Before the A-Z Blogging Challenge started, I was busy re-habilitating this blog. It has been a while since I used it, and I have decided that, for the foreseeable future, this will be my main blog. I had been setting things in place (in some cases, new places), and getting some elements updated.
Then I got side-tracked into the A-Z Challenge bog hop. Now, that was very interesting. (You'll notice I got the "Survivors" badge on the lower left column.) It was an opportunity to get my writing "rehabilitated," too. I partly succeeded at that, but I feel I have a long way still to go. I also had an opportunity to read some other blogs (about a hundred or so). That was fun. Especially Jenn's predictions about the Stanley Cup Playoffs (hockey).
Theoretically, I'm back to normal, or as normal as I can be, consider that
1. I am a Bear, and
2. I live daily with depression (which has it own way of making life "fascinating").
Well, that's how I was thinking.
Then, I realized a had a lot of unfinished business to take care of! Holy cow! (No, I'm not going to have a cow; I'm just surprised.) Blogs are like houses; they need to be attended to on a regular basis. What would you house be like if nobody cleaned it for three months? You see my point. Surely.
Challenge 1: Bloggers Block
I've mentioned mentioned that I've been reading other bloggers. Some have even added themselves as fans of this team, which was very nice of them. Now, I'm trying to figure out how to follow them.Challenge 2: Reading Other Blogs
By adding blogs to my list, I've increased the amount of reading I'm doing. And comments I'm writing. And notes I'm receiving. Suddenly, the process seems out of control. I'm going every which way but loose, and losing track of stuff, and dropping the proverbial ball. Please be patient! (Bear is slow, but normally gets where he intends to go.)So, you know what I need to do. And I had best get on with it. Sigh!
Blessings and Bear hugs, everyone!
Addenda (how could we manage without an addendum? Or two?)
1. White milk comes from white cows; chocolate milk comes from brown cows; swiss cheese comes from Holy cows. You read it here, first!
2. Winter ended last week in River City. We had a small spring storm on Monday. Yesterday we had our first grass fire of the year. Not as spectacular as the fires around Los Angeles, but noteworthy enough here, because about ten towns in the area are facing flooding. Yes, it has been a strange April and May (so far).
I'm not sure how we go from winter to grass fires in a week, or less. Strange; very strange.
Oh my I enjoyed this today - you make some great points. Glad you got some new followers too. This made me happy today! sandie
ReplyDeleteI'm reminded of a picture of a Mountain Goat, all alone on a mountain peak.
DeleteCaption: "I'm so far behind, I think I'm in the lead."
Sure makes sense to me!
Blessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
Life in the Urban Forest (poetry)
Having a Tibetan grounding, your joke reminds me of :
ReplyDeleteA one L lama is a beast
A two L llama is a priest and
a three Alama is some mighty hot chili.
GLad youre feeling caught up.
And a thee alama is a third call for fire fighters and equipment. That's a big fire.
DeleteAnd, No, I don't feel caught up at all. There's not enough month in which to get the work done. (Sort of like too much month at the end of the money.)
Blessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
Life in the Urban Forest (poetry)
Hey Bear, Came back for your witty reparte and realized I mixed up my (l)lamas. oops.
DeleteI don't suspect we ever FEEL caught up...Talk soon I hope and have a good weekend!
Being caught up is more a dream than a plan. Like some other things — trying to get ahead, perhaps. (I've been looking for a good one for ages.)
DeleteHappy Friday, I hope.
Blessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
Life in the Urban Forest (poetry)
Hi Bear! I liked your blog from when I first fell upon it from A-Z, you come across as very genuine and that's what I like most in bloggers, folks who present themselves with humor and honesty, warts and all! You are so right about the A-Z producing a landslide of "responsibilities" to sort out... more posts, more reading, more commenting, etc. As with everything, it tends to sort itself out in the weeks ahead, as you discover which blogs you enjoy and relate to most and which are not so much your cup of tea, then pare down that reading/commenting list to where it only takes up 1/2 your blog time. The rest goes to pondering and writing your own posts. When I'm not sure what to write I do one of two things, participate in a good weekly writing prompt/meme (those are listed on my sidebar) or take any topic, go to Google Images and search it, and get inspired by a photo or quote you find there. I often write to word or picture prompts. Above all, don't stress yourself into feeling overwhelmed and depressed that you can't possibly meet your expectations and those of everyone else. Do what feels good, and don't think you have to accomplish all feats everyday! Take some breaks to breathe and enjoy, skip around a bit, and above all, remember that we do this for the fun and the friendship and to serve as a pressure valve so we don't explode with all those words and feeling bouncing around in our heads! Looking forward to reading more of your posts! :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Josie. I'm still sorting the "new normal" for this year. I appreciate your thoughts.
DeleteI also hope you're having a good Friday. See you soon.
Blessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
Life in the Urban Forest (poetry)
Ah depression, i know you well, we have been friends and foes for most of my adult life.
ReplyDeleteAh bloggers block; wondering why people really read my crap but thrilled that they do and the pressure that sometimes occours when I 'try' to blog a post.
Yes Bear, you and i are going to get along just fine. Lisa x
Thanks for the visit, and the neat thoughts shared.
DeleteThere was a blogger in the challenge (about 233) who called her blog, Sanity's Overrated." Quit the challenge fairly early on. There's someone I would have liked to know better. Certainly has the right attitude!
Blessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
Life in the Urban Forest (poetry)
I'm so happy to have connected with you through the A-Z challenge. Hey just a quick shout that post I wrote about playoffs - it was for last year's playoff picture. As you can see I didn't really choose very well.
ReplyDeleteNow that I'm doing May's month of Music I'll have to relate my predictions for this season to a good rock song or something :-)
Finding new blogs does always open up the more to do box but it can be fun too. Hope to catch you around here and there, at least until winter comes :-)
Last year; this year; whatever. What does this Bruin know about hockey?
DeleteGlad to have made your acquaintance through the A-Z experience. I'll be by your way before the playoffs end. We can commiserate over drinks about how bad our predictions have been.
Blessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
Life in the Urban Forest (poetry)
Loved being here today, Bear.
ReplyDeleteI try to keep my blog-reading list to a manageable number because I truly want to be a reader, commenter and follower of my virtual friends.
I don't have Google Reader any more. Do you have a suggestion? What do you use (if anything. )
Sorry to read about the grass fire but am glad that it is beginning to warm up for your area.
I have the same concern, Jackie. There are some people with almost 1,000 followers (or more). How does one keep up a personal conversation with that many people on a meaningful basis?
DeleteI use Safari or Firefox. I find them both pretty easy to use. But, I have a Mac, which might be the difference.
Blessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
Life in the Urban Forest (poetry)
Yes, having a Mac does make a difference.
DeletePerhaps, when I grow up, I'll get a Mac, too.
I cannot imagine having 1,000 followers. I would feel guilty that I couldn't read them and do justice to being a friend of the ones that I follow.
Have a blessed weekend, Bear.
Hugs,
J.
I need to rehabilitate my other blog site, as well. Dreading it.
ReplyDeleteI understand that feeling. Let's just say I didn't plan this very well. I should have done the changes first, then tried A-Z.
DeleteOnce again, Descartes before da horse. Sigh!
Blessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
Life in the Urban Forest (poetry)
I've been blogging for nearly six years now. Since I draw or paint pictures for most of my posts I find I can't keep up with the level of activity that happened fairly naturally a few years ago. Still, once a week or so is good enough and I often prefer to visit other blogs anyway.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're feeling well and that you enjoyed your 24 hours of spring. Personally, I will always miss the Portland springs that last from February to June but we can't have everything forever and I'm glad I had them as long as I did.
All the best.
Oh, Susan. You put such love and attention into your posts. Those watercolours are beautiful, and a bit comic sometimes. Wonderful. As you do a beautiful picture with (almost) every post, our reading is enriched. Thank you
ReplyDeleteBlessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
Life in the Urban Forest (poetry)
Do you have science to back up your milk addenda? haha Well, even if you don't (of which I know you don't) it sure made me giggle. Thanks for sharing the funny.
ReplyDeleteActually, Julia, a lot of my work as a journalist was with agricultural issues and people. That included folks in the dairy producers co-op, who raised their animals, milked the cows, and sent the milk to be processed in their very large dairy complex. So how do you know that's not what the guys and gals taught me about dairy?
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you had a giggle, Jewels; we all need some of those.
Blessings and Bear hugs!
Bears Noting
Life in the Urban Forest (poetry)
A note from Marcy at «Creation and Compassion»
ReplyDeleteI knew about the chocolate milk, but not the Swiss cheese! My Dad's cows were brown Jerseys, but I guess they weren't dark enough to give chocolate milk. We always had to add some Nestle's Quick!
Sorry your comment got swallowed by the Gigantic Comment-swallowing Monster of the Blogsphere.
DeleteSorry, also, that the chocolate milk thing didn't work so well for you. But at least you knew how to solve the problem. Bear awards you two gold stars for your knowledge and perseverance!
Blessings and Bear hugs.
The wrap it up post! The more I think about it, the better I consider the A to Z Challenge to have been. I got so much out of it, not the least of which was finding new friends like you, Bear. I've been thinking of ways to update my blog too, but I'm too indecisive...ok...I'm wishy-washy...and haven't gotten it done yet. But hey, we got through the Challenge and earned that Badge! Hooray for the Bear!
ReplyDelete