tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5523176879771875815.post164765628533028619..comments2023-04-27T04:30:40.440-05:00Comments on Digging Out of Distraction: Can I Borrow a Cup of Sugar?Christinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05383099148014297450noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5523176879771875815.post-91424145368187539562010-09-19T20:23:05.463-05:002010-09-19T20:23:05.463-05:00Wendy: you never know--we might all hook up one da...Wendy: you never know--we might all hook up one day. The world gets smaller and smaller. I am still kicking myself for not seeing you at Nationals this year. But we will meet. I will make a point of it. :-)Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05383099148014297450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5523176879771875815.post-6162196296946768602010-09-19T18:23:31.591-05:002010-09-19T18:23:31.591-05:00If you lived closer I'd love to have you and y...If you lived closer I'd love to have you and your husband over.Wendy S Marcushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00939938658812925880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5523176879771875815.post-85998030040964665822010-09-19T10:43:51.308-05:002010-09-19T10:43:51.308-05:00Hi Wendy: I think people believe that entertaining...Hi Wendy: I think people believe that entertaining has to be this big deal because of the recent shows about it on television. Sure, who doesn't want to cook and entertain like Martha Stewart, Rachel Ray, the Barefoot Contessa? But they're not doing it alone. They have a lot of help. I learned a long time ago that a tiny bit of cleaning, not perfection, baskets of crap hidden in the closet, a few candles and a lot of heart make the house a home that people want to visit. I would be happy with Stouffers Lasagna, salad in a bag and a bottle of wine to share. People make the visits fun. If people would just not worry about being perfect cooks, hostesses and having super clean houses, I bet more people would open the door to guests. <br /><br />We are busy. And there are times when I think, oh, I really don't have time or want to take the time away from my writing, but the truth is if I don't make this a priority, what will I write about? I love my friends in the writing world, but I need relationships with people from all walks of life. It feeds my soul and I believe enriches my writing.<br /><br />A party for 27 is a lot of work. I remember we used to do these crazy Happy Hours in our neighborhood. My daughter called the HAPPY NIGHTS. Lots of people, everyone brought appies, booze and we stayed up late drinking, laughing and having fun. But now I am only up for smaller groups. I find it heightens the quality of my interactions. The most I can seat at the table is 10--4 at a card table. So that's my upper limit.<br /><br />You'll find the time! and I love Passover Sedar. I went to one years ago. So nice. I wish I lived closer to you. I'd bring something to share!Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05383099148014297450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5523176879771875815.post-91093585888834857862010-09-19T10:23:26.421-05:002010-09-19T10:23:26.421-05:00I think about inviting people over then I decide I...I think about inviting people over then I decide I'm too tired to deal with the prep and clean up. Every year I do a big Thanksgiving feast for 27. And I ususally do a Passover Sedar. When my children were young we had big family birthday BBQs. Not so much anymore. It's something I have to work on....in my spare time. Yet to be honest, socializing with the outside world is not something that should be relegated to spare time. We should make time.Wendy S Marcushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00939938658812925880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5523176879771875815.post-24315063442040291532010-09-19T08:03:26.843-05:002010-09-19T08:03:26.843-05:00Hi Kate: I agree. People are very busy. In fact, I...Hi Kate: I agree. People are very busy. In fact, I'd say they are scheduled to the point of having no flex time. We know all of our neighbors, very nice folks, but they are super busy. Doesn't seem to matter the age and stage of life they and/or their kids are in because I rarely see them. We do chat outside. But the spontaneous "let's get together and break bread" stuff is not happening. Everyone is super busy. I wrote a blog about the "business of busy-ness." I have my own take on what that really means to me. I think people feel like they have to be "on" all the time in order to feel important and validate themselves. It springs from our culture as a whole. I mean really, think about it, do we all need to be talking on cell phones when we are grocery shopping, at the theater, driving, etc.? I remember a time when the only people who got paged at movie theaters were doctors who had to deliver babies.Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05383099148014297450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5523176879771875815.post-2167787871918585292010-09-19T00:14:31.187-05:002010-09-19T00:14:31.187-05:00This is the first place I've lived in a long t...This is the first place I've lived in a long time where I actually know my neighbors. We haven't actually been inside each other's houses... I think having yards and working in them helps, though. We can have those impromptu chats over the fence.<br /><br />I honestly think we're all incredibly over-scheduled these days and this definitely contributes to why we don't just invite people over for a cup of tea. It seems almost... rude... to presume that someone has free time.<br /><br />I miss that loss of community, though.Kate Diamondhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00987438202240646062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5523176879771875815.post-63844730248241663352010-09-18T07:27:32.159-05:002010-09-18T07:27:32.159-05:00Hi Piedmont Writer: Me, too! I'm not alone. Bu...Hi Piedmont Writer: Me, too! I'm not alone. But let's face it--after spending months with them and struggling to get their stories right, how can we forget them? I hope your writing is going well and that all your characters are cooperating.Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05383099148014297450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5523176879771875815.post-54484006498305858332010-09-18T07:02:35.407-05:002010-09-18T07:02:35.407-05:00I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks o...I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks of her characters after I've written "The End".Anne Gallagherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05816355522284492131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5523176879771875815.post-55384981131877191292010-09-17T11:04:04.645-05:002010-09-17T11:04:04.645-05:00Hi Kieran: Happy Birthday!! And thank you for your...Hi Kieran: Happy Birthday!! And thank you for your kind words. You are also very open and inviting. As is Sharon. I learned a lot from you ladies. I do miss how easy it was to meet new people in a new place when I had a younger child. But it is doable. I just started a ladies night here in my little neck of the woods. I was actually quite shocked at how difficult it's been for the lovely women to make new connections here. So I'm glad I got the ball rolling in the right direction.<br /><br />I hope you have a very wonderful year.Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05383099148014297450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5523176879771875815.post-89508543341400380792010-09-17T08:59:39.120-05:002010-09-17T08:59:39.120-05:00Great post, Christine! We all need to do more soci...Great post, Christine! We all need to do more socializing over the backyard fence. I've seen you in action, drawing people in, and that is one of the very finest things about your character!!Kierannoreply@blogger.com