Edit: Conversation continued at www.christinacrook.com

I come out of my blogernation (that’s the words blogging and hiberation conjoined like wiggly newborn twins) to bring you this article.

Is writing for the rich?

To me, it often seems  like more of a luxury than I can afford (whether that be with the riches of time, energy, currency, etc). My fellow blogger Christina, on the other hand, meets the sacrifice with devotion, and makes it all look very glamourous in the meantime (yes, even in a green barista apron). Her practice works – and career-wise, seems to be working very well for her. That is not to say, however, that writing isn’t still a huge struggle even for the successful - and living off of it a whole different story.  I write without expectation of pay. Mostly in private, but sometimes (here) very publicly. I can only imagine that if you were willing to fundraise for my employer for free, I would be ousted in no time at all.  

So I ask then is writing now purely for the hobbyists? Do I dillute the efforts of the truly brilliant with my on-air ramblings?

I wonder. I wonder. I wonder…out loud.

Thanks for reading.

Jen

PS: Photo borrowed from LittleBrownPen – an American writer living in Paris.

There’s a lady in California who writes a blog I’ve been reading lately. You can visit her here if you like.  On her far right coloumn, she left this little quote:

“You don’t really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around – and why his parents will always wave back.”

- William D. Tammeus 

What a sweet image.

The photo is from here. This weekend, my mom told me never to make a loaf of bread. What kind of motherly advice is that?! Probably good advice. Anyway, it inspired me to start searching around for an easy bread recipe and I found this one. I am bookmarking it here for the New Year.  Between bread-making and dance classes, I’m sure going to be a busy wife.

Domestic Reflections

Building a little house by the big woods

Have a quiet and reflective Remembrance Day,

Jen

Yes, I bought it. Yes, I love it. Yes, I will run home every day for the next two weeks to check my mailbox. Yes, I sometimes wonder if Michelle Brusegaard thinks she’s as fabulous as I think she is.

Yes, there are others:

Believe me, your girlfriend, sister, best friend, mother, etc would like one. Michelle makes the most beautiful stationary and linens as well. And yes, she’s from Etsy and yes, she has a blog.

Then another kind of red: Kat came over for dinner last night and she, Ash and I launched life plans over Thai red curry and red wine (don’t ask about the bean burgers – they died an early death). Plans that I really hope will come to fruition. It was the perfect way to spend an evening. And it’s not even Wednesday yet.

Have a great champagne day. Drink it up.

Jen

I used to really want to go to Russia, which is the only relation this photohas to my comeback post of 2008. I imagine Mrs. Talossa has been to Russia. I imagine she’s left many hotel beds there full of scone crumbs and coffee spills. I can read all this into one picture because her blog is in a foreign language that looks like this: Kirjavarasto on taas päässyt ehtymään. I like not being able to read her blog. I read her photos instead.

This weekend, I had a funny dream. In the dream, it was the day of the wedding and I was in pure panic. I had forgotten Ash’s name. I couldn’t even remember what he looked like.  And I was too afraid to admit it to anyone.  My mind raced through ex-boyfriends and past acquaintences. I just couldn’t come up with a name or a face. When I finally did breakdown and admit my amnesia to my sister, she answered: Ashleah, of course.

I can’t even begin to explain the wash of relief that crossed my heart. It would be like hearing your best friend was in a horrific crash – and escaped completely unharmed.  

Ashleah. Of course, my heart said.

Ashleah. I can marry him.

I woke up very certain about where I was. Eager to get out of bed.   

No, not you, Patrick.

While this seems like something I’d normally be opposed to in all sorts of ways, the shivers that ran down my spine are hard to ignore. I mean, if I ever actually published a novel and someone scanned every laboured-over page and put it online, wouldn’t I be a little venomous?

That said, I know there’s nothing that compares with holding a book. And I know there’s nothing that compares with flipping through a magazine, especially on an airplane. So, by all sorts of unreasonable deductions, I think this is o.k.

It doesn’t make me want to get on the phone immediately and cancel all my current subscriptions. If anything, it just widens my reading horizons (because, of course, I only plan on reading Harvard Business Review and The Walrus, not Glamour and Wish. Yeah right.)

Here, you decide: www.mygazines.com and let me know if my moral compass has gone all wonky.

(New love found via this lovely lady from Norway).

“I get up. I walk. I fall down. Meanwhile, I keep dancing.”

Sometimes it’s too sunny to stay at work.

Quote from Rabbi Hillel. Photo from here.

Just got word today that I’ve been indexed on Delightful Blogs! Champagne Wednesdays is now a classified delight on all topics to do with Stylish Living.

You can find my listing here.

How fitting on a Wednesday to be celebrating my 100th post?!

OK, 101.

Cheers, readers.

Jen

Card from The Beautiful Project on Etsy ($3.50)

Twenty-nine reasons why…

Happy Birthday, Sarah!

Love, Jen

Photos from here in the Tumblr section.

My last day at work.

(Via Bientot Demain; part of the Overgrown Series by Chrissie mac Donald)