Do I Look Fat In This?

In a fit of anniversary frenzy, I gave my blog a makeover and now I'm not sure how it looks.
I mean, did I go too far?
I thought I'd lighten up the place a bit. It seemed so dark every time I came in.
And those damn palms dropping fronds everywhere; they just had to go.
But really, did I go overboard?

I chose blue to complement my eyes.
But gee, Is it a bit garish? Does it make me look fat?

What about the orange accents?
I went with Orange to punch things up; it's the new black you know.
I kept the green because well, it's my color. Plus, you know me, old gushy-in-the-blog,
I can't resist the idea of connecting the new to the old.

Do take a look at the new additions to the "Friends" list. Although I probably broke sixteen statutes of the blog etiquette protocol, I listed several new links to some entertaining blogs. Some are friends, some I've just stumbled upon while travelling the blogosphere. Let's hope the authors don't get sue me for lack of permission. Interested in the trials and tribulations of a newbie teacher? Click on Bender's Place. Want an easy-to-follow recipe? Click on Well Fed. Need a dose of exquisite humor? Click on Space's Place. Good art? You've got to click on Vera. For even more fun, check out her links. That will keep you from getting your work done. For a really random adventure check out the Cool Guy in Austria link; I'm not sure what draws me to his site, but it is worth a trip or two. Want some advice in the boudoir? Scroll way down to the bottom of the page to the Adults Only section. Smut and Stuff will help you and maybe even inspire you.

But really, all the changes aside? Do I look fat in this?

Happy Anniversary to ... Me!

I don't know about you, but when a significant event occurs in my life, its anniversary can be equally significant. Doesn't matter if it's meeting Mister Right, the first days of a new job, the extrication of my gall bladder or the birth of my children. With an eerie precision, the feelings and memories of that time gently waft their way into my conscience as the memorable, or in some cases not so memorable, date approaches.

I always make it a point to embrace these ethereal feelings because they remind me, ever-so-vaguely of who I was and who I've become in the time that's passed. My strengths and weaknesses are magnified and my intentions come into full bloom once again. It's good for the chakras I tell you, good for the chakras.

What, you must be wondering, has got me all gushy-in-the-blog this time?

It's my blog anniversary! Happy Anniversary bon blog!

True to form, I've been preoccupied this past week with the joy I felt a year ago today,
when with the help of a friend, I established my own little piece of web-estate. In the weeks that followed I suffered with a kind of joy that I can only compare to falling in love and that resulted in many sleepless nights and more than a few manic bouts of extreme energy. The rush I got writing and putting a up post had become intoxicating; not to mention a bit addicting. There were days at work when I'd sneak to the computer every couple of hours to check on my blog; no small feat considering I was teaching in a classroom without a computer and the nearest "fix" was a public-domain gig located two flights of stairs away from my classroom.

Although my contributions to the bon blog have been less frequent than those first few months, I don't want you Dear Reader, to think I'm all done with this writing thing. I still experience the same lovely little rush every time I put up a post. Writing is still the thing I'd most like to do when I have a few minutes to myself. And, if I were to post a list of all the things I'd still like to write about, I'd have to create another blog just to hold all my "first lines."

And if you're wondering: Yes Dear Reader, I am still a comment whore.