What I do when I should be doing something else

Instead of doing the heap of things I've written neatly on a giant piece of yellow legal pad paper and tacked to the bulletin board directly in front of me, I am doing... nothing. Surfing. Reading. Wondering why you people are not updating your websites. Calculating airfare for two and a half people to Hawaii. Kicking myself for scheduling a 'work' day on the sunniest day we've had in a long time. Thinking about crawling into bed to make up for last night's replacing-the-pacifier marathon. Drafting forty-seven versions of an "I can't be in the moms group anymore" email but not actually sending it because I'm a whiny loser who still can't decide if I want to be in the moms group anymore.

At the moment, I happen to be reading this. Rather relevant, I'd say.

I have just about run out of unread items in my feed reader. CURSES! So here is your assignment, Internet: Send me some links! Who should I be reading? What's funny? What's the first blog you check? What was the first blog you read? Chances are we all read the same Very Important Bloggers, but if you had to pick one, who would it be? Who could make a 20-page post about watching paint dry the most entertaining thing you read that week? Did your best friend's cousin's hairdresser's dogsitter just start a blog? Are there topics worth reading other than the mommy variety? (Doubtful, but I'm open!) (Just kidding!) (I'll read anything!) (Especially if it's about TV! Or has recipes! Or is super duper laugh-out-loud funny!) Most importantly, am I reading YOU?

Seriously, Internet. My feed reader needs some updating. Stat.

To cheer you on, here are a few of my picks. Dum dum dum!

The first blog I'm checking lately is Seattle Mom Blogs, because I up and joined a few days ago. (I know! Me! Joiny!) I had to get over my initial embarrassment at not having any IDEA there was even such a SITE as Seattle Mom Blogs, seeing as how I call myself all three of those things, but now I am wondering how I can get all those women to be my new best friends. Not that I need new best friends, but I could really use some blogging friends, those of the real life variety, because it's kinda weird when your real life friends view your favorite hobby as some kind of ailment. As in, "Oh, you're doing that blobbing thing again." Sigh! Anyway, I am working on yet another redesign of this stupid website (maybe they are right about the ailment thing) and it's going to have flair. Kinda like this:

Oooh pretty! (And thank you Seattle Mom Blogs, for letting me hang with the cool kids.)

And while we're doing the joiny thing, I will tell you that I signed myself up for Mrs. Flinger's Weight Loss Challenge. Because I am INSANE. And, as my mother-in-law brought me a four cheese Panera souffle for lunch today, I am off to a rockin' good start.

My I-will-read-her-paint-drying-post blogger is Julia. I can't really remember the first blog I read- probably Amalah like everyone else- but I've been reading Julia for ages. While I love the way blogging connects you to so many people just like you, I especially love how it introduces you to people you'd have no reason to meet in real life. I'm not sure what Julia and I would have to talk about in a coffee shop, but I will read anything she writes. She makes bedrest fascinating!

But since I'm sure you all know about her, what about these fine women who visit this here website? Tara's kid is steps ahead of mine, which means I flit on over to Tara's site to read about the next kind of craziness on the horizon. What in the world is Angela going to have to write about after she gets married? I have no idea, but I will be there to find out! Go tell el-e-e she most definitely needs a Bumbo. (Everyone needs a Bumbo!) I check up on Manda and Nessa and Kris because she always says nice things about me and FLATTERY GETS YOU EVERYWHERE and also my friend who is pregnant and therefore unable to participate in the weekly wine drinking we tend to do around here.

Mmm, wine.

Can you believe I just spent an hour doing this when I could have been crossing things off my to do list? Like: FIGURE OUT HOW TO EARN MONEY. Gah.

And now all that work made me hungry. THANKS. Something tells me I've already lost the $10 I put in the weight loss challenge pot.

Comments

[Nessa]

First and foremost I must say I am flattered to be linked in a post. I have finally achieved ultimate happiness, I can die in peace now. Thank you. I too love Julia and she is the first thing I check on in the morning.

The first blog I ever read and I mean ever, was Julie at a little pregnant. I found her before we embarked on the pregnancy journey and I think it was divine intervention, thanks God, because Iended up needing her and everyone she linked to. Finding her was my entry into the support group that has gotten me this far and wow, this is turning into a post in and of itself (there should have been hyphens but I don't care). Maybe I will continue this post onto my blog, but first go check out my blog and see my friend's new cd. Yes, shameful plugging of one's own blog. Good night. I love you Maggie.

[Lindsay]

You could read mine, but I haven't posted in like 2 weeks. I will be posting soon, though. I'm taking the GRE on Friday, so I have a ton of studying to do between now and then, and Steven's grandfather died this past Friday evening, so things have been busy.

[Tara]

Hey! I'm reading your blog while I should be doing something else. I'm here at my parents' house, full of babysitters, supposed to be "working," and I'm reading blogs.

Oh, and, MMMmmmmm! Panera. Haven't had one of those cheese things, but if it has cheese, I'm usually in. Pretty dangerous that my sister works at that place...

Thanks for the shout out, too. =)

[Shannon]

Jamie at Fully Operational Battle Station

[Colleen]

Your blog is one of the blogs I check on a regular basis. You're very funny. I update mine almost every day, but a good portion of those posts are just cute pictures (well, really cute pictures) of my daughter so that her grandmothers won't call and complain that there aren't any new pictures.

I think you should send the email about quitting the moms group. I've read your schedule and think you're insane! I feel like I've conquered the world if I manage to grocery shop and take Linlee to Little Gym in the same week.

[AbsolutelyBananas]

I'll be your new best friend!!!
And I'm about to sign up for the Mrs. Flinger challenge too. I think I must be crazy. Go team!

[Tracy]

Delurking to tell you I really like this site (http://www.thefoodwhore.com/), it's the only non-adoption site (besides your own) that I read.

Tracy

[Tracy]

p.s., I guess (considering the name) I should tell you why I like that site. It's really funny and well written. The author has a restaurant, but most of the stuff is about her crazy clients for her catering business. I find myself laughing out loud often at her posts....one of my best finds on my blog roll.

Tracy

[el-e-e]

You definitely ought to be reading Swistle (swistle.blogspot.com) and Tessie (messingwithtexas.blogspot.com), who are HIGH-larious.

Those are my Refresh-Refresh-Refresh update your site already! sites. :)

Thank you for the mention and the Bumbo advice! AJ didn't have one - we used a vibrating bouncy seat ForEver - but maybe this little girly will. You're on my faves list, too -- anyone I add to my sidebar is my very fave.

[Leticia]

I agree with el-e-e, definitely swistle. Also definitely sundry (www.sundrymourning.com). Oh, and Roni at www.weightwatchen.com lost over 70 pounds and always has some great recipes in her blog...
My first blog ever read was dooce and when she went to Blogher and gave a shout out to all her friends...i found a whole lot more to read.

[Nessa]

Ummm, Just re-read my comment from yesterday and I kind of creeped myself out. I meant I love in the way that I love your writing, not the ooey-gooey kind of love. Well, not yet anyway ;)

[ashley]

The blogs I read, strangely enough, are either Mommy blogs (yet I am a 23 year old without ANY babies on the brain for several years, at least) or radically environmental bloggy experiments. I am sure you know the Moms - since I believe I found you through Arwen and/or Emily (of the captain hambone variety :)). I am am leaning to "green" living, thus I absolutely adore:
noimpactman.typepad.com (a liberal in NYC who decided to put his money where his mouth is in a radical experiment)
crunchychicken.blogspot.com (a mom from Seattle (!) who gives us all kind of info and challenges)
greenasathistle.com (a Toronto writer who has decided to do 1 "green" thing a day for a year)
walkslowlylivewildly.com (a Christian mom who writes beautifully about faith and being borderline hippie :))

Okay, I've used up enough wall space here. But seriously, check them out!! Even if you're Bill O'Reilly's biggest fan, it's some good reading. :)

Yay procrastination...off to write an article...or not.

[Mrs. Flinger]

I'm SO glad you joined. Your money safe. I just porked out on pretzels and icing. Nice.

P.S. I am supposed to be working right now. GAH.

[Jodi]

Is it shameless self promotion to suggest you come and read my blog if you find yourself in the same dilemma again? :-)

I found you via the Nablopomo randomiser and will add you to my favourites folder. I think I'll check out some of the other blogs mentioned as well. I'm having a very quiet day today.