Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Blogging and facebook

UPDATE:  OK, the word is slipped, not spilled.  It was TOTALLY a contest to see who caught my typo, congrats to Shari!  I mean, I would NEVER just completely replace a word with the wrong word, re-read it twice and not notice;  it was obviously intentional and I am grateful that Shari figured it out!  Grammar police, I am NOT holding a contest to count how many times I start a sentence with "and" or "but" or end with a preposition.  Those I don't care about at all, and I'm going to pretend that's part of my charm. ;)

Original post, edited to fix the typo that Shari won the contest for:

I decided to give up facebook for lent.  I know, for some it's not a real sacrifice, but for me, facebook was quickly becoming too much of a focus during the day.  I could just hop on and read what people were up to, make a few comments and likes and then get up and get to work, but I was finding that I was just hopping on for a quick couple of minutes several times an hour.  I would finish the dishes and one of the boys would want me to read him a story and I would tell him, "Sure, buddy, right after I check something on the computer really quick."  Putting my children off for facebook is never a good thing.  Having your focus on something that was not God or family is never a good thing either.

I wanted some time to get away from the draw of it all, and lent seemed like the perfect time to do it.  I could take the time to re-adjust my focus and have the kids and my Bible become my first priority, have those things be what draws me after I finish the dishes after lunch.  So far, it's going well.

Well, kind of.

I didn't realize how much I relied on the comments that would come after I posted something funny that the kids did.  That is quite often my only interaction with grownups besides my husband, and I miss it.  Quite often, something will happen, and I've already started mentally writing the facebook post in my head before it catches up to me that I won't be posting.  That part is tough.  I miss the comments, the back and forth that comes from an online chat with friends that can happen while the kids are screaming and I haven't showered.

And seriously, y'all, I actually slipped on a banana peel yesterday.  For reals.  I honestly didn't think that was actually possible, but I did it.  The heel of my shoe landed on the edge of a peel that was right next to the garbage can (thank you, small children) and my heel went skidding forward and I tensed my leg in that way you do to try to keep from doing the splits, and I pulled my groin muscle just a little bit but enough that it hurt for the rest of the day.

It was a banana-peel injury.  A banana-peeljury.  A banajury.

Clearly, I need to get out more.

Anywhoo, since Ash Wednesday, my house has been cleaner, I have started three or four new projects (but not finished any of them, because some things never change) and I have spent more time in the Bible.  Those are good things.  Well, the primed-but-not-painted laundry room is half of a good thing, but it will be a good thing when I am done.  Until then, the laundry is just lined up against the hallway and is slowly creeping into the living room.  But to be honest, just the dull, flat primer covering the totally rad late-eighties printed wallboard is a huge improvement, even with the blue painter's tape and the fact that we can't put the laundry hamper in there.

I will try to blog more often, but I kind of have this mental block that facebook statuses can be short but blog posts have to be long.  I never used to be that way, and I'm going to try to get over it.  I need to blog about things other than getting peed on at Costco, because while those posts do great things for my blog traffic, I hope to never have to post another one of those again.  Sorry, folks, I like to be here for your entertainment, but a girl's gotta draw the line somewhere.

It's called boundaries, people.

(Although I did offer to get peed on for a dear friend recently who was having a bad day.  I am willing to make sacrifices for those I care deeply about.  That's love.)

Clearly, I'm starting to ramble, so I'll end this before I make an even bigger fool of myself, and I'll go get some more coffee.  Oh, yeah, I started drinking coffee recently!  I am kind of wondering how I survived the last ten years or so without it, but I'm learning quickly.  Coffee with creamer and some hot cocoa mix is fabulous, by the way. 

If you wouldn't mind, could you kindly leave a comment on this post so I know you read it, and to save me from the rapidly approaching insanity?  I love comments.  And coffee.  Thanks, you guys rock!

8 comments:

DJan said...

I was just sitting down at my computer to think about writing a post, and I always check Reader first, hoping for some inspiration. I read your posts, Tiff, and sometimes I even comment, but since you asked, I felt compelled to say yeah, I'm out here, and I still read about you and your adventures in pee and poop. :-)

Anonymous said...

HA HA! Great post! However I think you are trying to trick your readers with typo's to see if we catch it? I WIN I WIN!!! Did you slip on a banana peel or really "Spill" on one? :)
Shari

songbyrdonthemountain said...

I love your perspective. I think we all need to take facebook breaks every now and again, if for no other reason, to remember how we used to connect with our family and friends before facebook. I know what you mean about the short entries as well. I think honestly my attention span has declined in recent months because of the facebook thing. (not good in my advanced years.)

Anonymous said...

To those that are wondering what I won??? I won a free trip to Costco with her 4 kids along with blogging rights to document our adventure!!!! Woo Hoo!!! Yes, I have read her previous posts about Costco... ;)
Shari

Michelle said...

I love reading your stories, whether they are about peeing in Costco or just life (or slipping on banana peels!) And good for you for giving up facebook, sometimes I'm amazing at how much time I spend on facebook and how it can actually hurt when I post pictures and no-one comments, obviously I am overthinking facebook way too much when I do that!

Anonymous said...

Well, here I am, leaving a comment (just for you). I totally understand the "link to the outside world" that Facebook has become to many people (okay, it is for me too). I, too, look for the comments and messages from people and I actually feel lonely when I don't see that little notification button light up. Yeah, pretty sad, I know. lol I've been considering the idea of going on a Facebook fast for lent but since it's already started, maybe it's too late? Maybe not. *sigh* Anyhoo...keep blogging, my sister-in-the-Lord, and keep reading the Word. Really, it's His Messages that we need each day. :)

Elizabeth

Anonymous said...

Tiff,
I'm still here, too, just so you know. I love reading your blog. Keep up the good work, short or long. Have a great weekend, friend!!!

Rebecca

Jessica said...

Stay strong lady! I still read (and love) your posts. Keep 'em coming!