Sunday, May 19, 2013

DIFFICULT DAYS

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OUR NORTHERN (BALTIMORE) ORIOLES ARE BACK

Sitting here at the keyboard tonight I am again asking myself, what am I going to write about? Another weather report post of daily events mixed with some silliness? Maybe talk about our simultaneous medical difficulties that are rattling our little world right now? Future plans? Should I write a post reflecting back on some good old RVing times & include lots of happy links? Maybe catch up on all my fellow RV Bloggers, see how they're doing, add some links & maybe try to help some new Bloggers gain a little extra exposure. Or maybe I should just tell you how I really am feeling about all this blogging stuff at the moment. Alright, maybe I'll just deal with that for now.

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First & foremost let me say how much I have enjoyed writing this daily blog over the years. It has given me a meaningful purpose every day. It has creatively allowed me to be me. The blog revived my fading interest in photography years ago & I have spent endless happy hours these past bunch of years scrambling around over hill & dale with the sole purpose of grabbing a few photos for my posts at the end of each day. My blog has filled a void in my life & I must say it has become kind of an obsession. Being an obsessive person to begin with I am not surprised by that. Blogging once or twice a week or whenever I feel like it is not an option for an obsessive mind like mine. I have always (well most always) enjoyed the daily challenge of publicly gathering together my thought processes each day & tossing them out there for others to read. I'm sure people obsessed with doing crossword puzzles & those sorts of mind challenging things every day would understand the obsessive part. Although frustrating & downright maddening at times the good days far outweigh the bad. Hours of each day spent in constructive creative thinking has always seemed like a good thing to me.

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My posts run hot & cold, up & down, much like my personality. I am not a flat liner running consistently high or consistently low. I ricochet between the two far ranging personality points & it is because of that my posts are never predictable. I rarely know from one day to the next what I am going to write about. Will I hit on something exciting for someone? Will I be able to make a few folks laugh with some silliness? Will I feel confident enough to mention some accomplishments & then feel guilt the following day having done so.  Can I hold someone's interest with a story? Could I be of help to anybody? Will an introspective post shed some light on someone else’s inner problems.  Maybe my opinion on something may ring a bell with some folks. Maybe an old memory will bring a smile to someone's face. Or maybe I will write something boring enough to peel paint off the side of a battleship. Why do I worry about things like this? Because that is who I am. One of those people who enjoy writing & has been fortunate enough to have been born with a set of Genes that make me care what people think.  I have always felt that is important.  None of that 'nothing bothers me' ha ha ha & 'I don't care what anybody thinks' ra-ra-ra stuff. For those of you out here who do write from the heart side of things I know you understand how I feel. You well know the up days & you well know the down days.

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I have again been struggling with my blog ever since returning from Arizona this year. In fact I have been struggling with all forms of communication this year.  Usually happens every Spring around this time but last year & especially this year the struggle has been tougher. Maybe brought on by some of the medical issues we are experiencing right now, maybe the realization our lives at the moment are making that slow turn from our once robust middle age healthy lifestyle to the reality of our coming Senior years. No, not being negative here. Just simply dealing with the realities of logical thought.

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My plan is to keep this blog going for awhile longer but also know that if you do not see a post from me in the near future it does not mean I have stopped blogging. Just means I have not been able to pull my socks up for that particular day. At some point the blog will end of course but I have no idea when that will be.  Could be tomorrow or it could be 10 years from now.  Just don’t know.  I once said in a post a few years ago that I would end the blog at some point if I thought reader interest had dropped. That is why my Sitemeter count near the top of my side bar has always been of prime importance to me. I see it as the sole accurate indicator of how my blog is doing. It counts the number of times my Blogsite has been visited by someone each day. One click at a time. Nothing else. No page views or self added comments. My Sitemeter has remained unaltered since the day I initially put it there way back when I first began blogging in late 06 & it has been my main guide ever since. If that daily number were to begin dropping & reach a predetermined low point I would then know interest in my blog has waned & it is time to bring things to an end. This Sitemeter number does vary from day to day & week to week but overall & surprisingly it has slowly continued to grow each year & that has indicated to me I am managing most days to write something slightly interesting enough to keep a few people coming back & to encourage a few new people to stop by for a look see & say Hello. So with all that said.............I guess I do have a few more posts left in me after all:))

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GROANER'S CORNER:(( Standing beside a valiant stallion, a beautiful blonde decides she must ride this animal despite having no previous riding experience. Soon, she finds herself atop the horse's back, galloping through a lush green meadow.

Unsuspecting, the horse suddenly picks up speed and she finds herself euphoric over the freedom she is experiencing.

Once again, the magnificent animal picks up speed except this time her inexperience gets the better of her. She finds herself barely able to hang on.

The startled horse is now in a dead run and the beautiful blonde finds herself hanging off to one side of the horse, her head just inches from the ground... catastrophe seconds away.

She begins to frantically scream for help when all of a sudden.........

Frank, the Wal-Mart door man, calmly walks up and unplugs the ride.

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- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.

24 comments:

  1. Al, I understand you completely. I currently have 3 (yes 3!) blogs that I try to do at least every other day! I hardly ever get comments on my horse blog, which has 130 followers. Believe me, I've been in your shoes. Sometimes I just think about shutting it down, but I want to share my adventures in horse land with others. I do update my Deep Canyon blog as much as I can, and I also have another desert one...I blog because I enjoy taking photos and writing. I do understand your position, however...
    ~~Cheryl Ann~~

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  2. Al, I'm not trying to be a smart a--, but you seem to be the happiest when you are in the desert SW. I know what you are going say but when you go to bed tonight, just keep saying to yourself- I need to move, I need to move etc.

    I hope you keep a smile on your face until you get back down here.

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  3. Al...if you did nothing but post your photos, anyone's day would be brightened! I know how you feel about health issues...treat them as you would treat rapids on a float trip...some are minor and some are major but eventually the river smooths. You and Karen take care...

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  4. Ooops....I meant Kelly and I couldn't edit my post...how embarrassing!

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  5. Everyone needs a break now and then. If you need one just do it, but I will anxiously await your return. The jokes alone with the beautiful pictures are enough on the days you can't think of anything to say.

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  6. Get your hip fixed sooner rather than later if you can. Believe me, it will help. We all have ups and downs with this blogging thing. The world won't end if you take a few times off. This comment is meant in the most positive way...

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  7. Al, I truly don't understand the compulsive need to blog daily - my mind just doesn't work that way. But I do know that if you do take a break we will all be here when you do make a post. You truly know how to write and your pictures are incredible.

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  8. I so appreciate your honesty. I've been struggling with the blog lately and have loads to write about with even more photos. Sometimes it's like that. Hope you get your mojo going. All the best to you both.

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  9. It is so hard to blog when things are not the way we would like, be it physical or emotional. I shared with you at Clark Dry Lake that I am having problems writing. Now, I have been having headaches for about the last 6 weeks and I keep getting behinder and behinder.

    One thing you have done that I find so interesting is writing about your past. Sometimes I think if I would share my happy, sad, miserable whatever times, it might just help someone. BUT I sure do hate rejection. lol

    Anyway, do what feels good at the time. I love you photos and want a good camera soooo. When I get it, you are going to be my 'go-to guy' if you will allow me to pester you a bit.

    Hang in there. You and Kelly are deeply loved.

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  10. Besides keeping us connected with others, we get so much benefit from using our brains to figure out what to say and how best to say it. In your case, you also put a lot of effort into your photos - all this contributes to a healthy brain! Plus you bring joy to many folks who maybe can't travel as you do, or live with a beautiful pet, or cross the border for the best of two countries. I understand, though, if you quit trying to post something every day it becomes much easier to skip more days. Hang in there - for the good days and the not-so-hot days.

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  11. I will say I can relate to your feelings. But I also look forward to your posts and always find value in the pics and words. For selfish reasons, know I for one look forward to seeing you show up here.
    Hope you and K are soon feeling better and planing the next trip to AZ.

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  12. We begin every morning with u and can't imagine not..even on the days when u don't write much..you are like the cream in our coffee...it just wouldn't be right if you're not there...hope u continue for many years!!!

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  13. I look forward to reading your blog every night and seeing what you and Pheebs have been up to. Plus the beautiful pictures. The birds in your area are so colorful. It seems like most of ours are black except for the humming birds. I saw one blue jay the other day and we use to have a few cardinals.

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  14. I can understand your occasional need for a break, but certainly hope you keep on writing as much as you can. I read my "RVers" blogs at the end of the day, as my "dessert". And yours is the last one I read. Always interesting, often funny or thought-provoking, and beautifully illustrated with your photos.

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  15. Hey Al, I would be happy if someone,anyone would just read my blog. I never know if people read my blog as no one ever leaves a comment. You on the other hand have a great blog and I enjoy reading it everyday. I may not give a shoutout each time I visit but I sure do make that site meter go up a tick or two.

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  16. I fully understand how you feel over blogging issues. I too have the feel that I MUST write every day, but I also realize that I have started to skip a day in between. It is some times necessary to reflect on what we are doing and how we are doing it. There many, many people out there who enjoy your blog every day. But I KNOW there are difficult days in everyones life, and we would all understand if you skip a day or two as well. Hope all the medical issues can be solved soon.

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  17. It can be difficult to write about things , but is much easier if you keep moving about to newer and different areas.
    But even a very short post is nice too.

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  18. Your pictures alone make my day and your writings are the icing on the cake!

    I would for sure miss seeing Pheebs.

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  19. Keep blogging! It is the way for you to keep contact with persons who are interested in your life!

    The feeling that you have now, that there is not much interesting going on in your life, will pass. This is YOUR life! And it is a fantastic life too.

    I felt similar to you. I wanted to give up my blog. But then one of my readers suggested that I buy the book: "The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond."

    This book changed my life! I bought the Audio and Kindle editions at Amazon.com. Sometimes I read, sometimes I listen. It was very hard for me to grasp what the book was all about. It took me over a month to finally "get it!"

    But now my life has completely changed for the better. Please do it for yourself!

    Bye for now,
    George

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  20. I have been following your blog for several years now and can' remember if I am signed in as a follower!! Just want to tell you that I thoroughly enjoy your blog and urge you to hang in there. You make life so enjoyable with your pictures and anecdotes. Someone just said maybe you should move to Arizona fulltime and go back to Bayfield once in a while. Sounds like a plan to me.
    Keep blogging.

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  21. I would miss reading your blog and viewing your beautiful photography but you have to do what is best for you and Kelly.

    I would also miss seeing and reading about Pheebs.

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  22. I am always amazed the you and RVSue manage to put together a blog per day! I am lucky if I get 2blogs a month posted! I love your blogs and photography! I am also a daily reader who responds about as often as I blog! But I fully understand if you blog less, just know we will miss you when you don't blog and appreciate you when we do. Love to you both and the Pheebs too!

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  23. Meant that we will appreciate You more when you do decide to blog... need more coffee!

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  24. Honestly I am in AWE of all you bloggers that blog each day. I'm kind of the obsessive type myself, but I've managed to avoid the trap of daily blogging. I'm just not clear I could find something to write each day.

    BUT I must say that I always look forward to your blog even if you just have a few pics. Your photo's are just such a nice daily piece of sunshine :)

    Nina & Paul (wheelingit)

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