What do you find most challenging about blogging?


Knowing what to write about, or what not to write about, is the most difficult part of blogging to me. Sometimes I just have no idea. Even these writing prompts can't help me sometimes. A lot of times it seems like the more I want to write, the harder it is. Or there are times that I desperately want to write about something that I know I shouldn't. I'm talking about private things that have no business being on the internets. It is difficult sometimes because this is my outlet. This is where I write my thoughts and can get feedback.


One of the problems is that I do not know what my niche is. Day 4 in 31 Ways to Build a Better Blog is to analyze a top blog in your niche. Here is where I got stuck. Pretty early on, eh? What is my niche? It used to be the single-working-mother blog but not so much any more. I'm more than that now. There is more to me than being a mom who works. But what does that mean to me? Who knows.

Night Life

Inside it is stiffling, so I grab my wine and keys and head out into the fresh night air. The night is alive with music. Spanish music that I cannot understand, but makes me want to dance. Tengo que bailer.

There seems to be people everywhere. Kids trying to procure adult beverages, young adults racing down the street, a truck that is having a hard time parallel parking. I am not outside long before it begins to rain. Starting slowly at first and deterring no one. A woman walks by with her dog.

The rain comes down harder, yet the party continues on. Children walk by with basketballs even though it is much too dark to play. Even in the city lights. The truck gives up trying to park and goes somewhere else. A second truck comes up and easily takes the spot.

My feet are getting wet, so I need to retreat a bit farther onto the porch. My glass is empty and is screaming to be refilled. I yield, running inside real quick to grab a refill and my pipe. My dog follows me out. She, too, is curious of the city noises.

The temperature is dropping and there are less people wandering about. Even my dog comes back under shelter. It gets colder and I realize I am exhausted.

A Limerick

The cars were parked on the pier.

A pier not far from here.

the pier was broken

cars two feet from soaking

The drivers were far from fear.

Parenting Joys

Have I told you how amazing children are? First they are just these little blobs then they are walking talking kids. How does that happen?

Ryder came home the other day and I told him it was dinner time. "I have already eaten dinner," he told me. Then continued to tell me what exactly he ate.

He didn't talk for the longest time and now he is telling me about what he had done.

I tried to help him get onto the first ride. He didn't need help.

He is finally tall enough for the log flume ride. I dragged him on and he was so scared. After the first hill he said "I'm done! I'm done!" but unfortunately for him there was another hill. I think it was good for him.

My parents babysat Saturday while I went out to see a show. I got back around 2 am and snuck into bed with him. He woke in the morning, hugged me and said "Mama, I missed you!"

Be still my beating heart.

Penny

How could we resist after seeing a dachshund puppy everyday? He was our neighbor's dog and looked something like this:

via

It was decided that we needed a dog. Right away.

Our first stop was the Dumb Friend's League in Denver. They had the most beautiful facility. It was all new and fancy. Each dog got its own kennel and blanket and such. No small dogs though. None that would stay small, at least. We were told to come in the morning because we'd have better luck then.

Well, this was no good because we needed a dog. Right away.

We went to a small shelter, which is no longer open, that wasn't new and fancy like the DFL. It was hardly more than a large garage with a few kennels and a shit-load of dogs. There were 5-10 dogs per kennel. All kinds of dogs. There was a wall of cats, too, that was basically a bunch of cages on top of one another.

The first dog we took out to play didn't seem to like us. He was kinda old and just doing his own thing. We needed a real connection. Then we saw Penny. She was jumping up and barking and looking like she really wanted to go out. So we took her out and she loved us. Jumped all over us and was having a grand time.

Who could resist those eyes?

So it was decided. Penny it was. While we were waiting to take her home, she was trying to get to the wall o' cats. Jumping and barking all over the place. It should have occurred to me then that she would always jump and bark, but, alas, it did not. So she came home with us.

She got along well with our cats. They all seemed to have a lovely time chasing each other.

Penny and Houdini

A whole hell of a lot has happened since I got Penny in 2003. She was there for me when there has been no one else. She has traveled across the country with me. She has been on camping trips and saw the addition of a baby to our family. She has seen my marriage break up and the loss of an apartment and car. Penny is always there. And Penny is always happy to see me. Now she and Ryder are best friends. When Ryder needs someone, Penny will be there for him. 

Can you believe this is the best pic I could find?!

Penny really gets on my nerves. She jumps and barks (have I mentioned that?) and drives me crazy. At one time I thought that she was too much. I thought that I could not handle a baby and a needy dog all by myself, so Penny went to spend the week with my parents. We only got a few days in and I needed her back. I needed my Penny. Right away. I wouldn't trade her for anything.

Lia Sophia Blog Party!!

Have you ever been to a lia sophia party before? Well, now you have! Welcome! Sit, have a cocktail - what do you drink? First I'm going to show you the awesome jewelry I have:

Isn't it all really pretty? I love it. And it is coated in Rhodium so it is hypoallergenic. Which rocks because I can't wear a lot of stuff.

Wanna shop with me? Here's how:

Click here

I am your hostess so put "Raine" into the first name field.

It will pop up with my name. Click it.

Shop!

The SALE:

For every two items you buy, you get a third for half off. They take half off the most expensive item.

I know!!

Then you can purchase up to three bracelets half off.

So, if you are interested, or just want to look around, please feel free! The party will be open for about a week. Let me know if you have any questions or anything.

Do you need another drink?

The Fresh Air Fund

The Fresh Air Fund is a non-profit organization that sends children from the inner city to suburbs and small communities for a couple of weeks in the summer. These children get to enjoy fresh air, green grass, clear water, and open spaces, when they, normally, would not get the opportunity.

The Fresh Air Fund contacted me and asked me for a hand, because they are looking for host families in the Northeast and Canada. Twelve hundred host families, actually, for this summer. They are looking for volunteers to host a child in their home for up to two weeks. The children are ages six to twelve and the volunteers can request the age and gender of the child.

This is a great organization and I am happy to help get out the word about them. They have been doing this since 1877 and hopefully will continue to help children for another 100+ years. If you would like to help or would like more information check out their website. It is packed with information.

Why I Walk in the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk

I am walking for the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk again this year. The past three years have been so much fun. And like the previous years, I am walking for my Mom.

My Mom was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer in October, 2007. She had surgery to remove all but the inoperable tumor. Since then she has been through so many different drugs. Some make her hair fall out, some gives her peripheral neuropathy (numb hands and feet), some just make her tired. The drug she is currently on has cardiac symptoms. No one wants to mess with their heart. They carefully monitor her to see if she is able to continue on the drug.

This is last year's poster, but don't we look awesome?

This is why I do the Jimmy Fund Walk every year. To raise money for cancer research that might, hopefully, save my Mom.


We need your help too! My goal for this year is $500 and I am quite behind. Could you donate to my walk and to cancer research everywhere?

Thank you everybody! You are my heroes.

15 Things To Do Before I Die

1. Buy something from a child in Mexico, paying more than asked.

2. Find out what makes me happy.

3. Have a song written for me.

4. Have a second child.

5. Grow a garden.

6. Learn to rock climb.

7. Learn to play tennis

8. Teach Ryder to play "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" on the piano.

9. Go on a cruise.

10. See Circle de Soliel

11. Drink an ale in a pub in Dublin.

12. Attend a World Series game.

13. Buy a joint legally.

14. Finish the New York Times' Sunday crossword.

15. Forgive my ex-husband.

What is on your bucket list?

Childbirth

Most pain ever. Most precious gift.

Six Word Memoir: Write about a significant time in your life in just six words.