Thursday, October 25, 2007

Place Holder

There are 2 people in the world who count on my posting first thing in the morning. One is The Spouse, who has specifically requested I post by 8 a.m. because then reading me is one of the first things he can do after settling in at the office. (Isn't that sweet and supportive of him? Really? Because I'm sure there are many people who are connected to bloggers who think it's all a little silly or a waste of time or whatever and The Spouse totally gets why I do this, what I get out of it and furthermore, has very much enjoyed the Blogtopians he has met along with me. And yeah, he blogs, too, but we all know he doesn't do it with the same sort of regularity he expects of moi but that's ok because he's out winning bread and making movies. Digressing here).

The other person clearly wishes to remain anonymous because he/she (I'm super good at protecting identities) has been reading for some time now but he/she never leaves a comment. He/she instead just emails me. Which I rather like because I wouldn't have my email on my blog if I didn't want people to email me. Point is, I have recently learned that he/she reads at around the same time in his/her day, each day, because he/she emailed to make sure I was ok the other day when I had posted somewhat tardily.

Oh, those people, you say. Telling you what to do like that.

Au contraire, mon ami. That is EXACTLY what I was hoping for when I first started this blog. After two years of writing a regular column for the school newsletter with deadlines and an editor and everything (except, you know, money, fame and syndication) I moved The Child to a new school, the gig went away and there I was, just getting started on a "body of work" and then left to my own devices. Which is not a good thing because my devices are rather like the clockwork of a toy you found in your grandmother's attic; all the bits may be intact but unless someone is there to wind it up, it just sits collecting dust.

I need to be wound up. Not in a "Holy crap, did you see this in the Times today?" sort of way. Although sometimes that works.

What I mean is that no matter how much desire or vision I can possess, I am a procrastinator of the worst order. Don't believe me? Ask The Hat. Ask The Neighbor. I procrastinate about things I don't love but I also procrastinate about things I do love. So knowing that there are people who count on having a little "Here's the Thing" with their morning coffee or whatever they are having at the time, gets me motivated to write instead of spending the first hour of my day cruising the interwebs and generally fiddling around. I am very grateful for that motivation and accountability. Thank you, Spouse and Person Who Wishes to Remain Anonymous.

Now if I could just figure out how to wind myself up for every other area of my life that seems to be sitting stalled at the moment. Creak. Creak.

(I am amused right now because I was just going to write a quick "hey, I know you're expecting something but the morning is a little busy and I might not get to it right away so don't worry 'I sneezed'" sort of post....hence the title... but then I actually got inspired to write something. I'm not saying it's a profound something, but it's mine and it goes to the heart of something that has been weighing on me in unique ways lately).

This is the smallest sort of example of the phenomenon but I've noticed that about writing...you can start out with an idea but once you get going you may end up in places completely other than you intended or expected.

Anyway, seriously, I've got too much to do this a.m. Deep thoughts must wait until later)

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25 Comments:

Blogger Kimberly Ann opined...

Count me as number three - I read your blog in the morning, drinking my tea. Gotta start my day with some Lorraine. (No pressure there, huh)

October 25, 2007 7:48 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous opined...

And yet somehow you still manage to get all of it done with poise, grace and dignity. (I know, I'm laughing too)

October 25, 2007 8:45 AM  
Blogger booda baby opined...

You perform - no, not awesomely. MAGNIFICENTLY. That's the word. You perform magnificently under the rules of accountability. I sometimes wonder how you can come up with so many good blog topics at the very same time you're actually living the life you're blogging about, but mostly, I just accept that you can do it. I see now that there's some method to it.

October 25, 2007 8:53 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous opined...

I love it when the sneeze posts turn into something. Doesn't happen very often for me, though.

October 25, 2007 9:26 AM  
Blogger Red Seven opined...

I don't have any readers who count on me posting at a certain frequency or at a certain time -- and if I did, it would ABSOLUTELY get more posts out of me, but the downside would be a guilt complex of the highest order if I ever (ever!) failed to meet my "deadline."

In fact, more than anything, it was the guilt associated with not-posting-anything-for-five-days that led to my recent hiatus. Now that I've announced that I won't be posting anything for a few weeks, I'm much lighter and easier about it all.

Guilt complex, thy name is Red. I blame the nuns. They did this to me.

October 25, 2007 9:39 AM  
Blogger Lorraine opined...

If it is pressure, Kimberly Ann, it is welcome. It's nice knowing there are actual readers as opposed to play pretend people.

I'm laughing with you, Hat. Although you'll be happy to know that I did do all the things I was procrastinating about when I called you yesterday to procrastinate.

Oh, Booda Baby, were that it were true. Thanks for the vote of confidence...you don't even know what that means to me.

That's because you hardly ever sneeze, JP. You're just brilliant all the time.

Guilt is a bad thing, Red. And much as I hate it when my favorite people go on hiatus, the plus side is that it's 3 minutes less to spend in Blogopia and sometimes that's a good thing. Challenges me to find some other way to procrastinate rather than reading a blog!

October 25, 2007 10:00 AM  
Blogger Citymouse opined...

i read my blogs at about 8 am -- but then... i go back cause right now i have no life!

write when ever you like! its all good to me...just dont stop

October 25, 2007 11:15 AM  
Blogger Speck opined...

Lorraine - Here's the Thing is now on my morning read list, but since my cuppa joe doesn't happen until about 11:00 CDT, there's an hour of wiggle room for ya. Love the posts that end up in unexpected places. Sometimes they are the most thought provoking.

Red - I count on you to post at least every other day and have done so for almost a year. I went into rigors during the recent Days of Silence. However, because of the hiatus, I found Lorraine, Hat, Sling, Kimberley Ann, RG, et. al. (Hi y'all; waves), so it's all good. I don't want to add to your guilt complex...I'll be patient....kinda, sorta.

October 25, 2007 11:54 AM  
Blogger Lorraine opined...

Well, thanks just a ton, Speck...for reading AND for giving me some wiggle room!

October 25, 2007 11:55 AM  
Blogger Lorraine opined...

I'll keep it up just for you, Mouse.

October 25, 2007 11:58 AM  
Blogger Anne opined...

Well, over here on the right, I mean east coast I don't get to read you until lunch (gasp). and i notice if you're late, though i don't complain about it. is that ok?

October 25, 2007 12:08 PM  
Blogger Doralong opined...

Aww, the virtual love! It's a good thing. amazing that you can grow to genuinely care for folks you've never met live and in person, isn't it?

Count me in, I expect to see something from you when I take my mid day bloggie looking break, and I'm weird, I love to go back and read the comments later- as that's most of the fun!

October 25, 2007 1:18 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous opined...

Thanks for the anonymity Lorraine, but I feel it is time for me to "come out of the closet" so to speak. Why now do you ask??
1. Because I finally realized a non-blogger CAN ACTUALLY LEAVE A COMMENT! Don't have to do the email route thing...who knew?!?! (Apparently everyone in the universe except me.) I know, I know, I'm rolling my eyes too.
I can here the conversation now:
MN Fan: kinda dumb, huh?
Blogopia: Ya think!?!?!?!
(LOL)
2. I hope you know that checking to see if you were "OK" was in no way trying to tell you what to do but was a testament to the warmth, wit, and humor of your blog. A wonderful combination that makes my workday a little brighter. :o))

October 25, 2007 1:52 PM  
Blogger Traveling Matt opined...

i'm gonna need daily blog posts at 3:17am from now on...consistently :)

October 25, 2007 1:53 PM  
Blogger Lorraine opined...

Anything you want to do is just fine with me, Anne.

Doralong, ain't nothin' weird about checking back on the comments. I agree...that's where the real fun is. I love my bloggy little world and all it's fine inhabitants.

LOL, MN! You go, girl! Welcome to the wonderful world of non-blogger commenting! I honestly didn't intend to out you but I'm glad you came out of that stuffy ol' closet. Not that I minded the emails. And I absolutely didn't take your email the other day as any sort of order...I need the motivation and I'm thankful you help provide it.

Now someone get MN Fan a cushy chair. I'm gonna make some applesauce cake for all y'all.

October 25, 2007 2:20 PM  
Blogger Lorraine opined...

Mon, is that 3:17am your time or mine?

October 25, 2007 2:20 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous opined...

I honestly don't know how you all manage to do it. I can't post everyday, I don't have enough to say. I'm also a lousy typist, and creating anything takes me time. I am grateful that you do, because you have vastly improved my downtime at work with your wonderful musings. Hats off to all you daily bloggers...

October 25, 2007 2:37 PM  
Blogger rosemary opined...

I wantto know how you manage to make the most common stuff magnificent..me?....it comes out common. I am lucky you have stuck around....

October 25, 2007 3:13 PM  
Blogger Sling opined...

I just had a scary thought..
What if lorraine just up and stopped blogging?..
I mean,..NOW what am I supposed to do at 8:00 am,Pacific Standard Time??
Are all of my affairs in order?..
Do I have enough canned goods stored 'till her return??..
Is Mel Gibson gonna come roaring down the Interstate to exact revenge???..
Don't even think about missing a deadline young lady!!..
Have fun...No pressure.

October 25, 2007 3:18 PM  
Blogger Lorraine opined...

Oh poo and twaddle, Ro. "Ordinary into the magnificent" is purely subjective. I just think it's nice of you to say so.

Sling, that there is why you got that shiny smiley award thing. I puffy heart you, man.

October 25, 2007 3:43 PM  
Blogger more cowbell opined...

Goodgravy, I can't even manage to READ on time, let alone post. Slogan for your new business? Organizers Do It Right On Time.

October 25, 2007 4:14 PM  
Blogger danny/ink2metal opined...

wow! impressive, because i so ~get~ what you're talking about. it's nice to know that there's an audience that appreciates what you have to say.

and sometimes the best posts are the ones where you weren't planning on saying anything at all!

October 25, 2007 4:46 PM  
Blogger Lorraine opined...

Tater, for some reason all I can think at the moment is that brilliant quote from Lina Lamont in "Singin' in the Rain": "If we bring a little joy into your humdrum lives, it makes us feel as though our hard work ain't been in vain for nothin'. Bless you all".

You know what I was thinking just now, Cowbell? Except for the Lina Lamont quote? Gravy IS good. Gravy could be a whole blog post. Gravy SHOULD be a blog post.

HMNI Danny, Exactly. When you sit down with one intention and something else comes out and you're all, "Did I write that?" That's the coolest. Well, that and gravy.

October 25, 2007 7:20 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous opined...

I don't read at 8:00 AM, but I definitely check every day and I appreciate that you write so often. It really frustrates me when some folks write once a week or so. So, please keep up the good work, I love it!.. Bob

October 27, 2007 9:07 PM  
Blogger Lorraine opined...

Thanks, Bob.

October 27, 2007 10:15 PM  

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