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!

The 'Think Food, Eat It' Dilemma

Sometimes you are in the mood to eat your vegetables and drink a gallon of water and other days, you would prefer to climb in to the bowl of cupcake mix and eat the batter........for me it's the days when you cannot decide which type of day you should have that are the most frustrating!

Take today....I could go either way.  I started with a Fiber One bar and two cups of coffee.  It was quick and easy.  I am gulping water as I type.  But I am thinking about a Starbucks Light Frappacino.  "Light" as in 340 calories versus 600 something!  Grilled cheese sandwiches sound good about now, too.  No visions of broccoli or asparagus have popped into my head........

I think I would eat better if I lived in a nursing home where they just brought me healthy, nutritious food, and I just sat in my chair and ate it.  Or, perhaps a better vision might be if I was extremely wealthy and my personal chef prepared a light, delicious meal for me and has brought it out to the patio for consumption.  Either way, I did not have to think about the food, which is the point where I seem to get in trouble!

The logical solution....stop thinking!  Set up a boring routine like, Monday is chicken and broccoli, Tuesday is Grilled Fish and wheat pasta.  I know there's so many wonderful cooking shows and blogs giving advise of great food, but when I read or listen to them, I just get so hungry!  My advise: avoid the topic completely, be boring about food...give food less attention and you will make better choices if the decisions and selections are set in stone.  Hey, you won't even remember what you're missing....after awhile!

It's Green-Colored Water for Me: Cheers!

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you and your family!  I am sitting on the sidelines this year due to the fact that I am a fatty and am starting this diet and there's no alcohol involved!  The funny thing is I really don't care.  I am so tired of wearing this spare tire of blubber around my middle, that I am going balls to the wall and losing this weight.

Okay, actually the official beginning of the diet that my friend Gretchen and I are doing starts tomorrow.  But, I haven't had a drink for about two weeks.  I thought I should ease into it.  Cutting off most foods and alcohol at one time seemed a bit overwhelming.

On my 'Drastic Measures' page of this blog site, I will give measurements, and try to tell the daily story for first full 30 days. Don't worry, I won't make you lose your lunch by adding pictures!  I respect y'all too much!

I am meeting Bill at an Irish restaurant/bar for lunch.  His office staff have been there since 11:00 am so it should be interesting. Don't get me started about this topic, I might start to sound like an angry Irish girl who is cranky because I cannot have an Irish beer today.  One day, though, I will put to words my situation.....

Do You Detox?

I am warning you now that all my posts may more weird than usual. This is because I started a UltraClear Plus detox program on Sunday, with the goal of losing some weight. Check out the post here and every day this week on my 'Drastic Measures' page. Luckily, no one has gotten killed yet. But there's still 5 days to go. Help this empty nest woman stay on the this program! Tomorrow's green bean day, just in case you are wondering.