Argh...

So people are always telling me I need to blog again, I need to write again; they love my blog, they love my writing; it's so funny, it's so interesting; I'm so talented...okay, you get it. Of course when I say "people", I actually mean my family/friends/boyfriend, so clearly they are biased and likely just want to read the secret inter-workings of my mind and not my writing at all!

But they are right, and maybe that's why I resent hearing the comments. I *did* enjoy blogging. I *do* appreciate the creativity of writing and of having an outlet to express it. But it's also *so* much pressure when you have a blog! Or at least it is for me, being a perfectionist and all. I like to have a formula: relevant photo, interesting topic, long post, good writing. I like to repeat that formula each time, and I hate when I don't stick to it.

So, who knows if I am back. But I am at least writing this, and considering it....

Labels

A lot of things have changed since I was blogging last! One of the things I'm most excited about is the addition of the "labels" field in the post creation template. I always longed for a way to organize my posts in the past, and now I can! I spent waaaaaaaay too much time going through all my old posts and adding labels, but I just wouldn't have been able to sleep at night if I didn't. So, now you can re-read old posts by topic, I know this is just music to your ears! Anyhow, I've exhausted myself with that task and am calling it a night. I have several posts in various stages of composition though, so stayed tuned. And in the meantime, feel free to browse my new labels section to the left.

to do #2: label my old posts

Referrals

Sometimes I think of looking at the referring pages to my blog, and when I do I'm almost always cracked up. Today someone searched the words science fair todo with animals hearing on MSN search, and my blog was the number one search result. Seriously! Check here. I wish I could have offered some help on a science fair to do with animal's hearing, but alas, I have no advice to give on that subject matter.

to do #299: find the oddest referral to my blog

Writing

Writing, originally uploaded by carriemcm.

With only five posts to my name, I am suddenly feeling the pressures of blogging. Have I run out of fodder so soon? This is an almost laughable thought, yet it feels very real. I'm going to blame it, in part, on being a Pisces. I have the tendency to begin a project with a full steam ahead attitude, only to find myself running out of steam, and interest, pretty quickly (I think some people also call this adult ADD!). Nevertheless, there are plenty of constants in my life, and no reason my blog can't be one of them.

Last year, for the first time in my life, I kept a journal on an almost daily basis. Many days, especially near the beginning, writing was a chore, but there were many other days where writing was a catharsis. And almost every day writing gave me a sense of accomplishment: that I had followed through on something I'd set out to do, no matter how tired I was (my preferred journal writing time was right before bed). Looking back, I'm pretty certain that keeping it helped me to work through a difficult time in a pretty healthy way. And so, I know the possibilities for reward in keeping my daily blog date.

I'm also feeling the pressures of keeping to my format. It started with the title of my blog which I hardly gave any thought to. Then a few days later with my first blog entry. And before I knew it, the angle on which I had been wondering what my blog would take had grown organically right before my eyes. However, I'm now finding myself thinking throughout the day, what am I going to blog about today? What can I accomplish, take a picture of, and blog about in an interesting way today? Whoa, talk about over-thinking something that began with the very idea of not over-thinking. The only remedy I can think of is to chill the fuck out!

Keeping up with my blog is important for a number of reasons, the most practical of which being, it gives me a ready answer to the question I dread receiving the most- 'What have you been up to lately?'. So with a sixth post now to my credit I cross off a daily #221: write.

Numero Uno

numero uno, originally uploaded by carriemcm.

It's my first blog entry.

I know I'm a little late to the party, a lot late actually. Does better late than never apply to blogs? I hope so.

What am I trying to accomplish with this blog? What's my angle? I haven't quite figured that out yet. Will I remain anonymous or will I give the blog address to friends & family? Will I wax poetic on a single subject or will I be all over the place? Will I use this as an online journal or will I edit myself? All questions that deserve answers, or consideration at the very least. I didn't think much about the title of my blog, it was just the first thing that popped into my head. Which may be indicative of my current mindset. I have a running to do list a mile long, and it doesn't seem that much is being crossed off.

So, for now I will bask in the happiness of crossing #368 off my list: create a blog.