I’m not dead.
I do, however, have a new job. Another dog. A husband. And two daughters. (But no stretch marks. I didn’t birth ’em.) Long time no chat, eh?
I often wonder what happened in someone’s life when they stop blogging. (Like did they for real die? I could’ve sent flowers had I known.) In my case, I entered a “blue period” – I loathed my job (Well, if I’m going to keep in real up in here, I have to correct that. It wasn’t so much the job as it was “the management.”) so much that it sort of (or did) turn me into a Negative Nancy/Debbie Downer. And who wants to be around one of those? Trust me, you didn’t want to be around me. I didn’t even want to be around me. I’m pretty sure my dog put himself in the classifieds.
So, since I needed a new job, I had to start applying and interviewing for ’em. Times being what they are, I figured most people would Google me upon receipt of the ole resume – and finding this blog might lead them to think that I was somewhat of a liability. Especially those uber cautious politicians. They can screw up every other minute, but their staff can not. (If they do, they aren’t staff for very long.)
At any rate, I made this blog private (and allowed access to only those who asked for it) in an attempt to combat that. Once I did, however, I didn’t feel like writing on it. For some reason, knowing who was reading really inhibited me. The very reason I like to blog is that I don’t know who reads what I write or even if they like it – something you don’t get from posts on Facebook or Twitter. I like that people can anonymously troll through and don’t have to “have permission” to see it. I loved it when I’d meet someone who would say they had been reading my blog for a few months because a friend of theirs recommended it. I guess you could say that’s what drove me to post almost every day. Not wanting to disappoint someone who used it as a break in their day.
Making the blog private limited the amount of users I could “allow” to see it. At the time, I didn’t have the time or energy to move this blog to another site that didn’t limit users. So, I would type a post and delete it – always thinking to myself, “What will so-and-so think of this post?” It turns out that my give-a-damn-what-people-think isn’t so busted when I know who’s reading.
Cut to present day. I have a wonderful job with the coolest people on the planet. They are creative geniuses, those people. I started working there in October, and time certainly flies when you’re having fun. It seems like my first day was yesterday.
There have been a few other changes in my life since I last posted, so I’ll bring you up to speed on all that jazz in the next post. You won’t want to miss it because it involves a stripper…and a bear.
Ok, it doesn’t involve a stripper and a bear, but I had to say something to make you come back.
thetightropeblog.com 
I missed you!!
MISSED YOU SO MUCH. so glad I can get my Mandi fix now 🙂
Ok what? Please feel me in friend. Miss knowing what's going on in your life!
So happy for you and glad to "see" you again!!
It's so nice to be missed! Thanks, y'all!
Thanks for resuming your blog, Mandi. I really enjoy your writing. And thanks for unblocking me.
Charles,Blogger limited to me to 70 people who could "see" a private blog. As you can tell, you didn't miss much. Private parties are no fun, so I decided to hell with it – it's public again. :)Hope you are doing well!-M
Welcome back! I've been missing me some Tightrope!
Soooooo glad you are back!!