I’m so excited! I’m leaving the boondocks to spend a few days in the city! As I’ve mentioned before, although where I live is ‘pretty’ and has an abundance of nature to enjoy, it’s way too remote for me. I often go weeks without seeing another human being other than my husband. So, a trip to the city is like recess is for kids — only better.
It’s a six hour drive from my home to Edmonton so the driving time really takes a chunk out of the traveling days. My husband is taking all day Friday off work to look after the dogs so I can have an extra day! It’s partly a working trip but I’ll also be spending time visiting my son and his family.
Because I’m stuck out here on the farm I really don’t have any good clothes and I always feel so self conscious when I’m in the city. I’ve decided I’m going to buy myself a new top while I’m in Edmonton so I don’t feel like such a country bumpkin. And I might buy a pair of shoes too if I get time since all I have to wear is boots.
With all the outrage by the public over Facebook sneaking in those new terms of service, I see they retracted those outrageous terms! But, careful friends. Those of you who do participate there, I bet they incorporate them later on down the road anyway. Next time they’ll be ready with a well polished PR campaign to sell the idea with all kinds of spin.
I’m finding that I’m spending more time on the Internet again than I really want to. In fact, I’d even say I’m becoming a bit of a mouse-potato. In the past I’ve given myself time limits for the amount of time I would spend on emails. It often works for as much as a few months at a time, then I slip back to spending more Internet time. The same thing happened a couple years ago with blogs I would visit. Again, I gave myself limits — an hour and no more per day. That worked quite well for a while but, you guessed it, I’ve allowed myself to slip back into spending more time online. So, here I sit writing this taking time that should otherwise be spent outdoors, working on my writing, or even house cleaning (egads).
The moral of the story friends is that I have to go back to limiting my online time. Beginning Monday when I return from my fabulous weekend in the city, I will go from mouse-potato to life-spud (busy-with-life). I will be spending no more time at Flickr. I will be spending less time blogging. Blogging will be sporadic and visiting blogs will be greatly reduced.
I have some fiction I need to focus on. I have two photography projects that need my attention for some gallery submissions this year. I have dogs that need to be exercised and stimulated at least twice or more a day. And so it goes. I know that most of you have the same types of responsibilities and likely understand.
I’m not leaving altogether but I must move away from the Internet and back into my real life.
For those of you who love photos and are interested in seeing some of my work, you can visit my daily photos. I don’t even have to be on the Internet for those: I load up a bunch and let it be; the comments come to my email which is much more manageable.
So, I’m off to the city and look forward to the sea of people; the buzz of conversation; the delights of spending time with my son, his wife, and my grand daughters (and their Boston Terrier, Mabel); and Starbucks. May you have special times doing what you love or being with those you love.
Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can. ~Danny Kaye
I hope you’ll leave the mouse behind and go toss a little paint on life too!