I had one

But I lost it

Still life

I am done with my web optimization class.  It was not easy, but I learned a lot. I was going to take another class this quarter, but decided spending the rest of the summer working on my job search and writing a book chapter would be better.

I hope to spend at least one day a week writing and at one afternoon taking a nap.

I could use a nap.

Friday. Night. Light.

What a week.

word - less tuesday

Cougar Town.

Sharpest Knife in the block.

What a flower will do for sun.

social kvetching

 

First of all, thank you all for comments on my last post. I know its a pain to comment, but I appreciate that you spent time to give me your thoughts. I wish there was a way to mush three blogs into one. I'm not sure would work really well unless I can figure out a way to do it all with tabs.  Hmm. Let me think on this. 

Anyways ...

Some weekends, when the rest of the gang retreats to the North! and Casa Beagle, I remain here to do exciting things like homework, book club and to eat standing in front of the fridge. Its all so very mature.

By the end of the week I just can't be bothered to cook or nor speak to anyone about what I am planning on having for dinner, especially if it involves words like verjus or ramps.  Yesterday, I discussed on my Facebook page the angst of deciding to drive to a grocery store with self-checkout versus one without to pick up a frozen pizza. The self-check would help avoid in engaging in inane conversation with the checker about weekend plans, the weather or anything mildly uncontroversial.  This Facebook conversation went on longer than it would have taken me drive to the store and pick up my pizza. I realize this is a behavior that I typically mock.  My dinner of turkey jerky, sharp cheddar cheese and oranges because I was too tired from typing to drive to the store was also pathetic and terribly lonely.

Social kvetching, it is not for sissies.

I just haven't been myself lately....

This blogging everyday thing is challenging.  I am only here once every three days, but I post for Ernest ( paw recognition software in the works), and on banamak.org as well.  I feel like I am becoming a content creator par excellence.|Trust me, I have some pretty awesome content when I try.  It is hard to keep my voices distinct. I could have Ernest blog about my life (yawn) or cooking (yum) or I could post recipes on Ernest's blog.

I could just chuck the whole thing out the window and start over again.

I get lots of great feedback from my friends, my three admirers and my eight detractors on my content. Some of you are also now starting to post comments and I am trying really hard to engage you by replying to them.

In school, we talked a lot about engagement.  I think this is key to building a solid brand and following, and something I should have paid better attention to a while ago.

I love twitter because it throws things out to the universe and usually you get some quick feedback or see if you content goes viral with very simple twitter analytic tools.  In my opinion, this is much  harder with blog content. With share buttons on blogs or at the end of blog posts, you can all share out my content (please do). But to comment or have a dialogue requires commitment/conversion/a call to action of you, dear reader, to register (no!) or tell me more about yourself (as if I would do anything with that information), in order to engage.  In this day and age, this is too much work for the consumer.   What would work better for you?  I would love for comments, I would love for shares, I would love likes.

I think I'm pretty freaking funny (at times) and have something witty to say (upon occasion) and usually have something worth sharing (more than ever).  If you like this content, please send me a sign.

As I learn more and more about how the consumer/reader acts when encountering any sort of marketing/information on the interwebs, I realize how important it is to engage and start conversations. While I am not trying to sell you a toaster/natural supplement/insurance quote, I would love to convert you to a loyal reader and follower of my love of food, commentary on life, social media, travel, and what a six year old basset is really thinking if you let his humans blog for him.

Trust me, this is not an easy thing to write, nor post.  I am trying not to grovel, just trying to figure out where to go next.

nm

Weekend Wrap Up (mostly pictures)

I am at a loss for words, or I should say, I am too tired to type.

Everyone's weekend should start with a ladies' luncheon, be followed with a nap and then home made maraschino cherries.



In the morning, one should awaken in time to pick berries before one's flight to a far off, but somewhat near island.



To the NORTH!


A place with plenty of napping and sunning locales.



for humans and their dogs.



Even when you leave the next day, you should make sure you have the necessities for a successful journey - Good coffee.



A view...



and plenty of snacks.



When you get home, unpack quickly, start a load of laundry, take your hot dog for a walk, check your mail, water your plants and wish that it could be Saturday all over again.

cherries out of the bowl

I am crowdsourcing maraschino cherry opinions today. Thank goodness for the internet.  These are so beautiful, I cannot even think of pitting them in order to preserve them. I love them just the way they are. 


If you enjoy a Manhattan at my house in a few weeks, take heed.


Other than that, E. went to the neurologist today. She was very happy with his progress and gave him clearance to travel to the North.  For this I am relieved, it  has been a long few weeks.

sweet time

If you had asked me a month ago what I would be doing today, I would have told you that I would be walking Ladenburg, Germany where my friend Tracy (@choicemorsel) moved to last summer.  Instead, I am in Seattle, gardening between showers and slaving over my web analytics project.

Life can change in a  moment.  Two Sundays ago,  E. was shivering in pain and looked awful. One emergency vet visit, one visit to the regular vet for x-rays and two visits to the neurologist later, we find out that E. ruptured a disc in his back. How this happened is unknown to us.  He likes to rough house, he runs like a crazy boy and he jumps off the furniture.  E. does everything that a normal dog would do in the course of the day.  The problem lies in the fact that long low dogs are more prone to back injuries. Thanks to great advice from our breeder, the neurologist, some pain killers and benadryl, E is definitely on the road to recovery without surgery.  He is currently mostly kennel or house bound.  He goes for short walks and we have to persuade  him to turn around earlier than normal.  His demeanor and personality are still the same - joyful, stubborn and ebullient.

There is no rough housing, nor jumping any more. We are trying to adhere to the all four paws on the floor concept of life.  We're willing to do these things because E. can walk, run, pounce, commando crawl and curl up like he used to do.  We're happy with this.

E.'s injury changed our summer.  I will see the gardens of Lombardy some other year, eat gelato when it won't melt,  and visit Tracy before too long.   I am wistful as I look at friends' summer pictures as the idea of being home bound for a few weeks is my new reality.   The fact my dog is going to be okay is the most I can ask for as we go slow and take our sweet time towards recovery.