AliThinks

An Interesting Discovery

I found a guy named Adam whose blog is called Adam Thinks. Whaddaya know? Anyway, I chanced upon Adam and his Thinking via Political Irony, who posted this image that Adam made. Adam is clearly still enthustiastic about blogging, and more power to him.

AliThinks, AllanThinks, Adam Thinks. I wonder how many other Thinks blogs there are out there. This is the first time in 6+ years of blogging I've come across another NameThinks. No, really.

On A More Serious Note

A friend of mine sent me and a whole bunch of her other friends a Facebook message last night. She asked us to read the blog she had started, and asked us to please promote it in any way possible.

This isn't just any blog; this is a blog about a timely subject, and it's a subject that needs to be discussed*. It's not a happy subject, but if by sharing, I can help someone get support or help, then I've done my job.

With that said, please allow me to present Come Out, Virginia. 

*If you decide the subject matter is not of concern to you, then don't read the blog. In other words, don't get on my or my friend's case about it. Thanks.

Ali Thinks

Six weeks ago, I wrote about thinking a lot, and how I seem unable to think here. This fact still remains. Having my kids here is just a convenient excuse to not use this space. When they lived with me, I found time to blog.

Eight days ago, my brother-in-law announced he was giving up blogging. He was a Typepad beta tester (or was it alpha?), which means that his blog is older than dirt (well, so is Mike, but that's another story). [insert dinosaur analogy here, then watch Alison duck and run] 

Mike was a fixture on my blogroll. His absence leaves a hole. Really.

I have to admit, the idea of throwing in the blogging towel appeals. I haven't been writing — really writing — here for a couple of years. But in this day and age where branding is everything, do I want to let go of this part of my identity? Should I delete my archives and start over; should I re-brand myself?

And why am I not blogging? Is it the fault of Facebook and Twitter? Is it writers' block? Or is it just my need to play my cards closer to the chest?

So many questions, so few answers.

I Generally Keep My Promises

Last Friday, I blogged about the renaissance of AliThinks. I said the post was a placemarker, and that I hadn't drunk any coffee and didn't have time to expound. I also said I'd explain later.

It's later, and I intend to explain.

We were on our way to Pittsburgh for Easter, and that's why I didn't have time to write a proper entry. A few things happened over the weekend: Allan and I stumbled upon a Tea Party by accident. (We'd planned to go to the Strip District, but a last-minute comment from a college classmate on my Facebook status had me thinking we might be able to lunch with him on the North Side/Shore.)

We went to The Warhol with my BF from HS, Denise, and her husband David. Then the four of us went for food and drink at Fatheads on the South Side (say it with me: Sahside) of Pittsburgh.

Afterwards, D&D took their leave and A&A went to the early show at Club Cafe, which featured Brent Malin and Almost Astronauts. We'd planned to go to Club Cafe no matter what, because we love that place, and funnily enough, there was a familiar name on the program. I met Brent Malin at my alma mater in 2003. He'd been teaching in the Communication Arts department there, but was leaving to take a job in California. And I remembered him well, because I was a Com Arts major, and thought it was a shame that he was leaving. He seemed like a cool guy at the time, and that was confirmed when we spoke to him before and after his show.

Almost Astronauts put on a great show too.

We were back in our hotel room before 10 pm. Woo-hoo! The next afternoon, we went to my dad and stepmother's house for a family gathering. And that was good. I have potentially incriminating video of my nieces and nephews.

The day was overshadowed by something I'd read after we got to the hotel on Saturday night, however. Shana's plea weighed on me, and I found out late Sunday night via her blog comments and Twitter that her son Thalon had passed. The news was all the heavier because my mother died on April 12 as well. In 1993, it wasn't Easter Sunday (but Easter Monday is close enough). This agnostic lass sometimes finds the Easter symbolism too much to bear. But now I'm bringing my own stuff into it, and that was not my intention.

So while I have photos to show and more things to tell, I'm going to refrain right now. Shana posted a link to her son's obituary on her blog today. She wrote it, and it's both beautiful and heartbreaking. Tomorrow Thalon will be laid to rest. I'll be thinking of Shana and her family, and Thalon some more.

Only Slightly Dead*

I haven't calculated this, but I do believe that the total "weight" of the photos I have taken this entire year — as in 2008 — doesn't even equal a month of photos from 2007. By weight I mean file size; in France, a large file is referred to as a "fichier lourd," lourd meaning heavy in this case. (Lourd means other things in French, which we will not delve into now, parce que c'est trop lourd pour moi en ce moment.)

Wherefore the lack of photographic evidence? I don't know. I couldn't even say if the loss of my photographic mojo coincides with the loss of my writing mojo. That's how complacent I am.

So while I contemplate all of this, I'll ask you to look at some other notable photos I've seen around the web lately. The first one to come to mind was taken not far from me; Louisville is 60-some miles to the northish-west.

Next is pretty much anything on this guy's Flickr stream. We've met once, but only because he recognized Allan and me in the Rite-Aid down the street. Seriously. We need to touch base with J.

And while I know she doesn't *need* the traffic, I can't resist directing you to dooce's Daily Chuck series. If ever I have a dog, he will be like Chuck. No, really.

Last, but not least, Explore is always a source of cool photos.

*As opposed to mostly dead, in reference to a movie which shall remain nameless until you mention it in the comments.

Failure

On the days when I’m not wishing I could punch The Internet in the gonads, I end up shedding a tear or two because I feel like a blogging failure.

Heather and I have different ideas of blogging failure, but that sentence of hers makes a nice summary for me.

What Better Way To Spend Valentine's Day

...than with the man I love?

Next To Last Day

This is Day 29 of NaBloPoMo, and I've pretty much succeeded in posting every day. Was most of it fluff? Yes. Did I grit my teeth at the thought of this thing? Yes.

But here I am, Day 29, and I'd like to introduce you to my good friend. She's local, but we met through the innernets, via RadioParadise to be exact.

As I told someone the other day, she's a real kick in the pants. In a GOOD way. She makes me laugh and she has been a great friend these past 11 months.

She also started blogging a couple of weeks ago. So please go check out Grits, Tits, And Oven Mitts. Tell her I sent you.

Ten Bucks

The premise of this website just tickles me. And makes me wish I'd thought of it.

I just spent ten dollars on an unknown object. That's right. I have no idea what I'm going to receive from SomethingStore. I'll post about it once I get the item.

H/T to kysmet at RP

Thank You, Jamie!

A month or so ago I sent an e-mail to the Lexington Herald Leader's Culture Writer, Jamie Gumbrecht, informing her of the threat to internet radio. She thanked me and told me she'd be out of town, but that she'd keep an eye on the issue.

Yesterday I e-mailed her again, after I read that the Copyright Ruling Board had rejected webcasters' appeal for a hearing. Today Jamie wrote a blog entry about the issue, and she mentioned MOI! [insert grin]

So thank you, Jamie, for helping spread the word.

                                                       *****

In other news, I'm finding it hard to feel anything about what happened at Virginia Tech yesterday. I think it's a self-preservation mechanism. Columbine shook me hard. This? I can't let it; as it is, I'm hanging on by a hair.

To end on a happier note, twelve years ago today I gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby girl. She's still beautiful and healthy, but she's growing up fast. 

Happy Birthday, ma belle.

We Interrupt This Hiatus

...to whisper in your ear that today is Allan's birthday.

Linky Goodness

Welcome to Bluegrass Airport! We have plenty of time before our flight (you need to click that link), and we've exhausted the retail possibilities here. There's always the bar, but it's not even 4 p.m. yet.

I thought I'd leave you with some links to Blogs I Have Been Enjoying Recently. I hope you enjoy them too, and that they can tide you over until my next post. [insert winky emoticon here]

It wouldn't be a day without reading The Morning Meeting, hosted by The CEO. If The CEO doesn't make you laugh, then surely Mist1 of Must Get Hobby will. Once you've made it through those, you might be feeling peckish. Go see Ms. Glaze, who recounts her life as a stagiaire in a three-star restaurant in Paris. On the other hand, that might leave you feeling fat, so check out Stephanie's Back In Skinny Jeans blog. Typepad recently spotlighted BISJ as a Featured Weblog. Yay, Stephanie! And if you're a grammarian like me, then you'll enjoy Zemblan Grammar. At the very least, check out these e-mails from university students. University! Students!

See you when we get to the other side of the Atlantic.

Oh Ma Gawd

Have you seen Ms. Dewey?

Via Katherine

Yesterday, Today

Yesterday I did a little happy dance for Picture Fool Sally, as I like to call her. You see, Sally just...well...go read it yourself.

Today we went to Old Navy to exchange a pair of yoga pants I'd bought last week. I'd tried on an XL, and they seemed to fit, so I bought two pairs. Oops. They're too big, but I didn't realize it until I wore one of the pairs. I mean, during my workout I had to HOLD THE PANTS UP. (Then I washed and dried them, thinking that might help. It didn't. I still have to hold them up).

So we went to exchange the other pair. It's usually fatal when we go to Old Navy, and we didn't leave with just a smaller size of yoga pant, oh no.

Blurbs

Hey foodies, check out Chocolate and Zucchini! This eye- and palate-pleasing site is written by a young French woman, but the site is in English.  In fact, she writes so well, I was surprised to discover that she's French.  I found the link among the many at Chasing Daisy. 

Speaking of French, and food...

Just Another Reason...

...why IKEA is so fükting cool.