Blog Burn Out Or Facebook Time Suck?

After almost three years of blogging almost every day, I think I've hit the Blog Burn Out stage. Meaning, unlike even a few months ago, my heart ain't into it quite so much. Maybe this means I'm finally going to devote the time I have been spending here writing my book? I'd like to think so, but, another thing that's been going on (likely a big contributor to the reduced time I'm spending here) is I discovered Facebook a few months ago and I'm having a lot of fun on that platform/social network.

You don't blog on Facebook but you can chat with your friends, post your status, send emails, post links (like pictures and videos) and the like. I suppose if you wanted to you could blog (by posting a note), but, this is meant to be, I think, quick and dirty stuff. Fun stuff, too; like taking what seems to be a never ending slew of quizzes like "What 80s Rock Band Are You?" or, "What Mental Illness Do You Have?" or "What Disney Princess Are You?", etc. BTW, the answers to those quizzes for Mrs. B. are: Journey, Obsessive Compulsive and Belle (from "Beauty and the Beast").

What's even more intriguing to me is finding friends. I have a modest number of them right now; a few over 40, which is nothing compared to the hundreds The Kid has. But, with the exception of a few of the 40, I do communicate with them via Facebook; comment on their status, post something on their wall, send them messages. I've found people from my childhood, high school, college, and professional life. Additionally, the majority of my family is on Facebook.

One other thing I've gotten hooked on via Facebook is something called "Pieces of Flair". In essence, all these are are buttons people have made with pictures, slogans, sayings, quotes; you name it. You can search the Flair Directory (and you'll probably find exactly what you want several times over; I was looking for something that said "I'm Your Huckleberry" (from "Tombstone") and found at least 10 (I ended up making my own, anyway)). Then, you send it to your friends, or, some of your friends. The Flair you collect you post on a cork board. Ok, I know, this is SO SILLY but I get a real kick out of searching for pertinent Flair to send people and/or making my own Flair.

My Flair Collection (So Far)

You can become a fan of just about every sort of group, magazine, TV show, movie star, musician, high school, college, employer, etc. If you do this, you'll get periodic updates from these groups about what's going on. A lot of high schools and college organizations are using this to plan reunions.

Then there are the games. Just about every sort of game one could think of. From standard card games to video arcade games to some funny ones like "Who Has the Biggest Brain" (sort of an IQ test game) and typing games (you have to type the word that is in the middle of a ghost before it gets to you; the ghosts start coming in more numbers and faster, faster, faster).

One very silly thing about Facebook that somewhat annoys me but I usually play along are all the applications of sending your friends things; and, there is an ENDLESS array of things that can be sent. Such as, plants, fish, sweets, hugs, Johnny Depps (this one cracked me up), cocktails, vampires, Disney stuff, mardi gras beads; on and on and on.

An off shoot of this is "Kidnap" where your friends kidnap you to the hide out (usually another country) and you have to escape by correctly answering a question about that location.

So, if I'm not here, it's because I'm dorking around on Facebook. Until I get tired of it, I guess!

Mrs. B

Fire Dragon Pete

Our cat (well, technically he is a kitten at 6 1/2 months but he is so large already he seems more like a full grown cat) has this ruff of fur around his neck. Lily has it as well, but, Pete's is more pronounced. I kept thinking he reminded me of some sort of reptile. I thought it was a Gila Monster but, no, I did a Google and he doesn't look like a Gila Monster! I thought and thought and kept on Googling all sorts of things like "ruffed reptiles" or "lion looking reptiles". I finally landed on it. THIS odd looking reptile is what I had in mind!

It's a Fire Dragon.

See the resemblance?

Mrs. B

Wee Mrs. B (40 Odd Years Ago)

Here are three videos (made from OLD 8mm) of yours truly roughly 40 years ago.

What is really something is both seeing myself doing things I vaguely remember AND in places I remember being at (e.g., Indy) but my memories are of lots of people around me and that is about it.

Thanks to family friends Megann and John for putting these together!

Mrs. B

Our Street is Finally Complete

We've lived in our house over two years now. Hard to believe, huh? Yeah, I know. Time flies! When we moved in, our house was the last one on the street. Throughout 2007 and 2008, KB developed the rest of our street and now there are slightly less than 40 houses! The house across the street from us (where the KB trailer used to be) was finished up quite a few months ago; we think someone has finally purchased it. So, we'll be getting new neighbors soon as well.

Here are some then and now shots. The "then" shots were taken in January 2007 on an obviously snowy day. We'd only had Lucy a few weeks at that point in time, no back yard fence, hence why I was out walking her.

On a completely unrelated note, I was goofing around with taking pictures of Lily the other day. So, here are a few shots of our little Hell Cat.

Mrs. B

25 Random Things

Here is another one of these things! I have to admit, it's fun to think about this stuff because they ARE so random!

1. Although I am left handed, I golf, bat, use scissors and hold the blow dryer with my right hand.

2. I absolutely loath lobster. Yuck, yuck, yuck.

3. My eye sight is awful, as in off the charts awful. My left eye is far worse than my right due to getting acid in it in 8th grade science glass.

4. I had all four wisdom teeth pulled at the same time the summer after I graduated from high school.

5. I had braces but didn't have to wear head gear (thank God) while I was in high school.

6. I was baptized in the Lutheran church when I was 17.

7. I have two sisters and two brothers.

8. Twins run in our family (one of my sisters and one of my brothers each have a set of fraternal twins).

9. I am officially in menopause. I'm too young for this! But, at least I'll get it over with way before I'm 50.

10. I have owned five houses.

11. I lived in Lexington Kentucky for 11 months when I was in 6th grade. I hated it.

12. My high school boyfriend and I gave my mom a puppy for Christmas one year. That did not turn out well.

13. I love to listen to books on CD while I'm driving. I usually listen to books that otherwise I'd never pick up and read-read.

14. I had acrylic nails for almost 20 years. I went natural in 2007 and I really, really miss the fake ones.

15. I used to hate onions but now I think they are okay.

16. Ditto asparagus. I can't live without it now!

17. I can type well over 85 WPM.

18. My dreams are usually very, very weird.

19. I met my husband through eHarmony.

20. My Myers-Briggs is ISTJ. Off the charts I and very strong J. However, I can be a "fake" E if need be.

21. I can read Tarot cards and cast Astrological charts.

22. My moon is Capricorn. Many of my planets are in Capricorn. This is why I am more Capricorn in nature than the happy go lucky Sagittarius.

23. I absolutely LOVE to chew bubblegum.

24. I stopped smoking almost 5 years ago. I haven't really missed it (although I do indulge in a cigar from time to time with Mr. B).

25. My favorite restaurant in Charleston, SC is called Slightly North of Broad (or, SNOB). This is where we had our wedding dinner almost 4 years ago and it's where we'll be having our anniversary dinner this year!

Mrs. B

What's Cooking at the B's

I have a bunch of Blog ideas but just can't seem to get around to blogging these days. So, since I know it's been a few days since I HAVE blogged, I'll at least post something.

As I type this, Mr. B is in the kitchen working away on some yummy things for dinner. As is typical of these days, I plan the menu and usually do all of the cooking except for on the weekends (or if I am away at a meeting). This afternoon, we've been having fun working together in the kitchen preparing our meal for later on tonight while sipping on Victory Hop Devil Ale.

So, what's on the menu for tonight?

Grilled Filet Mignon with Roasted Garlic and Chipotle Pepper Chimichurri

Crusty Lentil Cakes with Garlic and Herbs in Tomato Chipotle Sauce

Salad

A bottle of some really good wine (TBD)

You can imagine how wonderful our kitchen smells now with the aromas of roasted garlic, tomatoes, onions and a spicy smoky chipotle finish!

I'm doing a lot of the Sous Chef work tonight but that's fine by me; every time we do this, I learn something new.

Mrs. B

Happy Birthday, Father!!!!!

Not that YOU need reminding as you are truly a poster child for this, but:

"Have a good time ALL of the time!"

Thought you'd get a kick out of this link on Spinal Tap!

Love you.

Mrs. B/Daughter Amy C