I’ve been so busy not blogging, I could barely remember my WordPress password (note: it is NOT Doritos).  And OMG the spam comments!  I am so touched that the level of spam comments has quadrupled, because getting a comment – whether from Active Sports Wear or Cheap Shoes or a dude named Avila – means that I am loved.

This is the longest I have let the dust collect on the blog and I won’t blame you if you report me to the Blog Protection Services because I deserve it.  Neglectful, I am, and on THIS THE FOURTH BIRTHDAY.  Four Junes ago (a gazillion moons ago and just as many bleary sunrises), I created a space to vent my mothering frustrations.  It was clunky and inelegant and often embarrassing, but over time, it became more about word-smithing – which brings to mind horseshoeing and metallurgy and getting the old horse to walk on silver words.  That’s why I put the “Gone Fishing” sign on the blog, you see.  ”Gone Word-Smithing” just didn’t have the same ring, but it’s the same concept – throw some words out there, see who’ll bite.  I’ll let you know how it goes.

But other stuff has been happening too!  External life!  As opposed to my always-active internal life.

Did you know my husband and I went away for two days alone?  For the first time in five years?  We did all sorts of trust exercises, like falling into a feather bed and seeing if it would catch us, followed by a team building workshop on drinking wine and I’m happy to report we are definitely on the same team.

And did you know my sister sold her second novel, THE GIRLS OF PORT SABINE?  It will be coming out in April 2015 from Harper Collins.  I’ve started reading it and it’s amazing, no lie.  To quote Publisher’s Lunch, “it’s the story of an outbreak of mass hysteria in a Texas refinery town that first manifests as physical tics in the star of the girls’ basketball team and spreads through the high school’s girls after a fetus is found in a dumpster and a witch hunt ensues, unearthing communal and family secrets and threatening the lives and futures of the twitching girls.”  This site isn’t exactly known for big giveaways and prize packages but I’m going to raise a ruckus and if you want to help spread the word too, give me a holler.

And did you know the Almost-5-yr-old is going on Day 737 of I Heart Entomology?  For the numerically challenged, that’s over two years.  OVER TWO YEARS OF BUGS.

And did you know the 18-month-old has gone to one nap?  As someone who was forced to give up all naps, I can tell you that losing a nap is a bitch.  Almost as much of a bitch as getting four incisors at once.

I hope you’re all having a wonderful summer.

Gone fishing,

Tarja

PS – Will you be going to BlogHer 2013 in Chicago?  Would love to see you.