My mother-in-law called, the other night (I think it was Thursday) to catch up on how the children and I have been feeling, lately - since our latest battle with bubblegum fatigue and phlegm - and, balancing the phone receiver with my left shoulder, I continued to time my son (while he completed 100 math facts in less than five minutes) reached for the safety scissors and began clipping the dead leaves off the geraniums on the window sill, and chatted away:

"Uh-huh...yes...they're all better...nuh-uh...no...I'm not busy."

I wasn't being, you know, sarcastic (really!) and besides, I owed her a phone call. Okay. Perhaps two or three, even.

Make a long story, you know, less long (I know, probably not) I had to cut the phone call short, when Mini-me ran into the dining room, stood in front of me and covered her hand to her mouth:

"Yes...in fact, your son is..."

[gag]

"Ulgck...looks like Mini-me's gonna get sick, again...gotta go...call you back!"

[click]

In one quick move, to the baker's rack and back, I grabbed for the puke bucket (what, you don't have one?) placed it under Mini-me, closed my eyes and braced myself for the worst.

Did I mention I was a joiner?

And why not? Because, I swear, it's moments like this that I can't help but wonder...um...what in the hell was I doing.

No, really.

That's the trouble with multi-tasking - although, some mommybloggers don't seem to have a problem with this - it requires lots of, you know, focus.

[wiping the spittle from my eyes]

And I've seem to have lost mine, at the moment.

No matter, I'm on my time now - good time to hit 'ye blog, yes? - the kids'll be home soon and I'm sure I'll be right back at it, again.

The trouble is, I'm having a really hard time getting passed all the negative conotations that comes with me having to explain to people:

"Why, yes...I'm a writer...call me a mommyblogger, if you'd like...but, I'm sorta just trying to, you know, work it all out."

[blank stare]

You know.

It's not always about the phlegm - it's about connecting to other parents (yes...dads, too) who, having dealt with a whole slew of crud I didn't even know about, perhaps can relate to all the crap that goes along with it, too.

Heavy sigh.

Helps me look at phlegm in a whole new way, you know.

For some parents, blogging comes naturally, but - for reasons I won't get into, at the moment [insert your tears of joy, here] - carving out a living at it is like trying to make a dent in the laundry.

For me, anyway.

That's where mommybloggers like Anne-Marie Nichols (a.k.a. A Mama's Rant) come in quite handy, especially when giving interviews and quotes like these:

Don’t treat mommy bloggers like a bunch of dumb housewives and blogging as our “cute little hobby.” Many of us were professional writers and marketers before we stayed home with our kids. We blog because we have a brain and need to reach out to people and share our stories.

I'm not one of them - professional writer/marketer B.C. (before children) - but, she made me think that perhaps there was a place for "my stories" and given me reason to, you know, chill out and re-visit another favorite hobby of mine; a love that both my mother-in-law and I shared, besides her son.

Birdwatching.

It was a beautiful sunny day, today

Tomorrow, not so much.

So, I grabbed the camera and settled in by the birdfeeders outside the backdoor.

You see, even when I'm alone...

I'm never really, lonely.

Yes, I believe that blogging has been good for me and that I have finally found a comfortable niche, but - sitting in the quiet sun, playing with your cat and ignoring the dust kitties - sometimes there are things that are better left alone.

And, if you wait long enough, perhaps you'll get a glimpse of that elusive cardinal...

...or, snap that woodpecker that's been keeping you up at night.

With patience - and even a little luck - perhaps things will become, you know, a bit clearer...

...and the cardinal will see you, too...

...as something shiny and - prehaps even a little pretty - suddenly, before you even know what's happening, you cross paths and it flies straight for your...um...WAIT!

WHUMP!

Due to technical difficulties, we interrupt this bird story and bring you a blogging tip:

Be careful when killing two birds with one stone, you might miss the birds.

You, your kids and perhaps even your mother-in-law will thank you, one day!

And for heaven's sake, do NOT clean your windows - doing housework can kill - trust me!

Stupid bird!