Observations of a Misfit

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June 27, 2007

Why I Quit Blogging (For Now)

Oh, where have you been, Billy Boy, Billy Boy,
Oh, where have you been, charming Billy?

Despite the dearth of regular visitors I have these days (and deservedly so, since I haven’t written anything worth reading for months and can hardly qualify the cop-out photo-essay as a substitute for real work), I feel compelled to explain to the (declining) faithful the reasons why I have, for all intents and purposes, quit blogging.

First, allow me to dispel the myth once and for all that I abandoned my little corner of cyberspace because of any real-life threats to my employment, person or property. Those of us who wanted to continue to communicate online simply moved to a private venue where our discussions were not dissected and distorted by bored idiots and nutcases with nothing else to do with their pathetic lives. In fact, I still do a little writing, as it were, on that blog regularly; but those entries don’t compare to the kind of expository, satire, analysis or whimsical anecdotes to which my readers had become accustomed.

In fact, one of the reasons for my long hiatus is because I set the bar too high. It was impossible for me to meet the standards I had created for myself after over three years with this labor. Besides, let’s face it: I’m an all-or-nothing kind of gal, and if I can’t give 110% to my work, I simply don’t bother with it at all. When I realized that my priorities had vastly shifted from 2002 to 2006, I had to make a choice between competence in my domestic and professional life and my (low- or no-paying) blogging gig.

Kind of a no-brainer, there.

Nevertheless, I have continued to follow several pet issues religiously, including the 9/11 truth movement, our malignant and misinforming media, spousal murder cases, “missing” (presumed murdered by the boyfriend/husband) pregnant women, and political subjects near and dear to my obsessive and slightly paranoid heart. I only wish I had the time and dedication to opine on these subjects in my traditionally verbose and sarcastic fashion; because, as you can imagine, I have lots and lots of things to say that would be both amusing and enlightening to those of you who have enjoyed my way of putting things and agreed with my point of view. To those who didn’t, well, there’s the X up there, sweeties.

Oh, sure, I get inspired and formulate blog entries in my head about the latest scandal, crime story or hilarious irony only to be distracted in the composition by immediate concerns such as making a living, gazing out the window at my serene view of Lake Erie, completing endless training and certification courses for my career, chauffeuring children to sports, recreation, and shoe-shopping, and the other domestic glamour I have made an art of speed-neglecting all these years. The inspiration remains another skeleton of an outline never to be fleshed into blog-worthy fare. I regret that I have but 24 hours in a day as a mere mortal.

However, the misfit friends on my speed dial can attest to my continued irrepressible loquaciousness and that while I may not formally post entries on various subjects, I certainly have my opinions and theories. Perhaps sometime in the near future I can begin to write again when my routine is more predictable.

Then there is the matter of my surprisingly fabulous love life that was non-existent during the years that I followed the Peterson case. I knew that there was no way to reconcile the amount of time I devoted to my blog with a real-life relationship, so something had to give. The misfits affectionately refer to him as The Blog Wrecker; an accomplishment of which he is rather proud, I think. But, to be fair, my blog was a mere shadow of its former self by the time I decided to reenter the dangerous jungle of love where, as long-time readers know, I had been tied to a stake, cooked over a slow-burning kettle and devoured by pygmies in previous adventures. I am living proof of the adage, “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.”

Heh. The worst that can happen is I collect interesting new blog fodder for future entries. Meanwhile, I am having a wonderful time and I wish you all the very best this summer. I’ll be bach.

June 22, 2007

Summer At Last

Here are some pictures of the second-longest day of the year from the house on the lake.

Our beach; there is a lot of driftwood that has washed up in recent stormy weather. The water is a little rough today, and I saw only a few lonely boats braving the waves.

The nearby fishing pier has some action. Let's take a closer look:

Some kids with mom playing on the pier. More pictures to come. It's such a photogenic place.

June 18, 2007

Late Spring Sunset on the Lake

Here are some shots I took recently from the beach. Ahhhh. Living on the lake in the winter is a bear; living here in the summer is heaven.