Apparently nowadays most schools have morning and afternoon announcements that come on over the school’s own TV channel. I guess this is integral to the professional development of aspiring TV anchors everywhere. All we need are more pundits to talk about everything and nothing all at once on CNN, so the elementary school is the best place to start honing their skillz. When I was a kid not too long ago, we still got our announcements over the PA system. Birthdays were announced, lunch menus were shared, and there were usually some reminders about turning in your Mathathon money. Instead of writing a real post, this one is going to be a bit like those announcements. I’m here, I’m alive, and here’s some stuff that has been going on.
Announcements can be fun.
1. We’re still on the road. We were supposed to head home from Atlanta to NC this morning, but I felt gross all night long, likely because I’ve eaten a total 100 calories of actually healthy food in the last week. Also, I’m weaning C, so I’m kind of sad about that and the physical as well as emotional strain has been kind of rough the last few days. So this morning when I woke up super early as per the usual and B suggested that we deserve a day of R&R and that we bum around Atlanta and give Wee Cee a break, I was all over that. We don’t indulge ourselves like this as often as we should so I’m enjoying today.
2. Thank you to everyone who participated in Festivus! It was so much fun and it turned out to be so much more than I could have predicted. I’m already thinking about Festivus 2013 and how to make it even more exciting. Let me know if you have any ideas! Major, MAJOR shout-out to Ashley for helping me with it. I could not have done it on my own, and she was an incredible co-hostess.
3. Christmas was fun but exhausting. I have been in a daze since we left a week ago. We’ve all been off our schedules. One night, my mom watched C while we went out with our friends and spent the night alone at my MIL Sidney’s house. This was the first night we’ve spent apart from C since she was born. It was hard; tears were shed on all our parts, but obviously we all survived. It was a necessary step. Snip snip goes the cord.
4. I’ve been thinking a lot about the blog lately and what parts of me I want it to represent in 2013. Since C was born last March, it kind of went off the rails and I’m not totally loving what it’s become. Don’t worry; I am for sure not going to be abandoning it, but sometimes I get tired of trying to be entertaining all the time. As much as I adore my readers and the people I interact with here, sometimes I feel like I allow myself to write what I think y’all want to hear rather than what I want and need to say. I am going to try to be more authentic in 2013. I may not get Freshly Pressed, but success and high stats are things I just don’t really value as much anymore. I’d rather write things that I’ll read back 10 years from now and remember who I was at the time.
4. I wrote a guest post for Kidz Showz! It’s about Gumby Adventures, one of my favorite shows from when I was a kid. Please read it, as it is way more fun and interesting than this post. While you’re there, subscribe to Kidz Showz because it’s written by Lily and Mooselicker which means it’s super funny and probably super politically incorrect, but in a good Louis CKish way.
The Waiting 
Writing for me is why I never pass on awards or play the games on people’s blog. I wrote for myself if you enjoy it, awesome, if not oh well.
Can’t wait for more of your blogs.
It started out just for me and then I allowed myself to make it more about all the other trappings than just myself. I feel good about just getting back to myself. Happy New Year!
Weaning your infant is bittersweet, isn’t it? On the one hand, it’s nice to get your body back to yourself, but on the other hand, those are special times you’re parting with. I wish you well, with that and with everything else going on. Here’s to authenticity. :)
It’s been harder than I thought it would be. We are taking baby steps…very literally. ;) Thanks, Carrie!
I’m glad you’re getting a day to just bum around and relax. Sometimes it seriously feels like we need a holiday from the holidays. lol I think the direction you’re going with the blog is awesome, too. I’m working on the same–trying to be more honest and figuring out my boundaries, yadda yadda. Festivus was a definite success!
Our day off was the best EVER. Atlanta has so much good food! I’m glad you get where I’m coming from with the blog thing. I need to start living my life with less of the “how can I blog about this?” lens.
Keep the words rolling. We will read.
Tim
Thanks, Tim. That’s a really nice thing to say.
Authentic is entertaining. Now what will you do? :-) I have skill for ruining New Years resolutions. My own and others! But 2013 will be great! I just have a good feeling about it (and I’m usually quite cynical).
I have a good feeling about 2013 too. 2012 was such a blur for me with C and everything that at least 2013 won’t be as sleep-deprived.
You can be authentic and entertaining simultaneously! Authentic is good!
That’s what I’m hoping for! ;D
Glad you’re giving yourself a break, on so many fronts – you deserve it! Especially during transitional times. Thank you for Festivus fun, and as you bring closure to so many of the hallmarks of this year, I pray for your new year be full of happy, new horizons.
You are so kind. I’m praying for the same thing too, and I’m slowly beginning to realize that even if big cosmetic changes don’t come to my life like I want them to, it’s OK because sometimes my timing isn’t the best timing. Scratch that; MOST of the time, my timing isn’t the best timing.
Aww thanks for the super cool shout out! Your Gumby post was the best so far. We love being compared to Louis CK!
Spending a night away from C must have been so tough. Good for you for being so strong! I’m glad you guys got some time to chill in Atlanta. You deserve it.
My pleasure! It was so fun to write it because it kind of made me feel like all the farting around I do on YouTube had finally paid off. You and Moosey are the best for doing Kidz Showz. I’ve paired down a ton of the blogs I’m reading these days and it (and y’all’s personal blogs) remain in my regular repertoire.
Awww thanks girl, you’re too kind. We feel the same way about yours!
(I like how I’m just speaking for Tim now.)
Whatever you write, I will read.
You are too kind. Right back atcha.
“As much as I adore my readers and the people I interact with here, sometimes I feel like I allow myself to write what I think y’all want to hear rather than what I want and need to say.”—yup! Hard to break that habit.
That first night is always the hardest– the one you spend apart from the little one. I am proud that you did it. We waited FOUR years and two kids later before we let anyone take our kids even for an hour let alone a night. That is a long time of no husband and wife time.. when I think about how ridiculous we were (are) -oye. So kudos to you! Taking time to bum around is awesome too.
It was a huge step that we needed to take. I think it will be a lot easier next time, even if next time is a long way away. i had kind of forgotten what husband and wife time was like, which is kind of funny since she’s only 9 months old. Crazy how those 9 months change EVERYTHING in your life. Thanks, Audra, and happy New Year!
Thanks for the update, Emily! Have a great new year!
You too, Hookster! ;D
When I hit my first blog-a-versary I gave myself two gifts:
1) I wasn’t going to stress if I went a week or more without posting.
2) I was going to stop staring at my pathetic follower-count and daily page-hits and make my peace with the fact that my blog will never go viral.
I now have a much more healthy relationship with my blog…
…although the pathetic follower-count and daily site-hits are still just as depressing.
-DD
Meh, I think that as long as I’ve got a devoted few people who I can interact with on here, I will be OK. It’s become less about becoming The Bloggess and more about having awesome people I can talk to. I have that, so as far as I’m concerned I’ve accomplished everything I could have wanted with this blog. (Although I still get excited when I get new followers. That rush will never go away.)
I am glad you were able to take a little “me” time over Christmas. It is hard to be away from your sweet baby but healthy for all involved.
I think your writing is grand, no matter what you choose to write about. It is always a good idea to be true to yourself. I write for me and I am very happy with my little band of bloggy friends. I do not worry about how much I blog or if others will like it (ok that is a small lie, I do want people to enjoy reading my words, but you know what I mean). Blog away – I will be here reading.
You are so sweet. You’ve been reading everything I’ve written here for awhile so that means a lot to me coming from you. I think it’s a healthy approach to blogging to just do what you can and be true to who you are. The mundane stuff may be “boring” but it’s my life, and I hope that C will read it someday and know that I did it for her.
I feel you on needing a holiday from the holidays, mine was with the in-laws and the day after I got home I almost went to the ER for dehydration, ugghhh.
In every post I read of yours Em I feel just like I do when I’m sitting next to you having a “real” conversation. Good, bad and ugly, be Emily and if people aren’t entertained you’ll never know but if you don’t write what you want you’ll always know.
I am retaining so much water from being dehydrated that I could barely put my wedding rings on this morning! The holidays are almost more trouble than they’re worth. Almost ;D
You are so sweet. Thank you for your encouraging words. It’s good to know you’ll be hanging around in more ways than one. Love you, friend.
Blogs tend to take on a mind of their own, it happens to the bestivus!
Your writing is always good, but I understand what you mean about being more authentic. I think you are so right and that you just have to write as often as you feel like, about whatever you feel like! I’ve enjoyed your blog for another year anyway. :)
Awww, thanks. I can’t wait to see all you’ll be doing this year too!
If it helps you any I tried being more “honest” and “authentic” I guess in a way on my last blog post. Someone I haven’t talked to much in years read it and now I’m friends with her brother. This week may have been one of the most depressing, stressful, and physically laboring I’ve had yet things seemed to work out pretty well the last few hours. Keep with it Emily. Have your blog be whatever you want it to be. After a while people read it for the person more than the content.
And thanks for the shout out to the blog!
It’s always funny to me the people who come out of the woodwork and read my blog occasionally. There are so many sleeper readers that we have who never comment or anything but seem to really like our blogs. Totally agree with you that there comes a point when your readers come and read for you and not just the content. That’s a safe place and one that I think I can dwell in for a little while. I know exactly what post you’re talking about. I can’t remember if I commented on it (the last week has been such a blur for me) but I really liked it. It’s nice to know a little more about the real Tim.
TOTALLY wish I knew you all were in Atl… we’re just north of the city!
I know! We were staying in the Druid Hills area. I thought about messaging you but it was so last minute that I doubted you guys would be available. Next time we should for sure meet up!
That would be fantastic! We’re not far from Druid Hills! :)
Yay for writing what you want, authentic, whatever the words! Life will generate the ideas, I’m guessing… happens for me, anyway. For better or worse. Happy New Year!
Happy New Year to you, Laura! I always love it when you pop up on my blog! ;D
I hope your stats take a nose dive…errr….wait, that sounds terrible and mean. You know what I mean. Right? Hello?
I totes know what you mean. I haven’t looked at my stats in weeks and I already feel like a weight has been lifted.
Festivus was so great! And yay to only eating 100 cal of real food! Who needs real food – Not the holidays, that’s who!
I think it’s sorta a chick thing to write what people want to hear, amongst other things. Women are socialized differently than men, but to really connect it needs to be you. I struggle with the same thing though.