brenda]

I will miss your daily posts. None were drivel and all were fun and funny. You are an excellent writer with a great sense of humor.

[claudia]

You are going to have to explain the neti pot thing to me.

[Laurie]

I have enjoyed your wry, sardonic and common sense take on life. I've loved getting to know you better. I've laughed and laughed with you. I'm going to miss it too.

I can't believe that neti pots don't infect all the sinuses with more nasal bacteria. But that's not a scientific statement by any stretch.

[sandy]

I don't think that any of "us" lead a more exciting life than anyone else. It's just that we all love to peek in that window or perhaps the medicine chest, if you will!
:D
Personally, I have loved this little journey of ours.
Can't wait to see the wonderful ski jacket in action!
xoxo

[Manise]

*Ahem* I hate to break it to you, but you don't write drivel. Please continue to blog regularly. I really like coming here to read you!

[Kim]

It's amazing how much insight is brought to us by listening to ourselves.

I have looked forward to reading your blog every day and will miss your regular posts once they start to slow. Enjoy your first day of no posting!