The Blog or the Husband? The Project. What's Real?

The house is a mess. The "project" in our bathroom continues. Three coats of skim coating (thin layers of plaster slathered on every square inch of wall and ceiling, then sanded off, then put on, off, on....repeat, repeat, repeat........)

In the past two days, I learned that there is such a thing as a husband feeling replaced by a blog. This problem demands action.

I've had visions of me sitting alone on half a barrel in my new, run-down studio apartment (run-down, because that'd be likely all I could afford) clacking out comments on blogposts and pouring out woes on my own blog, using a laptop with a cracked screen from the trash bin outside the apartment complex, while my cat (I don't have a cat-this would be a cat I found in an alley) weaves around my ankles begging me to take time to open our last 33 cent can of tuna. Believe it or not, in the vision, my mouth is not smiling and my eyes are not happy. But I'm blogging.

(If there is an artist out there, who would like to paint this scene in oil on canvas, or sketch it in pen and ink- I'll take a copy. It'd be a perfect, purposeful piece to hang in my bathroom.)

This would be my alley cat in brighter days, before she became addicted to a blogger.

How is it I can be so drawn to a world of strangers, as kind and caring as they are, that I neglect my household- chores and people? Let's get real, Heidi. But bloggies are real.

Outside the Box and Fash, my live-in counselors, tell me blogging is not evil and it is a valid outlet for the love of writing. But really, mom, you gotta get a grip. Set a limit. Set a timer. You see how well their mother has taught them? I now get back at me the teaching I doled out over the years. Isn't it wonderful?

The blogging has become my great escape- from "the Project". Poor I.T., he slathers away, as I slither away to the computer nook to blog. Not good.

So. I'm thinking about my predicament. I'm wondering if the 12 step program will work for blogging addiction.

In the meantime, I'll blog, but maybe less. I'll read blogs and comment- not sure if less will do. I'm only on step 1, remember. But one thing is for sure. I will hold the light to the ceiling, so I.T. can see where cracks still show through, for as long as he needs me to hold the light. I'll hold the vacuum hose under the sander to catch as much plaster dust as possible, until the sanding is done. I'll vacuum up all the plaster dust and wipe down the entire stinking bathroom, even though the sanding will resume within 24 hours. I'll try not to burn the rice, as I did last night- again -(because I just couldn't pull myself away from reading and commenting on Dandy's bachelorette party and Greg's broken cars , I mean Dandy needs to know what color dress I should wear if she wants me to be the alternate in the event that a bridesmaid drops out and I certainly cannot ignore Greg in the midst of his jalopy troubles) even though the timer was going BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEP,BE....... At least I set the timer!This is what I do for the sake of "The Project".

Tomorrow is my 46th birthday. October 8. I'll be riding in a silver, Chevy Malibu Maxx south to Indiana with I.T. and Fash to see if the college there will suit her fancy. Never mind we have oodles of colleges right here in Michigan. That's okay, Fash. Because you're something really special, we understand it will take a really special college to get you educated for the real world launch.

As for my birthday- I'm getting a steady stream of lovely cards from my aunts. My amazing and ridiculously birthday card sending time conscious aunts are the most faithful birthday card senders, who ever lived. In fact. It is said in my family that if you do not receive a birthday card from my aunt Donna Lou, it probably isn't your birthday. I can't believe how blessed I am to have aunts like this, who think of me, the peon niece in Michigan, every single year after year, and send me a glittery, "you're the best niece" card. This always makes me smile.

By the way, did anyone notice my fantastically intelligent cousin, K.D.'s comment about the bee? She informed us that the bee is a woman. The men bees only fly when it's time to mate (aha!). After that they just laze around until the hard-working girly bees get tired of them and eat them up. So much to ponder here. Go visit my cousin's blog! You'll love the title. She has collected elephants for as long as I have known her and been involved in Girl Scouts for longer than any girl I know on the planet. She IS Juliette Low, probably. It'll be easy for you to get to know her right off the bat, as she participated in the Random Dozen meme last week. Go! Go meet K.D. and leave her a comment, so she'll know you were there. Say hello for me!

I'm hoping to have 50 followers by my 46th birthday. I have 49. Who wants to be my "birthday present follower"? I have a gift for my 50th follower, but you'll have to leave me your e-mail in a comment, so I can get an address. It'll be something from the Christian bookstore, where I work. Where I love to work. Gosh, I love that bookstore.

Finally, most importantly, see the button in the sidebar of my blog, at the top, that says "Please Pray for Andrew.", well- please pray for this precious boy, his mother-a faithful follower of Jesus Christ and their family and their doctors. Thank you.



To God be the glory, great things He has done,