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What to Share? What to Save? (blogging angst on a Wednesday afternoon)

The one where I ponder how much is too much to share …

I’m trying to make my way through the confusing world of blogging. I want to write. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do. I’d also like to build my following because while journaling and blogging are therapeutic and rewards in and of themselves I’d like to think that I’m not talking to myself. (I do that enough in real life)

Last night as I wandered through the Twitterverse, which by the way is my new favorite place. I love Twitter. That’s a topic for another time. Back to the topic at hand, last night while reading my Twitter feed I came across a Tweet from MckMama. It was a link to her blog for an entry telling the story of how she told her husband that they were pregnant with their fifth child. It was a cute idea and I recommend you read it if you are interested.

Now I like MckMama and I read her blog every day. I along with thousands of others prayed for baby Stellan and rejoiced when he was finally healed. Last night’s post just rubbed me the wrong way. Not the writing, but the video shared in the same post. Along with her story she shared a video of the event. Something about sharing that intimate moment put me off. I believe that some moments are meant to be intimate and private. In my opinion this is one of those moments to be shared between husband and wife and not the whole blog reading universe.

Watching this moment unfold before me made me question my own future as a blogger. Is this what it takes to be a good and successful (read: popular) blogger these days? Must we share every intimate detail of our lives? If so, I’m never going to be widely read, popular blogger because there are things that I just don’t feel comfortable sharing with the world.

I worry about what to share and what to say and what’s mine to tell. I think that I have a pretty good idea as to where my personal line is in terms of what to share and what not to share. But I wonder if people will read blogs that do not share every intimate moment of the blogger’s life. Is it the voyeuristic peep into people’s lives that make blogs interesting?

My dear readers (all 4 of you. LOL) and fellow bloggers. I’d love to read you opinion on how much is too much in terms of sharing and what makes a blog interesting for you to read.

Now then … Please Note …

I should also say that I am not anti-MckMama and I have nothing to do with any of that Internet nonsense. It was just her post that caught my attention last night. It could easily have been someone else’s blog. I’ll still read her every day and I’ll still follow her on Twitter. These are my meanderings about what feels right for me to share and where I fit in to the Blogosphere nothing more, nothing less. Thanks for reading!


What’s Wrong With People? (sad state of affairs)

Jumbled thoughts …

I watched the Olympic Games tonight. After men’s figure skating I wandered in to the kitchen to make myself a glass of iced tea. While in the kitchen I watched a medal ceremony for some other event. I watched as our flag was raised and the gold medal athlete sang along to our National Anthem. I don’t know why but my thoughts drifted to my great uncles; all of whom fought in World War II. I thought about how folks like Glenn Beck and Keith Olbermann are afforded the ability to speak freely about politicians on both sides of the aisle. I thought about how I am equally fascinated and appalled by these blowhards. 

My reverie was broken as I walked back in to the living room. NBC 10’s newscast had begun and they were reporting on a “flash mob” that formed in Center City Philadelphia this evening. If, like me you are unfamiliar with what a flash mob is. It is a roving band of teenagers organized on social networking sites. They run wild through the streets assaulting innocent bystanders. These teens also stole from the Macy’s at the Gallery. I was literally sick to my stomach as I watched the news report. 

I’ll try to better form my thoughts by tomorrow, but for now I just have no words.


Icy Philadelphia Streets

Normally you’d find me railing about the roads in South Jersey. This time around they did a great job cleaning up. Even my development is plowed. Props to the new governor and our local government peeps. Good job. 

Today, my ire is directed at the city of Philadelphia and Mayor Nutter. I am furious at Mayor Nutter. The streets in South Philly are ice covered and dangerous. I’m not talking about just the teeny tiny side streets. I’m talking about main thoroughfares such as Federal, Christian and Wharton Streets. After the Saturday storm the people on my parents’ street each paid $15 to have their street plowed because they received no plow service after the December storm. After the block captain called their council woman to inform her that they had paid to have their street plowed they received plow service during and after the Wednesday storm. I expect the folks on my parents’ small street to have to wait to be plowed but not the main streets through the city. 

We were in South Philly on Saturday to bring our parents food from the Olive Garden. It was a terrifying experience to drive from my parents’ house to my husband’s parents’ house. The ride from Broad & Wharton east toward the river was horrifying. Trying to get back to Delaware Ave. on Christian St. was more terrifying. 

I just checked and I see that the Rte. 2 bus is still cancelled so I know that 16th and 17th Sts. are still ice covered and treacherous much like they were on Friday when my husband made his way to his parents’ house after work. I shouldn’t have to worry about the safety of my husband’s commute through Center City Philadelphia 5 days after the storm. What are you doing? 

I see from the city’s website that the snow emergency was lifted on Thursday. I’d firmly disagree since a good deal of your population cannot get safely around.


Nourishing the Mind and the Soul

Anyone out there read much philosophy? Am thinking of ditching chick lit for a while. Any book suggestions? Favorite philosophers?


Thoughts on Sarah Palin (my letter to Bill O’Reilly)

Last night on Bill O’Reilly’s program he aired a segment about Sarah Palin and a feminist poet who spoke out about not liking Sarah Palin. He asked when the women of this country are going to stand behind her. I spent a good deal of time thinking about this question. It took me a while to put my thoughts together but I finally sat down this morning and wrote Mr. O’Reilly a letter. 

Dear Bill,

I keep thinking about last night’s segment about Sarah Palin. You asked when the women of this country were going to stand up for Sarah Palin. For me she’d have to change quite a bit before I’d be in her corner.

I don’t like Sarah Palin. It’s not because she’s a woman or a republican. It’s because I think that she comes across as disinterested. She seems to revel in mediocrity. The whole Joe Sixpack, Hockey Mom, Joe the Plumber thing from the campaign really turned me off. Joe the Sixpack couldn’t run the bar let alone the country.

I’d really like to see her reach past the whole religion, guns & death panels nonsense and speak intelligently about what she’d do to change the problems this country faces. Speaking in rooms full of tea party folks and on the Fox News channel she has captive audiences to whom she could say, “No. I don’t agree with President Obama’s health care bill. Here’s my idea for making health care more affordable.” Instead she goes on about death panels. She needs to be part of the solution rather than scaring people with nonsense.

I thought her resigning as governor showed that she didn’t have the gumption to roll up her sleeves and do the work. I think she got to love the spotlight from the campaign and just couldn’t bring herself to toil in obscurity while doing her job back in Alaska. I think she’s a great campaigner for the republican party. However, I don’t think she has what it takes to do the work of a president or even a vice president.

Look Bill it’s hard enough to be taken seriously and get ahead as a woman. Sarah Palin is not who I want to represent me. It’s not personal, she’s just not my cup of tea.

Sincerely,

~ Carol Anne

The day after the 2008 election I offered Mrs. Palin and the whole McCain camp a little advice. I stand by my opinion — mediocrity and cockiness are looks unbecoming on almost everyone.


More Snow (live blogging the snow storm again)

Well, hey! Good afternoon. I’m back with more snowy photos. I have to admit that I’m feeling a little tired of this particular theme. During previous winters I looked forward to falling snow so I could take a few snowy photos. I think I have enough snowy photos for this year. It can STOP SNOWING NOW!

The following photos are from about noon. The storm’s supposed to continue until at leat 8pm so I’ll  probably be back with more photos.

Fun With The Macro Lens

And no snowy post would be complete without this shot …

Iced tea anyone?


The News & What’s Important

It’s afternoon and I’m reading Twitter. Ed Henry from CNN reported that Robert Gibbs wrote on his hand mocking Sarah Palin. Now I don’t like Sarah Palin, in fact I think were she to be elected president it would be the ruination of America. But, come on give me a break. Isn’t this behavior beneath you? Mr. Gibbs you represent the White House. Stop behaving like an 8th grader.

Really? Is this what politics has come to? Mocking Teleprompter use and notes written on hands? People are out of work, businesses are failing, fat cat banks are getting fatter and richer, there are millions without healthcare and there are students who can’t learn in schools forced to teach to tests. 

Please stop focusing on the nonsense. I’m talking to you news folks as well. It’s your job to hold the politicians’ feet to the fire. It’s your job to report who is making a way and who is standing in the way. Freedom of the press is an amazing right and it’s high time you folks held up your end of the bargain. I’m tired of the stupidity. 

Like I’ve quoted so many times before … these are serious times and we need serious people.


The Great Nor’easter of Feb. 2010 (live blogging the snow storm)

 

Well I was skeptical. I didn’t believe it. I was sure it was going out to sea. I was wrong. It’s 11am and it’s been snowing since about 7pm last night and will continue though about 5pm this evening. The last total I heard for our area was 17″ with at least 20″ expected by storm’s end. 

These photos were taken about about 8:30am this morning. Expect more later.

Ice on the sliding glass door

cardinal in the snow

driveway from front bedroom window

Cuppy at front door

iced tea anyone?

I spent the afternoon learning to record video on my laptop. These are my first attempts at shooting video and putting it up on You Tube. I haven’t figured out how to embed yet so you’ll these links will have to suffice for now.

The Great Snowtastrophe of Feb. 2010  (back yard)

The Great Nor\’easter of Feb. 2010 (front yard)

birds in the backyard snow as snow falls

 

It’s 5pm. The snow stopped falling around 3:30pm, almost 20 hours after it began. The following photos were taken at about 4pm when I ventured out and down our walkway.

if you can believe it, the street's actually been plowed once

 

garage door covered in snow

I’m not sure we’ll be able to open the door w/o shoveling first. Or we could just open the door and let it all fall in and then shovel it out of the garage before shoveling the driveway. Hmmm … think we’ll shovel first.

snow covered trees and shrubs

Directly next to the tree where I had not walked the snow measured 24″ We don’t have official snow totals yet but at 7:30am there was already 16.8″ of snow here. I’m guessing we got at least 8″ during the 8 hours that passed between 7:30am and 3:30pm (roughly when the snow ended).

my snow tracks

Measured with a measuring tape these tracks are 16″ deep.

snow-covered pants and shoes

I’m 5′ tall and the snow reached to above my knees. My sneakers actually have a little platform to them so I’d say that’s at least 16″-18″.


The Snowpocalypse Is Coming (Counting My Blessings)

 

I’m sitting here waiting for the sauce to warm up and thinking about the impending snowstorm. For me it’s an event. I’m looking forward to it because for me it’s a nice weekend at home with the hubby and the kitties.

I don’t know if non-pregnant women can nest, but for all intents and purposes I spent the day nesting. I cleaned, I did laundry, I’m cooking (if only you knew how rare an occurrence that is). I’ve also seen more local news in the last 24 hours than I have in years. Watching people prepare for the snow and the newscasters going on and on about the one day storm I got to thinking.

I am so fortunate. There’s sauce and meatballs on the stove, manicotti in the oven (P&S – don’t get excited) and a lemon meringue pie thawing in the fridge. My hubs, who I love very much, has a job that I’m waiting for him to come home from. We have a warm clean house where we can watch the snow fall and a full pantry and fridge. We want for nothing. Our cats and fish want for nothing.

I can’t help but think of all those who will go to bed with empty stomachs in cold houses or the homeless, who will literally need to seek shelter from the storm tonight. I can’t help but think of those in Haiti, who’s homes were destroyed in the earthquake. They face another night of sleeping outdoors.

We’ll have to stay in tomorrow and dig out on Sunday. It’ll be cold and annoying but come Monday life will be back to normal. I could not want for more.

Happy Friday!


Grammy Night Ramblings (my night on Twitter)

Good night everyone. Thanks for putting up with my Grammy ramblings tonight. Sleepy easy my babies.

2 minutes ago from web
 

Pearl Jam in a Target commercial? Surprised cranky old Eddie “I’m so indie it hurts” Vedder allowed it. Another sign of the apocalypse.

8 minutes ago from web

Ummmm why let them perform if you’re going to mute most of the performance? (hate rap, but the prolonged silence is almost more annoying.)

18 minutes ago from web

Dancing around the room singing (badly) to Bon Jovi. I still love these guys. Awesome performance.

about 1 hour ago from web

Very exploitive to have the kids on stage. In bad taste.

about 2 hours ago from web

Celine Dion, Usher, MJ. Exit stage left. Be back in a bit.

about 2 hours ago from web

Awwww … Love Taylor Swift. So talented. #grammys

about 2 hours ago from web

No way. Green Day over U2, Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood & Dave Matthews. Oh yeah. It’s definitely a sign of the apocalypse. #grammys

about 2 hours ago from web

From the mouth of hubs … Music sucks tonight. (not a whole lot of disagreement from this end)

about 2 hours ago from web

Okay who knows the artist covering Under the Milkyway Tonight in the last car commercial?

about 2 hours ago from web

@ladygypsy (out of the pop music scene for a while) I didn’t know one of the best new artist nominees. *hangs head* when did I get old?

about 2 hours ago from web in reply to ladygypsy

Pink can do no wrong in my eyes. Awesome performance. #grammys

about 3 hours ago from web

@MyMuse18 Kind of liked her cover or Alanis.

about 3 hours ago from web in reply to MyMuse18

Good Lord they made a Broadway musical out of a Green Day album. (scraping the bottom of the barrel) #grammys

about 3 hours ago from web

Guess Kanye won’t have any reason to jump on stage now. Poor poor wittle Kanye. #grammys

about 3 hours ago from web

I’m gonna go out on a limb here and admit that I just don’t like Lady Gaga.

about 3 hours ago from web