Twitter is Such a Nag!

Just home from work, I was reading Twitter, catching up on the day's gossip news, when I came across this tweet by Virginia deBolt:

A commitment to a blog is a good way to conquer the fear of the blank page. Small doses add up.

I had been thinking about the fact that I was tired and disgruntled and I didn't feel the least bit like writing a blog entry. It was as if Virginia in particular, or all of Twitterdom, were reading my mind. Now, I simply can't accept the idea that Virginia (of First 50 Words) would have anything but my best interest in mind. Twitterdom as a whole - well, who knows? But Virginia is on my side. I know that.

So I sighed the sigh of the put-upon, and I brought myself over to The Turtle, bringing a little something from Twitter along for the ride. Have you seen Roger Federer's winning shot in his match vs Novak Djokovic? It's the coolest thing. He hits the ball backwards between his legs. You know, that borders on arrogance! You can watch it here.

I think I know why I'm feeling unsettled. The next couple of weeks will be full of change:

On Thursday, I'll be attending the first WordStorm gathering of the season. I'm not quite ready to join the ranks of the lightning readers, but I hope that I can begin - eventually - to feel at home in the venue. I'll also be asking the regulars about the possibility of joining a local writers' group. It feels, in the anticipation, a little like the first day of school - redolent of fresh clean paper and sharp pencils, uncracked books and the ever-present threat of schoolyard bullies. I am eight years old, my hair is stringy, and I have blisters on my feet from my new saddle shoes.

As if that weren't traumatic enough, nine days from now is the Fall Equinox. I'm starting to mourn Summer already, even while the sun shines warmly and the berries are still ripening along my path. Note to self: Carpe diem.

Welcome aboard!

I would like to extend a warm welcome to my friend Angel May, who has decided to join us here in the Land of Blog. Her blog is called Angel May's Growing Pains, and you can find it right here. I encourage you to go over and say hello. Angel May writes beautifully, and she has a great eye for photography.

Now I would like to thank Barb of Finding My Voice for the beautiful new award that graces my sidebar. It's the Kreativ Blogger Award. I put off responding until I got home, but now I have homework to do.

Rules for receiving this award:


1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.
2. Copy the logo and place it in your blog.
3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
5. Nominate 7 Kreative Bloggers.
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they have been nominated.

Okay - 1-3 are taken care of. Now for #4.

Seven interesting things about myself. Hmmm.:

1. I was born at home after seven minutes of labour. My mother was very efficient.
2. I cost $7. That was the cost of a house call. The doctor missed my birth, but he did come to the house.
3. I knit socks. At least I did, before I started spending all my time at the computer.
4. I sing. I've sung in choirs all my life (mostly Baroque), and a few years ago I had a little vocal trio going, here in Nanaimo. We sang WWII era songs - Andrews Sisters stuff.
5. Despite my Canadian status, I have never watched a hockey game.
6. I can't sew to save my life. When I took Home Ec, I sewed the apron I was making to the skirt I was wearing. With a sewing machine.
7. I am an incurable Chick Flick addict.

There.

Now, for the fun part. I hereby pass this award on to the following bloggers, each of whom inspires, amuses, and/or educates me:

1. Virginia DeBolt of First 50 Words
2. Katrina Stonoff of Stone Soup
3. T. Clear of Premium T
4. Joshilyn Jackson of Faster than Kudzu
5. Kathryn Magendie of Tender Graces
6. Hazel Smith of The Clever Pup
7. Totalfeckineejit of Totalfeckineejit (heh)

That was fun.

Tempus - fugit.

No Friday Shootout photo today, I'm afraid. There were bushes to be pruned, clothes to be (re)washed, groceries to be bought, and somehow all things bloggy got pushed to the end of the line. I do have very tidy-looking shrubs now, and the dryer is stacked with folded clothes. Tomorrow, I'll sort through them to see what still fits, what I should donate to Value Village, and what looks like a cleaning rag-to-be.

A side benefit to all the pruning I did today is that I have a huge bouquet of hydrangeas hanging upside down from a hook. When they finish drying, they will grace various vases, brightening the dreariness of winter.

I'm determined to take some time tonight and tomorrow to make a little more progress through The Heart is a Lonely Hunter. I've hardly had time to read at all, and I look forward to seeing more of McCuller's turns of phrase. She delighted me by saying that somebody's broken leg was encased in a "plaster parish" cast. I can hardly believe that she wrote this book at the age of 23.