>I should have celebrated this 5 posts ago. Of course, “shoulds” are bogus. This post (today, right now) is my 105th post on Compost Happens. How time flies!
I started the blog as self-expression and self-therapy, if there is such a word. I love to read and make time for books, but I don’t make time to write. When I do make time to write, it feels SO good! In that way, the blog has definitely met my expectations.
My immediate family reads it, if not regularly, at least now and then. A few local friends and extended family read as well. But as for other readers, I’m not sure. I put a stat counter on just last week out of curiousity, and I found more lurkers than I expected. I’m not on the level of the Famous Mommybloggers or the BlogHer crew, but I do get a respectable number of readers each day. Even though I blog for myself, the idea of an audience pleases me.
I started A Mother’s Garden of Verses when I put up this post because I kept thinking, “I have a poem that expresses this so well. But it doesn’t really fit the format of the blog.” I knew that would happen again, so I set up the other blog as well. I don’t update it nearly as often as this one, but every now and then I put up a new poem or an old one that I like. They’re all mine — don’t blame anyone else if they’re poor work — but give me credit if you like them. 🙂
I’ve enjoyed reading others’ blogs, too. I plan to update my links or set up a blogroll when I get time (uh-huh, yeah, right) to send people who read me to those from whom I gain inspiration.
Thanks, blogosphere. I’m here to stay. I hope all yous (that’s Wisconsinese for y’all) enjoy the ride as much as I do.

>The philosophical angle: a mix of serious and humorous

The dishwasher should be a luxury, not a necessity.
Reality: For a family with two working parents, it’s a need, not a want. Dishes are low on the totem pole of priorities.
End result: Despite the cost, we replaced the dishwasher this summer.

I should use the minivan less, for both financial and environmental reasons.
Reality: I use the city bus with El Grande occasionally, but I could walk more or ride a bike. I don’t have a bike – yet.
End result: I will buy myself a bike with the money I saved by ending my YMCA membership.

I shouldn’t drink so much coffee.
Reality: I drink too much coffee.
End result: I like it. Don’t sweat it. And my new coffeemaker has a programmable timer — fun!

I should have watched the entire Packer game last Saturday night.
Reality: It was in San Diego and started at 9:00 p.m. our time.
End result: I gave up and went to bed at halftime. Hey, it’s only the preseason.

Every family member should empty his or her pockets before putting clothes in the washing machine.
Reality: Husband sent his jeans through the wash with the cell phone in one pocket.
End result: It’s still sitting on the kitchen counter (near the nonworking dishwasher) drying out. Thank goodness he didn’t put the phone through the dryer, too!

When taking a car in for service, the mechanics should look it over thoroughly.
Reality: 5000 miles ago we took the car in. The computer couldn’t muster a code to tell them what to do. Despite our detailed description of the symptoms, they gave us the stock reply: “We can’t just throw parts at it!” Incidentally, when we called the dealer in the next big town, their customer service rep gave us the same line (“We can’t just throw parts at it!”) without even looking at the car.
End result: 5000 miles and several dangerous moments later, the computer finally gives them a code that leads the service folks to a likely repair.

I should be eating fresh tomatoes and other yummy veggies.
Reality: I planted the garden three weeks late, so everything will ripen later.
End result: I’ll be serving BLTs every day when school starts.

When the university sends out an email bill, the online site for payment should work.
Reality: The site was down for approximately three weeks.
End result: When the site finally came up, it was excruciatingly slow while every family that paid online tried to pay at the same time.

When I upload a digital picture to the computer, I should be able to find it again easily.
Reality: Pictures always seem to get saved somewhere random instead of in the file I thought I used as a destination.
End result: I grumble and use bad words when I’m searching for the pictures I just took!

Saying “should” is like saying “assume”; it just doesn’t jive with reality.
Thank you for listening to me rant; I feel better already.
Smile. (Or is that an evil grin?)