"Breaking Up Is Hard to Do"

I will never understand why it is so hard to start a good habit, break a bad habit, or re-start a good habit that you broke!   Changing any behavior pattern is never easy.  Like change in any relationship, "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do!"

For the last several weeks I have had lots of things to write about but somehow I just haven't been able to get back to writing.  For instance:

*  We have a brand new roof that turned out great; but we're still waiting for approval on the deck replacement and addition of the pergola.  The urgency is somewhat mitigated by the weather, it's been a lot cooler, not always good outdoor weather for me.  Maybe it will get done in time for Spring!  Maybe!

*  I'm in rehearsal for "Side by Side by Sondheim," a musical review of Sondheim's early works.  Having a  really good time with it.  This is the first musical I have done since moving to Austin!  That's 13 years!!  New group of nice people, makes all the difference!

*  In the early stages of discussion of establishing a new theater group with two very good friends!

My baby,
the world traveler!

*  Ratchlet went to Shanghai, China representing UT in discussions about a cultural exchange of some type!  She was gone for a week, had a "fabulous" time, but is still suffering from jet lag even though she's been home for almost 3 days.

*  Neither Ratchlet nor I nor Mikey was able to attend M-t-G's first band concert this year.  First one I've missed.  So sorry, sweetie!  I hope it went really well!  I won't miss the rest!!

*  After my trip (see below), I returned to a house with no kitchen sink or water, partially torn up counter tops and a mess. It's a big project and I knew Mike would be working on it, so it didn't come as a huge shock. I hope that it won't take a millennium to finish, but I have lived through Mikey's projects before.  It will take longer than he expected, be more work than he hoped for, but will be gorgeous in the end.

*  And the piece de resistance??  I went to a multi-class High School reunion that was just the best trip ever!  Saw and reconnected with so many old friends, met some spouses, caught up on nearly 50 years of history, ate, danced, laughed, talked, hugged, and generally had a wonderful time. I was even able to spend a bit of time with the mother of one of my old friends.  She is 90 years old, very much present, and still  a hoot.  What a dear lady, I've always loved her.   Through the extreme generosity of my oldest best friend forever, Flossie, I stayed in her lovely new home with a beautiful view of the lake the town is named after.

My good friend , Bart A,  he and I danced and danced.

It was going home for me and made me realize yet again how much I love that town and especially so many of the people in it! I'm still feeling sad that one of the best experiences of my life is over. Again, the memories will have to serve! I'll never forget it and I'll always love the special people I saw. Lake Wales NEVER lets me down!!

I'm sure there are other things that have happened since my last post, but this is a start.

So here it is, Resolution #375  to Start Writing Again.  I will get back to this. I will!  Really!!  (I hope.)

"Don't Get Around Much Anymore"

I really am not intending to stop writing and  posting on this blog.  Still it's been two weeks since I've managed to write a complete post.  I've started several others, but somehow they just aren't coming together.  Early on in the Musings, I did alert everyone to the fact that I can only write on some days, not all. Some days I just cannot put a sentence together, much less paragraphs!  I have to have the motivation to write.  In this case, motivation means having something I find interesting or feel strongly about...and those kinds of days don't seem to be coming along as regularly as they used to!

Part of the problem right now is that there really is not much going on in my life.  The fact of the matter is that I just "Don't Get Around Much Anymore."  In fact, it's been deadly quiet and boring.

I've had another setback in my theater efforts (again!) and that has really depressed me.  Also that means I'm not involved in anything having to do with theater right now.  And to be honest, I am running out of time.  Who knows how long I will stay healthy and energetic enough to take on the responsibility for a show.  If I'm not getting the opportunities I wish for, it means that there is that much less in the way of possibilities.  

And I appear to have no other interests!  How annoying.  My darling daughter pretty regularly lets me know about different activities and events she thinks I might enjoy.  I appreciate her efforts but somehow I never manage to actually do any of them.

Well,  I am still reading a lot, but that's not very interesting to write about.  My reading material is pretty much all, light-hearted and and predictable, but most "good" books just don't hold my interests anymore.

The Big Guy is working all the time, (six days a week 3 to 11:30 pm)  so my days are left to my own devices and I am the least self motivated person I know.  I'm not what you call a self-starter, I never have been!  Give me an assignment and I will jump on it, but left up to me, I just don't have any interest in doing much besides sitting at the computer.  And we all know how productive that is!    HA!  Besides if I'm not doing anything, there really isn't anything to say!

Basically, I think I am just plain bored and there is nothing more conducive to depression than a boring and un-motivated life.  I am a slug.  Bleech!

Maybe tomorrow will be a better day....or the next day....

"Bits and Pieces"

As I am wont (don't you just love that word?) to do from time to time, here are a few Bits of this and a couple of Pieces of that from the hodgepodge of thoughts that run through my mind on any given day....


1.  I lived in the state of Illinois for something like 30 (non-consecutive) years of my life.  Although all those years were in Chicago (which is almost like a state all by itself), I learned to sing the State Song...."By thy rivers gently flowing, Illinois, Illinois...," I know the State Motto is "Land of Lincoln", I know that Abraham Lincoln lived there for most of his early years.  What I did NOT know until our recent trip to Chicago, is that the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library is in Springfield, the State Capital.  How could I not have known this?  I lived there for 30 years and I never once heard about the Lincoln Library??  So consequently, I never WENT to the Lincoln Library!  Lincoln is one of my heroes and I still missed it!!  How is that possible?




2.  There is a phenomenon of the human body that I don't understand at all.  Well, actually there are many phenomenon that I don't understand, and come to think of it, the particular phenomenon I am going to write about (if I ever GET to it!) very probably applies to most species in the animal kingdom as well as humans.  So finally to the point, have you ever had a splinter that was rather deep and was impossible to remove without digging around in your rather sensitive epidermis until you bled?  But it remains stubbornly embedded in you! Or have you ever had a food particle get stuck "in" a tooth and no matter how much you floss and poke and rinse, you can't remove it.  You know that it is still there because it's the size of the Rock of Gibraltar, and it hurts every time you chew in that vicinity.  Still, it will not be moved!


In both of those situations, I remember my mother saying to me, "Just leave it alone.  It will work itself out."  And it generally did, eventually.


What I want to know though is HOW?  HOW does this not so little piece of detritus actually "work itself out?"  There are no moving parts in those areas that could be pushing out the strange intruder.  There is no freely flowing liquid that could swish it along with all the other waste.  There is no little teeny, tiny person sent in to do a search and rescue, no Navy Seals who make a daring raid to kidnap and eject said intruder, no handheld laser or phaser, or transporter (if you're into Trekdom) to break it down into molecules and recreate it outside of you!  


So how does it WORK ITSELF OUT??  Or is this another of those unexplained mysteries that drive researchers (and ME) crazy??




3.  It occurred to me the other day, that M-t-G is now 11 and going into the 6th grade.  I believe that I was in the sixth grade when I had my very first  "crush" on a real, live....(gulp)....boy!   Yowza!  If memory serves, at 11, Ratchlet too, began to be aware of boys as something possibly more interesting than dirt!  As far as I know M-t-G has not yet shown any interest in the male of the species, but that could (and probably will) turn on a dime any minute!  Oh boy!  Or rather oh, BOYS!   


Of course, our girl has always had her own schedule for when things happen.  For instance, she didn't walk until she was 18 mo. old....but then she just stood up and walked like she had been doing it all her life.  Sooooo, she may not discover boys until she's 18 YEARS old!!  Or it could happen next week!  


Either way, I'm pretty sure we'll all have to fasten our seat belts!




4.   After 46 years of married life, one  make that two grownups accumulate a LOT of stuff.  As I look at several rooms in our house, I realize that we are only one or possibly two Christmases away from Critical Mass!  Purging is desperately needed.....but not today!  I think I feel a headache coming on.




5.   Summer has already made its presence known this year.  We hit 95F one day last week.  As the heat looms for the rest of the summer, I am (once again) struck by the idiocy of our HOA (I'll blame them, because I'm not sure who else to blame!)  Despite being an upscale development with home values ranging from $250,000 all the way up to $2M+, there is NO community pool!!  Oh there is the pool at the Country Club, but it is restricted to use by members only....and membership costs mega-bucks!  There are somewhere over 400 homes in the "neighborhood" at least 2/3 of which have multiple children.  Some homes have their own pools, but many, many do not (including us.)  Most developments, even those at the low end of the economic scale, have a pool, sometimes several!  Yet we do not.  We pay a reasonable amount in our annual HOA dues, so I think most of us wouldn't mind a sensible increase if it were used to finance a pool for the non-Country Club set!  However, one simple phrase keeps running through my head as I think about this.  Does "FAT CHANCE" tell you anything??




6.   Have I ever mentioned that I love a pretty yard?  Lovely landscaping can make your home just sparkle!  Unfortunately, I have neither the talent, the money, nor the commitment, for making it happen where I live.  Sigh!  When we lived in CA, our yard was small, beautifully landscaped by the previous owners, and reasonably managed.  We had roses, jasmine, a couple of small fruit trees, and close to the front door, hydrangeas, a gardenia, and a gorgeous hot pink azalea!  In the eight years we lived in that house, I managed NOT to kill them!  Remarkable!  


We have lived in this house for 11 1/2 years and we inherited none of those beautiful flowering plants and my yard, while presentable (mostly), is certainly never going to be a contender for "Yard of the Month!"  It's times like this when I really wish I could just wave a wand, or twitch my nose, or do a little hocus-pocus and make the yard gorgeous with lots of beautiful blooming plants....and a pool!




7.   Have you noticed that there is a growing trend in blogging for writers "taking a break?"  This is a real shame, because most of those who take a break, essentially disappear.  Oh there may be a sporadic "update" that will appear, but in fact, they never really come back.  And their friends and fans are left wondering what happened and if those MIA are all right!  


The sad truth is that blogging is a very draining experience!   It drains your free time.  It drains your creativity.  It drains your stash of "stories."  It drains your excitement about having your very own blog!!  


And sometimes life just gets in the way!  I can understand that....we never know what obstacles will suddenly pop up  as we travel the roads we have chosen and some of them are just too overwhelming to write about.


However, as Ross and Rachel (remember them??) found out to our infinite amusement, "taking a break" really means the end of a relationship!  


So, even though I can understand why some bloggers feel the need for a break, I will try very very hard never to type those words in relationship to my own blog.  For it surely would be the kiss of death!!  Even though several days may separate my postings, I remain a committed blogger!  I'd never leave my friends just hanging like that!!  


Heck, I was raised Catholic, I'd have way too much guilt about unfulfilled promises!!  LOL!




And, there you have it, "Bits and Pieces" of life inside my head!!

If it ain't broke.....

They are at it again!  This time its two of them, at the same time!  Google and Facebook, switching things around, changing what works, making changes for no apparent reason!!  Arrrggghhhh!!!

First, Google has posted this:
"Blogger is getting a new look in April. Upgrade Now."



And Facebook has posted this:

"This is how your timeline looks to you...

Use this tool to see how your timeline appears to a specific friend or the public. Remember: you can always change who can see any post that appears on your timeline."

Google, I do not want to Upgrade!!  What's wrong with the old look?    And Facebook?  I hate to tell you, but I don't even understand what this means!!

Oh how I hate when they "update" things!!! It has been a problem with computers since the very beginning of their entry into everyday life.  I cannot recall any new "release", update, revision, or software or hardware installation that did not create chaos!  It is bad enough when that chaos took place in the workplace, but at least, I worked for companies large enough to have an IT staff that I could call on to come and fix it!  But now when they diddle around with stuff, it affects not only the workplace, but the homeplace too. 

Enough!  Let us alone.  Let us keep our blogs up and running in the way we understand, please!  The same for Facebook.  Every new update and change, throws many of us all the way back to square one and we have to stumble around on our own for days (weeks, years??) to re-learn how to use what we already were using just fine! 

And the worst of it??  We are given no choice!!  It is imposed upon us with no recourse.  That just sucks swamp water!!

The amount of information provided on how things have changed and how to get up to speed on the new stuff is either incomprehensible or non-existent.   Why cannot these companies understand that many of us were not born computer mavens.  Many of us struggle and have been struggling for the last 30 years, trying to keep up with all the changes that just keep coming!  Stop!  Don't Do This Anymore!!  We are your customers (sort of), you are supposed to want to keep your customers happy....and this just ain't doing it!

I'm tired of having to re-discover the wheel every time computer designers decide to play fruit basket upset with commonly used programs, software, hardware, and what have you.   I'm tired, I tell you!  Tired to the core!!!

Can't they please go and play somewhere else?   Like maybe in quicksand or  in  a lightening storm??

"Going, Going, Gone"

We have been hearing from all kinds of sources that Google Friend Connect is going away as of March 1 for non-Blogspot bloggers.  It irritates me to no end when makers of computer stuff just make unilateral decisions to upset everybody's apple cart for no discernible or logical reason.  For those of us who know only just enough about computers (and by this I also include software, hardware, the Internet, and all such things) and their use to make the darn things work and not one pixel more, change usually leads to great difficulty in getting the new stuff to work right.  It is never an easy fix.  It is never as good as the "old" stuff.  Its more complicated, more complex, and more convoluted. 

I wish that computers were more like cars.  I can drive a car.  I don't know how to fix a car. If a car is broken there is someone to take it to for repair.  If a car is changed it is NOT changed so that it is unrecognizable.  They don't put the steering wheel in the back seat or print all the directions in Swahili!  I can still pretty much still get in and drive it away.  And if I encounter some change I don't understand, there are wonderful people called mechanics who can usually explain it to me, in English and everything!  No one needs to be a mechanical engineer to operate a car.   The computer industry could have learned a lot about making their products user-friendly from the auto industry. 

Oh, sorry, I got off on a tangent there.  It's a rant I've ranted before....and it obviously still rankles! 

What I really wanted to write about was the loss of Google Friend Connect might mean to us run of the mill bloggers.  Even in a best case scenario, it appears that following other blogs will become more limited and we will have to reconstruct the connections to the blogs we want to follow. 

I spent some time this evening trying to set up followers and following through Linky Followers, and as was absolutely no surprise to me, I couldn't get it to work for me.  It's that same old problem, explanations of new stuff make assumptions about the level of knowledge and expertise that a blogger would have .  Well, I don't have that knowledge and expertise.  I know just enough to make it work.

The new stuff will take time for me to figure out and learn and in the meanwhile, I fear that I will lose followers as well as those I follow.  If that happens, I will be very sad.  I love the blogs I follow and I feel like those folks are at least, "almost" friends!

So if at some point, I am no longer showing up in your comments or stats, it will not be for lack of interest, but only that Google doesn't want us to play together anymore!  I will try to find my way back, but I don't know how long that will take.  If I am never able to reconnect for whatever reason, I just wanted to tell everyone how much I have enjoyed the glimpses into your lives, your interests, your families, and your accomplishments.  And I wanted to thank you for your reciprocal interest in what I share.

I'm not leaving willingly, so don't ever take it personally.  I did want to tell you all at least a tentative goodbye and farewell before Google carries out its plan to sever our connection!  As it is now officially March 1, we'll soon see if it is "Going, Going, Gone!"

Au revoir, mes amis.  Vous me manquerez!

  [Goodbye, my friends.  I will miss you!]

"Tell Me Why"

I have a question to direct to Google (and Facebook, Microsoft, HP, Creators of any Software programs, etc., etc., and so forth)

"Tell Me Why."  Just, why?  I really need to know why!!  Why do you keep changing things, willy-nilly, for no discernible reason other than to drive us all crazy??  I have heard that Google's latest fruit basket upset is to eliminate Google Friend Connect.  I think that means that the collection of lovely little thumbnails representing all the people who have signed up as a follower for a blog will disappear!   Pffftttt, Gone!  Why????   They aren't hurting anybody!  They don't take up much space.  It is just a nice visual showing all the people who like a blog well enough to become a follower.  But Google says "No more".  Suddenly my very respectable 54 followers will disappear and that probably means the number of followers will disappear too.  It took 2 1/2 years to rack up 54 followers!  They're MINE, leave them alone, darn it!

 

Members (54)

 

Aren't they cute??

Now look here, I've worked hard on this blog, trying to make it attractive, interesting, funny sometimes, informative other times.....all for the express purpose of making this site a place people would like to visit regularly.  And now Google just says, "No more".  Well, that just sucks!  I'm proud to call those followers, friends and I don't want them to disappear.  Leave them alone! 

Oh I know there will be some new something to replace Google Friend Connect, but it will undoubtedly be a pain in the neck (or lower) to figure out the new thing and it will be different enough to make it not as useful to me.  So why can't you just leave well enough alone?  I understand that progress requires change, but do we have to have change ALL THE TIME?

As for Facebook, Microsoft, and all the rest....you all do the same darn thing.  I spend two years getting really proficient at using something you have created for OUR use when some bozo will get a bee in his bonnet that it's time to change everything around.  It is as if, without warning or alternative, I suddenly rearranged every single piece of furniture in my house when everyone was out and then kept the rooms completely dark so no one can see anything familiar and they keep falling over things that aren't where they used to be and they can't even see!

Most of the time any improvements brought about by these gratuitous changes are totally overshadowed by the frustration, aggravation, and downright anger that we have to go through to be able to use a replacement for something that wasn't broken. 

Why do you keep doing this kind of thing to your loyal (but not for much longer) customers?   So, can you "Tell Me Why??"   And you'd better make it good!

"A Cappella"

Have you ever noticed this button at the tail end of my sidebar?  Were you ever curious as to what it means?  Well, evidently some are, because one of my new blogger friends asked me!  In answering her question, I realized that I should probably post the answer for anyone to see, because it is a great idea!


http://www.tartx.com/blog/?page_id=233



Blogging Without Obligation was a button I saw on someone's blog (I don't remember whose) very early on in my blogging history.  I was intrigued so I clicked on it and I was whisked away to "Down the Rabbit Hole".  The author is Tiffani and she is the one who developed  the idea.  Let me quote from her blog: 

After coming across what seemed to be the 4000th or so post on someone’s blog starting with “I’m sorry I haven’t posted in awhile.”  I decided it is time to rethink what makes a good blog and the expectations that have come to be part of it.  I am thinking that no one should utter those words again . . .and with that thought I give you Blogging Without Obligation.

If you feel the same way, feel free to grab the logo, make a logo or whatever you would like to do!   I release all the logos, thoughts and words mentioned here about this concept into the public domain.  Take the idea and run with it. . .or walk away. It is all good.

As I understand it, the button alerts readers that I will write when I can and when I have a good topic. It means I won't post just any old thing just to have something posted every day. It means I will write when I write and I won't keep apologizing for not writing every day or for a stretch of several days or even weeks! Guiltless Blogging! It sounded like an excellent idea to me!  

Tiffani gave a lot of great reasons for embracing the concept of Blogging Without Obligation. 

So why should we blog without obligation??  

* Because you shouldn’t have to look at your blog like it is a treadmill or a job.

* Because its okay to just say what you have to say.  If that makes for a long post, fine. Short post, fine. Frequent post, fine. Infrequent post, fine.

* Because its okay to not always be enthralled with the sound of your own typing.

* Because sometimes less is more.

* Because only blogging when you feel truly inspired keeps up the integrity of your blog.

* Because they are probably not going to inscribe your stat, link and comment numbers on your tombstone.

* Because for most of us blogging is just a hobby. A way to express yourself and connect with others. You should not have to apologize for lapses in posts. Just take a step back and enjoy life, not everything you do has to be “bloggable”.

* Because if you blog without obligation you will naturally keep your blog around longer, because it won’t be a chore.

* Plus, just think you will be doing your part to eradicate post pollution. One post at a time.

Doesn't that all sound logical and reasonable and guiltless??  To my mind, It also implies that I don't automatically follow everyone who follows me.  I only follow people whose blogs are interesting (or funny, or special in some way....)  

Because I like the idea of no obligation, I don't do giveaways or contests, or have sponsors, or try to sell anything.  I won't ask you to vote for me and I won't  endorse or test products for manufacturers either paid or unpaid.  If I think a product is good (or bad) I might write about it....but it's just my own opinion and no money changed hands.

Tiffani doesn't appear to be writing much anymore, but her blog is still out there and I hope more people are joining this particular bandwagon.  Here are some buttons she provided for use if you feel so inclined. 

<a href=”http://www.tartx.com/blog/?page_id=233″><img src=”http://www.tartx.com/images/bwo/bwologo.gif”>

 
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<a href=”http://www.tartx.com/blog/?page_id=233″> <img src=”http://www.tartx.com/images/bwo/bwologosmall.gif”>

 
——–

 

<a href=”http://www.tartx.com/blog/?page_id=233″> <img src=”http://www.tartx.com/images/bwo/bwologoverysmall.gif”>

 
——

 

<a href=”http://www.tartx.com/blog/?page_id=233″> <img src=”http://www.tartx.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/bwored.gif”>

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So there you have it!  That's my philosophy of blogging.  Most of the time anyway.   If you like the idea, and want to join in, grab a button and start guiltless blogging!  If you don't want to be a part of it, that's okay too.  As Tiffani said, "It's all good."  I'm not trying to talk anyone into it, but buying into the philosophy sure helps me feel better on those days (or stretches of days) when I can't write a decent sentence to save my soul!!

Mellodee Musings.... may not post every day and it isn't going to be full of extraneous or exciting stuff....all you get is me.  But I'll give you the best I've got....just probably not every day!!