Will Today's Blog Post Be Funny or Sad?

It's Day 20 in the Ultimate Blog Challenge and I'd like to say "thank you" to all the new blogs/writers I have been introduced to through this group. You have enriched my last 20 days with your inspired posts!

Today's Topic:

1)What topics or posts have worked to get your readers talking? 

2)Write about the 3 or 4 blog posts that you have received the most comments on.  Were those comments positive or negative?  Were the posts controversial?  Is there a theme of some sort?  Will you be writing more on that subject?

My website is a personal site presented from my point of view as an empty nest parent (yep, that's me sitting in a gigantic nest at the Phoenix Zoo!).  I started it the day after my youngest daughter went to college and the house was officially empty of children.  I wanted to explore my feelings not just about this new status but also write about all the ideas that fill this head of mind, with the hopes that I might possibly be able to sleep through the night once my thoughts were spilled out on the site!  It's been an emotional roller coaster and the words that have followed have also had their ups and downs.....................

In the end, there are two distinctly different types of posts that have gotten my readers talking and sharing: 

• The heart-wrenching posts about missing my children and trying to fill their void brings my audience of other empty nest people to my rescue.  Or they are experiencing the same feelings and are looking for camaraderie and/or advice.  I have no control when these lonely days will occur and they cannot be forced into my foreground, therefore, the posts come out naturally and in rhythm with my heart.  I almost feel obligated to write on these days but its also quite therapeutic for me.  (I recommend writing either in a blog or diary to many of my readers).  But, I am also glad that after three years of being an empty nester,  I don't have these emotional days as often as I once did, because they are exhausting.  I wish you could see me.....I am typing and crying and usually want to nap afterwards. Or have a big glass of wine!
• The second category are when I am feeling a little whacky.  A little wicked.  A little sarcastic. The topics are all over the place....maybe my husband doesn't read my blog, maybe I am heavy and my pants have split in the middle of a meeting or maybe I am laughing about our political system.  The common denominator is they all are humorous and many other people in my "shoes" can relate or have had the same thing happen to them.  Laughing at ourselves and common occurrences bonds the writer/reader and we laugh together...through the internet. Everyone needs a good laugh.  I cannot always write these types of posts; the ideas seem to come out of thin air or......they don't.  It's best not to try to be funny when you're not thinking funny.  (Of course, I cannot seem to find one single example of me trying...unsuccessfully....to be funny. That's funny, isn't it!)   
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• Finally, sometimes I just feel like writing on a serious matter or about politics.  This is dangerous territory because, really, no one reads posts that have opposing views with an open mind.  So, I am just writing for myself.  Which, in itself, is not a bad exercise in itself.  Just don't expect to learn anything from the process.  Negative comments can be hurtful, too. They just aren't my cup of tea.  (Warning, never write a guest post for the Cubs on a Cardinal's fan page......you will learn 4000 new ways to say go f**k yourself!)
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•  Today's writing exercise was interesting....it was fun to think about my blog and why and what I write about.  Thanks for suggesting it!

If I Cannot Watch Baseball, Then it's Time for a Little Political Ranting

This mood I am in certainly has something to do with the fact that I have a cough and cold and it's time to be getting ready to go to a Chicago Cubs' spring training game!  This would be the perfect day to head out to a game as the skies have finally cleared and the weather would be perfect for a little baseball, except it's not nice to get innocent people sick with your cough and cold.  So, I apologize in advance if this post gets a little cranky in it's presentation!

Everyday I read and read all the commentary on health care reform.  I read "both sides" of the argument and am open to all ideas, even if my own natural tendencies run along the fiscally conservative side. At the end of each day of researching and reading so that I can be informed on the topic, I see some simple truths being distorted, that bug me the most:

• Everyone in America has the same goals, no matter what party affiliation you are loyal to......great quality health care for all Americans.  The only difference is how we think we should get there.   Will the Democrats stop saying Republicans don't care about people and that they are somehow morally corrupt?!!  Thank you.
• The same argument can be said for our kids' education, social security, and a decent quality of life.
• Both large political parties and all the smaller political parties, for that matter, ALL have ideas and a plan to how to get quality health care for everyone, so would people stop saying they don't, for crying out loud?!! Thank you. And the truth is that there are also hundreds of plans presented by businessmen, housewives and students, too.  We are not a nation devoid of ideas.  
• Can we all just accept that the democratic process is sticky and difficult for good and important reasons.  Our own senator, Jon Kyle understands and so do plenty of congressmen on both sides of the aisle. Some of our junior representatives and even our junior President lose sight of this fact....they just don't have the experience, the patience or the knowledge like the "old-timers" do. 
• At the end of the day, one "side" wins out with their plan and it goes into effect.  The good news is, if in fact the plan turns out to be a lousy one or maybe even a catastorous one, the idea will get thrown out, the winning side gets voted out of office and a new and improved idea gets started down the political process.  The only problem?  This process takes a long time, so that's why its worth it to try to pass the best legislation possible (for either side) to allow the plan to achieve.  Would Mr. Obama please stop trying to rush the normal process foir passing decent legislation....(it's only for his own good)?!!  Thank you.
• No matter what's wrong with our current health care system today, we DO have the best quality care for our citizens.  Period.  No other country is better.  Most are envious.  Canadians are constantly crossing the border for loved ones who need quality care that their own Country does not provide.  Can we all stop saying otherwise, (it makes us sound stupid....naive.....ugly)?!! Thank you.

That's all I have to say for now.  The drugs are kicking in to relieve me of this fever, cough and cold.  This is a good thing, as there are only so many days in the month of March, only so many spring training baseball games left!