Thursday, September 27, 2012


Me & My Bright Idears


Wow. Am I really doing this? Jumping on the “Blogging” bandwagon? I know my girls will be happy – no more random long texts spouting off my opinion on their last tweet or FB status. Now I can just embarrass them in public instead of privately…

After all, both daughters have THEIR own blogs and nothing excites me more (that might be an over-statement) than when I see they have written another post for their blogs. I feel like it give me a backstage pass to their inner thoughts – things they won’t always say out loud, but come from the bottom of their hearts. That’s what I hope to do here. I know it’s not a competition – they are much better writers than I ever was – but if I can only preach/complain/ encourage/advise/entertain half as well as they do, I’ll be content. REALLY. They are fantastic writers. I will check and see if they will allow me to share their blog addresses with you in the near future.

(Let me just stop here and insert a reader’s warning: I am VERY proud of my (adult) children and will, from time to time, sicken you with my praises, exultations and comments about how wonderful they are. Let it be known that I do not think my children are better, more beautiful or smarter than yours…they are just the best, most beautiful and smartest ones to ME. Please don’t think I am boasting gloating bragging …OK, I’m boasting. I’ll admit it. A mother’s right and all that. I’ll apologize now, but I’m gonna do it anyway.)

Of course, being the planner that I am, I did my research to find out the best way to start a blog. All the Do’s and Don’ts of reaching your best audience (see…I can boast about you too). All the different layout designs, color schemes, type styles, etc. One thing they (whoever ‘they’ are) stress is the importance of finding your “niche” market. What subject will you be writing about the most? What audience will gravitate towards the thing you will be blogging about? As I said over there in my “ABOUT ME” column, I have an opinion and I love to give it. And that means opinions about EVERYTHING (though I tend to stay away from politics as my opinion on that would get totally lost in all the others floating around on FB, Twitter and the general news media).

So if you decide to stick around, you will hear me address such topics as: getting organized (at home and work), child-rearing, faith and prayer, scrapbooking, travel, best friends, family, pet peeves, lessons learned, books I love, spiritual gifts, my job, goal-setting, eulogies of those who have gone on before me, marriage, decorating, music, etc. Also, I will probably regurgitate some ‘Notes’ I wrote on FB back in the day. So that means no niche market for me. Just a hodge-podge of word vomit on all the things just mentioned plus others as they come to me.

I once tried to start a “travel” blog while on a trip to the Pacific Northwest. It failed miserably, and since I tend to live in the moment, I had no moments to blog while bald eagles, waterfalls, kite festivals and snow-capped mountains awaited. I’ll really try to do better this time…hopefully 2-3 times per month. Uh-oh…now it’s in print. Guess you’ll hold me accountable now. That’s fine.

Oh...and the name of my blog? That's not a typo on 'Idears'...that's just the way I've always pronounced the word 'idea'. And since my friend Karen MacDonald has always teased me about it, I let her have the honor of naming my blog. She's a pretty good blogger herself - check her out at http://livingwell-livingsimply.blogspot.com/ .

Blessings!