Monday, January 4, 2010

20X

So it's 4 days into the new year, right about the time when most people are starting to justify that extra little nibble of the dessert they resolved not to order in the first place, and I'm just beginning to consider making promises to myself. I've procrastinated even on this, not quite a fresh start, but still - better than nothing.

I break a task down into an infinity of steps in my mind and get bogged down in the details. If I could only get my brain to shut up once in a while, perhaps I might be able to accomplish something. Mull, fret, rehash- lather, rinse, repeat. Tiresome, really.

And so, a list of baby steps for the new year, little things that will make life good.

1. Put my hair up and wear dangly earrings at least weekly
2. Read more books, less internet
3. Exercise to avoid all encroaching chicken wings and muffin tops
4. Shoot more often and dry fire when I can't
5. Try new recipes

Easy enough, right? Doable.

However, there is one other task, set aside in a separate, not-so-simple, list. It's going to take a bit of work and I'm going to need you to bear with me.

6. Find the joy in blogging again. For me.

43 comments:

Anonymous said...

Don't worry, Breda; if it takes time, why, we'll just keep coming back. Happy new year.

Warthog said...

Those of us who like what you do will be there no matter how long you need.

Mike W. said...

Get yourself a 1911. I suspect that'll give you some blogging inspiration.

Jay G said...

Let us know if there's anything we can do, Breda. It would be a shame to lose one of the truly bright stars in the blogosphere.

Anonymous said...

Re #6: I don't have any wisdom to pass on off the top of my head, but I for one am glad for your blog. It is a daily read for many reasons.

Perhaps take a week off? I didn't blog too much over the holiday and now I'm rolling back into it as the muse wakes back up.

Jim

Loose Gravel said...

I only read five blogs on a daily basis, and yours is one of them, so please, take the time to re-find the joy in it. We'll wait. Impatiently, with constant glances and long sighs, but we'll wait...

Old NFO said...

If you need a break, take it, just come back... please... :-) We needs you Breda!

scotaku said...

Music is the space between the notes, Breda. Take the time you need. I'll keep checking back each day, in case.

Besides, you're the only librarian on my bloglist, and I can't have it be underrepresented.

Oh - and the short rib recipe you posted was phenomenal, so... that means... I... I'm begging.

Anonymous said...

#6 - I guess it depends in what it is about blogging that gives you joy.
You have talent and great sense of humor.
You have strong opinions, and things to say on what goes on around you.
You have a large number of active commenters, and an even larger number of regular readers.
I'm probably least qualified to give advice about blogging, I can just point at the good things that are obvious here, the rest you'll have to sort out for yourself.

Skip said...

Hey, I'm just a lurker here in moms basement, but I need you.
You have a different slant on our issues that make a lot of sense.
Your snark is up there with the best and your writing is well done.
If it doesn't feel right to you now, kick back.
We who have bookmarked you for everyday reading will wait.

libertyman said...

You offer a unique perspective, and thoughtful insights to a wide range of readers and followers. I enjoy reading your blog and know of no other that offers the same blend. Do it at your own pace, and enjoy it, that's a big part of it.

Anonymous said...

I read your blog everyday.I'll keep checking in every day. Good luck.

God Bless.

See Ya

pdb said...

Strangle at least one hobo a day until you get your muse back.

Robb Allen said...

Meh, take it from an old timer - when blogging becomes more of a chore than exciting, take a break.

Don't think about blogging as something you have to do. If you have no inspiration for a while, leave it fallow. If you find something you want to blog about, do so. If you miss it, you'll find your inspiration. If you don't, you won't burn yourself out.

Sure, I love to read ya, but this ain't about me.

Mike said...

Breda,

It's been a while since I stopped by your blog. And, I was surprised by your comment. What happened? I know you have a LOT of friends. You can always vent with them. And, I am also available if you are hitting the bottem of the barrel!
Maybe you just need a break. Maybe it is the lack of sunshine and cold. Take time for yourself.

SWModel66
From tropical Minnesota

libertyman said...

"1. Put my hair up and wear dangly earrings at least weekly"

This is an example of your unique perspective that I enjoy. This is not a comment I would expect from, say, Jay G.

Anonymous said...

Look at it tis way: You're not the only librarian who shoots! (though I'm retired.) Why not get yerself a Busgmaster in .223 and 1,000 rounds. Then tell your neighbors. It'll make you feel better.

Jay G said...

Hey, I'm entitled to feel pretty sometimes, too...

(wait, was that out loud?)

(Word verification ZOMG: lerspork. How the French ask for their utilitensil...)

JRebel said...

Breda, I know I for one would greatly miss you on the blogosphere. You are one of the ones that gave me the drive to start my blog, though you didn't know it at the time. Best wishes, and hope you find your muse again.

Kevin said...

Breda:

I'm coming up on seven years at TSM, and at least once a year I get burned out to the point I want to stop. I'm tired of repeating myself. I'm tired of seeing people do the same stupid things day after day after day. I'm tired of watching our congressweasels and other elected/appointed officals unzip and let fly on both the Constitution and the electorate. Etc, etc, etc.

Then I read something that pisses me off, and I'm right back at it. ;)

That may not work for you, but then again . . .

A Horse Thief said...

Just think about Jay with his hair up and dangly earrings. If that doesn't bring joy, nothing will.

Phillip said...

I enjoy your blog, and find the things you have to say interesting and funny. While I don't comment often, I believe I've read every post you've made on this blog. I started at the very beginning, and read through to the then-present, and I've kept up with it ever since.

If you leave, I'll miss your 'voice', but I'd rather you take a break or even quit than to get bitter and unhappy doing this. Remember, this is YOUR blog, and you do it for YOU. Since this is one of the outlets you used to enjoy, I hope you find the joy you're missing soon. If not, I hope something else fills its place. It's a sad thing to look back at the things you used to do and realize that you haven't done them for years.

Good luck on #6.

Mike W. said...

If you need a break take it. I've been reading you since before you had this blog and I'll still be reading when you're done your break.

OrangeNeck said...

That's why I never started a blog. I don't know if I can keep up with posting something new every day or even every week.

Take all the time you need.

doubletrouble said...

To thine own self be true.

We'll be here.

And BTW, Jay's dangly earrings are just stunning...

Mark Philip Alger said...

Breda;

A worthwhile task list, especially the last. It was, after all, your joy in the thing that drew all these reprobates ( ::gestures around the room with his beer:: ) to you in the first place.

You're still my hero.

Mark Alger
(Signing here 'cause I don't know WHO Google is going to tell you I am today. Please forgive if I'm redundant.)

Borepatch said...

I wish I knew what to say to bring that back, but you've hit the nail precisely on the head. It has to come from within, an irresistible shove from the Muse.

Maybe come shoot Teletubbies with JayG and me? I'll save the best ones for you and Mike.

Anonymous said...

Breda,

When I first started reading your blog, I fell in love with your humor, wit, and joy with life and various things. As time went on it seemed, to me, that you became very angry and a lot of that was voiced on your blog. I'm not against anger, but it seemed, to me, that that's all you were posting.

It's difficult to be plugged into the pulse of this country without getting angry at the Federal .gov and the direction that we see this country taking. I almost stopped blogging because of it and I've seen friends lose interest and stop.

My recommendation would be to look back at the first several months of you blogging and see what made you tick. See what made us all fall in love with you.

The blogosphere would not be the same without you. I hope you can find your joy again :)

Carteach said...

Breda,

Life is short... far too short to live the life others expect you to.
Do what makes you and Mike happy, and don't sweat the rest.

JD said...

Take a break, relax, we have the 2010 elections to get you pissed off enough to start blogging again after a rest!

= )

I'm not sure I am ready for Jay and dangling earrings. . . .

Peripatetic Engineer said...

When the joy starts to leave, just remember the Garand and Bang, Bang, Ping!

Mike W. said...

If Jay's wearing dangling earrings I hope he's at least wearing pants at the same time.

Willorith said...

Madam-

You are a perfect delight. I sure as you read these comments you feel like Jimmy Stewart at the end of It's a Wonderful Life. All of these people love you and will stand by you. I may sound like a broken record, but a Florida Appleseed vacation will shake you out of the Cleveland lead sky blues.

Ed Skinner said...

Speaking from the heart is always good for the speaker.

The problem is that, in a blog, it sometimes touches the undealt-with fears, the paranoia in others -- so in writing that blog, we choose to leave some things unsaid. Even with a soul-mate, there are times when we need to wait.

Anonymous blogs -- google that to find out how -- almost always become emotional vomit because there is no "better sense" to control it.

Ultimately, you have to choose how much of yourself to expose -- that's what makes a good singer, by the way -- and how much to reserve for other avenues.

Blogging is good, but it's not all.

Anonymous said...

Jay, I'm just hoping you don't wear the dangly earrings with a pretty floral bonnet.

misanthropic777 said...

Breda - if a break will help, take a break.

My blogging is sporadic and probably not all that interesting to anyone else because I'm not all that passionate about it, so I understand your position. That being said, I'd love it if you kept it up as there's only so many of us heavily armed librarians out there *g*.

Hat Trick said...

If you need a break, take it. I among many I am sure, will be patiently waiting for you to recover your muse.

I think Jay G should follow up with some photos modeling his dangly earrings.

SCI-FI said...

Oh, my. It would be a shame to lose you, but worth it (to all of us, I suspect) if it makes you happier again.

Pictures of you with dangly earrings are in short supply. (Pics of JayG in dangly earrings, I already have, but they're strictly for blackmailing purposes.)

Then again, consider that 2010 will be a great year for American political whizzing contests, which will be so much fun to annotate, *I* may start blogging, so it would be a shame to lose you just as the fight flares up.

Skip said...

'Sides, the photos of you prone........where else 'sides porn!

ravenshrike said...

Why choose one or the other when you can have both?

baencd.thefifthimperium.com

B Smith said...

Many here have commented on Jay with dangly earrings, but no one seems to remark on the fact that he already wears his hair up---so far, in fact, that it seems to have retracted back into his scalp. For my part, I'd advise a bit more moderation in your circumstance :-D
Let me (belatedly) join the throng in abject beggary: please don't go. Your adoring public needs you.

VIVA LA BREDALUCION.

Mulligan said...

i spent quite a bit of time not online over the fall, TBF is one of the things i missed visiting regularly, ty for taking the time to share, inform, & entertain us.

that said, don't do it for us.

Be happy, do what you enjoy.

dr mac said...

Thank you for the joy you give in reading. Thats what a librarian does. Thats what a writer does. We are the lucky ones. I hope your life is blessed by joy no matter what you do.