I never intended to leave my blog sitting here in cyberspace for so long, all by its lonesome self. But life as a work at home mom got in the way.

And yes, that’s just an excuse, and a weak one at that.

There are plenty of wahms who also keep their personal blogs up to date but apparently they have discovered that elusive “balance” between blogging and family or household responsibilities.

Me, I’m still waiting to win the lotto so I can get a maid.

But I have also suffered from self-doubt and lack of focus, trying to figure out what the heck people would find interesting enough about my life to come visit my lil ol’ blog regularly. I have discovered quite a few new blogs during these months and these moms are either hysterically funny, eloquent writers, amazing photographers, or a combination of all three.

I don’t consider myself any of these things, although I do enjoy writing. And a friend in high school once told me I was hysterical but that compliment came a good 20+ years ago so that doesn’t really count anymore.

And lots of these bloggers post everyday. No six month hiatuses for them. They are superwomen.

But it boils down to doing what you enjoy. Yes, I like to write for myself (client articles be damned!) but if the joy disappears because of my own self-imposed pressure to write a post everyday, then I will disappear again with no apologies.

And let’s face it…how many of you really noticed that I was MIA from blogging?

So I’m making the executive decision to just have fun here. No thinking about keyword phrases or selling ads or writing the P-E-R-F-E-C-T post. I procrastinate enough as it is without adding all those business “things” to the mix.

Most likely I won’t have many photos in each blog post. I can’t even seem to keep up with Wordless Wednesday once each week never mind adding photos everyday. And trust me when I say my photos are no works of art. But I don’t have the time (or desire) to edit the photos nor do I have the moola for any fancy editing software.

But tis the life of a busy mom, whose kids want extra summertime attention, who needs to keep the mom taxi gassed up for dance camps and swimming lessons, and who is trying to work part time from home so as to avoid the embarrasment of working in the local grocery store.

And that’s what I prefer to do so blogging will just have to fit into MY schedule.

(Seriously, do these spammers honestly have nothing better to do with their time or their lives than to attack our blogs?)

So, to all of you who took the time to leave comments this fall, my sincere apologies. That’s what I get for going too fast and not paying closer attention.

I do so love to get comments so please come back and write some more…pretty please?

A man in Phoenix calls his son in New York on Christmas Eve and says, “I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing; forty-five years of misery is enough.”

“Pop, what are you talking about?” the son screams.

The father says.”We’re sick of each other, and I’m sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in Chicago and tell her.”

Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone. “Like heck they’re getting divorced,” she shouts, “I’ll take care of this,”

She calls Phoenix immediately, and screams at her father, “You are NOT getting divorced. Don’t do a single thing until I get there. I’m calling my brother back, and we’ll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don’t do a thing, DO YOU HEAR ME?” and hangs up.

The old man hangs up his phone and turns to his wife. “Okay,” he says, “they’re coming for Christmas and they’re paying their own way.” – Merry Christmas!~

Actually, serious work is a serious understatement…it needs to be completely gutted and rebuilt!

So, here is my official entry for a chance to win. I’m so hoping that with a really pretty/hip/cool design I’ll find my blogging mojo once again and make the time to post more frequently. At the moment my VA work is keeping me busy and my personal hobbies have fallen by the wayside.

Ah, the joys of finding that work-at-home and family balance.

Thanks for running this contest, Lara!

Apparently the number of jellyfish is on the rise due to breeding conditions and climate changes. Not really an interesting tidbit by itself but it might have grabbed our attention TWO WEEKS AGO prior to vacation.

And good golly…the number 1 tip they list is going straight to the doctor because death can occur with some types of stings!

Luckily, we’re all here, safe and sound. But again, I ask you, WHY couldn’t this have been published 2 weeks ago?? (and how exactly do you know, at the beach and in the discomfort of getting stung, what kind stung you??)

Courtesy of Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia, here is how to treat a jellyfish sting:

Seek immediate medical attention. Death can occur within minutes with sea wasp and lion’s mane stings.

If you know for certain that the person has been stung by a Portuguese man-of-war or sea nettle, wash with salt water (ocean water is OK, but make sure you do NOT get sand in the wound). Protect affected area if possible. Soak the area with a solution made of 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 water for about 30 minutes. This helps remove the tentacles. Rinse the area and then resoak with more 1/2 strength vinegar.

You may also remove tentacles by applying a paste made of flour or shaving cream and scraping the area with a dull instrument such as a credit card.

Apply a cream containing a painkiller, an antihistamine, or a corticosteroid.

And, ironically, do you know the number 1 tip for avoiding getting stung by jellyfish??

Check with lifeguards to find out if jellyfish are abundant at your beach this summer. If so, stay out of the water.

Yes, this is Murphy’s Law at its finest…

photo credit: dunk_