Wednesday Night Temper Tantrums and Spring Cleaning
I spent most of Wednesday in a foul mood. Hurt hearts, the tears of loved ones, my upcoming birthday, and a bunch of other little stresses and disappointments left me feeling undone. By Wednesday evening I found myself listening to Pete Seeger, Leadbelly, and Bob Dylan. That is never a good mix.
I tried messing around with my blog but nothing was working right and it made me angry. I was tired of the mess of unorganized files strewn around my website. I was sick of wasting my time checking stats and feeds. I felt like I had enough to worry about without trying to keep up with all the people I try to keep up with on-line. So I deleted everything. My entire site was gone and it felt good. I was no longer ImPerceptible. I was extinct.
Then I deleted my FeedBurner account, my StatCounter, and MyBlogLog. It felt even better. Like an empty room. A clean slate. An end.
I woke up Thursday morning and scoffed at the blinking light on my laptop. Today there will be no ‘spank me’ or ‘see my rack’ searches. No dumb asses asking why their potato plant is growing tomatoes. Not one person will come by my site wondering if they should color their hair with cinaberry hair color. Instead of pondering the ignorance of the universe, I could put my time to good use. So, I downloaded some music, and for good measure a little porn. My attitude started to improve.
By Thursday afternoon I was feeling like myself again. I sat and ate a bowl of vegetarian chili and thought it would taste better with some bacon. It did. Then I started re-building my blog. The time I spent as a sys admin made back-ups an obsessive compulsive habit. That made it a lot easier to put everything back where it belonged. But I made some changes.
I removed my homeschool label and unpublished most of the posts. I won’t be writing about homeschooling anymore. I feel that term homeschooler has become a label that divides people, even homeschoolers. Public, private, home, unschooling, classic, christian, secular, blah, blah, blah. Just like everyone else, I’m a parent that is doing everything she can, the best she can, so her children can grow up healthy, happy, and ready to take on whatever the world throws at them. Fuck the labels. I’m not playing anymore.
No more stats. I no longer have a FeedBurner account or a StatCounter. Unless they want to discuss a post I don’t care who stops by. I don’t care why people stop by either. If you stop by here wanting to know what happens if you have ‘too much caffeine’ or ‘pictures of dogs that fuck people’, that’s your problem, and you won’t find the answers here. I did put the MyBlogLog widget in the sidebar. I like that because it helps people find other blogs that might interest them and I like having a face (or image) to put with the names.
So now my website is nice and organized (Except I still don’t have a front page). Kinda like a long overdue spring cleaning. I’m also messing around with some new programs. I had a lot of fun re-doing my blog. I’m not bragging, but I’ve had many blog templates. I think this is the best I’ve ever had. I can change the graphic at the top but I’m leaving it for now. It’s for a little boy that finally decided to grace the world with his presence. Happy birthday little guy. Congratulations new Mommy and Daddy!
And that’s that. How was your week?
Filed under Blog Stuff | Comments (8)Thanks Phil
A little while ago, because unlike RTK, Phil has excellent humor judgment skills, I was the proud winner of a caption contest at A Family Runs Through It. My reward was an Music Gift Certificate and I have since put it to reasonably good use.
It took me awhile to get all of my songs. There were many I wanted but none seemed special enough to purchase with a gift card. Thanks to my kids deciding to occupy themselves with something other than bickering with each other, I had some free time and attacked the music samples like rabid homeschoolers trying to get a free ride at Subway. Except I was riding Phil. It was good for me.
As I was basking in the afterglow I decided that it could be good for all of us. A virtual music orgy, compliments of Phil.
I seem to be in a blues/alt-country/Folk/Southern rock mood today.
Postcards From Hell - The Wood Brothers
Long Goodnight - Scott Miller and the Commonwealths
Wagon Wheel - Matt Anderson
Simple Song - David Saw
Heartache - Back Porch Mary
On Her Heart - Back Porch Mary
Other End Of The Road - Back Porch Mary
Eating Out Of Your Hand - Longview
Rice Beans - The Piedmont Boys
Thank you, Phil! Twice.
Filed under Blog Stuff | Comments (3)Personally, I Take it as a Compliment
Homeschooling leads to educational Anarchy! Ahhh run!
[Note: I created this graphic for all educational anarchists and anyone else that wants it. Share and share alike, dervived or not derived, with or without attribution, for non-commercial use :)]
Filed under Blog Stuff, Something | Comments (3)The ImPerceptible Top 10
I was curious and decided to find out what posts were my most popular. It took some work. I sorted through my feed views on FeedBurner and my page loads on StatCounter. Then I was going to factor in the comments but decided against it - that was too much work. The final list kinda surprised me and kinda didn’t. Some of my favorite posts made the list. I guess you guys have good taste. I was going to do this for my Blogiversary in July but then I realized I’d have to sort through all that data again. I’m not that dedicated. So what? Spank me. Here’s the list:
Indigo Blue
What is it About The Olive Garden?
Happy 5th of July
Stupid Grownups
Seven Things I Dig About Whit
Scarlet Red
Think of Me
Can’t Help But Smile
Discrete Packages
Through the Mist and Fog
Then I decided to find my most unloved post. I have many posts that belong in the virtual dumpster but the official results surprised me. Here it is.
Awwhh, come on! That was pure 7yo genius there. I can’t believe you guys don’t appreciate a good poop joke.
Filed under Blog Stuff | Comments (2)Good Grief!
Good grief. Just go over there and read it. Please tell him my post scared you away from his blog. I can’t explain. My Write it - Post it policy may be flawed. It’s really warm in here. I might be getting hives.
Filed under Blog Stuff | Comments (5)Blog Summary
I’ve been neglecting you. I know. Feel free to scold at will. I’m kinda in the mood for that right now. To make up for my lack of posting I have prepared a quick summary of all the blog posts that were not posted.
I read some books
We had science experiment week
We took the pantry closet out of our kitchen and replaced the sliding glass door with a single door.
We went to see my brother and his new chicks.
MyHusband got a new job.
My potatoes came in the mail.
It was a very exciting week and I think they’d all make a good blog post. I might write about them later. Right now I’m kinda tired. I’m going to go eat baked beans and take a bubble bath. :)
Filed under Blog Stuff, Construction, Growing Something | Comments (8)Furniture Friday!
You know how bloggers have special days like wordless Wednesday, manic Monday, and stuff? Well I had a few glasses of wine tonight and I was trying to think of an F word that would work for Friday. I think I found one. Furniture Friday! It might catch on. What do you think?
NSFW but I think Ed will like it.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mznb1RN_IpA&rel=1]
Filed under Blog Stuff | Comments (4)My Future in Music
Ed had this on his blog and I decided to try it. Then I decided to try it again. It was a slow night and MyHusband was in Pennsylvania. I didn’t cheat. These are exactly as they came up. I only put the songs I don’t want my kids to hear (Sex, drugs, and profanity) and a playlist of slow songs to put me to sleep on my music player so it’s an odd list…I am so happy Conway Twitty didn’t come up. It would be embarrassing if anyone knew I listened to that. :)
Here are the instructions:
1. Put your music player on shuffle.
2. Press forward for each question.
3. Use the song title as the answer to the question.
4. NO CHEATING.
Q: What does next year have in store for you?
Love Me Tender – Tony Bennett
Show Me Your Love – The Rembrandts
Looks like a lovely year
Q: What does your love life look like next year?
Catch My Disease – Ben Lee
Play That Funky Music – Wild Cherry
Umm, huh? Moving on.
Q: What do you say when life gets hard?
Take it Easy – The Eagles
Rest for the Weary – Marc Cohn
Let It Be – Beatles would work better here
Q: Song that reminds you of good times?
Me and Julio Down by the School Yard – Paul Simon
Dancing in the Dark – Bruce Springsteen
No so much.
Q: What do you think when you get up in the morning?
Tequila Sunrise – Alan Jackson
Dead and Broken – Alkaline Trio
Nope, I think ‘Why do I have to tell the kids every morning to let the dogs out?’
Q: What song will you dance to at your wedding?
Alcohol – Brad Paisley
Burning Moonlight – Toby Keith
Getting drunk and having sex in a truck. That’s why I had to get married in the first place!
Q: Song that reminds you of your first kiss?
Rock for Sustainable Capitalism – Propagandi
The Things We’ve Handed Down – Marc Cohn
Nope.
Q: Your favorite saying?
How to Fail – Black Eye Affair
C’mon Quinn – Tim Barry
Not mine but my favorite from the songs “God Damn, girl, you’re making me insane. You’re perfect in every way I ain’t” I’m a sucker for a good love song.
Q: Favorite place?
I’m Just Talking About Tonight – Toby Keith
Goodbye Stranger – Supertramp
Makes sense. My favorite place is anywhere I haven’t been.
Q: Most Missed Memory?
Visiting Day – Dead To Me
Let Your Love Flow – Bellamy Brothers
I don’t get this one. I’ll have to think about it.
Q: What song describes your best friend?
Baby King – Marc Cohn
Goodnight – The Rembrandts
“You’ve given me the moon. Oh of this you are unaware” Yeah, that works.
Q: What song describes your ex?
Old Blue Chair – Kenny Chesney
Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes – Paul Simon
Maybe “Old White Truck” and “Dung on the Soles of His Shoes”
Q: Where would you go on a first date?
Burning Moonlight – Toby Keith
As Good As I Once Was – Toby Keith
Ohh, I get it. Having sex in a truck with a redneck. Been there. Done that.
Q: Drug of choice?
Only Wanna Be With You – Hootie and the Blowfish
Hard to Admit – Off With Their Heads
No Comment
Q: What song describes yourself?
Books About Miles Davis – The Ergs!
Sweet Virginia Breeze – Robbin Thompson
Weird. My screen name back when I did MUDDs was Virginia Breeze
Q: What is the thing you like doing most?
Bad Intentions – Broadway Calls
Heartache Tonight – The Eagles
I agree.
Q: The song that best describes the president?
I Am A Man of Constant Sorrow – Soggy Bottom Boys
‘Dozer Rage – Latterman
Some things just speak for themselves.
Q: Where will you be in 10 years?
Teddy Bear – Tanya Tucker
The Light From You Window – Bottle Rocket
Well, that’s kinda disturbing.
Q: Your love life right now?
She’s Becoming Gold – Marc Cohn
December, 1963(Oh What a Night) – Franki Valli & The Four Seasons
Could be worse.
Q: What is your state of mind like at the moment?
Hurts So Good – John Mellencamp
Take It to the Limit – Suzy Bogguss
I swear, I didn’t cheat.
Q: How will you die?
Paper Walls – Marc Cohn
You Sexy Thing – Hot Chocolate
I guess I’m going to die having sex.
That’s it. Now you try it and tell me how it turns out. I made a list of the questions without answers you can copy.
Q: What does next year have in store for you?
Q: What does your love life look like next year?
Q: What do you say when life gets hard?
Q: Song that reminds you of good times?
Q: What do you think when you get up in the morning?
Q: What song will you dance to at your wedding?
Q: Song that reminds you of your first kiss?
Q: Your favorite saying?
Q: Favorite place?
Q: Most Missed Memory?
Q: What song describes your best friend?
Q: What song describes your ex?
Q: Where would you go on a first date?
Q: Drug of choice?
Q: What song describes yourself?
Q: What is the thing you like doing most?
Q: The song that best describes the president?
Q: Where will you be in 10 years?
Q: Your love life right now?
Q: What is your state of mind like at the moment?
Q: How will you die?
Why Be Cautious?
This morning I stood in the kitchen making breakfast for the girls. My youngest was playing singstar on the Playstation. I watched as she shouted out the words to “We’re Not Going to Take It”. She jumped on the step stool and danced like someone who had nothing loose. She shook her fist at the screen and threw her head back as she sang without the least bit of concern for anything but what she was doing. I had to wipe tears from my eyes because I was so in love with her spirit and I missed the days when I felt like that. Then I worried about her teenage years. It’s an emotional roller coaster when you’re a parent.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJIF5mJH6y0&rel=1]
I’ve spent some time looking back through my old posts and reading the ones on my hard drive that I never posted. I have been so careful about what I posted. I have file after file of stories and thoughts that never made the cut. Some for good reason, they are really stupid. Others because I was afraid they would be misunderstood. A few because I knew they would be misunderstood. I think that sucks.
Maybe I’ve spent too much time listening to my old bootleg cassette tapes or maybe the newer mixes I downloaded cracked my shields. Probably, it’s even more than that. Either way I’m tired of being cautious. I’m tired of judging my posts by what you guys will/might think. I don’t want to play by the rules. Even the ones I made for myself. I’m no longer going to judge the value of a post. I’m just going to write them and post them.
I doubt things will change too much. On good days I am very much what I’ve written so far. I just feel the need the need to complete the picture. I want to post the parts that aren’t so good, the pieces that are a bit more crazy or slightly more silly. All the things I hide from people when I’m talking to them face to face.
Basically, this is my blog and I’m going to start treating it like it’s mine. If that scares you then you should probably stop reading now. You’ve been warned. :)
Filed under Blog Stuff, Me in a Blog Post | Comments (12)Want to See My Rack?
I was tagged by RTK for the Show Me Your Rack meme. I just couldn’t resist. I really like showing off my rack.
I have three places I keep my spices. All the bulk spices go in the plastic basket. It is usually in the pantry but I figured it would OK to pull it out and show you. The second is an actual rack in the cabinet beside the stove. That is where all my spices are supposed to be. But, when I use a spice I put it on top of the stove. Every few months I put them all back and start over. You can see the leftover spices from my fall baking. Judging by the orange sugar in the middle, the last time I cleaned up was when I made Halloween cookies.
My most unusual spice? I don’t know. I think the usual spices change depending on where you live and what you cook. I have a lot of different curries. Maybe the vaious bags of mustard seeds? I also like it hot. I have a variety of dried peppers. Would fennel seeds be considered unusual? I use them for fennel seed cookies.
Here’s how you play:
1) Take a picture of your rack. (You get to decide which one)
2) Post it on your blog.
2b) (optional) Answer the (2-part) question: what is the most obscure spice you have, and why do you have it?
3) “Tag” several other people whose racks you’d like to see
I want to see everyones rack. You’re all tagged! And if I don’t know yet, what better way to introduce yourself?
Filed under Blog Stuff, Recipes | Comments (12)