Tuesday, January 02, 2007

Introspective Navel-Gazing On Tap - But Not In This Post...

I am musing on the year past, and the year upcoming - however, everything is still a bit nebulous and unformed still...

I'm not really one for huge sweeping New Year Resolutions*, but I would like to take a kind of inventory. A contemplation of where I've come from, where I'm going perhaps.

I've got some unformed ideas about why blogging has been so good for me, and how I'd like to continue that theme in the next 12 months...
But, don't worry, that's not going to happen today, so you're safe from too much introspective navel gazing.
(The Scheckster doesn't go back to school until next week, so any really deep thoughts thinking probably isn't going to happen until then....)

One thing I have come to realize, in this preliminary ruminating state, is that I really love the way that blogs have given me a glimpse into lives not my own. Maybe I am a voyeur of sorts, but I truly adore seeing the corners of your worlds - be it the corner of your kitchen, or a glimpse of the fields or mountains outside your door.

As an example: I am a frequent visitor to Knitting Iris. I'm not sure that I've ever commented there, so I guess I should more accurately say that I am a daily lurker there. But what keeps me going back? I love the pictures - be it her neighbor's mailbox, or the view from above her kitchen sink.

It's all so foreign from what I get to experience on a daily basis, and I find it as enjoyable as delving into a good book. And that's just one example - I could list dozens and dozens... Thanks to you all, I get to spend tiny amounts of time in England! At the Seattle Public Library! Main Street in a Carolina small town! The gorgeous landscapes of Maryland... Kansas, Virginia, Michigan, Louisiana....
I thank each and every one of you for this...

And it's got me thinking... my life doesn't seem all that exciting and glamorous. But it is, perhaps, different from what you get to see in your day in/day out life. And maybe, just maybe, it might help to take you away to a different place - if only for a few seconds.

And I don't know if this is a full-fledged "resolution" or not... it feels more like paying-it-back, or paying-it-forward, or something. But - I'd like to try to take more pictures of my environment. To appreciate it more myself, and take you to somewhere/something you might not get to see everyday... And it couldn't hurt my picture taking skills, either!

And - to underscore just how "not very exciting and glamorous" my life is - I present to you the first picture in the series. I call it "Laundromat. 7:30 am".



Yes, the damn dryer is still broke. I'm not sure why I find this surprising, but it didn't miraculously fix itself while I was out of town/being a slug.

I see a trip to Sears in my future.
I'm just psychic that way....




*If anything, I tend to make more grand sweeping changes in the fall, which I've always found weird. I don't know if I find the climate more accommodating to change, or if I've just never grown-up enough to break free from the "new school year" mentality...

But for whatever reason, September/October is when I tend to be truly in the "this is what I want to change, and this is how I am going to do it" mindset....

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love blogs for just the same reasons! I love seeing into other's lives, feeling like I know people who share common interests and getting inspiration from them. And, I'm like you, I always feel like my life needs some significant sprucing up in comparison! :)
Kim
http://vintagepretties.typepad.com/vintage_pretties/

laura capello said...

i totally agree with you on the autumn resolutions. and spring resolutions too.

well, not so much *resolutions* as hopes and dreams. but still.

Anonymous said...

Boy, you were at the laundromat early.
I like your thoughts on why blogging has been good for you. I feel the same.

African Kelli said...

That makes me a voyeur too! I love reading blogs for the same reasons I like reading books. They take me to far off places I do not know.

Anonymous said...

Good post. Very good post. Blogs rock for many reasons no? Your reason was definitely one of my top ones though.
Loving the laudromat photo....groovy perspective.
Hope you get a new machine soon. :)

Fill said...

That looks like MY old laundromat! Oh how I hated laundry day. The professionals would hog all the dryers every time I went!
I love reading your blog because it makes me feel a little connected to my "home" state. You keep me more informed about life down there than my own family members ever do. So, I appreciate that.

beki said...

I like your toughts on blogging. I feel the same way.
And you're not weird about making changes in the fall. I usually make up some goals then too, though for some reason I always get the urge to redecorate my house then.
Do some homework before you get a new dryer. My new one, a Maytag, SUCKS! And to think I was all excited about having a light in my dryer. Right now I could care less about the light - I wish the darned thing dried my clothes better.

MéLisa said...

I totally agree with you on the blogging thing. I love reading about other people & seeing other places. Also for me, it reminds me that I am not the only one that has “those” days (whatever that day happens to be at the time).

Hey hey nice laundry mat! Do they have WiFi? Cause the one right down from my office which is right done from a university does. Yup the laundry mat has WiFi & I can’t get friggin DSL at my friggin house!

Alyssa Goodnight said...

I totally agree with your take on blogs. It's amazing to see what so many other people are up to! So sorry about your dryer...my dishwasher went a little while ago.

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Anonymous said...

hmmm i think yer on to something. Because when i feel all down. down cause I'm not "working" i'm a freelancer and nanny 4 days a week to my nephew..thinking man the whole world is buying expensive sock yarn and i am eating cheese and crackers. I look at everyone else's world's too...obsessively. Then i realize oh it's all okay, my life is totally awesome.

i have to say the laundromat shoot is pretty stinkin' good. I like the available light at 7:30am. I like the carts all lined up. I like how empty it is. excellent picture.

i am a visual person. I like to just post a bizillon pictures...i'm so glad SOMEONE out there besides myself of course appreciates them.