Follow-up
Thursday, Aug 4, 2005
Just a quick follow-up to yesterday’s post. I wanted to quell any rumors that I’m closing down the site. My hosting is paid for until next March. Now, I might reconsider in March 2006 on whether or not I want to pay $7.95 a month to entertain you and get my ideas dunked, but I’ll revisit that next year. I’m with my son (see sidebar) on this one: the whole thing is just weird.
Too, you weren’t there the other night when I was lamenting the state of our laundry. Upon getting ready for bed, I was rummaging through my dresser and moaning that I had nothing to wear. My husband says, “Of course you have something.” So, my hand flew out of the drawer holding two garments and I yelled, “You-want-me-to-wear-a-sweater-or-a-turtleneck?!” It’s 90 degrees after the sun goes down. He laughed hysterically and in between breaths replied, “Blog that.” It’s just one of those situations where “you had to be there.”
I know it’s not that funny. But my point is that he’s still saying it, and it’s one of my criteria. Also in the comments, someone mentioned how books are better than blogs. I agree. So, I will amend the criteria by which I will continue blogging by saying that I’ll shut this thing down as soon as I get my first book deal or column. And unless publishers are posing as discount prescription dealers in my email box, I’d say that you have a good chance of me sticking around.
Now, the part about using discretion is not that I’m trying to tailor the writing to a particular audience; I’m amazed that there’s any audience at all. What I meant is that I hope to make the writing a reflection of my current thinking and activities, and if you think that the ruckus of the day is a dumb kitten, then I hope you’d tell me to get a life.
Even when I read my blog, sometimes I think I need a life.
No, the truth is that I’m finagling spreadsheets late at night, not reading Chesterton by the fireplace. In the past month or two, we’ve bought seven rental units, and already we’ve got all the possible case study material for Every Landlord’s Legal Guide. I frequently tell my husband, “Oh, please, let me write that up.” He replies, “It’s not funny yet.” I figure that the way things are going, I could write it up and everyone would just think I’m making it up for entertainment purposes anyway. Nobody would believe it’s that bad. And I will tell some juicy tales later, but right now, everyone would just feel real sorry for us. Trust me. And I need a maid right now, not sympathy.
So, speaking of real life, I need to answer a few emails. I haven’t had an internet connection today, so I’m a little behind. See, the dishwasher repairman finally came out yesterday for the fourth time to fix the new dishwasher that’s been out of service for a month now. (Yes, it’s under warranty. Do you think they’d take that long to fix it if they were collecting money from me?) So, I had the chance to give the repairman a piano lesson, and he entertained me and the kids by singing and jamming in Spanish.
After he left, a bad storm rolled in and I heard a few pops, so I went over to my computer to shut it down. Upon putting my finger on the pad (that thing you use instead of a mouse), lightning hit and sent me flying back and yelling. I got a bad shock, but to make the story more interesting, I’ll say that I was hit by lightning….indirectly. Three of the kids were wailing because of the boom and the kitten went into hiding. Hopefully, it’s permanent. The cat part.
Yep, my life is boring. I don’t even want to talk about what the lightning did to my newly installed computer chip in the dishwasher, but maybe when the repairman comes again at the first available appointment ten days away, he’ll have practiced some of the riffs I showed him. And for the next lesson, we’ll sing some Spanish blues.
22 Comments
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So Amy……what did you end up wearing? the turtleneck or the sweater?
I always know it’s time to do laundry when all I have left to wear is a swimsuit and the prom dress. Last week I did TEN loads in one day.
Thanks for paying $7.95/month to make us laugh. You’re awesome!
Comment by Jo in Orlando (August 4, 2005 @ 10:50 pm )
I’m too cheap to pay 7.95. It was a birthday present. Hey, I wonder what I’ll get next year….
Comment by Amy (August 4, 2005 @ 11:33 pm )
Amy, I think we have the same repairman or at least the same repair comapny. My washer broke the week that number three was born and I was without a washer for two months while I waited for an appt., then waited for the parts to be ordered and delivered, then for another first available appt. to install the parts, blah, blah, blah. In the end, they said it wasn’t really fixable but because of the warranty they had to try and wait until it broke down again… I won’t name names here, but it starts with an S and rhymes with “ears”
Make a lot of money on those rental units then you can just buy a new one every time it breaks!
Emily momy to four under five.
Comment by emily (August 5, 2005 @ 12:37 am )
Oh my word, you have to stick around…I am laughing so hard the family is waking up. They all think I’m nutso. Your husband laughing in the bedroom scene was HILARIOUS! Keep it coming, girl. I think that lightning bolt did you WONDERS!

Comment by Karen (August 5, 2005 @ 2:31 am )
When I was studying history in university, one of our professors bemoaned the fact that women in history past did not have the time to document their lives so that future generations could understand their daily lives and activities. By documenting your life, no matter how dull it seems, you are contributing to documenting history.
Even if you do get a book deal or a column, I think contributing to the public record of Christian women who are willing to be home with their children is quite worth detailing.
Bless you, Amy.
Comment by Kim in ON (August 5, 2005 @ 8:13 am )
Boring? Getting hit indirectly by lightning? Jamming with a repairman? Sleeping naked? (well, I’m assuming that since I wouldn’t wear either of those things when its hot.)
Great post!
Comment by Lyn (August 5, 2005 @ 8:31 am )
You were badly shocked by your touchpad? How scary is that? =8^o
I blogged all through the process of adopting our Russian teenage son, and it’s been a blessing to be able to go back and relive it, plus I still get mail from other adoptive parents who say they found and read it.
It’s not just a “blog”, it’s a journal of your life that you’ll treasure in years to come. I have never been able to keep a journal, but have kept my blog for two and a half years.
If you give yours up, you’ll probably regret it in future, unless you’re diligent about keeping a hardcopy diary or journal.
Just be sure to archive your blog occasionally (which I’ve not done recently, and I’m glad I thought of it).
God bless you and your family. ;^)
Comment by Anne (August 5, 2005 @ 8:48 am )
Yes. A blog is like the beginning of a book. A blog is like a book the rest of us get to read while it’s being written, depending on the author’s willingness. I’m not saying a book is better. I’m saying a book is what I would write because I’m just not open enough…funny enough?…I’m not engaged enough ..to make a blog go. But you, with the husband who sees the details of your life as “blog fodder” have got a good book in the making. I hope it will bring you as much joy as it’s brought me laughter.
Laughing my head off this morning.
Thanks Amy.
Comment by Cynthia (August 5, 2005 @ 9:12 am )
“Even when I read my blog, sometimes I think I need a life.” Ha Ha Ha. Oh, Amy, you have a beautiful life and I am so glad you share it with us.
So what was it…a sweater or a turtleneck????
Comment by Janet (August 5, 2005 @ 10:23 am )
I’m with Lyn - how can you considering your life boring when you got STRUCK BY LIGHTNING? In a way. Sorta. Kinda. You know.
That’d be enough excitement for me for one day, anyway! Maybe you need to lower your standards, Amy.
Comment by Mrs. P. (August 5, 2005 @ 10:34 am )
I think I rummaged an already worn t-shirt.
Comment by Amy (August 5, 2005 @ 10:54 am )
I’d also like to point out that it was dirty, because I do not throw clothes in the laundry that are not schmutz’ed or otherwise fail the sniff test.
Just wearing it does not entitle a garment to be washed.
Comment by Amy (August 5, 2005 @ 10:57 am )
You also have commented recently about the pile in the hallway for the kids to pick through. I’m SURE that is a clean clothes pile, so it’s just a matter of finding the right thing in the right pile!
Cheer up. And maybe this baby will have curly hair because of the lightning bolt! Wahoo! What I wouldn’t give…*sigh*
Comment by Karen (August 5, 2005 @ 1:21 pm )
Tell me more about the riffs and the Spanish Blues!
Comment by Tim (August 5, 2005 @ 4:55 pm )
I think that if everyone here contributed a penny to keep your blog up and running that you would in fact make a profit off of us! Forget the rentals —charge to read you blog! We love to hear the boring details of your life…you know…struck by lightening….the whole singing spanish repairman thing. Maybe you should change to Amy’s Humble AMUSINGS!
Just kidding. You are such a blessing whether you’re telling your *boring* family stories (as if!) or whether your speaking of God’s beautiful hand in your life. I know you are not a believer in luck (me neither), so let me say *providence* has led you on this journey to bless us all!
You ARE a blessing to us all! (you have permission to blush now)
Feel better sister and remember…when the going gets tough…the tough lay on the couch and practice colors with the children by letting them sort the laundry!
Comment by Michelle in TX (August 5, 2005 @ 5:18 pm )
Best quote I read all week:
Even when I read my blog, sometimes I think I need a life.
That is so true for me!
Comment by Darlene S. (August 5, 2005 @ 5:31 pm )
I get WORLD magazine for my birthday. It is the gift that keeps coming to my door, week after week. I love it.
Comment by Holly (August 5, 2005 @ 6:50 pm )
Okay, I came back to comment again. My brain cells do not activate at the same level as yours, that is obvious to me. Sometimes I have to really think about what you are saying….you have this way of appearing to say one thing on the surface, but honestly, when I think about it, my original assumption probably wasn’t correct.
So. I THINK you are saying…”Really, folks, there is a lot more going on in my life than the kitty in the remote controlled car.” (personal opinion here…I think that is exciting. How clever of your son.) “I’m purchasing real estate here, crunching the figures, lots going on..but I’m not free to blog about that stuff…yet…”
Am I anywhere close? ‘Cause, if not, I’ll go back to folding laundry and thinking about it again.
I have another question that is nagging me. It is humbly submitted, out of a sincere desire to learn how other people tick, not out of a sense of confronting. Here goes:
“How and why does someone strive to increase their land holdings and wealth, while at the same time seek the simple, agrarian life?” Counter cultural, to be sure, and I “get” that….but how do they go hand in hand for you?
I seek to simplify; but that is more in an effort to not let life “control” me, to find the richness that dwells in slowing down and enjoying life. So far, monetary wealth has not been ours, but neither do we have debt. Just curious how the plan is coming together for you and yours.
Sincerely!
Comment by Holly (August 5, 2005 @ 9:33 pm )
When you mentioned being a landlady and that you have a kitten almost in the same sentence it took me back *horrors* to the days when the hubbie and I rented to people who flaunted our ‘no pets’ rule. Kittens, kittens everywhere. Guess what else was everywhere when they left? Not cat toys.
Comment by Paula (August 5, 2005 @ 10:49 pm )
Amy, I had the ’shock’ thing happen to me too - touching the mouse. It was the craziest thing … Jeff and I both saw what looked like a streak of light come in from the corner of the ceiling (we were having our roof repaired after a hailstorm at that time). IT HURT! It scared the bee-jeebies out of me.
Comment by Heather L. Sanders (August 6, 2005 @ 8:59 am )
hee hee hee hee hee!!!! Thanks! I needed this today! REALLY needed this today!
Comment by Kimberly (August 6, 2005 @ 9:50 am )
Boy, I can’t wait to hear the rental unit stories…
*grin*
Comment by Anonymous (August 7, 2005 @ 11:24 pm )