{Gulp!}

I'm taking a big step today: Yes, I'm posting my blog on my Facebook timeline!

My blog has always been public. But there's a difference between quietly putting it out there and Telling Everyone
About It.

This is a big step for me because, although I like writing and do it best when visualizing an audience (rather than keeping it to myself, as in a journal), knowing that others actually read it kind of makes me nervous: Will I offend someone? {My foot often makes its way into my mouth - never intentionally offensive - I just forget to think before I speak...} Will I spot a typo after I click "Publish"? Could I have phrased that sentence better? Am I revealing too much about myself? Too little? Will people think my musings on life and my little stories are trivial? {Some days, yes, my posts may be about mundane events in my midwestern suburban life. I'll try to make them humorous, at least. But other days, I promise I'll dig deeper!}

I've mentioned that I like to visualize you, my audience. Not in a stalker/creepy kind of way. In a greeting-an-old-friend kind of way. Don't worry - you're always clothed. And taking a break from your own mundane tasks. And paying rapt attention to every word I've written! So for those of you who also like to visualize, here's a picture of my spot.

I'm a little camera-shy, so there's no "me" in this
picture. You'll have to use your imagination.
Oh, and while you're imagining stuff, feel free
to offer decorating suggestions. The walls and
windows of my new office are still bare!

Or I might write from here. Turns out, my favorite
comfy chair is also Bentley's favorite comfy chair.
(And the only one he's allowed on anyway.)
So I usually have to fight him for it...

OK, I'm stalling.

Gulp! Here goes...

Back at It

This is August 2012. My last post was in December 2010 - twenty months ago.

We had so many changes and activities in our lives that I could barely keep up, and this blog was a casualty. But I needed to come back.

{In the meantime, I fear my writing skills have deteriorated from disuse, so bear with me as I work out the kinks.}

Quick update on the last 20 months:

• We tore down a house, we built a new one, we moved in.
• I opened a boutique, became a working mom, then grieved when I closed its doors.
• My kids continued to grow and change, with my son surpassing me in height, and the girls closing in fast. I'm now the mom of a high-schooler and two middle-schoolers.
• We put our "old" house on the market. End of story. Wish I could say it sold.
• We began fixing up our new house after it was struck by lightning just six weeks after we moved in. The lightning not only zapped a lot of our electrical items, but it also started a fire, burned a hole in a gas pipe (yes, we're thankful for the fluke that caused the house NOT to explode), and also burned a hole in a water line, causing water damage. Most items have been repaired or replaced, but we're still waiting on a few. {Sigh} But all that really matters is that no people or animals were hurt...
• I put many enjoyable endeavors on hold (writing, lunches with friends, tennis & working out) while doing all of the above, and felt their absence profoundly.

Thankfully, we're all still here, healthy, and as one family, despite all the upheaval of the last two years. We appreciate all that we have - home, family, friends - and the rest is just "life experience."

One of the things I missed when I was too busy to think straight was writing. I may not be disciplined enough to write every day. But when I do, it's enjoyable for me and it allows me to share and think through the events in my life. Like my friends, I miss writing when it's not present in my life.

So here I am, back at it. Feeling a little rusty, but eager. Those of you who were previous followers of my blog will notice that I've changed the name. Since I'm making so many fresh starts during this phase of my life, it made sense to change the name of my blog, too.

I wanted a name that is a little more whimsical, and that reflects how life is not a linear path. I do appreciate life's zigs and zags (though not always mid-zig!) and how they keep life interesting and push me to learn new things every day.

So, thanks for finding Zigzaggy! This time, I won't stay away so long. But right now I'm going to enjoy a long-overdue lunch with a friend...