Saturday, August 1, 2009

HIATUS CALLED FOR

First I want to thank everyone who felt my pain in yesterdays post and left encouraging messages. I've said it before, YOU ARE THE BEST. When I first started blogging, I actually never thought I would meet so many wonderful, funny, informative, and talented people on such a global basis. What an amazing plus. I really just thought just my family and friends would be my only visitors and that was fine. I shake my head daily as I read your comments and check my site meter. Wow.


I wanted the discipline of a daily blog for I can be a procrastinator. Not just yesterday, but many days I have stared at a glowing screen with nothing to say. Plenty of ideas, just no words to frame them. Often I would force a post but that is not fair to either of us. We could both tell when I was struggling.

Amazingly, I actually got regular followers and that was an super high. For years there were a handful of blogs that I lurked on and admired. Suddenly some of those were reading my words. I know you know how great that is. Then my blog roll expanded and I saw just how many talented people there are out there.


If I did nothing else but read blogs, I would have an enjoyable but busy day. I know my list is meager compared to some of you. I really don't know how you keep up with daily blogs, still manage house holds, some of you also work for a living yet still have time to visit all your legions of visitors. My hat is SO off to you.

For a while my posts came easy. Slowly, I had to get up earlier and earlier to get all my reading and writing done but it was very much worth it. Visits to the computer through out the day became necessary to keep up. Slowly I started to neglect daily my duties--my weeds right now are staging a coup d'etat, the windows are getting hard to see out of, long walks have become less frequent, Old Yeller, my kayak is looking positively forlorn and novel reading is almost nonexistent.

I know a balance is attainable and that is what I am seeking. I am going to take a hiatus to put things in proper perspective and charge my batteries. I really can't rely on another lightning strike to do that for me. I may have to lose my grip on the "daily blog" idea and do what most of you do, blog when you actually have something to say. No one said I was quick but I usually do learn. All ready I feel more free and excited about the coming day. First thing is those darn weeds.

I do know I "need" to blog and to visit you all, so I will be back, just going on vacation. Plan to cut the umbilical cord to my computer so I won't be visiting during the hiatus. Will miss you and should be back soon. Thank you.

26 comments :

  1. I will miss your posts and visits.

    I arrived at the conclusion that daily posting is insanity

    ReplyDelete
  2. Patti,

    You deserve a rest.Take your time and when you come back we will be here waiting for you...

    Here is what Jonathan Swift had to say about the strains and pains of putting one's thoughts on paper.

    An invocation:

    "Then, rising with Aurora's light, The Muse invoked, sit down to write; Blot out, correct, insert, refine, Enlarge, diminish, interline." - Jonathan Swift, On writing...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Patti, You are such a strong person and we love you, but don't over do it. Will still check on you!

    ReplyDelete
  4. A daily blog is really difficult. I look forward to your return, take care.
    Sunny :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. You know how I feel about taking time away from the blog! Enjoy every minute of the freedom. It's a good restorative choice you make. I'll definitely be here when you get back.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Patti,
    Sounds like the way I have been feeling. There is so much going on, that I'm probably using blogging as an escape. Trying to keep up with the rest of the blogging world is getting more than a bit much. Now the family has decided to facebook big time.Arrgh. Enjoy your sabbatical.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I can certainly identify with your thinking. I was a slave to a daily post for a long time. Several times have tried to stop blogging entirely but failed. I'm working on that good balance of blogging only on the days when something wells up in me that I'm excited about posting. It's a constant struggle but well worth it. Quality is better than quantity.

    I sense there's a lot of people feeling like you. It seems to me the blogging world is moving slowly this summer. Perhaps we'll all be refreshed and excited to blog again when the first cold winds of fall come.

    Don't stay gone too long.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I try to do at least 3 a week, but I don't manage that, at times.

    You enjoy your hiatus. We aren't going anywhere.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm with you, kid! Have a happy hiatus!

    I'll look for you when I see you comin'. :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Dear Patti,
    Thank you so much for your wonderful blog, wisdom and humour, it has been a delight reading your observations of life and memories, and you have been a great support to others with your comments.

    I have often wondered how you managed to keep it up, and pictured you toiling away at the glowing screen from early morning to late at night, a modern day Rapunzel spinning words (rather than hair) together into a precious golden ladder.

    Of course I am selfishly tempted to say, "please stay", but do so like to think of you now freed from your tower and able to go out into the last of the Arkansas summer to smell the roses and brush the dust and old leaves off Yeller and take the trusty ship for a paddle.

    Have a wonderful restorative holiday. Will you return as.... "The New Seventy"? Or will you opt to go younger with "the new fifty"!

    Bless you lots, and thank you for all the comments you have made on my site, and for the lift to the spirits that your efforts have given me.

    Love and Best Wishes from Peter, Laura, and Ginger (Yes..., he is still here!)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Nitwit,
    Thank you and you may be right about daily posting. It is a real brain drain.

    Nancy,
    Johathan kind of says it all. You can tell he has been there.

    Arkie, Thank you so much. I'll be back to haunt you all soon enough. Keep those stories coming.

    Sunny,
    Welcome to TNS. I checked your blog and really liked it.I'll see you on the return trip.

    robin,
    I know you have done this before.You made me realize it was doable. Today was wonderful. Thanks for all your support. I'll be back. Never could write Arnold type accents.

    Brighid,
    Oooh. Facebook scares me. Good luck.
    Am feeling better all ready. Hope you do also.

    Linda,
    "Slave" about describes how I was feeling. You are where I want to be.
    Think you may be right about this being more of a cold weather sport. Moderation I am sure is the key.

    Gina,
    You are much smarter than I. Three optional posts sounds pretty darn good.

    Pat,
    Thank you. One day in has been such a relief. I will see you when I am fresh and good to go again.

    Peter,
    Thank you so much Peter. I'll probably stick with sixty. I think 50 is a little on the wishful thinking side.
    You are one of those that I wonder how you handle it all and you do such a great job.
    I'll be back in no time to bug you, Laura and Ginger.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Rip those weeds out!!! - See you when you get back.

    ReplyDelete
  13. You are one of the hilarious bloggers I've ever come across. Since my humour is getting dryer these days, I know what place to go to extract some laughter. The blog run by google shop. haha

    Now Ma'am, thanks for making me laugh. As a token of my Appreciation please collect Your Weed HERE.

    Am just blessed to live in a tiny cubicle with only small part of my own garden to tend. So there's no problem for me.

    I wash clothes by hands and I am on a solo flight with the cats. Another blessed thing with them, they are well behaved cats. They are happy to live with me and I am happy to have them around.

    Enjoy your Hiatus!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thank you so much Judy. I will miss you also. You are the one who truly amazes me by the load you carry, seemingly effortlessly. How do you do it??

    Greyquill,
    Oh the back hurts, but it is a good hurt. No where near done but what an improvement all ready.

    Thank you so much Bonnie. My humor was getting thin and needed this time to fatten up.
    Thank you so much for the Weed. It is so very flattering that you included me. I will follow up when I come back.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thanks Amanda, the back is sore but the mind is at rest.

    ReplyDelete
  16. It really does CUT into things Patti!
    I understand and I'm going to cut mine back for awhile too.I started my blog last winter and it was easy then. I've had a time trying to keep up and do all I have to do. A farm is work even when it's a small one!
    Look forward to your return, don't work too hard and enjoy your hiatus!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Thank you Carol.Good weather with all the work that goes with it makes blogging stressful.Can't imagine taking care of animals and a farm. My little acre and gardens keep me busy. Cutting back I think is a good thing.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I look forward to your return! enJOY your vacation! Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thank you Cheffie Mom. So far it has been wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Patti-

    Enjoy your time off. As you probably can tell I sometimes take several days to get something new up on the blog. When I am on an actual vacation, the blog is neglected, but I am almost constantly thinking about it.

    I'll wait patiently for your blog to move back to the top of my blog roll when you are back at it. Take all the time you need and try to enjoy yourself.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thanks so much Barry. I am really enjoying my free time. Actually sleeping 8 solid, uninterrupted hours each night and re-learning that muscles can get sore. Wonderful feeling. Will be back but more on the order of your schedule.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hi Friend, Just wanted to let you know that we are home from vacation. Had a great time. I'll be posting in the morning.

    Hope things are going well for you.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

    ReplyDelete
  23. Thanks Betsy,
    Glad you are back, I should be back plunking keys tomorrow. See ya.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hi Patti! I had exactly the same idea last week to take a break for a few days,because if I answer all comments, which I do, I want to read each blog thoroughly. That takes time, even if it's worth doing. Thanks for your visit.

    ReplyDelete

Comments moderated. No spam will be published nor comments with links