Long and rambly...just sayin'. <---I actually wrote that before any of the length and rambles. Now that the post is written I wonder if it might be a slight understatement?
I was waiting for my cute little kitty picture to upload when I thought--oooh, I better remember to update the Classics and Non-Fiction Five Challenges this weekend for September. Then I looked at that little calendar on the corner of my computer screen and realized it IS September. Crap--how did that happen.
Oh, back to the introduction to this post. It's been nearly two weeks since my last post and I've really wanted to blog about something but I just don't know what. Is my life really that boring? I don't think it's really that--I just have this back and forth argument with myself about blogging:
Me: Ooooh, let's post something today!
Me2: Ya, but you haven't opened your Google Reader in a few weeks--maybe you should tackle that first.
Me: *Sigh* Ok. Maybe I'll do that tomorrow.
Me: Man, that stack of books to review looks like it's going to tip over.
Me2: Do you really remember those books you read months ago?
Me: No, I guess I did forget a lot of the details, but I could ask other bloggers for questions!
Me2: See convo above--no bloghopping=crickets when you actually post something
Me: *Sigh* Ok. Maybe I'll do that tomorrow.
Me: Oh Oh Oh! I could post about the trip to Sturgis
Me2: Do you realize you still haven't posted about your trip to Europe 11 months ago?
Me: I could do that later
Me2: Ya, but you would have to organize your pictures anyway...didn't you take like 200 pictures?
Me: *Sigh* Oh ya. Maybe I'll do that tomorrow.
Me: I could post my sailing pictures from this summer!
Me2: No one wants to see you in a swim suit. I mean, really?
Me: *Sigh* I guess that would be a little weird
Me: Well, I've cooked some fun things lately or I could bake something
Me2: But the pictures you took are from your iphone.
Me: *Sigh* Maybe I'll cook something tomorrow and take a real picture
And on and on. I asked for some suggestions on Twitter for what I could post about and Carin suggested my blogging slump (see above). Debi suggested I write about the things I would blog about if I had time (see below).
Things I would/could blog about if I knew where to start
*Reviews: The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher, Just Listen, Les Miserables This list obviously does not go back too long--that list would be longer
*Audiobooks: The Carrie Diaries, The Hunger Games, Paper Towns, When Engulfed in Flames, Freakanomics Also not a completely complete list.
*Trips: Europe, Sturgis
*Trips I'd like to take--and possibly pictures from trips long long past
*A post about The Princess Bride I've been tossing around in my head
*A mission to use my kitchen appliances (but then I'd have to actually do the mission)
*Yummy food I've cooked--wish I had better pictures
*I've been toying around with the idea of writing about something personal that happened to me--not sure if this would be a good idea, though as the subject makes people uncomfortable (I think I answered own question)
*Musicals I adore
*Songs I sing aloud to in the car
*A list of all the books I've reviewed since this blog isn't indexed well and probably never will be
*Book Club Recommendations
*Books I wish I could make time to read a second time
*Books that I would recommend to the well-read and/or adventurous reader
*Several Sunday Salon post ideas
*What to do about the old blog
A pretty decent list, I'd say!
In other randomness:
I'm in search of the perfect banana bread recipe. Do you have one you could share?
I'm reading Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and loving it. I'm also reading Brothers Karamazov and not loving it.
I watched the second half of The Importance of Being Earnest yesterday (yes, on TV you book snobs) and was reminded how much I love Oscar Wilde.
I'm waiting on news I'll get next week and am incredibly anxious and scared.
I sometimes get resentful that I don't get to blog and read and tweet all day like "everyone else" but I know this is ridiculous.
Half Price Books is having a Labor Day sale this weekend. Trying to figure out where I can fit more books.
Part of me wants to go back months and respond to comments on posts. Part of me realizes how insane this is.
I have half the material for Scott's quilt. I discovered a new quilt shop in McKinney and hope to find more!
Someone mentioned Pumpkin Spiced Lattes from Starbucks and I want/need one. Maybe I'll do that after I finish my rambling (think I'll leave the bloghopping for "tomorrow")
The weather is cooler and it rained a few times this week. It is Glorious. Nevermind that "cooler" = 85+
A three day weekend. A three day weekend. A three day weekend. With the hopes of working zero overtime next week. What an awesome feeling.
Hmmm--I could kind of go on for a long time....I won't.
FINALLY, Jason suggested I post about The Newsies (which I also watched the second half of yesterday--yes, on TV). I figured the interest in a post about The Newsies might be limited to just me and him, but here's one of my favorite clips.
Am I the only one who watched this as a 13 year old girl who automatically had a crush on every single Newsie?
Ok, the end. If you listened, thank you. I know it's against the grain to read/comment on a post when said blogger hasn't commented on yours in a while. I've felt it too--it's OK. But Thank You.
It's ironic after being nominated for The Best Commenter for BBAW two years in a row, eh? I actually think the nomination pushed me a little over the edge last year...but that's another ramble and I really want that Latte.
The end. Really.
Hmmm...where to start? First off, I'm like you as I will have a million blog posts running around in my head but half of the time I put them off for some reason or another. And I feel guilty when I don't comment or look at my google reader too! With both of these things I try to put everything in perspective and not put pressure on myself to blog or comment. I work full time (as do you) and have other commitments. It is okay if I don't comment on every post like I want to or visit every blog that I enjoy reading.
ReplyDeleteNext, I'm super excited to hear some of your thoughts on the books you listed as needing to review. Plus I'm interested in hearing more on Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close as I've been really wanting to read it myself. And I had to laugh at wanting to go back and respond to comments from months ago--I've considered doing that myself :)
This is getting kinda long but I'll finish with saying that a pumpkin latte sounds delicious and no matter if you post a ton or just a little, I'll be reading your blog!
Oh my sweet, silly Trish...even if you never read or commented on my blog again, you couldn't get me to stop reading yours. Maybe you could get rid of me if you just told me get lost. But I make no promises. :P
ReplyDeleteI love your list of things you'd post about if you had time...hope we eventually see some of them! I would tell you specifically which ones, but well it would likely include the entire list. :D
As for the personal thing, if you don't want to post about it, but you do want to talk about it, you know where to find me. Anytime. And Trish, whatever the news you're waiting for is...I hope it turns out okay. I'll be thinking about you. *hugs hugs hugs*
I have a banana bread recipe that I love...of course, you might hate it. But I'll email it to you tomorrow. (Unless, my typical scatterbrainedness kicks in--in that case, just remind me.)
I'm so glad you're loving Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close. Because I just bought it! :)
I can't wait to see the fabric for Scott's quilt!
I've missed you...and I'm soooooo glad you wrote this post!!! :D
Now stop you worrying your gorgeous little head about getting blogs read. Please. Don't let the fact that you haven't read blogs lately stop you from posting. Seriously, sweetie. When you have a little time and you feel like reading, you'll get to it. But whether you do or not, I love to hear what you have to say...and I know I'm not alone!!!
Ah Trish, it's posts like this that make me want to give you a big long hug and makes me hope that we do end up getting a Texas Blogger get-together together for the Book Festival in October. Having just a tiny glimpse of what you must be feeling, I know it's awful. :(
ReplyDeleteI hope the news you get next week is good. Jason mentioned something to me offhandedly that makes me worry.
Don't be so hard on yourself. Write the posts however you want and start wherever you want. I hope you get the news you want next week!
ReplyDeleteOn the cheerful side of things - Newsies! Perfect clip, because when I was younger, I wanted to chase down the hispanic kid playing the drums made of tin cans, and beg him to make me one and teach me how to play it. I'm sure that wouldn't be a practically useful skill, but... I mean, wouldn't it be awesome if you could just march out banging on tin cans and have groups of young men fall into perfectly synchronized dance around you?
ReplyDeleteOn the less cheerful side fo things, **hugs**. I know things are rough now, with your news, and even besides that, you've sounded like you've been having a really struggly few months. I know how that feels (this hasn't been the most stellar year of my life either, truth be told!), and wish I could help. Tell your deadbeat husband to get a job in San Antonio! There's a house right close to us here for sale! :P
On the curious side of things, wait - there's quilting shops? What do you use in quilting that you wouldn't use in regular sewing? Maybe this is why the tie quilts I made the boys are such rubbish!
Like I said the other day, I use the banana bread recipe from Betty Crocker, btu then you slather a buncha butter on it when it's done, and wrap it up tight in foil or saran wrap (foil is probably a safer bet, from a food safety standpoint) to trap the moisture. But perfect is a relative judgement - this make the crust REALLY ooey gooey, which I like, but which Amanda thinks is gross and raw-ish. What kind of banana bread do you like? Also! Use all brown sugar instead of a mix of brown and white sugar! But again - opinions differ on that point. But that's my favorite trick wtih a LOT of desserts (OATMEAL COOKIES ARE AWESOME WITH ALL BROWN SUGAR).
Where do you work anyways? I don't know if your boss reads your blog, but they seem kind of... ummm... crazy?
BTW - NEWSIES! NEWSIES! NEWSIES! NEWSIES!
Also, I would love to hear what songs you sing aloud in the car. Or go for a long car ride and we could belt out songs in unison and scare the passers-by. The A/C in my car doesn't work, so at intersections, I get my share of funny looks as I sing with my windows wide open...
Also: I was going to say 'no, that's fine, I'd love to see your swimsuit pictures'. Then I realized that probably would imply ENTIRELY the wrongthing...
I feel like I've been passed the Newsies-Hot-Potato. I'll have to post something now. BUT WHO WILL POST AFTER ME?
I totally was crushing on the Newsies! Are you kidding? That was one awesome film.
ReplyDeleteI have nothing when it comes to banana bread, but the graham cracker bread recipe on my blog is seriously awesome.
ReplyDeleteWe should have a blog discussion sometime on places we want to travel to and why. In the meantime, we can both procrastinate.
I have a few things to say:
ReplyDelete1. Banana bread - I just made two loaves tonight with chocolate chips. Mmmmmm. I use this recipe off of Allrecipes that is fantastic. Here's the LINK. If you want to make just one loaf in a regular bread pan, half the recipe. It's easy, moist, awesome, I love it.
2. I am belatedly awarding you The Incredibly Prestigious Oh My Blog! Award. I don't really pass on blog awards often and I'm lazy about posting the ones I do win, but here it is. You'll like it because one of the options is a "Soundtrack of My Life" post which I would actually like to see.
3. I am also here for you with whatever you need. I've enjoyed getting to know you and I'm bummed that you are feeling so blah/stressed/whatever it is. I live just a few hours away so just let me know if there's anything at all I can do to help you out.
4. Don't feel jealous about not being able to blog and tweet all day. I do it and honestly, it's not very fulfilling. I sit at home feeling like a bum most of the time because I've been jobless for over a year and a half. I'm 32. I've done nothing of any consequence in my life. I can't even get someone to call me for an interview so I am one of those sad statistics that aren't even considered unemployed anymore because I gave up looking. Life will look up and get better! Someday I will have a job again!
5. Newsies - Really??? All of them?!!!! Hmmm...I just remember really loving Bill Pullman and having a HUGE crush on Christian Bale (you know, this was his pre-crazy tirade Terminator Salvation days). Also, Trish, "Buy me last pape lady?" Awwwww yeah!
6. Where the heck can you get Pumpkin Spice lattes in September? That is hella cool. I thought Starbucks only sold them during the holidays. I do like their dark cherry mocha. I get sick everytime, but it's worth it because I love it.
OK...I'm done. I also love your blog and am hoping to see you for the TX Book Festival--if anything just to go out for ladies night and drink some margaritas and shoot the shizz! Hope the news you're waiting for is good news and things look up for you!
I *love* the Newsies. Oscar Wilde? Not so much. :p
ReplyDeleteAnd I say, don't worry about it. The blogging will happen when it happens. I hope it happens kinda soon, because I'd miss you otherwise, but still.
Too funny! Just start anywhere and don't worry about whether or not you've looked at your Google Reader in a while. My speed method for that, by the way, is to read and comment on one post from each person I follow and mark the rest as read. If I have time, I may at least scan some of the rest.
ReplyDeleteYou are not alone in feeling like some people must spend their entire day blogging! I swear I don't know how they do all they do and have a real life!
I'd love to hear about the musicals you love! I'm a huge fan myself.
We seem to be in the same boat - I can't manage to blog at my reading blog lately. Lack of something but since I don't get the traffic you do, I doubt anyone's even noticed I haven't posted since the middle of August...
ReplyDeleteI'm with Debi - I'm glad you posted and I love your posts like this one. I think it would be a blast to sit down and have coffee with you...
Anyway, don't worry so much. As hubby to pick a book from your stack of those awaiting review and see what you can do with it.
Or... just post whenever you actually feel like it.
cjh
Oh! I love The Newsies! LOL I do hope you got that latte you were craving.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to believe September is here already. This year has flown by and I don't think it will slow down anytime soon.
I haven't been blogging all that much lately, taking long breaks in between posts and such. I'm not letting myself feel guilty. I've enjoyed having a more laid back attitude. I like to think I'm practicing for next year when blogging takes a back seat to a lot of other things in my life. Honestly, I'm not sure I'll be able to keep up at all. I hate to let go of the community though, so we'lll see.
Okay, let me just say, I'm thrilled that so many of your commenters are Newsies fans!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, haha! (but no, for real!)
ReplyDeleteI completely know how you feel about being "resentful" at not being able to blog and tweet like everyone else. I feel that way too sometimes and have to remind myself I'm being ridiculous. I rarely have time to really engage with twitter and have been fairly sporadic on my blog lately!
I know what you mean too about going back and responding to comments, lol!! I wonder if people "follow" them and would still appreciate a return comment...
Anyway, just keep doing what you're doing and focusing on you! We'll all still be here whenever you stop by the blogosphere!
Don't feel bad for not reading/commenting, Trish! We've those slumps once in a while; I think it's good to have a little break in between our blogging.
ReplyDeleteHope you've a great week ahead, Trish!
Your conversation with yourself is like my conversation with myself, and it's incredibly funny and also comforting to see it playing out in someone else's head. Er, on their blog.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had more time I felt I could devote to everything, but what can you do? Enjoy yourself! I was going to say something outrageous like, "When the TBR or review piles get too high and daunting, just knock them over and eat your favorite food and say forget it - everyone will still be around when you get back." But then I realized I would be advocating knocking over books. What?
I also loved Newsies and I believe I had a crush on at least a couple :) I don't have a good banana bread recipe to share, but I wish I was eating some right now! You know, I thought I would have all kinds of time to blog and read when I was staying at home with Emily, and I find it is even more difficult now to read books or blogs, or to post anything. Maybe if she napped more...anyways, I'm loving the slightly cooler weather as well and am very excited that fall is right around the corner!
ReplyDeleteI loved reading your list! But the main thing I want to comment on is Newsies! I freaking love that movie. I am sure I was watching it at the same time you were. And yes, I did see it when I was 13 and fall in love with all of them :-D
ReplyDelete