Journaling: Handwritten in a book or Blog it.....

So here's my dilemma, I want to blog more, I have 4 blogs that rarely get entries these days. More importantly though, I really need to stop procrastinating my school work so that has to be TOP priority for me right now.

ROFL.... my kitten is sleeping on his back on the back of the couch (no that's not redundancy, that's what he's doing and where he is, really really). He's quite obviously dreaming, perhaps he is chasing the mouse he didn't catch (but I did :P) and his back feet are twitching. His toes are actually going to the beat of the current song (something by the Corrs) so it looks like he's tapping his toes to the tune. Darn it no video on my dSLR, but here's a cute picture of him snoozing.

Ok, ummmmm, gee, they say I have ADHD, they really don't understan.... oh look, a kitty dancing :P.

Anyway, as I was saying, ummmm oh yeah, school has to be my priority. Next assignment, start a writer's journal. Herein lies my dilemma, the suggested format is to get a blank notebook that suits you; It should be durable, portable, yet large enough to allow fluid writing. Ok, I love journals, scratch that, I love nearly all stationery, I'm a collector of stationery, I have more stationery than Staples spread around this place. Think I can find a journal here that I "feel" is suitable? Not likely, I'm funny that way, I could have 10 examples of what I need, but none are what I "want", they are not suitable to the purpose I have in mind.

That's not really my dilemma though, I need to go shopping really really soon anyway (like yesterday). The issue I'm working on is that I want to blog more but as I turn my focus to obtaining my degree I will continue to have little blog time. I wouldn't mind blogging my writer's journal, but a) it is supposed to be private and b) it is supposed to be portable. In considering these requirements, a) my public blogs won't work then. I can, set the entries to private, so that's an easy fix. B) My preferred location of entry is my desktop computer with the 24" monitor, not particularly portable. My HP Tablet is far more portable (not fit in my purse portable, but if I can haul around a dSLR all the time, what's one more backpack), but currently the wireless card is fubar so I can't post until I get home. Considering I spend 90% of my time at home, that doesn't sound very hard to do either. Seriously though, if you know me, once I want something, I have very little patience to wait for it. Nope, no ADHD here ;).

Having written all this out now I think I answered my own question, which is often the point of writing and/or sharing, particularly when faced with a conundrum. I'll purchase a new journal for the job. I really think that, although I'm not out & about often, grabbing a book to write in, rather than hauling out even a small laptop, is far less complicated. Having said that, if you have an opinion, feel free to share, I'm always open to new ideas ;).

bloggerama!

Ok, so in my last post I told ya'll about my new found hobby and how it wasn't so much (not at all really) the following of a trend but the genuine love of writing and reading that finally sucked me in. I actually enjoy writing this crap junk blog and thinking of new ideas to post even it does bore the heck out of everyone else... well I'm having fun :D. And seriously, I did put the disclaimer in about operating heavy machinery.

So I have this blog (considering a possible name change) and that's all well and good; But am I content to leave it at that? Nooooo... of course not, because once miss shannon climbs on a bandwagon, well, there is no climbing, we're talking jumping on with both feet like I'm trying win the Olympic High Jump. So... drum roll please.... tada... "domestic adventures in procrastination" has been launched... the latest addition to my blog family :). Pretty sure the name says it all, so let's see if we can maintain TWO of these dang things... lol. Hoping to set up a personal url so I can bring it all together in one place one day... I'll add that to my "to do list" ;).

Continuing with the whole blog theme I thought this would be a good time to mention a blog I've started following with my friends Trish, Chris, Sunny & Angelic... and btw we're blaming Chris for the original link ;)... love ya Chris... muah. "Confessions of a Pioneer Woman" is an amazing adventure in a woman's life from city girl to country wife. I've been following her blog for a few days and she's really a very good writer. But never content to let sleeping dogs lie two night ago I got sucked into the world of "Black Heels to Tractor Wheels". Oh my gosh! Can this woman ever write a tale... this is her love story with Marlboro Man, a real life, honest to goodness tale of romance and love found. If you choose to follow this link, be prepared to set aside a good 3 hours because you will not be able to stop reading once you get past Chapter II. Oh for the next installment... **sigh**.

Trendsetter, Follower or Individualist?

I've never been much of a follower as far as trends go... in high school I'd get harrassed by friends for not wearing much makeup and not having "pour in" jeans on. I'm not really a trendsetter either, tending more towards marching to the beat of my own drum, a free spirit or even a loan wolf if you will. If I do end up appearing to follow a trend, it is because I took time to decide what I really think about something and then if I decide it'll work for me... well I just "do it".

I did finally start wearing those "pour in" jeans, although not sure how that worked for me aside from the can't eat much whilst wearing them, thus not making them even tighter. Low rise jeans/trousers... well that was one trend it didn't take me long to jump on... they are soooo much more comfy than pants that go right up to your waist and make you feel like you are cut in half... man I put on some old jeans I could finally get into and whipped them right off... sure they fit, but a waist band on my **shock** waist?... yucky! Chances are if that trend dies... well I'll still be searching for low risers. I like my clothes comfy.

When Ty Beanie Babies came out I thought people were crazy, going nuts over a bunch of stuffed toys just because they had a tag and a name on them and everyone else is doing it. I'm not even sure how it happened, but I ended up with two Beanie Babies about 2 years into the Beanie Baby craze and I was hooked. I mostly ended up collecting bears only aside from a couple of others I thought were cute. I'm missing Maple Bear though and that frustrates me... lol.

So when I first heard about "blogging" my first reaction was... wth is a blog??? When I was duly informed of the purpose, my first thought was people that have "blogs" were bizaarely crazy attention mongers. Who in their right mind wants to share their personal life, their private trials, tribulations and triumphs, on the internet? A place where anyone and their dog can read about it! Well I guess the laugh is on me... this is sooo addicting.

The story goes like this... someone either sent me an email or told me in chat about this eBay auction some chick/mom/lady had up for Pokemon cards. I was... "why do I want to see an auction selling Pokemon cards, we got more dang Pokemon cards than we know what to do with?" Just check it out, I was told. I saved the link to look at later...

Later... I laughed so hard when I finally took the time to read that ad I nearly peed my pants... my low rise, not so tight anymore, jeans just about got a pee bath. She was/is soooo funny! Well there was a link for her blog, "Because I Said So..." and I just HAD to read more... here is the original eBay auction saved on her blog, "Adventures in Grocery Shopping". Thanks to Google-ing for helping me find that quickly :D.

That was over a year ago, but I was inspired and I created my blog name, set up a profile and on 24th of August 2007 I wrote my first blog entry. Ok, so I didn't get regular with it until very recently (but whoever said I was regular???). I really wanted to, but something or another held me back and it just wasn't happening very often. "Oh, I'll get around to it"... so here is my "round tuit" and I have no excuse anymore. I love writing, I really love reading the blogs of others (see my list to the right), especially friends, and I guess I've jumped on the blogging trend with both feet finally (and hands, I don't type so good with toes...). So be afraid... be very afraid...

My inspirations come from various circumstances, something on another's blog post, sometimes an occurrence that day (my kids crack me up, or just some randomness that pops in my head (you'd be scared to see the thoughts that just "pop up" in my head). I have nearly as many drafts sitting in my Edit Posts box as I do actual published posts and that's ok too, because if I start running out of things to write about... well there they are, the ideas sitting there waiting for me. So if you're looking for a little bit of a guffaw, a little bit of inspiration or especially if you are having trouble sleeping some night (please do not operate heavy machinery after reading these posts). Pop on in, read away and leave me a comment and your blog addy. I'd love to add you to my blogroll :D. (Don't you love all these new and made up internet inspired words?... "I 'Googled' that" or "She's a great blogger".)

It's raining here today, pouring now really... here one of my favourite rain tunes...

Supertramp, "It's Raining Again"

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,..."

"... for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
~Matthew 6:34

So I've been browsing around the blogging world, it's alot of fun, finding new Blogs to read, learning about people, and their passions. I kinda collect Blogs and enjoy reading those of my friends the most. Yesterday, I came across Ryan Detzel's blogger "this is reverb...". Now I don't know Ryan at all aside from being a brother in Christ, but found that I really enjoyed reading his stuff... it wasn't anything significant that I can pinpoint that attracted me other than his obvious love for God & his lovely family, his zest for life and his sense of humour... funny guy :D! Gotta love, Me First and the Gimme Gimme's... lol. Ryan's writing is excellent and interesting... but his teaching? Wow!

Now I really know how I ended up on his blog, I was lead there by God, because God wanted me to hear what He was talking to Ryan about. All I can say again is, "WOW"! God's timing never ever ceases to amaze me... The message Ryan linked to from today's post was the most significant message I've heard for a long time for me personally and I so seriously needed to hear it. I needed a reminder, and I needed that reminder right now... today. That I am a Princess in the Kingdom, daughter of God, loved by Christ, my King. Take a moment now, or when you're done reading to listen for yourself this life changing lesson.


I have been living in a spirit of poverty, believing that I am insignificant, that I don't really have any value, that I am not good enough; not good enough for my family, for friends, my life partner or for God. God made us in His image - in order that we may love Him. Yet we don't like ourselves very much, sabotaging relationships with ourselves, those close to us and with God, becoming what we believe ourselves to be (self-fulfilling prophecy). Until we can love ourselves as God does, we cannot properly and unconditionally love others or God.


I am going to join Ryan, I'm "giving it up"... giving up focusing on my downfalls; "taking off the spirit of poverty, taking off the spirit of scarcity, taking off the spirit of not being good enough". He who knows the number of hairs on my head**, loves me, chose me, a daughter of God, descendant of Abraham. I will still come up short, I am not perfect, but my true identity, the ultimate truth, is proclaimed by the most High King, I am His Princess in the Royal Kingdom of Heaven. Who am I to disagree with my maker, my Saviour, the God of the Universe, Creator of all? How can I tell Him, "you're not right about me"?

I am going to set my worries aside; for if God feeds the birds in the air, if He clothes the field's in lilies, then what more can and will He do for me? He knows my needs and the desires of my heart, He will be and has been, there for me, moulding and creating me for His purpose; His fingerprints there to remind me He's not done with me, that I am a work in progress...

"Fashioned by God's hand
And perfectly planned
To be just who you are
And what hes been creating
Since the first beat of your heart
Is a living breathing priceless work of art"
~ Steven Curtis Chapman

Take time to see yourself through the eyes of God... God don't make junk! You are a masterpiece, made in His image, "covered with the fingerprints of God."

*Matthew 6: 25 - 34
**Matthew 10: 24 -31
listen to Ryan here -- and to think this is only part 1... can't wait for part 2 :D
find the book Ryan mentions here -- "The Supernatural Ways of Royalty: How Living Supernaturally Will Take You from the Prison to the Palace"