It would have been a really good idea to take some time and actually write a Thoughtful Post marking my one year anniversary as a writer, but that is so last year.
Speaking of last year, some things have occurred to me as I finally pondered what it meant to be doing this thing I do. This “blogging”, this “writing”, this “puking on the internet” to the amusement of myself. That’s quite obvious as I look at the number of drafts I have started and not finished which I can see even now as I’m typing this BECAUSE IT STARES AT ME FROM THE TOP OF THE SCREEN. It’s like a rent-a-cop in a strip mall checking me out because he just knows I stole that Thompson Twins tape and stuck it in my backpack.
Not that anything like that ever happened to me.
Where is it that one expects to go with blogging anyway? Is there a Blog Bible (if there were, reading Mimi Smartypants would be right at the top of the list of Commandments: Thou shalt readeth her and spew forth liquid from nasal cavities) that lets you know just what the protocol is? Do a meme, post some pictures, come up with a theme? Even the theme part is a little stretch for me (don’t remind me about the coffee theme – that’s just what I like every day to compliment the oxygen I take in) as I just go with what’s in my head most of the time.
Woe unto you. Is an apology in order now?
The point is this: blathering about my life hasn’t gotten me anywhere. There are no book deals in the works, Oprah has NOT called, and Taye Diggs isn’t sitting on my doorstep wearing a thong.
That last one might have gone a bit far, but don’t act like you didn’t just close your eyes for a moment to picture him doing that.
Thoughful Postings may be very Last Year, but it is so the year of Self-Aggrandizement. Thank God. I’ve been waiting for that one to come back in fashion. With that in mind, I’ve been pondering What I Do. I should blame Fizzle who once told me on the phone, “You know, you can do no wrong, Mocha. There are some readers who think you can do nothing bad.”
“HA!” I really did say that. I say it a lot. HA! It’s a signature of sorts. I’m convinced she said that because I have the nicest commentors in the world. Seriously. Not. One. Troll. There are group hugs and kisses and people who want to send me coffee. It’s a total Love Shack in here.
Lest you think I’m trying to say that I’m done with blogging LIKE ONE OF MY IDOLS AND FAVORITE WRITERS EVER, (oh, and the caps is just for effect – I’m not bitter or anything) I’m not. It was just time to reflect and puke onto the screen for a moment.
What do I do?
I write about education issues and the things that absolutely infuriate me about what goes along in my profession including dealing with poverty which, let’s face it, just sucks.
I write about my special relationship with my daughter which makes me wonder when someone is going to come clean and admit to basing Lorelei and Rory on us. Except Lauren Graham looks great in a pair of jeans. I hate her. But they look awfully cute in this picture (want. that. dress.) so I may practice a little forgiveness after all.
I write about the inappropriate things I hear and say and do that tickle me to no end.
I write about my sons once in a while BUT MY RELATIONSHIP IS NO LESS SPECIAL WITH THEM SO SOME OF YOU NEED TO STOP PRIVATELY E-MAILING ADMONISHMENTS TO ME. They aren’t adults, so I don’t really feel like discussing their childhood all the time.
I write about the hilarity of living with Kennimus who truly needs his own damn blog.
I write about the classes I take and nearly fail because there are times when I simply want to walk up to a professor and tell him to shove it right up his ass for not practicing what they preach us to do in the public school classroom because for some reason it’s ok to champion mediocrity in higher education but K-12 teachers need to be held to a higher standard and blah blah blah…
Here’s to another year of blathering.
blather on, my good woman, blather on.
Wow! I didn’t know if I read into that or what. For me and my comments and why I read your blog. You are insanely truthful. Your writing style is inspiring. You haven’t attracted all cushy people, I am not cushy, I do not poo-poo, but reading your entries, you bring that out in me. I can’t wait to see what the next year holds! My blog, when I write in it is like therapy for me. If I get comments, great, if I don’t I don’t care.
Like Jen said Blather on!
What Jenni said. P.S. Anyone who hasn’t figured out how much you adore your boys has not been paying attention.
Dagnabit, Jenni beat me to it.
I enjoy your blathering and pontification spells.
I enjoy the periodic cleaning of my flatscreen at work as I wipe the coffe and nose nuggets off after one of your more hi-larious this-can’t-possibly-be-happening-to-me-but-wait-I-did-have-a-pig-fart-in-my-face-so-yeah-I-guess-it-can-happen-to-me moments.
Whew, I was worried this was going to be a “It’s not you, it’s me,” entries.
After you read my latest post in honor of your blogaversary, I may get a comment that reads “It’s not me, it’s you.”
I don’t think I need to tell you how much I adore you blog anymore, I think I said enough in that last entry. However, just because I like you, I am going to tell Taye to get off my porch and head on over to yours.
I enjoy your blathering and your tongue in cheek style of writing. I enjoy your serious posts. I still see myself returning to keep reading.
Hi Kelly!!
I just had my year anniversary too! Although your entry is much better than mine..I went the lazy way and just re-published my first 2 posts!! I’ve learned SO much in a year and I guess my blog has changed alot too. CONGRATS on your anniversary!!!
HUGS!!
who, what? what’dIdonow?
If you keep blathering….I’ll keep reading!
Happy Blogiversary!
Here’s to many more…….
Jennifer
Kelly,
Your writing has always influenced me in more ways than I can ever tell you. I sometimes find myself saying (in my crazy head of course), “What would Mocha do?”
I think because I feel like I know you, that you’ve become like a sister to me. The older sister I never had. And that makes me relate to you in a different way than I would if I just randomly read your blogs and not interact with you.
You draw your readers in and that is something that most bloggers have trouble with. I know I’m one of them. It’s hard for me to draw people in.
I adore you so much. I wish we lived near each other so I could tell you in person!
I’m just thankful that you aren’t quitting. I thought this was going to be a Dear John post. I know how you feel when someone you absolutely love to read just stops without warning and you feel like they done upped and left ya! I’m still haunting Zeldafitz’s site for one tiny morsel of a sign that she will return. Which is kind of creepy because although I loveeeeeee your blog and I loved hers too, I rarely comment and I think maybe it’s because I ramble and I am in awe and get tongue around people like you guys that have the discipline to post everyday and not only post but put together funny stories that make the everyday seem hilarious and adventurous. So I’m going to stop acting all creepy and worshipy (word?) and just say that I love your blathering. Reading my lists of blogs is a second job all in itself but I check into your little coffee shop here everyday.
So Happy Anniversary!
No. Here’s to Many Many more years of blathering.
(I’m quitting so I can free up more time to see you when you’re in St. Louis!)
((Thanks for your kind words.))
Oh, just get over yourself, already, wouldja?
HA! ;-P
And have you not noticed that my “recent posts” are SPECIFICALLY designated as ‘blatherings?’
It’s a lofty pursuit, I tell you. Years from now, people will be looking for the great blatherers of our time, and they will come up short, and they shall rue the day they scorned the blather.
You could have sent me a card on my birthday instead of blathering. Or a present. Or two.
You could have blathered about me. Although that wouldn’t be blathering as such, but great literature.
Nonetheless, Kell, I still adore you!
I don’t think you have any idea about where you are in the blog world. I don’t think you realize what an impact you have made.
I have only started reading your blog for oh, a couple of months I guess. But I know that I can depend on you to be enlightening, frivolous, educational, hysterically funny, and just another person on this planet striving to make a difference within yourself and to others living outside your immediate world.
Oh, yeah, I’m gushing. But, I don’t as a rule. Sometimes it not so much WHAT you say, as how you say it. And sometimes it’s what you don’t say that counts just as much.
And finally, I read your blog because you’re not full of yourself. You are who you are. And I like that.
A LOT of folks do.
So, keep doing what you’re doing. You still have a lot to say and I think you’ve only touched the tip of the iceberg!
…peace
OK,OK, Malathionman will show up to your classroom in a thong with an apple for the teacher. Much better than Taye Diggs. Happy anniversary. Don’t let it become work. Take breaks if you need them. I’m sure you must feel pressured to write when you sometimes really don’t feel like it.
What? ANOTHER blog birthday post? Does that mean I have to say nice things about you AGAIN? Come on now…it takes effort to craft these pithy nuggets of brilliant bratiness – I can’t just go around spreading them willy-nilly like the Johnny (Jilly?) Appleseed of the Blog Universe.
*pfft!*
But good show with the gifts idea…I concur with you and Belinda.
Oh, and remember my blog birthday is in three months. Forget Tiffany’s – send music, books and coffee.
And I pray it is a very good year for you and yours…
Happy Birthday! I hope you get all the presents you asked for!
Russ
Uh, Mocha. I do believe that blathering about your life has gotten you somewhere. From the comments that I have read you have gained a tremendous amount of fans who sound like they would be true friends if everyone lived closer, you have shown the world that you are strong, dedicated woman and I’m sure that someone somewhere took that to heart and made some changes about themselves, you’ve travelled to California for a big “PAR-TAY!” on blogging and from the sound of it had a great time and met some great people, you have touched souls, hearts, and minds and to me well I would take that over Oprah any day. I tip my glass of chocolate milk to you in a toast to you on your Blogaversary, “Blather on, Ms. Mocha, blather on. We will listen”
Welcome to my Home
This Is Me…like it or not.
Happy Blog Birthday tooooooooo youuuuuuuuuuu (and your little blog, too)!
Happy Blogiversary!
I’m glad I found you…looking forward to the next year.
Please don’t stop. Ever. I just found you. I am looking forward to the next year of your bloggy-goodness. By the way. I was a public school teacher too (I was just hired as a reading coach when I had my daughter and stayed home instead) I hear you… all about your career…
Blatering on, then. I’m blathering on…
Oh, and a belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my friend, Joe-from-the-Netherlands-who-never-forgets-my-real-birthday-and-whom-I-adore. Told you I suck as a friend, Joe…
“and Taye Diggs isn’t sitting on my doorstep wearing a thong.”
That’s because he’s here sitting next to me in DC. Want me to send him up north? Lemme know.
You are the most inspiring person on the web! Oprah should call you! And yeah I did close my eyes, but only for a second…honest!
I have no idea who Taye Diggs even is. All this sunshine does bad things to the Aussie brain
I also dont watch very much TV!
Blathering? Ummmm honey if MY blather had even an ounce of the pulling power YOUR blather has, I’d be delighted. I blather cause no one at home cares enough to listen to me. I maybe get a comment ot two. YOU blather…. and the world pauses to listen.
Don’t ever underestimate the power you have inside you woman! E.V.E.R! You are an astounding human being who touches so many peoples lives.
I agree with VENTIL8R. I need my dosage of coffee and nose nuggets to keep me sane
MWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH
and HAPPY BLOGIVERSARY TO YOU AND ALL YOUR BLOGALITES hahaha
Congratulations!
seeing/listening to what others are, helps us to see and think about who we are. quite valuable. and friendship…even cybership….priceless. Ü
Some random disjointed thoughts about this post:
Item: Nowhere spelled differntly is “Now Here”, and I’m sure I speak for many, many others when I saw I’m very damn glad you are.
Item:(I just licked your picture on the screen sugar butt)
Item: Actually, I did NOT close my eyes and picture Tye Diggs in a thong, just so’s ya know.
Item: Self-Aggrandizement is right up there near the top of the “things I love to do” list, right under Self-Abuse, which is #1. Was that TMI?
Item: Lorelei and Rory? Where the hell have I been? Those two are ab-so-fuggin-loot-ly gorgeous! Holy shit! They look a LOT like a whitebread version of you and Mallory! (how’s THAT for sucking up?)
Item: Blog name for Ken: Kennimus Maximus Aeternus (just a thought) You could also throw in Erectus in there somewhere I suppose…
Here’s to another year of blathering! May there be many more.
~(:=0)
Blather on, Ms Mocha. I know I don’t comment a lot, but I still come and read you
Happy 1st borthday of random thoughts and not so random rants.
Maria (you know…from that OTHER place you used to blog on)