It's called On The Flipside - Where we are all great moms and fabulous women with different points of view.
On The Flipside is a blog where moms and women (or anyone) can come together to discuss topics that come up in our everyday lives as mothers and women. Some topics might be silly and some might be serious - but ... most of the topics will likely be controversial - in that ... there is often strong flipside opinions that weigh heavy on either side.
I will offer the topic/question by way of asking a question and offering my opinion. There will often be a survey in the On The Flipside sidebar, relating to the question of the day that I would appreciate you take. I encourage everyone to offer their supportive or flipside (opposing) opinions on the daily subjects, in that day's comments.
On The Upside is my blog where I tell daily stories about raising my 4 children and surviving the humorous chaos of our everyday lives.
On The Flipside will be where I (we) can discuss issues of motherhood or of being a women and offer a forum to open dialog on many issues that are not always discussed freely - on a blog that is safe and respectful of others.
I look forward to seeing you On The Flipside and hearing your points of view!
Anyone that has visited my site over the past year, has been along for the fabulous ride I have had here at On The Upside - and I thank all of you!
My readership has grown tremendously and I have made so many great friends and met so many wonderful women and fellow bloggers. I am very grateful for the time that people take out of their busy days to come by my site(s) to read my stories and leave their heart-felt comments.
As most of you are aware, I receive lots of comments on my posts every day. And, I know you are aware of this - as you are probably one of the people that leaves me comment after comment after comment.
I - like most bloggers - enjoy receiving comments. It is our way of hearing what people think about our stories - our ideas - our writing - our families. It is very rewarding and it - above all else - is our link to one another. It's how we connect and bond and form relationships.
I - for nearly a year - have written on my blog almost every single day. My archives show that I have 431 posts. About 50 of those are drafts - yet to be published. The rest are stories that I have written and posted for my family and friends and new readers to read. That is a lot of writing and publishing for me - and ... that has been a lot of reading and commenting for you!
For nearly a year - I have responded to every single comment ever left on my site. There have been a few days, recently, where I was unable to visit, but before those days - I never missed a day where I would go back and visit anyone that left a comment on one of my posts. Some days 50 sites - some days 80 or more. And ... often - I would and do visit other sites on those days as well. On any given day - I probably visit 100 or more sites and leave comments on every one. I read posts and I comment. I've gotten to where I read very fast and I have gotten to where I do all of it very fast.
I have a system. If my system is running smoothly - I am able to keep up and it does not interfere much with the other duties, obligations and routines of my daily life. REALLY! I work the blogging in during the hours during the day that I can (early morning - late morning - mid afternoon and late evening) - usually about 4 times a day, I sit down and blog for at least an hour. Because I write my posts well in advance and keep them in my drafts - I am not necessarily pressured to write/publish - I just go to my drafts and pull a post that I want to publish for the next day. I do spend time writing posts - but usually I will write 3-4 posts at a time - leave them in my drafts and then I won't write again for 3-4-5 days later. This helps a lot.
This is what my daily spiral looks like:
These are two full spirals that I happened to have kept - but, there have been MANY more filled spirals over this past year.
What I do is write down the commenter's names on that day's post and then I go visit their site and when I have left a comment, I mark them off. I do this everyday.
I tell you all of this because I am considering changing the way I do things.
I love visiting other sites - I DO! I have done it for so long and visited so many, that it is not only a habit that is hard to break - but, if I don't visit some one's site for a while, I find that I miss them - feel left out of the loop - left out of what is going on in their lives.
But ... I am going to cut back on the number of sites I visit everyday. And, it's not because I don't want to visit - it's because I just can't keep doing it at this rate and pace.
I hope that people are coming to my site to read my stories. I hope that people actually DO read my stories. That is why I am writing them - for myself, my family and also for other's to enjoy.
I hope people feel that I have been a good friend - a loyal friend - as, I have worked VERY HARD at building relationships with a lot of people and it has taken a lot of time and effort.
I hope people don't just come to my site because they know I will come back and comment on their site.
I hope people will still come to my site and read and comment - even if - on that day - I can not get back to their site and read and comment.
I still plan to visit sites and comment (I am a COMMENTER - I like to leave comments) - I am just not going to do it like I am doing it now - to every single person that leaves me a comment - every single day.
Some days, I might do that - if I feel like it and have time. But - on days when I have too much going on or just don't feel like visiting every site - I am no longer going to do that.
I am sure I will lose readers because of this change - but, I hope not.
I will continue to write my stories on this blog and over at On The Flipside and I hope everyone continues to come and visit.
At the BlogHer conference I went to in San Francisco a couple of weeks ago, someone said to me, "Why do you do it? You don't have to do it."
I don't know how not to do it. I've always done it. I have so many people that are simply - true friends and I don't know how - nor do I want to - cut them out of my time and my life.
One last thought.
I'm very aware that not everyone wishes me well - enjoys my blog(s) or its success - cares a thing about supporting me - REALLY (the BlogHer conference - meeting bloggers I thought were friends - proved that - even though I sensed it - knew it, already). For those people - this is a moment I'm sure they have been waiting for. Wanting to see if my blog is really capable of sustaining itself - through my stories - through my writing - because people actually like it - and not merely because I reciprocate comments.
It might very well - crumble, and I might very well lose lots of readers - but ... I have complete confidence that I offer more than just friendship here at On The Upside and On The Flipside. I am confident in my writing and in my story telling. I am confident that even if I lose some readers - I will eventually gain others. I could be wrong. Only time will tell.
Thank you and I hope to continue to see and hear from you here On The Upside and hope you know that I will visit/comment when I can.
Also ... If you have time - go over to On The Flipside (my other blog) and enter my weekend contest.
I've been busy with so many things, like kids' school stuff, PTA stuff, building a new room on our house stuff, spring cleaning stuff - you know - all that stuff that keeps us all busy in our everyday lives.
And then ...
As if I don't have enough to do ...
I mentioned to you a while back that I was inspired to do this.
Well ...
My family knows me well enough to take a threat like this seriously ...
My friends that know me well enough probably believe that I have lost my mind, but eventually began to realize that I was probably not joking ...
I had no doubt I would do it as ... I was inspired and totally determined ...
Yes ...
It involved numerous tedious approaches ...
I started over more than once ...
I actually was beginning to wonder if I could really funnel my creative energy and direct most of it in this one direction ...
But ....
I am doing it!
I am at 57,100 words, 193 pages and ...
I think it's a pretty darn good story.
I don't have a title yet but ...
It will come.
And ...
When it does and ...
When I am through ...
Finished editing draft after draft ...
I will let you know.
As a matter of fact ...
I am seriously considering ...
Seriously considering ...
Redesigning and redefining my other blog (On The Flipside) in order to ...
Publish excerpts from my book.
I think it might be something like:
On The Flipside
On The UpsideI write what is real ...
On The Flipside ... I write what isn't.
I know there are some of you that could probably care less that I am writing a novel and that's okay ...
For those of you that are interested ...
For those of you that are curious ...
For those of you that want to follow this very important journey in my life ...
Stay tuned.
I am PUMPED!*Have you ever seen that funny commercial - maybe Direct TV - where the woman is jogging in her business suit telling the other runners that she just got digital/direct TV or something - at the end she says, "I AM PUMPED" - what commercial is that? It's so funny!) - Sorry, got sidetracked there for a minute.*
NO - I haven't had my nails done in weeks and I haven't had my roots touched up since Christmas and ... YESI linger far too long in the mornings in my pajamas - SO WHAT ...
I AM WRITING AGAIN!
Okay - back to work. I'm right in the middle of a juicy love scene! No - it's not a Romance novel, but I couldn't write a book without a little s*x thrown in there somewhere ... now could I!
I know - I've been writing here On The Upside and over there On The Flipside and even more on mySA ... but, it's not the writing I speak of?
I do love all of this writing.
It is fun!
It does take a lot of thought and words and sentences and paragraphs and grammar and punctuation marks!
I have invested so much time and effort into blogging - I love to write and it has given me a place to stretch my creativity and explore lots of different ways to write about motherhood - about my kids - about my family.
But ...
It is not the sort of writing I did before I started blogging. It is non-fiction and it is non-fiction story-telling. I have loved it and would never give it up, but ...
I am writing again!
Fiction.
Another novel.
Yes - I have written several novels. None of which are good enough to publish, but I have been inspired and so ...
I am writing again!
If I had invested all the time and energy and words I have invested in writing and publishing all of my blog posts - I suppose I could have written at least 2 novels by now. Not that I would trade that time and energy spent blogging - in creating and taking care of my blogs - I wouldn't. But ... I think I have it in me - a novel. A really good novel. So ...
I am writing again!
I know ... this is awfully presumptuous of me - me thinking I could ever possibly write a novel. Well ... I've written several (3 to be exact) novels - so I know I can do it. Now ... all I have to do is write one worth publishing. That's my goal. Right here, in the middle of my life, when I have more on my plate than any human being could possibly manage realistically and successfully ...
I am writing AGAIN!
So, you might ask, where did all this sudden burst of energy come from? Why now? What has triggered this sudden urge to write again? Well ...
I read a blog post on one of my favorite blogs recently that inspired me in such a way that after I read it I went straight to my desk, sat down, started organizing my thoughts over several days and, well ... I am into Chapter 2 and ...
I am WRITING AGAIN!
I have not written anything (aside from blog posts) in over a year. I haven't had the time, really, nor the desire. I guess it is because blogging has given me so much satisfaction and the writing has been so fun and productive that I haven't had time to think about fiction or consider taking the time to write anything.
My family will continue to come first ...
I will do my best to keep up with all of my responsibilities ...
I will continue to write and keep up with my blogs (and ENJOY it) ...
I am completely certain that I am going to be hard to live with ... because ...
I AM WRITING AGAIN!!!
From the blog post that so inspired me, "There will be a last time. Nothing lasts. Each and every time is propped against the last time. The present is made of all gone things."
Black Hockey Jesus (the writer of the wonderful post: Last) inspired me with not only his writing, but his words. He writes brilliantly (go on - go over to his blog, The Wind In Your Vagina, and read some of his great stories) and so often, when I read a great post that someone has written (and I've read hundreds that are truly great!) - like this one he wrote - I am inspired. And this post - this writer - just happened to trigger that thing in me that said - You need to write - get on with it - before it is too late.
As some of you know - I have started a second blog - On The Flipside.
I am enjoying this new blog and especially because I have had several fabulous Guest Bloggers. I have many upcoming posts that will also be featuring Guest Bloggers. I love having others contribute their topics and posts and if you have the desire to be a Guest Blogger On The Flipside - please look through your archives and find a post that might fit in over there (a subject/topic that asks a question or is controversial or has an interesting spin on the topic that maybe most people would agree/disagree with) or e-mail me with a topic you would like to post about. You can e-mail me at ontheupsideblog@aol.com.
Even if you don't have the desire to be a Guest Blogger - please go over and read some of the great posts and topics that have been featured.
ALSO ...
I have another blog I am planning on starting pretty soon - called On The Darkside. I have several ideas about what I want this blog to focus on ... but ... I would like to hear your thoughts. What do you imagine the focus will be?? I am curious to hear what you think.
Thanks to all of you that are my friends and loyal readers. I appreciate the time you take out of your busy lives to come by my blogs to read and leave comments - to say hello. I know I have not been by many of your sites in a while, but ... once school starts I am hoping to have more time to get back to visiting, reading and commenting - more often!
We are going to swim and fish and go out on the boat and jet ski. We are going to take walks and feed the ducks. And ... we are going to watch A LOT of movies.
On the drive up to the lake on Thursday, I asked Chloe, "Have you ever seen St. Elmo's Fire?"
She said No.
I said, "You have GOT to see St. Elmo's Fire, with Demi Moore and Rob Lowe - when he was younger - so cute!"
I went on to ask her if she'd ever seen Out of Africa, Rain Man, Urban Cowboy, The Big Easy, An Officer And A Gentleman, Fried Green Tomatoes - and many more great movies that I love. She hadn't seen any of them and my twins love movies - love Tom Cruise, Robe Lowe, Brad Pitt, Demi Moore, Richard Gere, Julia Roberts, Merrill Streep, etc. I told them we should rent some of these great movies and watch them together.
And ... so ... we are!
And ... they can't wait and ... neither can I!
So ... that's what we are doing this weekend.
What about you? What are your plans?
If you have time - go over to On The Flipside (my other blog) and enter my contest.
Have a great weekend!
Note: Blogger is having problems, as of Friday evening and I could not get into my blogs for several hours(error message: Internet Explorer can not access this website - operation aborted). I finally read a "help" message that instructed the fix to the problem was to delete the Sitemeter code in Layout. From all I am reading on this problem, it has something to do with Internet Explorer and Sitemeter and everyone is being told to delete the Sitemeter code from their blogs or others will/may not be able to access your blog. Apparently, Sitemeter works with Firefox, but that is it.
I have a new post (Lizard Mom) up on my mySA blog if you would like to go over and read it.
I really appreciate all the support you all have given me by going over to my new blog and reading/commenting on my posts. I am so happy to be part of the mySA blog family and appreciate the time you take to read my posts and also the support you have given me. I have had several people tell me that they have been having difficulty leaving comments over there (the word verification/errors) and I have forwarded those complaints to my editor. I think the word verification prompt is touchy (not to mention hard to read). Let me know if you continue to have problems.
I am not currently posting On The Flipside. I am trying to devote time right now to mySA and also here On The Upside. I plan to post On The Flipside again very soon - I have several great posts coming up from some wonderful guest bloggers, as well as posts of my own.
I also would like to ask for your support and prayers for a friend of mine. Angie is a long time blogging friend and her blog is Keep Believing. Some of you might know Angie. She and her family are going through a very difficult time right now. Her and her wonderful husband, Brian, have two boys. Brian has a brain tumor and ... it is a very difficult time right now. Please go over to Angie's site and offer your support and love. She is the most wonderful person, mother, writer, friend - and even through all she and Brian have/are going through - they are an amazing inspiration!
I wanted to say thank-you to everyone that has left so many nice comments over that past week or so. I also want to apologize for not visiting too many sites.
You know I just got back from BlogHer on Sunday. Well ... since I've been back, I have had lots going on.
Alexis' Birthday is this weekend and so I have been shopping and planning for that.
My twins are in the midst of getting their driver's license and I have been spending A Lot of time driving with them and completing the course (it's a Parent Taught course I have been doing for months!). Hopefully, we will go next week to get their license and THAT WILL BE OVER - FINALLY!
I've been working with my son on getting his summer reading done for 6th grade.
I have been trying to get the tangles out of Alexis' hair that got in there over the weekend while I was gone - HA!
I've been busy!
I've been catching up on paying bills and working in my husband's office (I do the bookkeeping for our business), doing lots of laundry, yard work and mopping floors - sheeeew!
I've also been writing blog posts and working on starting up another blog.
YES - that's exactly what I need - ANOTHER BLOG!
But ... I am - it's called On The Flipside and I will put a post up on Saturday explaining a little more about it. I plan to have it up and running on Monday. I hope you all will go visit.
Once again - thanks so much for always visiting me and please know that I miss you and will be by as soon as I catch my breath!
You have got to go over to On The Flipside and see my new look!!
Once again, Lindsay, over at Designs By Splat, did a fabulous job designing and creating the perfect look for On The Flipside! I just love it and would highly recommend that anyone thinking about redesigning their site definitely go over and talk with Lindsay - she is THE BEST and simply a pleasure to work with!
Thanks so much Lindsay - It is perfect and I just love it!!!
Please make sure you go over and visit On The Flipside today. I am so pleased to have Adrian from Adrian's Crazy Life, as Guest Blogger. She has published a wonderful post titled "Neglected Kid Time". Please go over and support Adrian and offer your opinion on this great topic.
Hey - don't forget to go over to On The Flipside - I have a wonderful guest blogger for Friday - Megrynsmom from Look It's Megryn's Mom - with an interesting post and topic. And ... if you haven't seen it yet - you can also see the great job Lyndsay from Designs by Splat did at creating a beautiful design for my blog.
One of my best blogging friends, Joanna, sent me an e-mail this week. In it she said that she just wanted to drop me a line to say hello and tell me she missed me in blogland. Isn't she the sweetest!!
I have not been around blogland too much lately. I have missed everyone more than you know. I've just been so busy that I haven't had time to do everything and blogging has been one of things I have had to cut back on. One day - I will be back in full force (watch out!), but for now ... if you want to know what I've been working on for the past three months - come over and visit me at my other blog On The Flipside and read my most recent post.
Thanks for the sweet e-mail Joanna - I love ya and I'll be around to see you soon!!
Child ... Pull Me Quickly From This Dark Place is my new post up over at mySA.
Hope to see you over there.
And, if you have time, head over to On The Flipside to see my fabulous new look. Lindsay from SPLAT Designs created a beautiful new header to match the fabulous one I have here On The Upside. It's so cute and I just love it.
I went to bed last night at 2:30 a.m. When I crawled next to my husband, he stirred, looked at me and then at the clock and just rolled his eyes. I said, "I know - I'm driving you crazy."
This has been my life for the past couple of months. Aside from all of my regular daily duties (raising 4 kids, keeping house, running a small business, yard work, etc.) I spend nearly every other spare minute writing my novel. I am completely obsessed and totally enjoying every single moment of it. If you'd like to find out how it's going - make sure you stop by my other site On The Flipside and read my recent update.
I have about a trillion things on my to-do list and I try to make time in every day to check a few of those chores off, but right now I am very determined to dedicate every spare moment to writing. I've been raising my kids for seventeen years and I still have ten more years to go before they are all out of the house - I need something FOR ME!
Oh, yes. And ... I'm still writing for mySA and have two new posts up over there - One Foot In The Grave and I Can See You, if you'd like to go over and read these stories (two of my all-time favorites) about my funny kids, Billy and Alexis.
