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!

Surprise Birthday Parties and Husbands

Does your partner/husband read your blog?  Are you sure, really sure?! It's pretty clear to me that Bill has never ever checked out by blog and he has no idea what I write about.....or even why I choose to have a blog.  Sometimes, people will stop us when we are out and say, "I love your post today, that was so hysterical"...... or "Your story about Laura made me cry!" and once they have walked past us, Bill never inquires about the posts.  It's odd really.  Personally, I thinks he's scared to find out.  Ignorance is bliss, you know. So knowing that Bill isn't lurking around reading my post, I thought I would tell you about his surprise birthday we have planned for him, tomorrow night.  (If you are reading this...you dog.....then you better act surprised as heck!) 

First, let me tell you a little bit about us.  Bill is my second husband....named Bill.  He happens to be 5 years, 5 days, 5 hours, 5 minutes and 5 seconds younger than me.  Isn't that amazing?  Okay, it's actually only 5 years and 5 days younger, but I prefer the dramatics of my first statement.  When we first dating, it really kind of bugged me that he was younger.  We would double date with his friends and the women they were dating were often much younger that the guys, making the age gap seem ridiculously large!  Plus, he's really young looking.  No grey hair, no wrinkles, and in great physical shape (just in case he's reading this.....). But over time, we seem to have melded into being the exact same age.....he's a little older than his chronological years and I seem about 2.5 years younger than I actually am.  Lucky me!

Another quirky thing about Bill is that he really does not like to talk about his age, growing older or even retirement.  He's turning 49 on the 10th.  When people ask how old he's going to be he mumbles "40-er-something".  So, naturally, his surprise birthday is going to be a "Happy 50th Birthday" party.  The way I look at it, it's going to be miserable for him, so we might as well get it over early!    We have a RIP tombstone, some old gag decorations and everything is set in black.  It's going to be a kick.  Actually, this is a party with our neighbor friends and their dogs.  We will meet in the backyard or a friend who backs up to the golf course, so the dogs can run and play with each other.  We do this sort of impromptu cocktail/appetizer/cake party fairly often.  And we will have have a laugh at Bill's expense.....almost every single person attending is older...some much older.  And everyone loves my Bill, so it's all in good spirits. (That's him in the picture with the blue sweatshirt, playing with Wrigley)

Now, I have to figure out how to make my very special punch and a few appetizers and the cake without Bill figuring out my devious plans........I'll take pictures for a later blog post!

Remember, mum's the word!

Single Blog Stalking: Mrs. Fussypants Does It All with Style and Grace

I just spent my entire weekend in the lovely town of Nashville with a wonderful blogger named Allison Worthington. This is one organized woman! She has a house full of young sons, she blogs, twitters and does Facebook, too. She is editor-in-chief for Blissfully Domestic and has won a page full of awards, including a Best New Blog in 2007 and a 2008 Bloggie award. Now the interesting part: she began her blog in 2007!



The site is called Mrs. Fussypants. She has her past archives broken down into about 20 categories like 'Evil Republican' and 'Christian Living' and 'The Gentle Art of Ruling One's Husband'. By the end of the weekend, I felt like I knew this person and really enjoyed the humor she finds in all of life's experiences.



My Favorite Posts:



1) In October of last year, her husband had lost his job and they decided to wait until after the holidays to job hunt, sell the house, etc. It took 8 months to sell the house, then move in with relatives before the new job started. Through it all, Allison had a cheery outlook. I loved how she started her cool photo jewelry on-line business during this time. She is a real inspiration to me and all the other people who may be going through this similar experience soon. (She often has contests to win a piece from her jewelry collection). Seeing her house empty right before she moved made me cry. This post is in the Christian Living category.



2) I loved the title and the article about coming out of the closet as a Republican and that she may lose half her audience! The video she has on the site is about 11 minutes long but well worth listening to. Twice.



3) She does a 'Name that Inappropriate Picture' contest where her readers submit a title to the picture in the comment section, then everyone gets to vote the next week in a poll format. So far, I have not had any funny comments to offer...I just go blank. But, some of the comments are hysterical and I really appreciate the comments from the Southerns. Very funny stuff.



I love how she photoshops her head in that adorable big hat and pearls onto all kinds of people and sometimes it's too big or not in the right angle. My two favorites: Mrs. Fussypants getting a massage and the Sex in the City shot (go find them yourself).



She gives a lot of credit to the ProBlogger site for teaching her how to do her blog well and get recognized, so I'm off to get schooled myself. Thanks for the tip, Allison.