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Why Am I Doing It?

Why bother?

What’s the point in doing all this blogging?

What purpose does it serve?

For a couple of visits a day, why spend hours creating a different blog post every day? Is it worth it?

Those are the questions, amongst others, that went through my head when I read a recent comment over on Splodge and Splatter, one of my other blogs. I’m sure the question wasn’t intended in the way that I first took it, but it certainly made me think of these questions.

Several years ago, another blogger (who I no longer follow but is still active in the Blogosphere) asked me if I would consider posting less frequently. The blogger in question rarely visited my blog beforehand, so my posting frequency shouldn’t really have concerned her. I gave her my reasons as to why I post as often as I do, and she never responded. Apart from seeing her face dotted around Blogland every now and then I haven’t heard from her since. This was the first time I asked myself the question, Why Bother?

I enjoy blogging. I enjoy writing and being creative. That’s why.

I may not be the world’s best writer / artist / photographer, but I don’t see that as a reason to stop. I keep on keeping on, because with each post / picture / painting there’s just a chance I may get better.

There’s a chance that I may provide a spark of inspiration to somebody else who feels they aren’t good enough.

I may just give someone a smile when they really need one.

I may, however inadvertently, provide an answer to someone else’s stumbling block with something they are working on.

I like the connections I get through blogging. Connecting with people all over the world, who I would never have the chance to otherwise ‘meet’. I always say ‘as and when’ when it comes to visiting my blog, because I am aware of my limitations, and I’m also aware that there are millions of other (most likely better) blogs out there and there simply isn’t enough time to visit everyone.

I don’t have time to visit all of the blogs I follow either, but it isn’t personal. None of it is. It’s just the way it is.

I apologise if you’ve stumbled across one of my rubbish posts, or a boring post, or a rushed post, or a silly post, or a post you weren’t expecting. The post was where my creativity was at at that time. Not one of us can be perfect every time.

I’m grateful if you’ve enjoyed a good post (or a bad one!). The comments and likes I receive are received with gratitude, and help me to Feel Good, which is my motto and has been since the very first day of this blog.

My intention, regardless of my post, is to try and share that Feel Good factor. In blogging, I believe we should all try to share a little light around the world, whether through stories, jokes, photos, pictures, music or any other part of the creative spectrum.

It’s too easy to get bogged down with all the darkness and negativity that is constantly being bombarded upon the world. Balance that with the light, and the world isn’t half as bad as we are made to believe it is.

Why bother?

That’s why.

Blogging is far more than just posting, but the posts help.

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Reimagined Classics: The Mona Thomasina

Thomasina, my Inner Woman, wanted her portrait painting the other day, so I had no choice but to oblige. In honour of Thomasina, my Inner Woman, being the kind of classic person everyone aspires to be like, the classics were the only place to go.

Everyone has heard of the Mona Lisa, the enigmatic and charming painting created centuries ago by Leonardo da Caprio, yes? Well, I present my version of that very painting, the Mona Thomasina.

Just like the original, she’s sat on a wooden chair on a bridge or terrace overlooking a jagged mountainous terrain, and you can’t tell if she’s smiling or not. With Thomasina, nobody ever can tell if she’s smiling or not, so she is the perfect model for this reconstruction.

Unlike the original, the chair is completely different, and Thomasina just wouldn’t get into the correct pose for love nor money. Mona Lisa’s clothes were far too old-fashioned and motheaten for a modern classic, so Thomasina argued, and she decided on this get up instead. And the mountains in the background are in a different place completely.

But still the resemblance is there, particularly if one squints, and tries to look through the painting as though one is trying to decipher a magic eye picture  just after they first came out in 1991; only with this thing it looks slightly better when blurred.

And before anyone writes in and complains, of course I know that it wasn’t Leonardo da Caprio who painted the Mona Lisa. It was Vinci. Vinci da Caprio. I do knows me art y’know. Mostly.

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Well, that was another week! May 3rd 2019

IT’S THE WEEKEND!!!

Well, obviously, that’s a well known fact – the weekends here begin on Thursday, so it’s already in full swing. And this weekend is another bumper one, with Bank Holiday Monday following it, making it just a little more special!

I’ve been having issues with my new computer again this week, hopefully they’re all sorted now. The pesky Windows 10 updates throw some kind of spanner in the works and stop the bloomin’ thing booting when I turn it on. However, I created a new Windows installation disc from the computer perched at the end of the desk, and managed to reinstall Windows that way. I’ve only had the computer since October and this is the third time I’ve had to do that, but as I only bought that computer for my 3d art software, I have now disconnected it completely from the internet, so (fingers crossed!) no more update issues there.

This computer’s keyboard and mouse are now working wonderfully, so in all it’s been quite a fun time computer-wise. Still, it passes the time – although that time could have been spent on better things.

I’ve been a sporadic blog visitor this week, and have called by a few posts, liked a few and commented on even fewer… although I have enjoyed every post I’ve read. At present, I call by via the reader, and usually on my mobile phone’s app, so read away, like when I think on, and comment when I have a few seconds to create words on those tiny keyboard letters with my fat fingers.

Not that they are that fat, I hasten to add, but compared to the keypad on the phone my fingers look like Siskonmakkara. Not that I’ve had Siskonmakkara, I hasten to add again, but I was looking on line for a suitable sausage to describe my fingers as, and this name leapt out at me. It’s a mild Finnish sausage, if you’re wondering.

I discovered something new this week. Totally out of the blue, and completely unexpected. I wonder how many other people know this? I asked myself after I found out, and have been desperate to include it in this post since Monday: Woodlice have fourteen legs. There! I’ve posted it. Not the kind of information you would need in general everyday conversation, but the kind you will need at the right time. Obviously, I had to share.

Now, in this post, I like to link to a few artist bloggers I follow to highlight something they have created during the week, but I’m postponing this feature this week until next. The main reason being the one I’ve already mentioned. No, not the Siskonmakkara, but the sporadic blog visits.

I have plenty to grumble about, but I shan’t.

I haven’t caught any Brexit news this week, but I have a sneaky feeling that’s been postponed so we have to vote in the EU elections at the end of the month. It shall be interesting to see what happens there. The sooner this fiasco is all over, the better.

Sorry. I had a little grumble there.

Silly joke time: I bought my friend an elephant for his room during the week. “Thank you,” he said. “Don’t mention it!” I replied, and left it with him.

Speaking of jokes, I don’t think anyone noticed my deliberate typo in last week’s post. Phew! I’d have gotten away with it too, if I hadn’t mentioned it this week. During last week’s post, I’d written “…The story begins tomorrow (Saturday 27th February)…” obviously, ‘February’ should have said ‘April’. That just shows you how fast time is flying by. Some mornings I wake up and I’m sure I’m still living in the early 1600s… but I’ll not go there…

Hope that’s given you a little chuckle for the weekend. Yes THE WEEKEND!

I like weekends, don’t you know?

Have a great one, whatever you find yourself doing.

(Image from Pixabay)

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What Isn’t Said

Sometimes it’s just that.
The breaths, pauses and silence
Speak louder than words.

Sometimes it’s the truth.
More details can be gathered
By what isn’t said.

Sometimes it can hurt.
Silent opportunities
Wasted by harsh words.

Sometimes it’s pure bliss.
The welcome sound of silence
On a busy day.