photos included just for color

Back in the early fifties, soon after we got a TV, Mom started watching soap operas. And heaven help you if you interrupted her during, "As the World Turns," or any of the other vintage shows. You had to be actually bleeding or throwing up or you were in Big Trouble! Mom didn't get out much and she didn't have friends over and these shows were her social life. Since I was mostly hiding in my room with my friends (my books,) it didn't impact me much. But now I realize that blogland is my version of her "stories." I check in on other people's lives so much that I'm not getting out and living my own. At least with the blogs, I get to interact, rather than just observe. And since most of my blog buddies are knitters, we don't need infidelity and tragedy to keep the shows interesting. ( I remember trying to watch the soaps with Mom once, and having to ask, "Is this the doctor who's sleeping with her husband's boss?" And the answer was, "No, that's in the next program. This is the doctor who hasn't told her husband that she's pregnant because the accident with the x-ray machine may have hurt the baby. And she just found out that her husband is having an affair with her own mother. Now be quiet.") I'd much rather share in the labor and deliver of a new pair of socks. Also, there's a lot more happiness and laughter amongst the knit bloggers than ever showed up on the soaps.

But really, I'm spending two and a half hours of every day just checking in on everyone and sometimes making comments. I have other things to do. Things I want to do. However, as with any good addiction, I find myself unable to stop. I can't help checking in on Amy at Writer's Lane and seeing how the Cave Troll is getting along. And Jejune's wicked lamb, Miss Lulu simply captivates me! Speaking of my favorite Lulus, I'm having Cabin Cove withdrawals while Dave moves to a new appartment. And you know what? I'm not going to share all these website addresses because I bet you have the same addiciton and would just go romping off to spend even MORE time on line, meeting more new friends and leaving the laundry and litterboxes to languish "just a little longer." Why should I aid and abet your addiction when I can't shake my own?

One thing that all addicitons have in common is that they never start out as a solitary fluke. You need someone to introduce you and teach you how to appreciate the drug of choice. Would anyone buy a pack of cigarettes, light up and inhale without some sort of encouragement and training? Did you enjoy your first taste of alcohol? It's something we need to learn to love. Same with blog-addiction. You have to master the tools (computer) and find the niche that fits (knitter-blogs) before you really get hooked. Then all too soon, you can't get through the day without checking in on your friends. I've even let my e-mails lapse because the blogverse sucks up too much of my time and attention. I have a book that needs an agent. And the litter box reeks!

Hi. My name is Roxie and I'm a blogaholic. Is there a twelve step program for me?


Love my shoes.