writing | BulgingButtons

November 12, 2015
by BulgingButtons 8 Comments

Feeling Famous in South America

Disclaimer: I am NOT famous in South America or anywhere else.

In spite of the disclaimer above, I’m feeling pretty much like a blogging superstar, South American style. Why? Because the little map that shows me where my blog visitors hail from has most of South America colored in today. What does that mean? Not a whole lot.

What it means is that at least one person in Brazil and at least one person in Argentina happened to click on BulgingButtons on the very same day. Since Brazil and Argentina are the two largest countries in South America, it looks like I’m pretty popular across the continent.

Add that to the inflated ego I get when at least one person in Canada clicks on the blog. After all, the U.S. is pretty much a given, so throw Canada into the mix and North America is well represented. And if Russia shows up? Wow. Just, wow.

It’s all complete nonsense, but part of the fun of blogging is reaching out to a worldwide audience. I don’t know if there are actual people in South America reading, or if they’re bots, but I like to think that they’re people like me who enjoy an entertaining blog now and then.

I don’t write to grow a large audience, or to get tons of international hits. I write because there are words and ideas inside of me that need somewhere to go. Still, if you show me a world map with lots of countries colored in, I’m going to get excited. After all, I’m a superstar.

November 1, 2015
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Happy November!

I love November. It’s a transitional month here in the Desert Southwest, with temperatures finally cooling and Thanksgiving on the way. Apparently it also marks the start of the Christmas season, as the grocery store was filling it’s displays with their Christmas items this morning. Sheesh.

Another thing I love about November is NaBloPoMo. “What’s that?” you ask. Why, National Blog Posting Month, of course. It’s sponsored by BlogHer, and it’s a wonderful incentive for bloggers like me who sometimes get lazy about posting their gems of wisdom. In November I take up the challenge to publish a blog post every day. I’ve been successful the past two years (the life of the blog), and I have every intention of doing it again.

I love the community that’s involved with NaBloPoMo, and I love the challenge of putting something out in the universe every day. I’ve found that it helps me to stretch my creative muscles in a way that writing without any structure doesn’t. I also enjoy clicking on the links to other bloggers’ sites, often finding incredible inspiration. Stop over to BlogHer to see what I mean.

Happy November, and I hope to see you tomorrow!

October 23, 2015
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I Need a Little Shabbat

Last Friday night at this time I was sitting in a synagogue breathing out the stress of the week and breathing in the peace of the Sabbath. It was calming and energizing at the same time. It gave me a fresh perspective and a positive outlook. I was able to enjoy my family and count my blessings, while I offered gratitude for both.

Fast forward a week and I’ve just walked in the door from an eleven hour workday at the end of a busy week. I could have easily stayed another three hours, but frankly I’m hungry and tired and not good for much more work today. Still, I have the work to do, so I lugged it all home in my full-to-overflowing L.L.Bean canvas tote bag. That thing is a workhorse.

I don’t feel the peace of the Sabbath tonight. I feel the stress of too much work, and I don’t like it. I have a writing deadline to meet, some lessons to plan, an important document to deliver, and a suitcase to unpack (from last week!) in my immediate future. Throw in some laundry, a trip to the credit union, a trip to the grocery store, and a couple of chapters of manuscripts to read and review, and there goes the weekend.

I think I have to make a choice. I think I have to prioritize. I think I can send off my work, light my Sabbath candles, and take some time for reflection. It’s not perfect. It’s not even technically correct, but I think it just might work for me. I’m pretty sure that it’s okay. Even a little bit of Shabbat is better than none.