Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Spring Cleaning

I took a break. A long break from blogging and as much as I would like to say the computer in general that is not entirely true since my break was to take care of some long neglected duties. Part of those long neglected duties included inputting receipts into quicken (since we use our credit card for most everything to earn rewards, but pay it off like a checkbook each month, I track credit card receipts equally as diligently as checks and debits) and updating my calendar for the ever growing number of weddings and graduations this year. We are long out of the "another friend is getting married next weekend" phase of our lives, but we have over 50 first cousins between the two of us and it seems after a long dry spell of weddings and graduations, many have decided that 2008 is THE YEAR! Plus, the kids' school registration packets came home for next year with the 08-09 calendar, so I thought I would be proactive and input holidays and other important dates onto my calendar so I can just have a longer time frame of forgetting about those until the last minute. So, I actually spent A LOT of time on the computer last week. I just didn't blog. I didn't even check comments. Honest. I knew there would be time for that later.

No, I took care of business. I cleaned the house. Thank you for all those that insisted my house was not dirty. The clutter was actually not too bad, but I do not have a macro lens to show you the splatter marks on the ground from spilled chef-boy-r-dee three days ago or the jelly on the kitchen rug or the URINE CRUSTED TOILETS from living with 3 boys. I cleaned them all. Today, the bathrooms are still okay, but the floor looks like I didn't touch it.

In addition, I cleaned out my google reader. As with all cleaning projects, there are some tasks that are meant to be ignored. Some clutter that is best dealt with by shoving it under the bed or simply closing the door. So, like kicking yesterday's breadcrumbs under the rug, I hit 'mark all as read' on over 300 items in my google reader. It felt liberating, but so guilty. I did read some, but I can't read that many each day. Which brings me to my next point...

I can't keep blogging like I have. I think many realized that last week with my 3 posts in 8 days. I actually attended to the stay-at-home mom tasks that God intended for me. I played catch with the boys. I cleaned the house. I made DINNER - healthy, nothing from a box or bag DINNER - MORE THAN ONCE last week. I spent time with Brian at night. I pruned my landscaping. I changed light bulbs. I cleaned up the finances. I got together with friends - living breathing humans. I put ON MAKE UP. I worked out EARLY IN THE MORNING. I read my bible a bit. I EVEN READ PART OF A BOOK THAT DID NOT MENTION STAR WARS OR DIDN'T RHYME. I went to bed at reasonable hours. AND I LOVED IT ALL! This is what my job is and I am good at it when I do it the right way.

So, I will keep reading my fellow bloggers, but I probably won't comment as much or certainly not daily on each. I am allotting myself some blogging time each day, but not to the extent that I was. Spring and summer are here. I want to be outside. I need to be outside. The lawn needs mowed, the flowers need to be watered (and planted), the weeds need to be destroyed, and the kids need playtime. They are with friends most of the day, but occasionally, they still want to play with me and I want their memories to be of me playing with them and not of me on the computer while they still want to be seen with me.

KEEP BELIEVING

23 comments:

  1. AnonymousMay 07, 2008

    i hear ya! as i've been catching up on a LOT of yard work, i catch myself writing a post in my mind...= ) unfortunately, most of them never got posted! oh well, 'spring and summer are here' who wants to be inside!?

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  2. So since you've been yelling at me about blogging to much I'll make a deal with you..If I post something that is really really funny or cool I'll leave you a comment to come read it :-)

    Blog when it's fun, not when it's a chore!

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  3. I'm with you. I think we're all feeling like this right now. I've re-structured my day have stopped blogging daily (or several times a day!) just so I can pay closer attention to other things...You know, like, kids and stuff!

    I'll miss you but be sure to stop by OCCASSIONALLY to say hi, k?

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  4. I understand. I don't have a 1/16th of the responsibilities you have and I feel overwhelmed at times. I look forward to each and every post no matter how often they come. :-) I have to get outside more myself sure.

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  5. AnonymousMay 07, 2008

    First - the Google Reader thing... I know what you mean by the build-up and guilt related to cleaning it out. It's tough but necessary.

    With respect to your blogging habits, I can relate there also. I realize that I can only blog a certain amount of time each day so I dedicate myself to posting a few times per week, then commenting and reading on the other days. I often lose subscribers due to lack of daily posts, but at least I'm not stressing about getting something posted!

    Do what you need to do, but don't feel guilty about any of it!

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  6. I'm with ya on ALL of that Angie.
    Stop by when you can, but I'm trying to limit myself to a couple of times a week as well. Hey, my house got cleaned last week too!
    Next week I'm going to try to do some MAJOR Spring cleaning. Pray for me.
    Pax, EJT

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  7. I am with you, my friend! Enjoy the now!

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  8. AnonymousMay 07, 2008

    Blogging has a way of taking over your life. Glad you're finding a balance, I'm still trying to myself.

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  9. When I first moved here I got VERY involved in an online message board. It was an escape for me because I didn't know anyone here. My feelings that I didn't want to admit too (being lonely, scared, feeling isolated) sort of vanished when I would spend hours online "talking" to my message board friends. It was an escape for me and I even knew it at the time, but you get to the point where you have to face it for what it is and deal with that.

    It is different for everyone, in no way am I trying to offend the entire blogging community, but Anige, you know that you and I are a LOT alike and we both know that we just don't "like" something, we LOVE it. We don't get "sort of" involved, we go ALL OUT. Neither of us do things just a little bit.

    What I'm trying to say here is that I am no longer as involved online as I used to be. I faced the giants that I was trying to ignore and now I can be online with freedom, because I WANT to be here, not because I HAVE to.

    I love you!!

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  10. Go, do what you need to do. We are here, unless we're doing the same! :) Sending prayers and all good things your way!

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  11. AnonymousMay 08, 2008

    Oh Angie..you should not feel guilty for the "mark all as read". I have to do it at least once a week (though I have my favorites-- ahem..you that I have to read all posts even ones that I missed).

    Enjoy the weather.
    Enjoy the boys. Big and small.
    Just enjoy.
    xoxoxox

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  12. "URINE CRUSTED TOILETS"--yummy . . . so much to look forward to.

    Angie, I am in 100% agreement with you! I think we all get caught up--it is so, so easy to. You sit down to write a post, comment on a few blogs and you look up and VIOLA! Three hours have passed!

    I made a commitment with hubs that I would cut down. I want to read/clean/call friends and family/watch a movie/do some much needed scrap booking (haven't even started!) when J is napping rather than being glued to the screen.

    BUT, it is so hard because I LOVE reading posts. I love commenting. But, it must be done.

    As for me . . . don't worry about commenting. Just be sure to post to keep us updated on your life and if you have time to say HI, then great. If not, no worries at all!!! Blog without obligation or expectation!

    Enjoy your family and this wonderful weather!

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  13. I was starting to worry there was a more serious reason, but then just thought you were taming the addiction. Enjoy the beautiful outdoors.

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  14. Nothing wrong with your decision...you gotta do what you feel led to do! Way to go!! And you got SO much accomplished!

    I do better when I limit myself as well. :)

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  15. I absolutley know how you feel and I am taking the same approach myself. It's time to live life instead of just blog about it!

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  16. I think we all are doing the same thing. The outdoors are calling!! I bet in the fall when it starts getting cold again we will all blog a little more often!

    Good job on cleaning house and making dinner -- you are super woman!! :)

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  17. I think we all need to find our balance and you are finding yours! I only allot myself a certain time to blog and not every day at that. You are smart to try to figure it out now!

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  18. I think setting a time limit is totally necessary.

    We'll look forward to seeing you and hearing from you as time permits.

    Enjoy your husband, your kids, and the great outdoors!

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  19. Angie - First, what is Google reader? Second, I was always amazed at how much you posted. I loved reading it but I always thought, geez I could never do that much blogging. Cutting back to do the mom thing sounds good. But the time you spent blogging had a purpose too. We learned about your life and how Brian is doing, and I'm sure the purging of your feelings was theraputic for you too. God puts people - and technological doo-hickies - in our lives for a purpose and NOT SURPRISINGLY He knows what we need and when we need it. Okay, gotta go do the mom thing myself! Love ya, Gal!!

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  20. Your priorities are right, Angie. Blogging is nice, but it shouldn't take over your life. I've been feeling that way, too, and I don't have nearly as much going on as you do.
    I for one, totally understand if you don't come by & comment as much as you have.(it's also nice to know why-for my overly sensitive self! lol)
    Big Hugs!

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  21. AnonymousMay 09, 2008

    Excellent, my friend. Excellent.
    You're doing the right thing here, you know it.
    I'm right there with ya.

    Be healthy.
    Much love.

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  22. I think that is great. No pressure for blogging or commenting. That is the way it SHOULD be. We will be friends that meet when we can and are OK with that!

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  23. You have so much going on right now I don't know how you were keeping up with your blog too! You deserve a break!

    xoxo

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