Spinning, Spinning, Spinning...

I swear that this will NOT be a self-indulgent post, beyond my saying that I'm (in the words of the lovely and talented Bakerina) completely off my game these days. I have so many ideas and plans for this space, but I'm just feeling so overwhelmed with plotting their execution that I have done nothing at all. Please tell me you guys feel like this sometimes, too.

In the meantime, while I spin away (and enjoy the snapping of laundry on the line, walks in the park with my little ones, and lovely, undocumented and unphotographed meals with family and friends- I AM still having fun, natch), I will direct you to some fellow foodie friends that ARE being productive, and thank the blog gods for that.

After a massive response to the latest EoMEoTE, fantabulous Jeanne (say it right, people: zhon) of Cook Sister! has produced an absolutely mind-boggling round-up, complete with descriptive limericks of all the entries. There are twenty-eight witty, sassy limericks waiting for your perusal, and all you have to do is click the little link...what are you still doing here?

Hanson and Heather, of Independent America, are consistently producing great posts, photos, interviews, and podcasts. In their own words, "We're on the lookout for "Mom & Pop" -- producing our own road movie across the United States. More than ever it seems like it's Independent America vs. Corporate Chain store America. We're hunting for those pressure points along with our black lab Miles. We've vowed to make our 52-day trip without relying on interstate highways, corporate chain restaurants, motels or stores."

Reid (aka "The Nicest Food Blogger...Ever."), from 'ono kine grindz, is just back in Hawaii after a whirlwind trip to San Francisco, and has posted extensively (and quite enjoyably, natch) on the places and people he checked out. Then he reviewed Kiwami Ramen in Waikiki, and made me jones for ramen something fierce. I said he was nice, I never said he played fair.

Everyone's favourite Brit abroad, Sam of Becks & Posh, is the lucky recipient of a gift certificate to the world-renowned Sur La Table and would like some help spending it. What's your must-have kitchen tool or appliance? Maybe you just can't live without your Jack LaLanne juicer or your patented Martha Stewart grape cleaner, and think Sam oughta have those, too. Well, get your thoughts together and participate in this oh-so-important meme during the last week of June. The future of Sam's kitchen depends on you!

Viv, from Seattle Bon Vivant, gets a standing ovation (nyuck, nyuck) as the hostess with the most-ess of IMBB16: Eggs! Imagine the possibilities...and then get them together and posted on Sunday, June 26th.

Meg, over at I Heart Bacon, has kindly agreed to get oversee this month's DMBLGIT?, and has already had a flood of entries. The deadline is June 20th, the judges are at the ready, and the competition will be fierce. Have you entered yet? Hello...what are you waiting for?

Tell the truth, now- you're buzzing along like a sugar-bomb anyway, so why not enter the fru-its of  your sweet kitchen adventures into what promises to be the sweetest of melees: SHF#9: Tantalizing, Titillating, Tempting Tarts, hosted by those Food Porn Watchers Life in Flow. Never made a tart or a galette? Stretch a little...live on the edge...have some fun...give it a shot! I know I'm going to. Well- Catholic Truth Hour time- I'm going to try to anyway.

Last, but certainly not least, please stop over and say hello to the sweet and talented Yvette, from AlohaMa's Kitchen in Hawaii. She is quite new to food blogging, but has had another blog for a couple of months, which is full of love and much aloha. The latest dish from her kitchen is yellow-fin tuna with lime-shoyu marinade...does that sound incredible or what? Go on...click on over and give her some of your aloha!

Alright, my little chickadees...go check 'em out, and revel in the fact that we're all part of an awesome and diverse online community. Ain't food blogging grand?

Comments

[Stephanie]

You make me so happy!! I love when someone posts all the different events...I always get side-tracked, and end up missing a couple. Thanks!

[Moira]

Hi Stephanie...oh, gosh- I'm sure this isn't a very comprehensive listing of events! Certainly not like Ronald's anyway, but I'm glad it's made you happy. =)

[Jeanne]

Hey Moira!
Hey - let's start a support group for Busy Women Who Think About Blogging All Day But Never Actually Do Any... Does that answer your question??! Great roundup of stuff happening in the blogosphere - and thanks for the EoMEoTE plug! Hope you are working on that screenplay for the next one...

And does this mean that I can now post on how to pronounce your name?! ;-)

[Moira]

Hi Jeanne...let me know when you get that support group going, and I'll be there. I'm sorry, but I just don't have the time to help right now. ;-)

Yes, I am working on my "treatment" for my next EoMEoTE entry...how about you? And, no, you may not post on the proper pronounciation of my name. Where would we be if everyone pronounced my name correctly? Jeez Louise.

[dawn]

Moira,
Yes, I know how you feel. I sometimes have entire posts in my head, but just can't get to the computer or by the time I do, I'm over it. Enjoy walks in the park with your little ones & write whenever you're inspired. And go ahead be a little self-indulgent - you're allowed.

[Lyn]

Sometimes, you just have to step away (from the blog) and connect with the real world fo a while. The one that includes the little ones and bicycles and kittens and random other non-blog but very very good stuff like nice shoes and 3D food. No need to feel guilty. Blog when it's fun and you're loving it, not because you feel you should. There are enough "have tos" and "I shoulds" in the world without making one more. Go play with the babies and daydream about stuff you have absolutely no reason to believe you will ever do.

[Moira]

Hi Dawn and Lyn...thanks you two! That's pretty much where I am right now, but I really do want to get posts together on a more regular basis. Just writing up this post felt good, so I really need to at least schedule one sure post per week...or something like that anyway. ;-) It's summer, and the kids will be grown up in no time, so I'm going to try my best to enjoy this time, and fit the other stuff in when I can. I appreciate the kind words from you both...

[Sweetnicks]

Moira, I feel your pain. I've been fighting bronchitis since Thursday and feel so drained, and just not into cooking (gasp!). Really trying hard to relax and get better and get off the dang spinning carousel. Support group? SIGN ME UP! Great picture, by the way. And I echo, Stephanie, thanks for an event round-up -- too many to keep track of!

[Fatemeh]

Ugh, I totally understand your pain.

Sometimes, I just don't feel like I have the "juice" to get something engaging and relevant posted, even though there's a backlog of stories and pictures I could write about.

It's tough to get back into the swing of things when you hit a lull. I've found that it sometimes helps get me in the mood to tinker around with creative stuff - sidebars, backgrounds, newsletters, whatever.

[Moira]

Hi Sweetnicks...thank you! I hope you're feeling better soon...we'll have to get on Jeanne about that support group, huh? ;-)

Hi Fatemeh...you're so right! I felt much better just getting this post together, so I know I'll be o.k. if I can just keep the ball rolling, as it were. I never notice a lull over at your place, by the way, so I think you must recover from your valleys pretty quickly!

[Reid]

Hi Moi,

Me the nicest one? Are you sure? Especially after you said "thanks for nothing!" the other day? hehe.

You're the best and thanks for the shout out. Your sushi mats are still waiting for you! =)

[Julie]

Hey Moi,
As the late great John Lennon once said, "Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans." I think a good part of this spring has been a creative doldrum for me -- and sometimes I've posted when I didn't really have the zest for it, which makes for posts of the "what we had for dinner last night" variety. That can be engaging enough in its own way, but isn't always the stuff of which culinary literature is made. So, do it when you feel it, and know that your fans are all here, ready to enjoy whatever flows from your keyboard, all in good time. And as for the rest of it, well, you know, uuuhhh, what the folks who already commented above said. Yeah, what they said. You know.

[Lyn]

Here's something for you to blog about!

http://gorgeoustown.typepad.com/lex_culinaria/2005/06/_nbsp_nbspnbsp_.html

[Moira]

Hi Reid...hey, buggah- I still gotta give you heat, you know! I'll let you send the sushi mats on their way when I get your box together, which should be sometime this year. Just kidding!

Hi Julie...thank you, sweetie. I feel a thousand times better already, and fortunately SHF, IMBB, and EoMEoTE are coming up one right after the other- I think it's all going to work out. And I'm going to chill, too...it's summer! It's all good, right?

Hi Lyn...why, thank you! I've been tagged by Reid for the books meme, so yours will follow in short order.

[Jessica "Su Good Eats"]

Hi Moira, yeah keeping a blog takes lots of time! I feel like I'm negelecting my "real world" duties by blogging. Clement from A La Cuisine! feels the same way.

[Grommie]

As others have said: yes, yes... take a rest and some time with the kiddies while they're young... we'll be here drooling for the next entry when you get back.

[Moira]

Hi Jessica...I'm getting the feeling that a lot more bloggers feel like me than not. It's good to know I'm not alone!

Hi Grommie...thank you! I think it's all going to work out in the end, I just need to relax and let it happen.

[Heather]

Hi Busy Lady!
Like so many of the posters here I understand "being off one's game" and thinking of blog entries without being able to actually make one! It is the story of my life on this trip (& at home). Thanks so much for mentioning Independent America on your lovely blog.

[Yvette]

Oh My Geesshhhh..... Thank you so much for being so thoughtful about me and you even added my blogs...felt like that I'm in the highlighted spot! *Thanks!* (Sniffs...)Also, you make me feel inspired and the more I read, the more I wanted to cook something but right now, I'm low on cash..TSK TSK! Now, back on this subject about blog VS reality.... we all need to step away from our computers because we aren't married to these but to our families or OHANA. So, we have to put away our selfish needs and focus on something else: kids, read the books, prepare food for dinner, take long walks, surfing ( is there surfing spot in U.K?), things that we know.I know it is hard to get away from computer because we all have creative ideas: design the layouts, creative writing essays, share the recipes and so on. The only things I'm obsessed is to post my layouts in digital art sites or post photo on the photoblog then I feel satisfied, knowing that I will recieve more comments next day. Am I weird? Like Heather said: Thanks so much for mentioning Independent America on your lovely blog

[Moira]

Hi Yvette...your are welcome! Thanks for the advice about blogging v. life...it's so true, isn't it? I'm sure everything will work out for the best in the long run, and I'm sure things will continue to change as the kids get older, too.