Experts recommend that bloggers post a minimum of one-to-three times a week. I find that laughable. One-to-three times a month is more my speed. Some resourceful bloggers post daily. God bless ‘em!
As everyone knows, few things leave you more vulnerable than exposing yourself to public scrutiny. Being the author of an online journal certainly does that. Bloggers are known to be opinionated, and the cost of speaking our minds sometimes draws criticism, which means it helps to have a thick skin, a touch of chutzpah, or both. Nevertheless, we must still be wary of many things, including naming names or saying anything that might set off a wackadoodle or two in this crazy world (and it doesn’t take much).
That said, I’m trying to step up my game and post more frequently. If you think that is easy to do, slap yourself – twice. Bloggers may be opinionated, but putting our thoughts out for the world to see is not something a wise person does indiscriminately for numerous reasons. And if you need to analyze that statement, then slap yourself again.
So, for my regular readers who are wondering why this is my second post to pop up in your email box within a few days, consider it explained.
Some of you can relate to this: I struggled to make it through last week, but I did it! Every year Daylight Savings Time (DST) throws me off-kilter. This year is no different. It’s a week since DST began, and my episodes of suddenly nodding off and deliberately napping throughout the day have finally subsided. It’s bad enough that I rarely get the recommended amount of sleep. I can’t remember the last time I slept 7-to-8 hours a night.
A day or two after DST required that we move clocks ahead one hour, I heard Whoopi (on The View) and other television personalities lament the annual time change. One doesn’t have to be a specialist to realize that something strange happens to many of us during the twice-a-year time change. The fall-back change isn’t as bad as the spring-forward. I don’t know about anyone else, but the latter screws up my body and mind, beginning on the Monday after and for the days following. I can’t drink enough coffee to avoid frequently yawning and nodding off like a drug addict.
I learned that a bill is pending in congress to make Daylight Savings Time permanent. So this is one time I hope that legislators, if necessary, will vote across party lines and support a law that would eliminate the twice-yearly time change.
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Have fashion designers run out of ideas? I see styles trending back to those big, ugly shoulder pads in women’s clothing. I didn’t like them when they were stylish in the eighties, and I don’t like them now. Back then, I cut out some of those monstrosities from my blazers and blouses. Need I say that in some cases, that did not go well?
Nevertheless, if I were to buy something with shoulder pads now, which I would not, I’d remove them again. I have no problem with my tops revealing the natural slope of my shoulders. That’s just me. You all know what I always say, “Different strokes.”
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Some people go out of their way to make friends. I’m not one of them. However, ask anyone who knows me well, and they’ll likely tell you I am friendly once you get to know me. I’m just not what I’d call a people person. (That sounds contradictory, doesn’t it?) I’m not inclined to walk over and introduce myself to someone at a social function or welcome a new neighbor to the hood with a gift basket of cookies or teacakes. I’d also be suspicious if a potential neighbor did that for me. I’ve probably watched too many episodes of Fear Thy Neighbor on the ID channel. But lest I am misunderstood, let me tell you that I have cultivated many genuine friendships over the years, including other bloggers.
Speaking of friendships. Here’s a question for the court of public opinion. Say you come home and find on your voicemail a message from a platonic friend whom you’ve known for several years. Then, you two fell out nearly a decade ago over an argument concerning a particular obnoxious politician. (Need I name names? LOL) The phone message left says, in short, “Hi. This is (I won’t reveal his name either). I’m just calling to see how you are doing. You can call me back (and he leaves his number unchanged from the one I already have in an old address book).
What would you do? Act as if nothing happened and return the call, resuming the friendship as it previously was, with periodic emails and phone calls, or would you ignore the message, and move on, leaving the acquaintance in the yesteryears (while in your mind wishing the former friend well)? I chose to do the latter, and that’s just me. What would you do?