I was reminded again this weekend that I've never given an explanation for the title of this blog. When one sets out to name a blog, unlike the process of naming a child, or a school, one casts about in one's mind, thinks of several cutesy things, finally says, 'whatever, I'm naming it this', logs onto blogger, finds the name surprisingly not claimed and signs up. Then one posts pretty little posts of how to make bread and all the cute things one's children are saying.
Astute readers will see where said blogger went wrong.
She didn't think about an audience. She has too many subjects she's covering. Like...
children,
Anglican Mess,
food,
education,
general sarcastic irritation with life,
sermons,
spiritual things...So she will never be linked by bloggers with a good focus (all three of you who have linked me are to be commended for your brilliance in seeing past the veneer of incompetence to the brilliance of the writing found on this blog). She will never be linked by sarcastic mean bloggers because she's too spiritual. She will never be linked by lovely Christian bloggers because the title of her blog has the word 'hostile' in it. She will never be linked by intellectual bloggers because she talks too much about her children. She will never be linked by mommy bloggers because she hates to be called 'mommy' except and only by her actual children.
Such a blogger spends time quietly comforting herself that it doesn't matter if anyone links her; she writes because she likes to and because its a better hobby than trying to sew because she doesn't know how to sew. And she quietly criticizes other bloggers for not blogging often enough. But basically she knows that had she thought more about the name of a blog, she would have had no residual anxiety about her blog.
So why does a blogger even consider the name 'an undercurrent of hostility'? Well, to begin with, if its part of the vocabulary life of one's early life. As in 'did you feel the undercurrent of hostility in that room?' or 'boy, there's a strong undercurrent of hostility, I hope it doesn't come to the surface and cause us all to be embarrassed.' Those kinds of things.
When I started this blog I was seriously hostile towards an array subjects. But when I say 'seriously hostile' I really mean 'vaguely annoyed' or sometimes 'seriously annoyed' or maybe once in a good long while 'frankly ticked off'. The Anglican Mess, for example, enjoined itself too all three levels. The disobedience of my children makes it every day to Level Two. On the other hand, the cultural shift of people in the church deciding not to have babies 'frankly ticks me off'. And obviously, Daylight Savings Time makes it to Level Three every time.
How could it not be so. I was finally waking up early in the morning in time to pray, read the Bible AND work out. The baby was on a regular eating and sleeping schedule. We had settled into a restful post Christmas pre Easter rhythm, only to have it shattered by the insanity of the idea that we can 'save daylight'.
So of course I've been considering changing the name of this blog. But not very seriously. I think, ultimately, I'd rather just keep writing here whether anyone reads it or not, or links me or not, because writing is a great pleasure and that's why I do it.
19 comments:
I love reading your blog, whatever you write. Today I see that we are both negative towards Daylight Savings Time. Total waste of time, and source of great confusion. If we want to have more light at night, why not keep it that way all year round? Nixon did this by the way - so he wasn't as bad as they claim. Anyway, I forgot to change the clock until Monday morning one year, and even worse, went in the wrong direction one year, so I ended up two hours early for a breakfast appointment. DST is bad.
Ugh, the person who decided to move daylight savings time several weeks earlier obviously does not have kids. And as part of their penance for making this decision they should have to deal with getting my kids out the door on time in the morning--as well as monitor my son at night to make sure he hasn't grabbed the flashlight in the hallway and stashed it under his covers with a book. Daylight savings time should not start till May! By then it's tolerable.
I don't like daylight savings time. first you have to get up at 2 am to change the clocks, that wakes me up and I have a hard time getting back to sleep. secondly,this extra hour of daylight is probably the cause of global warming, having the extra hour allows the earth to heat up more. Boy oh Boy I don't like daylight savings.
Art+
I love your blog! Please keep writing. And, of course, you're absolutely right about DS. When they moved it several years ago, my husband's company spent hundreds of hours rewriting software. So much for "saving." And both of my children slept badly all weekend. It must be DS's fault. Of course, it could also be Alex has only been on this medication for a week and we're guaranteed at least a couple of weeks worth of weird bedtimes and Miranda has been skipping dinner so she wakes up at 3 am screaming for food or wandering off to get it herself. And it rained all weekend! My daffodils have been trying to open for days and they need sunshine!
Okay, end of rant. :)
P.S. I never had a problem with your blog's title, but then, by the time I'd found you, I'd been reading Kendall's blog for quite a while. And, of course, I also have children who try to kill each other daily.
Enjoying sarcasm myself, I find your blogs very refreshing in that I am reassured that I'm not going crazy alone.
And I have linked your blog to my blog for the sole purpose, it brings levity (usually) to my writings.
:o)
Ralinda has it right. Start DST, a stupid idea anyway, in May, so those of us who have to get up at completely unreasonable times which would anytime before 9 a.m. IMHO, can make it into consciousness with a little daylight as we stumble around dark bedrooms while our spouses and dogs snooze on.
I like DST. I only wish they would make it coincide with say the weekend before Palm Sunday so that just about everyone would be confused. :)
The name of your blog was what first drew me to it. I love your humor and honesty (like admitting you enjoy swearing after putting the kids to bed). I can relate to that sort of thing. Oh and by the way I love your sermons too, especially the one about coming into the light - the one illustrated by your kitty hiding in the wall.
I'm trying to get straightened out with this DST. Resisted falling asleep this afternoon. Hurray it's after 8, I can get ready for bed and maybe wake up at a decent hour in the morning to get my prayer, exercise etc in before others wake up.
Marjorie
Hi Anne,
I like and read your blog regularly. From the other side of the planet. No DST in my hemisphere at all.
Not deterred by the title. In fact, I like the title (although I always thought it referred to the smouldering rage of certain women clergy going in YOUR direction).
Please keep writing. You're doing good work. Say hi to Matt for me.
Kevin Seaver in Tokyo
It's obviously time I straightened out the writer of this blog. The first time I ever heard anyone talk about an "undercurrent of hostility" was when this blog writer's very own father (not yet married to ME but about to be) showed up in Portland Oregon the week before the wedding and met my large (8 kids 2 parents) family and felt that while we were all very polite there was a certain measure of quiet insanity in the household and an undercurrent of hostility. Which of course became our new family joke. Always an undercurrent of hostility and it HAS to be an undercurrent when you are for the moment living in an Tzeltal village in Mexico for instance, and being constantly watched, or are having to share a kitchen in France with someone you barely know and can barely stand, or when you have to learn strange tongues in small villages in West Africa where the gossip mill runs deep and clear. It's been a family joke for all these many years. ME
I started reading because of your title. It always seemed so quirky, when you were writing about cheery things like homeschool, and children. Every mom knows that under the cheery, homey things, runs an undercurrent of hostility... somebody's always feeling hostile, no matter what you do.
I've always liked the title of your blog. I also like the variety of topics that you post, and I certainly enjoy your writing.
and yes, I should post more... I'm sorry. Will try to do better. :)
obviously not the point- but just a sore spot for me- On the other hand, the cultural shift of people in the church deciding not to have babies 'frankly ticks me off'-
I think this is where most people in the church think my husband and I are- 'decided not to have babies,' and maybe it ticks them off. The devastating reality of the situation is that- we can't. But I can't stand talking about it, since 1) I usually cry, and 2) I get extremely unhelpful, and often very hurtful, suggestions. So we are more inclined to act like we have decided not to- when in reality God in his wisdom made that decision about us.
Of all things...an explanation of the title. Believe it or not, after I just recommended your blog this morning to six of my dear friends as we gathered to discuss an Elisabeth Elliot book, I thought I would check out your archives to see if the title was explained at the inception! Imagine my surprise at having it right at my fingertips without what would have turned out to be the fruitless search. Blog on, dear one, as the Lord gives you the time, but I would imagine that time for such pursuits decreases as family size increases!
P.S. I love your title as well.
A note to Anonymous #14 from ME (Anne's Mom): It's an anxious and unhappy circumstance in West African villages when a woman is childless. And only having one child like I did always invites comment and concern. "Where are the other children" is the question I was always asked, as if being the mother of Anne wasn't amazing and grand enough. So I finally learned to say, "God hasn't given the others." And everyone would nod with understanding at that point, because who can argue with God.
In 1974, I believe, long before many of you were born, we tried DST all winter. It never ended. I don't think there was any Christmas that year either. I came out of first period college class with it still dark outside. Horribly depressing.
To Anonymous on the subject of children: I shouldn't have been so thoughtless (which is why some of us shouldn't really blog). A big section of my prayer list is made up of people who long for children and to whom God for whatever reason hasn't yet given that gift. There are many people in our church struggling to have children. My frustration is with those who won't even consider it. Certainly that is a feature of the culture at large, but it has worked its way into the life of the church. I will add you to my prayer list, if that's alright.
Post a Comment