by Amy Reese

Blogging Peaks and Valleys

Oh, who am I kidding? This post will be about the blogging valleys, no peaks in sight today. Blogging friends, I know you’ll pull me through. You’re my rock, my inspiration.

It appears I have a bit of the Tangled Mind Syndrome (TMS). I’m sure you’ve heard of it. It happens when your mind is like a big ball of yarn all tangled up, and you think you can’t possibly untangle it, and you just want to snip it. But, of course, you can’t do that. It’s your mind we’re talking about. You must just brace yourself for unpleasantness and confusion.

Today, for example, I was at a four-way stop and I simply forgot which direction I wanted to go. Please don’t be alarmed. I simply made a decision and went straight. They were no accidents. See, I’m still here…typing. I appreciate that you were worried about me.

Later, I searched high and low in my refrigerator for the coffee creamer and it was nowhere, nowhere to be found….but this, this simply because it wasn’t there, it was never there. It was all used up already, see, and no one bothered to tell me. So, you’re left searching, searching for something that is not there.This undoubtedly happens when you are mentally tangled.

In the process of this search for this ghost of an object, you stumble across this huge watermelon in your refrigerator taking up some prime real estate, all the space, and you wonder why it is there in the first place? Now you must cut it with a knife that is probably too dull and it will be taxing. You’re left feeling anxious because you probably won’t cut it right. There is a special way to cut a watermelon so that all the slices are perfect, probably not easily accomplished with the dull knife. A mango would be easier, but that also requires a particular process of cutting. I’m sure you can go Google this, or maybe you know someone personally who is a fruit cutting expert. I would like to meet this person.

I could always blog about my laundry, the never-ending black hole of laundry, but then I would need to discuss bedwetting and Asperger’s, not that they’re typically related, which they really aren’t here either. It’s simply part of the story, much too tangled. Would you want to read that one? No?

Instead, I will stare at a wide expanse of blue, a calming color. A lovely ocean of a picture will do the trick since I can’t get the real thing. Cue ocean. That will work.

Nice view

I’m sure after a little meditating, I’ll be back with a brilliant post, or, er, something you like, something that’s not a complete waste of time. Although, time wasted can be time well spent. Efficiency is not all it’s cracked up to be. So, let’s just end this now. Okay.

What a nice spot, huh?

photo credit: Chris Gin via photopin cc

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78 thoughts on “Blogging Peaks and Valleys”

  1. Even your valleys are peaks.

    When I worked in restaurants, we had a guy who’d show up about 30 min early, and spend the time cutting fruits and veg into shapes.
    Not sure if we fired him or he quit (it was a while ago), but I remember we were all relieved when he was gone.

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    1. Ah, you’re sweet, Guapo. Thanks.

      Ha ha…my stomach hurts from laughing. He arrived early, huh? A dedicated fruit AND veggie cutter, or excuse me, shaper. That’s a good one. I’ll have to put that one in my file!

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  2. I always liked it when my mom got out the trusty “Melon Ball” thingy. I’m sure it doesn’t matter how well the watermelon is cut if there are watermelon balls everywhere.

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  5. Amy, I find your transparency refreshing. You’re not the only one who walks through the valley. You are, however, one of the few people willing to admit it. Oddly enough, I have the same anxiety about cutting up the watermelon. Now, I just solicit my husband to cut it for me.

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    1. Thank you, Anka. You are always an inspiration to me. I feel like I just need to get past this little hurdle. I can understand why it happens to people from time to time. It feels good, kind of a release, to talk about it.
      That watermelon can be a chore, but on the other hand, it’s always worth it! I’m going to invest in a sharper knife though. My husband couldn’t cut it tonight because he has gout in his wrist, of all places.

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      2. HAHAHA, Leo. I just knew it! See, I knew it existed. It’s only $300. Whoa. I guess you have to make that worth your while, have watermelon on a regular basis. Thank you. Just knowing this made this entire post worth it, TMS and all!

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  9. Don’t be alarmed as this is a natural phenomena that occurs once every fifteen seconds, indeed as you pondered the direction that you were travelling another ten persons were having the same dilemma, and you still came through it marvelously 🙂

    Okay so I am just waffling on, mainly because this is my first visit to your Space and I am obviously trying to impress you with my psychology jargon when in reality I have no clue as to what I am talking about, I figure that your Tangled Mind Syndrome is somewhat catching and I am being transported into the world of fantasy 🙂

    I had better retreat before I confuse you even further soooooo do have a most exciting rest of day and equally an exquisite evening filled with awesome moments 🙂 How about that for a first time comment? 😉 lol

    Andro

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    1. Andro,
      I am pleased and impressed with your comments. That’s an alluring thought to think that my Tangled Mind Syndrome might take you to the fantasy realm. Perhaps, this isn’t such a bad thing after all.

      I’m learning that it is a phenomenon that can strike at any time. Perhaps, I should come up with some tips on how best to handle it, although who am I kidding I am no expert. It’s probably best just to roll with it when it happens.

      I do hope that your visit to my space has been satisfactory, and I hope you return. Yours is a very inspiring first-time comment, indeed. An exquisite day to you, too. Thanks.

      Amy

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      1. Thank you Amy, i have just sent you an invite to my Private Space so check your emails 🙂 🙂

        Oh and enjoy
        your evening also 🙂

        Andro

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  10. Lovely pic (FRESHLY PRESSED FTW!) I see the bench, though, and i think about this friend I had who tended toward the pretentious side. So did his mother. He proposed to his girlfriend on a bench at college. So his mom bought the bench for them for their wedding gift. No, really. She bought a college bench. I said, “Well at least he didn’t propose on a 747.” But it gets better. Two years later, they divorced, and the first thing out of my dh’s mouth was the same thing I was thinking “Did they split the bench?”

    Hope I gave you a laugh. I have chronic TMS. We should start a foundation.

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    1. Oh, yes yes yes….I’m laughing as I type this. Here’s another for my file, my file of inspiration. Don’t be too surprised if you see this in a book. She bought them a bench. Whoa!! Of course, they would get divorced. That goes without saying. The best part of your story was the reaction…Did they split the bench. It doesn’t get better than this. Thanks, Alice!

      I’m trying to shake the TMS. I need more bench time I guess!

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  12. I often suffer from TMS. I have pulled up to a four-way stop and forgotten which way I have wanted to go. I frequently have a dull knife when it comes to cutting watermelon (a bad thing). Loved the pic.

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    1. Mary, yes, TMS is a phenomenon, it can strike at any moment. It’s a bummer when it happens at the four-way stop. You know what I mean! I decided I’m going to buy a sharp knife, just for watermelon. There’s bound to be a special watermelon cutting knife. Thanks.

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    1. Thanks, J.D. I can of like if, myself. Just wish I didn’t feel this way, but sometimes there’s no stopping it! It’s helpful for me to look at it as a syndrome. I see I’m not the only one.

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  14. I have the same watermelon cutting anxiety. I read something the other day that said since most of the weight is in the rind of the watermelon, that it is actually cheaper to buy pre-cut watermelon. Since everything on the internet is true, I’ve been avoiding knife accidents, staying committed to lazy, and saving money ever since. Great post!

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    1. Ra, staying committed to lazy. I like that a lot! We must have our priorities, after all. That is the thing about watermelon, isn’t it? After it’s all said and done, and cut up, you end up throwing 3/4 of it away in rind! That’s a really good point. Thank you!

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  16. I can relate to the creamer woes, Amy.
    I remember at least one time I found myself walking around looking for something only to realize I had actually been carrying it with me the whole time! I don’t remember exactly what it was I was looking for (and carrying) at the moment… because that actually requires… wait… what was I saying again?!

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    1. Ooohh…Robert. It sounds like you have a little bout of the TMS. That is also something that happens while being struck by it. I forgot to cover this in my post! Yes, the wandering around with the THING in your hand….Yes, and of course, it’s creamer because coffee is really not the same without it and it’s likely to tip your whole day. I’m here if you need me….you will be all right.

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  17. That really is a lovely spot. I wish my valley was half as creative as yours, that TMS has taken a pretty good grip on me. I have been wrestling with a post in my head for awhile now and it is blocking everything else out. I would like to just curl up on that bench.

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    1. I know that feeling of having something take hold, and you really can’t move forward until it’s completed. Just come sit me for awhile at my lovely spot and we’ll work through it together and untangle. Thanks for your kind words. I look forward to a wonderful post from you in the future. I always enjoy them! In the meantime, feel free to curl up. Sometimes it’s the best method.

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  18. “There is a special way to cut a watermelon so that all the slices are perfect,”—Really? I’ve lived all this time and I never knew that? Sigh. I’m such a dullard.

    And you’re right, that is an amazingly gorgeous spot. Can I just sit there with a book and read?

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    1. Carrie…yes, it’s true. There is a special way to cut watermelon, NOT that I know what it is. My husband knows what it is…he learned it on one those food channels. From now on, he’s on Watermelon cutting duty. You still need a sharp knife though. But I’ve learned that there is a watermelon cutter out there. Of course, there is!

      Sure, absolutely come sit with me! Doesn’t it look perfect?!

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  20. Oh, I have suffered from this for sure. Lately, especially…and the stop sign thing has happened. Once I treated traffic lights like a stop sign just because I was simply having one of those days haha.

    Meditation works! Usually I just need a few days to let things unravel and see what happens.

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    1. Oh, I know La La! It’s happened to me too with a signal light. Luckily I have my wits about me just in time before something near catastrophic happens! That whips me back into shape.

      Right. Sometimes time is the best thing in any situation. I’m going to really try to meditate more.

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  21. That you have such a sense of humor makes any post fabulous. And that is how all minds work. Glitch. Creamer ran out here too last week. Black hole of laundry with baby with Gerd. Oh I remember now. Pineapple can be daunting as well. To both, I cut in half then cut off rind them cut in chunks. User friendly. i got that your boys have their things to muddle your mind. And Mom’s minds are meandering muddled places as we measure out and plan out next plan. You are much loved by your community and again, Jealous. And they love you for good reason. Here’s to the posts that are spontaneous and revealing because therein lies the real us.
    Love,
    Shalagh

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    1. Oh, first let me say, Shalagh, that it’s always a pleasure to see you here. I feel for you and the Gerd situation. Did I mention that my first really suffered from that pretty bad. His first year was one of the toughest of my entire life. It took me a couple of years to recover I think.
      I see the watermelon is daunting for many people, and I would put the pineapple in the same category.
      There’s no reason to be jealous. Please don’t be. I am very happy with the amount of support I receive here. People have good intentions and I think we can all relate to moments of blogging despair. I’m being a little dramatic, but I think you get my point. Blogging requires stamina sometimes, and sometimes you feel depleted. That said, I agree that a spontaneous post is just what is needed in a time like that, and sometimes it is the most revealing and most satisfying to read. Well said.
      Love,
      Amy

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  22. This is certainly a peak and not a valley 😀 When my kids were young and lived at home we used to call the washing pile “Mt. Washmore”! LOL – I feel your pain 😉

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  23. I was just commenting on someone else’s blog a few minutes ago about how things kind of feel strange in the blogging world at the moment, not only do I not feel as engaged with it, but it feels like others aren’t either. Maybe we’re all a bit off-kilter at the moment!

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    1. I remember the post you wrote about this, too, and I was nodding in agreement back then. I wonder if there is something to this, Vanessa. Did we all start all blogs around the same time? I’ve been noticing that some people have not been posting as much. I feel so distracted lately. Maybe I need a new approach, a less serious, more spontaneous one. We’ll see.

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      1. I think when I wrote that post, a couple of people commented that in general people only seem to blog for a year or two and then stop. Maybe that’s true, you don’t come across many bloggers who have been blogging for 3, 4, 5 years do you? I makes me sad when some of them drift away! In three or four months I’ll have been blogging for 2 years (although it was a bit sporadic at first), but I don’t want to drift away…

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      2. I hadn’t thought about it but I agree, there has been blogs that have melted away in a short time. There’s a time when you don’t have anyone reading or at least responding and you’re not sure why you are doing it. Then I decided that it made me write regularly for nothing else. Sounds like me and Ms. Vanessa-Jane have the same blog birthday, August of 2011. Yay Us !!!
        Love,
        Shalagh

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      4. Me too. Maybe two years is the shelf life, the half lifefor blogging. Law of diminishing returns. I’ve gotten accustomed to blogging, but it does wear thin. I thought I’d be selling my books through it, but that hasn’t happened (yet!). Onward!

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      5. Yes, onward! I think ultimately blogging should satisfy something for you personally. I think you must want to do it for yourself. Good luck with your book selling. I hope things look up!

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      6. By the way, I already told my kids that my epitaph that I want written on my gravestone should read: Hey, things are looking up!

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  24. As for the ball of yarn unravelling, ever read Bashevis Singer. In a number of first person stories he blames his mishaps on imps and gollums and little devils. I have one imp on my desk who separates pens from their caps, and another demon in my clothes drawer who keeps just one sock and leaves me with the other. Perhaps all the caps from the pens are stored in one of the socks…..

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    1. Is that what is happening to all my socks?! Oh, of course. I should have known it was an imp, gollum or little devil. Mine must take my pens because they’re always missing. That’s funny. I’ll have to check out this author. Thanks for the recommendation, Stephen.

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    1. Thanks, Frank! It looks like I didn’t take a very long break. Funny, the second I thought I needed and said it, I didn’t one anymore! Oh, that’s just so silly. I didn’t blog today at all til late. So, it’s good to have little breaks. I would miss everyone too much if I left for too long. Meanwhile, I can’t get enough of that bench.

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  26. A beautiful spot to end things. Hope the meditation helped. I sometimes feel like my mind gets going to fast and I can’t focus and I suddenly lose double digits worth of IQ. 😉 I feel the same way about pineapples. Love them but it’s such an art to cut it properly. I’d rather just eat it out of a can. 😉

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    1. Thanks, Kourtney. It’s great to see you here. Thanks for stopping by. Funny you stop by when I’m taking a break. I guess a mental little break. I don’t know. It’s not really taking, and now I have more ideas swirling in my head for blog posts. I should plan a break more often. It works wonders!

      As for pineapple, yes…it is definitely in this category of hard to cut fruits.

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  27. This made me feel good on many levels. The fact that I too suffer from TMS and have had the exact same moments of idiocy. Maybe that’s too harsh a word, how ’bout early onset dementia?
    I also was feeling good reading a post that was essentially about nothing – that’s all my brain can handle right now. And finally, I was happy to look at the blue sky. I’m pretty sure that makes me a simpleton. 😀 Great post, Amy!! No, I really mean it! haha!

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    1. Oh, perfect Lisa! A post about nothing that puts your mind at ease. Idiocy…dementia…none too harsh. We do our best. I’m into feel good moment posts as they make me smile, too. Hey, if I’m smiling, then maybe you are too. Now that’s not too tangled, is it? Finally, a clear thought. Thanks, Lisa!

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  28. Amy,
    I’ve been in those valley before, but if you’re down that just means you’re about to go up again, right?
    I think the best way to cut a watermelon is to cut it exactly in half, grab a spoon and hollow it out. Then…hmm, I have a lot of ideas of what to do with a hollowed out watermelon. Some don’t even involve firecrackers. 🙂

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    1. I bet you already went to the store to buy a watermelon, didn’t you? Well, have fun, but be careful! Thanks, I’m feeling better this week. You’re so right, what goes down must go up. I’m just have a difficulty with the element of time….I think you were having that same problem.

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      1. I’m glad to hear you’re doing better. Down times are what friends are for, even if they’re blog friends thousands of miles away.
        As for the watermelon, they are insanely expensive here, but if I do anything interesting with one, I’ll be sure to blog about it. 🙂

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