Sabbatical is Over

My "blogging sabbatical" was a little longer than expected and previously reported but now I'm back and "prepared to post."
As much as I enjoy Facebook, I've missed writing more than 244 characters (or whatever the limit is that I have to cram my thoughts into).

One Down, 99 to Go....

It is September. Fall crispness is in the air. School has started so it is time for me to somewhat belatedly wax poetic about another milestone….. I started my blog this time a year ago. It’s been fun to go back and look at all the entries. I think that the first day of school, cookies and my blog will be forever intermingled in my mind.

This school year has been so crazy ~ busy that I haven’t even had the opportunity to bake my kids their 1st day of school cookies yet. YIKES!!! I feel like such a fraud this year. The store bought cookie dough is still sitting in fridge – guess we’ll just have to have a surprise tonight after I get back from working in the concessions stand.

Although, I’m not as proficient as I would like to be, I’m happy to say that I’ve kept up with my blog. I just read that well over 70% of all blogs created are abandoned within the first couple months. I have been getting annoyed that I haven’t been able to carve out more time at home to post each day.

( Rats! I’ve learned the hard way that people really DO need sleep, AND unfortunately I’ve come to realize that I am not 20 years old anymore. ~ Shocker I know!! ~ Unlike when I was in college or even 10 years ago, I can’t burn the candle at both ends for weeks and months on end. Now I get burned after a week or so of hard core, all out “go go.”)

So… I had a marvelous inspiration during a brain storm session while waiting for football practice to get over. Since I’m trying to save money to pay for my roof repairs and fix my stupid GE oven’s clock, I’m planning on staying in my office most lunch hours. I can write my entries during lunch and then just send them to my home email so that I can upload them from there. Hurray!!!

Oh this is Sooooo easy! I love this!!!

Hit and Miss

I honestly have been trying to write more on a daily basis, but "LIFE" seems to carry me away. It seems like lately I don't get home most nights until after 8pm (on a good night) or the late nights are after 10:30. I work on computers all day long so half the time when I do have time, I have zero interest. Blah blah blah... reminds me of that new country song where this guy is at the bar bemoaning his troubles and his buddy turns to him and says "I'm sorry to say this, but that sounds like Life to me." Its a good reminder to us all not to get too wrapped up in ourselves and our petty concerns. My dad used to say that "In a 1,000 years from now will they give a damn about (insert whatever was the topic of discussion)?" It was a good reality check.

Now that school is starting up soon and we're full in the swing of extra curricular activities, I've realized that I need to carve out a little time in the morning to jot down my ideas. I've been so on the go, that I got in the bad habit of sleeping in until 6:15. Now that I'm waking up the kids earlier, I've noticed that I'm starting to go back to my normal wake up time which allows me some peaceful time in the morning to pick up the house, organize the "to-do" list, write out the activity/ride schedule, or get some computer stuff done while I'm fresh. It's funny - I'm such a "night owl" and its at such odds with my required "early bird" status as a mom. (That reminds me...Why are all the expressions about time related to birds?)

With all that said. I'm going to try to go to bed early tonight so I can start my new habit. Tomorrow I'll probably elucidate on all the fun and craziness we've been up to.

Withdrawals

It seems that I am suffering severe computer related withdrawals. It is very hard to carve time in my schedule right now to get on the internet and write. I keep meaning to and remember and such great ideas, while I'm in my car or at work or at a game...but can't do anything about it until I have time at home. (My poor Facebook account is very neglected as well.) Yes, I'm developing quite a serious case of "Internet Guilt." (kind of like a mild case of Catholic guilt, but more high tech.) Big sigh!!!!


I did do a little updating with my site. Pruned some blogs (sorry Bella) that haven't been posting in a while and added a couple of my new and old faves... still can't load one of my all time favorites... O'Malley's on the Web. He's way too "techy" for me and has some funky interface that won't let me link with him. Another sigh.... You just wait O'Malley! I'll get you and your little dog too.... (evil chess cackle wafting in the background)


I promise I'll have to tell you about a few of the Summer Solistice Full Moon craziness that have shown up recently. (There was a guy who was arrested for burglary / stolen car due to his distinctive and excessive colonge and another guy who was driving backwards the wrong way on the interstate for several miles laughing himself silly all the while. - I haven't seen him yet because he refused to get dressed and wouldn't come to court.) These are both stories that need to be highlighted. Oh and the funniest story I've experienced ever in court....it revolves around industrious indignant cops, ribbed condoms, illegal drugs and non industry approved containers. :) Totally cracks me up!!! That one needs it's own entry cuz it's just too darn funny!!!

I've also been getting a lot of funny, crazy phone calls as well this week. This isn't an example of those, but will give you a flavor of the my "normal" phone calls.
I usually answer the main phone line, "Superior Court Administration. This is Alice. How may I help you?"
On Friday, I had three calls right in a row that replied to me "Hi. Is this Nancy speaking?"
"No, this is Alice. May I help you?"
After the 3rd call in less than 4 minutes, my coworker turned to me stared in amazement and shook her head. I laughed. What can you do?



In my future blogs, I also want to make sure I share my experiences at the wonderful parish mission we had this past week. I learned so much about my faith and have been filled with a lot of peace. Thanks to Father Tony Judge and Father John Kuehner and the Redemptionist Order of priests, I was pleasantly surprised attending my first Catholic "holy roller" revival. It was very uplifting and I learned that one of my childhood goals was met.... (Hurray! one more thing to check off my bucket list.)

Well, now that I've left you some teasers and me some inspiration, I think I'll turn in.

Crazy / Computer

My postings are going to be spotty for awhile.

I've been having some computer problems. I've had the guy out once and he NEEDS to come back ASAP. I lost internet for hours again last night. (It's so incredibly frustrating!!!) I am so busy right now, I usually don't get home before 9 or 10pm every night. I keep losing my internet connection so Ican't check my email or post anything. grrrrr!

Back up Baby

So since I've been warned by several emails and more importantly the county's IT department has been scrambling all day. I decided to take the "threat" of the April Fools Worm Virus fairly serious. So tonight after running kids around and grocery shopping, I'm taking the opportunity to update my Windows patches, my security and even did a full archive. The kids' computer is finished - probably since it doesn't have nearly as much "stuff" on it as my computer does. I'm in the process of backing up all the files, but don't think I'm going to get it done in the next 15 minutes before "the witching hour".

Trivia Question: Where, how and why did the phrase "the witching hour" get started?

Well, I'm beat. Time to turn off the computers and go to bed.

Improve Your Writing

I came across a really cool blog last week. I love the concept and have started doing it every day when I can. Cut and paste the link for the web address. (I'm just tired enough that I don't want to deal with creating a link just this minute. Sorry! I'll do it later this weekend.) It's well worth the extra little effort. Believe me! This site is becoming one of my all time favorites!! I'm trying to excercise as Hercule Periot puts it "my little gray cells." Try it! It's addicting!!!


oneminutewriter.blogspot.com

blogs abound

I added some of my favorite blogs. (some are family & friends - some are just random ones I've stumbled across that struck a chord in me.) I need to try and find a few of my "old favorites" that I had marked - before my computer crashed last January and I lost almost everything. (My friend who is a computer whiz was able to restore some of my pix but I lost literally thousands of pictures. Sad part was I was just getting ready to back up on to disks when my virus protection program failed. grrrr!)
I'm always on the look out for interesting blogs.... so feel free to give me any of your favorites.

O'Malley

Just a random thought....
One of my favorite blogs is called O'Malley on the Web. It is by Matt O'Malley from Boston. He is a democrat and probably Catholic (but I could be stereotyping / projecting.)

I just really enjoy his thoughtful (if somewhat biased) opinions. At a pretty young age, he ran for City Councilman and was part of the inner circle for several other successful campaigns. His blog reminds me so much of what the dinner table conversations were when we were growing up. There was a lot of political discussion and analysis. I learned a lot listening to my parents and their friends about local, state and national politics. I get the same feel when I read his blog.

I also enjoy his humor and outlook.... When was the last time you thought about having an Orange Julius, chewing bazooka bubble gum, and playing Scrabble? If you get a chance, check it out...
mattomalley@blogspot.com