Twenty years ago, or something like that I saw on 20/20 (I think) a show about the Internet. It was specifically on chat rooms and the people who had become addicted. People were ignoring their families to chat on-line with other people. They were on line for hours at a time, some not even sleeping. Addicts, all of them. Marriages were broke up because of love matches made on line. In that interview most of the new relationships didn't work out because half weren't being who they truly were. Anyway, the show had an effect on me as you can see. That's why I don't get really personal on JU.  I know it isn't a chat room, but kinda sorta. I just remembered those people and what devastation came into their lives. It has left an impact on me.

That being said, I am not in search of love.  I got it at home. I also don't get really personal with people I meet in real life right away . That being said, I have made some wonderful friends here. Some of those friends I keep in touch with via e-mail, phone and snail mail. I cherish my new friendships.

Let me introduce myself properly. I am married and have 3 sons. I don't talk much about them on my blog for a few reasons. When I first started blogging my oldest two asked me not to. That is reason enough for me. I have spoken generally about them but that's it.

I found JU in a weird way. I made a web site for my friends that I grew up with. We are all scattered across the country. It was a way to keep in touch with everyone and what they were doing. One day in my  local newspaper there was an article about blogs. If you had one submit it. I had no idea what a blog was, so I wrote the reporter and vainly told him about my web site. He was very nice when he replied that is was not a blog site, but thanks anyway. I then Googled Blogs and JU came up. That was 4 years ago.

I joined right away. It was so much fun and it appealed to the writer in me. This was my place of escape. My place for entertainment. I don't share it with my family. It is for me. This is my Calgon moment.

I am 45 years old, but that is already loudly advertised in my profile. Can anything be done about that!? I don't know that I am aging gracefully, but I am having a good time. I am an optimist at heart. I have had my share of chaos in life but in the end I know there will always be something better. Better times, better opportunities, better anything.

Like everyone I have had my relationship troubles, job troubles, children troubles, but I don't dwell on them, so I probably won't share a lot of them. To be fair I don't share the problems with people on the outside either. I assume that most people know everyone has their issues. The other day I had an aha moment here regarding that school of thought. A blogger was getting blasted on a few threads the other day and I wondered why, well why she was singled out specifically. She isn't the only one that blogs on a certain subject with a certain point of view. Then I thought, maybe wrongly so, that it is because she champions this cause but doesn't show the hardships and human side of how she got there. Why this subject is so huge in her life, the journey to getting there.  The perils, everything you want to know to truly believe someone. Just like a story, if the protagonist doesn't show how they overcome obstacles. The the story or cause will fall on deaf ears, or eyes as it was and bore the reader to tears, or incite anger. Just my thoughts. That being said, I will try to be a little more open.

On the flip side of that, I love reading the blogs of accomplishments.  There is nothing wrong with tooting your own horn, at least in this venue. If you are in your real life constantly talking about yourself, that's different, but not here. Being a woman I especially like hearing what other women are doing. F*#* that one up-man-ship talk, sharing your accomplishments is valuable. Toot away, Honk that brass horn. I want to know how you achieved greatness. I guess as in life, balance is what is needed. Good with the bad. More good though, at least in my opinion.

Well, there is a little bit about me. Just one more thing though.

When my husband and I bought our home it was a real fixer upper. It was in a neighborhood that we couldn't afford if it wasn't a fixer upper. Every room in the house had to be gutted, all done now, 10 years later, or until we remodel. My husband was such a good sport when decorating my kitchen. I had the black and white checkered floor, red curtains and shelves that lined the walls near the top. On those shelves were many, many stuffed monkeys (bonus monkey word). No shit. In the corner my husband even built me a wooden swing that I sat my huge black gorilla on. You know the big ones you win at the fair. My kitchen looked like a circus threw up.

The problem with that kitchen was I hate to dust. So, dusting a hundred monkeys weekly was getting on my nerves. That's when we did the real remodel of the kitchen. It is a lot more sophisticated now, but not nearly as fun.

Well, there you have it a sneak peek into my life.