What's Up? Nothing Big.

Haven't had any huge life experiences lately. But a few things have been happening. Perhaps as I start writing them, more ideas will come to mind.

Got my semiannual haircut yesterday. Yes, I typically only visit the salon twice a year. I'll trim my bangs myself when they start hanging in my eyes. But I've never been a fan of high-maintenance hair. So I get it cut to about chin-length. It always feels so cute and perky and bouncy when I leave! (Never quite turns out the same when I take a brush and blow dryer to it.) I'm happy with it for months. I merely have to dry it into submission if I'm going out in public. On the weekends, I can let it exercise a bit more independence. It grows, it gets wavier. I may pull it into a ponytail if it's hot out and I'm frustrated with it. Finally, I can't take it any more and I call for an appointment. It may be a week or two before I can get in, but it's always worth the trip. The price is reasonable, but I treat it as kind of a splurge. And I've been having my hair cut by the same woman for 22 years (except for one time when I reached my desperation stage and she was on maternity leave). She knows how I like it cut and doesn't pressure me to try something too far outside of my comfort zone. She doesn't try to make me feel like I should cover up the "platinum." I'm probably the client she sees the least, but at least I'm consistent!

Had some time to kill the other night, so I made a stop at a local thrift store. Kind of fun to wander around. Didn't have enough time to really search through the clothes, or the vast selection of coffee mugs (like I need another one!). But they did have a few CDs, and I was tickled to find (yes, I said tickled) "Addicted to P.D.Q. Bach and Prof. Peter Schickele." It's...sort of...classical music, but it's not "traditional." When I was young, I would have lumped it into the same category as Spike Jones, or perhaps Victor Borge. Comedy, but not stand-up. If you're not familiar, you can get an overview at the Professor Peter Schickele website (more specifically, the biography of P.D.Q. Bach here). Or, just search YouTube when you're just relaxing in front of your computer anyway. Music can raise all sorts of emotions. This is the kind that makes me laugh.

Phoned my mom that night, too. I call almost every week. Not sure why, but our conversations almost always last about an hour. This one was an hour and 45 minutes! Must be because I called on Wednesday instead of the usual Sunday. I rarely have anything in particular to discuss, but we always come up with something. I must be blessed, because I imagine there are a lot of people who are not able--or not willing--to just chat with their parents.

I got a phone interview for a proofreader position. Due to the upcoming holiday, in-person interviews won't be scheduled for another week or so. I know there are other applicants under consideration. But how many of them have actually worked as a genuine proofreader? There are other tasks that the company wants this person to perform, and I've got experience in those areas, as well. It appears that I am ideally suited for it, so I'm confident I'll get a call to move to the next step. (OK, perhaps "confident" is a bit strong, but I am pretty sure I'll be called.)

We spent the night at Mom's house two weekends ago. My sister and brother-in-law live out of state and make the trip up virtually every summer. The Boy's schedule is so full that we couldn't spend as much time there as we would have liked, but we couldn't pass up the annual opportunity to visit! It's funny: My sister is eight years older than me. She has always been my "big sister," having  moved away for college before we really had a chance to become "friends." Our daily lives are pretty different. We don't email often, and neither of us is big on talking on the phone (calls to Mom notwithstanding). And yet, we still managed to talk for hours, well into the night. That's a sign of family ties and close friendships. You may not get together often, but it's not hard to pick up where you left off the last time.

That about sums it up. No breaking news here, but there's no rule that says I can't write about minutiae! Isn't life made up more of the "little" things anyway?

Why Write?

I wonder sometimes how I would answer the question, "Why do you have a blog?"

I'm not trying to become a published author, nor do I feel like I have so many important things to say that need to be shared with the world. I'm not promoting any home-based business. I don't consider myself an "expert" in any particular field (though I'm a mighty fine proofreader, if I do say so myself).

I don't have a vast audience who eats up my every word. There are a few people who stop by periodically, I believe. If I post a link on Facebook to my latest musings, I'll usually get extra visitors.

Though it's nice to know that someone will take a few minutes out of their day to read what I have to say, I have to admit that I haven't been writing for "them." Perhaps it sounds selfish or trite, but I really just write for me. 

I just looked back at the titles of my posts and the keywords I label them with for personal reference and see a few patterns. Not surprisingly, I usually write when something happens in my life that I find noteworthy. My first post? "So...this is a blog." I'd made the plunge into the world of blogging. It looks like I was writing almost every week (must have felt I had a lot to say). But what makes me sit down and actually type instead of just letting thoughts continue to flutter through my mind?

Notable dates make me feel like sharing some sort of wish with the world: "M" is for..., Happy New Year!, and Childhood Christmas Traditions are a few examples. 

And other times I guess I just feel reflective. I might have discovered something about myself that I wanted to share, like I am a People Person (I am?), Just Pick Up the Phone!, or Expanding My Comfort Zone.

Losing my father has given me things to say: It's Been a Year and Remembering Daddy.

Or sometimes I just feel like talking, albeit electronically: 'Tis the Season for Music, Dark Shadows? I Doubt It!, Welcome back to me!, and even Talk Like a Pirate Day.

My blog is not a diary or a journal. I would consider those writings private and certainly wouldn't share them intentionally! It's not a place where I try to work out any deep issues. That's why I get together with my girlfriends! It's just me, writing when I feel like it. For myself. If you're occasionally entertained, please come back and read some more!

Why write? Why not?