Thursday, July 14, 2011

I'm back! ... sort of

The move is done! We're successfully relocated, albeit still in boxes, and I've JUST gotten Internet service again. But I promised to be back today, so here I am.
our living room
I have to confess, I have very little interesting to say simply because I don't have time to collect my thoughts before July 14 begins... in less than two hours!

We've been keeping insane hours since moving to the Eastern time zone, unpacking around the clock (while the girls are visiting g'rents) and around work and job-hunting and workmen... and catching up with old friends who don't have children (i.e., keep crazy hours).

I do have many thoughts to share, but you know how it is when you start to say everything you've been thinking about at the same time and... nothing comes out?

I promise to get my act together for Monday and give us something good to talk about. In the meantime, I'll bore you with pictures of our new home, which I love. As you can see above, our living room is full of boxes. As is my future office-slash-entertainment area.
future office

I can say I've been thinking of you all during the last month. Some of you I can keep up with on Facebook, and I tried to pop in on Twitter as time permitted.

Of course, I've also been thinking about this whole "trying to become a published author" process, and how it meshes with my #1 job of being Mom. And that's the purpose of this blog, right? At least that's what I say is the purpose up there in the header...

The few times I was able to check in, I picked up on the chatter about emerging social media--Google+... --? What is this? I've also noticed more folks trying out Tumblr. Technology moves so fast. (OK--we all know that, but being unplugged for a month enhanced it for me.)

What are you guys thinking about this? Should we even be trying to keep up with technology? Or should we be focusing on our writing?

I've said a million times that blogging has made me more writer-friends and helped me grow in my craft through critique groups and beta partners. It even helped me find my agent.

I'll never be sorry I started this blog. But I honestly can't keep up with all social media and still maintain my writing, my family, and my other jobs and responsibilities.

And I think that's OK.

the kitchen... ahhh...
So there. Something to think about. Have a great weekend, reader-friends! And I leave you a shot of the one near-finished room in the house. Our lovely kitchen.

Til Monday~ <3

39 comments:

Hart Johnson said...

WELCOME BACK!!!

I am sort of a person who picks and chooses on technology, but I JOIN, usually (Google+ is still in a 'soon' pile) because you never know what might take off, and it would be nice to already know how (at least sort of) when it does... to have a base of 'friends' Google+ does sound like it's got some nice features... like for your status stuff, you can pick WHICH of your circles of friends SEE--and the friends don't know which circles they are in of yours. I have a friend who has a circle she calls annoying lint demons... people she 'friends' so they don't feel left out, but who don't get most of her stuff. I suspect I will have 'RL friends, family, HPfriends, Close Writer friends and writing network' or some such thing when I get there.

Anonymous said...

Congrats! on the move. Now to unload all those darn boxes and fin a place for stuff. Now where did you pack that bottle of wine?

Jenna Wallace said...

Welcome back! Love the kitchen and the colors are so pretty. Congratulations!

Jessica Bell said...

I can't keep up with it all either, leigh, and I only have a dog! :o) So wonderful to have you back! XOXO

Summer Ross said...

I missed you so much! I'm fairy glad you are back. The house looks amazing and I hope your unpacking goes smoothly! Have a terrific day!

Anita Grace Howard said...

Yay! So wonderful to see your smiling face again ... so to speak. LOL.

Yes, as you know, I struggle w/the balancing act myself. And now a crazy wave of meme madness has been hitting my group of twitter pals and it's even HARDER to balance.

BTW, love your kitchen! It's so bright and airy. Well, have a great weekend. You've given us all lots to think about! :)

Angela said...

Hurray, you're back! And I looks like you moved in okay. Always nice to have another east coast friend. :)

Matthew MacNish said...

You sure have a lot to say for a non-post. Welcome back, lady.

RaShelle Workman said...

Leigh - Hi, girl! Nice to have you back. Your house is gorgeous! Love the colors! =D

As for technology, I'm a resister. I don't want to join, but I usually do and enjoy it.

Carolyn Abiad said...

Welcome back! I missed you tons, even with the facebook updates.

I have to say, I don't jump right on the new stuff. I do have a Tumblr account, but it just pulls from my blog.

((hugs))

Unknown said...

So good to "see" you again! Take your time getting it all (tech/blog/etc) settled. Really, what's the rush?

Old Kitty said...

Wonderful to see you back here on blogland LTM!!! Yay for your house move!! Your future office is looking very futuristic already!LOL!! Awwww but look at that gorgeous kitchen!! Wow!!! I hope your unpacking will be stress free and fun!! Yay!!!!

Oh I'm very picky as to what new techno-stuff I use for myself. I continue to enjoy blogger and dread the new stuff google has planned for it. I've tried kindle and e-readers (from the library!) and know they are not for me. I still don't get twitter and I know that facebook is also changing formats so bleagh to that. LOL!

Erm... that's it really! LOL!! Putting words down on the screen and paper remains the same for me! My muse hasn't changed. I guess the summer is making me lazier! LOL!

Take care and enjoy your new home! x

Myne said...

Welcome back and congrats on your move.

Shannon said...

Oh Leigh, I love your house! I can't wait to see pictures when you're done unpacking!

So glad you're back. It's good to see you around!

Al said...

Welcome back!

Michael Di Gesu said...

Ha.... You were out. YAY! WELCOME BACK!

My blogging time has decreased this summer as well. Not to worry. Everyone is. LOL.

I'm SO happy you found a house you love. It is SO important to be able to unwind in a space that's truly restful.

If you need any design tips. Remember I am an interior designer. Feel free to ask me anything. I'd love to help you.

I just redesigned my living/work space and I LOVE IT!

Bear hugs,,,,,

Angie said...

The new house looks beautiful. Moving is such hard work! I think you are totally right about social media. It has to be my bottom priority or nothing else would get done!

Janet Johnson said...

Welcome back! It's so good to read your post. :D

As for keeping up . . . I personally don't think it's possible, so I don't kill myself over it. All this stuff is supposed to make life easier and better, right? So if that's not the case . . . well, you get my point.

Best of luck unpacking in your beautiful home!

LTM said...

ahh, my dear friends--a welcome constant in this crazy mess of change still unfolding. Or unboxing... ;p
@Stephen--Luckily, we have a nice 21st Amendment store who packed the wine for me! ;o) Thanks~
@Summer--You sweetheart. I'm fairy happy to be back, although I'm still figuring out my new schedule! ((hugs))
@Anita G.--And same here to you! It is great to see your smiling face again. Everyone's! Those memes are good and bad. When I'm stumped, good. When I'm not, pressure... Yep, we love the kitchen. But that's where everyone gravitates regardless, yes? :o) <3

Precy Larkins said...

Goodluck unpacking!

About social media, sometimes too much is too much. Haha! I mean, do we really need every outlet, to be plugged in every second of our day? I think not.

I blog, I tweet, and that's about it for now. I gotta have time to write! And have a real life as well, such as being a mom.

Glad you're back! ;)

Jennie Bailey said...

So great to see you have checked in! I love your new kitchen!!! And I can't wait to have you back full time. I fully agree with you - impossible to keep up on all social media AND write AND still be decent wives/moms/etc. We do what we can and that's what we do! Some medias click with our personalities better than others, which makes it easier - those are the ones for us!

PK HREZO said...

HEY!!! SO glad you're back! I LOVE your kitchen! It looks like such a cute house. SO excited for you.
Girl, lemme just tell you ... I can't keep up with it all either. And since you've been out of the loop, I'll fill you in: we put our house up for sale on June 29th and it went under contract on July 1. We had no idea it would sell so fast. Needless to say, it's been way hectic with packing and last thing on my mind really is social media, but the support that's here is always refreshing.
Unlike you, we're staying in town, just trying to find a bigger house while the market is still so low. But that's a stress all it's own since we are currently homeless and prolly be living with my parents for a month til we find the right place.
I think the trick for me is to allot the time for social media and stick to it... which is usually early mornings. If i don't do it then, it doesn't get done.
I've just joined Google+ and still getting acquainted. I joined Tumblr awhile ago but it hasn't held my interest yet. Geez Louise I can barely keep up with blogging and Twitter. FB is like a distant memory I tap into now and then during a free moment. lol
Glad you had a nice safe move and glad you're back. Been wondering how you were. I know we've all missed you and glad to have you back. :)

Susan Kaye Quinn said...

So glad you're back! Writing (and family) definitely come first, so no worries, settle in. We'll still be here. ;)

nick said...

Cute kitchen. All the best chefs cook with gas.

Sorry to see you leave Ala, but good luck with new adventure.

Lydia Kang said...

Ugh, if only we had an extra person who could do all the social media for us!

Welcome back Leigh!

M Pax said...

Hugs, Leigh! Missed you. Hope the move went smoothly and with as little stress as possible.

I'm avoiding new social sites unless they become a must -- like Twitter and /or FB. We can't keep up with them all. I can't keep up with what I'm on. I concentrate on blogging and twitter. I confessed on FB today of being a horrible FB friend.

Sarah said...

Welcome back!!! Wow, I don't envy you the move, but it does indeed look like you have a wonderful kitchen. And with regard to technology, I'm sort of torn. I don't FB and I haven't started a Google+, though I feel like I should do one or the other or both. I'm scared it will be just another distraction from actually writing!

Anonymous said...

Congrats on the move--so much work, LOL! Welcome back. ;)

Theresa Milstein said...

I'm glad you've moved in. Good luck settling in.

dolorah said...

Technology and writing kinds go hand in hand; yeah?

Congrats on getting moved. I live out of some boxes for a year or more :)

.......dhole

Anonymous said...

Welcome back!

Laura Pauling said...

Love you kitchen! Congrats on being settled in. I do think technology/social media is going to be important in the future for authors esp. with big bookstores dwindling in what they carry!

DEZMOND said...

oooh, I love decorating and refurbishing apartments, beam me up over to your place and I won't charge you my services :)))

Ella said...

Welcome home and back! Your new house looks so cute! Moving is I think #2 or #3 or the top ten stress list. It takes time; be patient with yourself~
You can also immerse in technology when the book is in the publish stages. It is hard to balance all of it; I think blogging is a wonderful way to connect~ So happy to hear from you! xXx 555

LTM said...

@Cherie--Thanks, honey! And it's so true. We need that thing Ryan from the Office invented... or was it Kelly? Anyway, Wuph-? Was that it? :D LOL! <3

@PK--! HEY!!! Thanks, and yep. Although now the kitchen is no longer so serene. It's full of the boxes we moved out of the LR to make it habitable for company. :D Fantastic news about your house! That's almost what happened to us, and it is STRESS! I know~ Best of luck, and it sounds like you're ready for it. Whoot~

@Nick--Thank you! It's true about the gas... LOL! And I'm sorry to leave Ala. as well, but! Onward and upward, yes? :o)

@LBD--Thank you! It is nutso-crazy. But I'm getting there~ <3

@Laura--The kitchen is really a nice space. But I'm feeling good about the whole thing as the boxes slowly go away... emphasis on slowly. ;p As for media, I think you're right~ <3

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Welcome back!!
I do think it's important to keep up with tech...to a point. We still have to manage our time and make writing our priority, but we should also keep in mind it's important to stay 'relevant' and up-to-date.

Anonymous said...

Congrats on the move! I love that kitchen!!

I too have been investigating Google+ and Tumblr. Both appear to be additional sites where people can play. ;-)

LTM said...

@Liz--thanks, hunny! I'm not sure what I'm doing on Google+ to be honest. Tumblr either... LOL! Today on G+ I tried to comment on a friend's photo album and I think I inadvertently sent feedback to Google... BAH!!! :D Play and look like a moron. sigh... <3

Vicki Rocho said...

Love the new digs! But seeing all those boxes everywhere reminds me I do not ever want to move again. Ever.

You're posting "after" pics right?