I. Am. Back.

I am totally unable to account for MIA since January 6th , the date of my last post.    I was out of ideas and needed a break.  It happens a lot.  Many bloggers never return.  I contemplated quitting as I felt I no longer had anything to say.  I've never worked to promote my blog and have often wondered if my lack of focus, i.e. the focus needed to categorize my writing, is a drawback to developing a large readership.  I write because I want a place to make observations and, yes, vent from time to time.

Lately I've been re-thinking the process.  Topics are beginning to jell in my brain and they are truly all over the place.  I guess that's just me and I should embrace it.

I realize writing is my avocation so, why not continue?  Also, I miss you guys.  So here's to getting back in the groove.  I may experiment with short quick posts more often and I may get back to writing in depth about the things for which I feel great passion.

Today, I embed a short but sweet one from the great Stephen Colbert.

The Colbert Report
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Friday Nights, Part 2

In May 2008, I wrote a post about Friday night get-togethers with my girlfriends, a weekly occurrence taking place during my twenties. It is a special memory because of the camaraderie and support these Friday nights engendered. These were therapeutic social gatherings arranged around wine, women & food. We listened to each other's stories, gave opinions, advice, counsel and were generally able to solve much with a great deal of laughter and gravitas combined. It was heaven.

One of the questions I ask in the post is "Why don't I re-establish Friday nights?" I would love to but am not so sure it would fly...at least where I now live. I question how forthcoming most of us are in our middle years. I know many of you are very forthcoming and yet... In those days, everyone blabbed about everything going on in their lives: sex, partners, job issues, family issues, sex. Not so sure that kind of honesty would be as easy now. We have so many to whom we feel obligated to protect.

For many of us, blogging is our Friday night opportunity to tell stories, give opinions and help one another. And it is not limited to women only. I want male readers to weigh in with their perspective. I find blogging an amazing way to reach out. It's cathartic. I'm searching for a way to make it even more interactive and instructive.

All ideas are welcome.

Friends Award

Okay, so last night I'm browsing through blogs I follow and I see this adorable hearts logo and wonder what it is because I'm looking for Valentine art for my blog. I've found it on "The Stair Landing" so I begin to read her post about the Friends Award and how it has been bestowed upon her by another blogger. Of course, this intrigues me to no end as I am always curious about what other people like to follow, especially if I'm following their blog. The goal of the Friends Award is to pay it forward and bestow on eight fellow bloggers. There is criteria.

These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbon of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight more and include this cleverly written text in the body of your awards.

I read the list twice, trying to decide which blogs I'll visit, before I realized she's listed my blog! You know, it's such a compliment. I think when you blog, no matter how much you'd like other people to read your thoughts, you tend to be surprized when they do.

Thank you to Marilyn. Now, in the spirit of this, here are my selections for the Friends Award:

synch-ro-ni-zing
The Coffee Messiah
Life in the Second Half
Lunch with Front Studio
Maggie Reads
The Typing Makes Me Sound Busy
Pitt Rehab
La Petite Fille de la Mer

Now it's their turn to pay it forward and find eight more.

Missing In Action

I haven't been writing. I am without a laptop right now and I cannot blog while at work although there are plenty of times I'd like to. I'm in a new job, which I love, and I'm getting a new computer soon. Once I have it, I'll be able to devote time after work to getting this blog back on track and cleaning up some of the mistakes I am finding. This is true of my other blog, www.emptynestevolution.blogspot.com. Stick with me. I'll be back.

flickr Art

Key West by blinked & ski 9

This photo was taken in Key West on a mundane shopping street. As a member of flickr, the photographer put out a request to her group for some editing. She wanted someone to retouch the photograph, removing a new Coach store and making it more authentic...like the old Key West of Hemingway. My husband volunteered. Using Photoshop, he added the bars, the ladies and a few other objects, taking a painterly approach. I thought it was an oil painting until he explained the methodology. I love the sharing and cooperation among flickr folk. Not only do they have awesome photos to post but they seem to really cooperate with one another and alot of learning occurs on that site because people are willing to share their techniques. I'm looking for a writing blog that does the same thing. Any suggestions?