My I-know-I'm-being-laid-off-so-I'm-at-least-going-to-look-good outfit

Today I’m being featured over on SITS!  I was featured 3 years ago, back when I was still blogging at Tale of a Kansas Girl.

Not that I’m not still a Kansas girl at heart. But I have lived in North Carolina for the past 6 years and am losing my girliness, as I’m turning 29 in two weeks (for the first and only time).

This year has held a lot of surprises and changes for me. I moved into an apartment of my own this summer and then Halloween was the last day on the job that I’ve had since I’ve lived here.

The next coming months are bound to bring more changes as I find a new job and gain a niece for the first time (due December 26th!). Also due December 26th is my self-published novel. If you enjoy young adult or futuristic books, I hope you’ll like The Journal. I’ll be revealing the cover on Monday and more details over the next few weeks.

That not enough about me? Here are a few posts that give more:

30 Before 30 – My list of 30 things to do before I turn 30 next year (3 down, 27 to go)!

With Prince Charming or Not – I’m unintentionally single, though it does have some perks

Children, Pneumonia, and Tornadoes, oh My! - The story of the longest week and a half of my life

I Choose to Hope – I’m battling to have the right attitude about my unemployment, and how I’m actually thankful that it’s made me recognize that I may have been too comfortable

Today is a cooler day than the past few. I’m pretty sure this is the first fall ever I was thankful for. I’ll admit the shortening days has been rough (I love my sun!), but getting to enjoy what we get more helps (I used to have an interior office, but my apartment is quite sunny).

The good thing about it getting cooler is that I want to crochet more. Since I’ve finished my niece’s blanket, I’ve started working on a couple more. Since my hands are occupied, it allows me to listen to an audio book, so I’ve been “reading” a lot.

Okay, that’s all I have for this barely-a-post. Hope you’re enjoying your fall weather, too!

But I’ve not been blogging this year like I have in the past, especially not in the last couple of weeks.

So why would I commit to blog every day in November?

Because, really, what else will I do in the month of November? Today my unemployment officially begins. Whether I like the idea or not, chances are not good that I’d start a new job before the end of the month. While I’d love to at least have one lined up by December 1st, my secondary goal of having a job by January is much more realistic, and still optimistic.

So, I’m going to blog my unemployment. Don’t worry, I don’t plan on going pessimistic on you. I doubt I’ll talk about the economy, or even much about my job search. I’d rather focus on what I believe God is doing through this time.

Fellow bloggers, are you doing NaBloPoMo this year?

It’s not really writer’s block: I’ve journaled more this month than I’ve journaled in a couple of years. It’s just that the thoughts that are running through my head aren’t bloggable.

I want to share. I’ve certainly been talking it out with friends.

But right now, I can’t really share what’s going on in my life and heart on the blog. One day soon, my friends.

In the meantime, I hope to pick up blogging with things that I can talk about.

Thanks for being patient!

I still have a hard time considering myself an author.

Anyway, to start myself along that journey, I’ve created a Facebook page for my authory self. If you’re of a mind to, will you “like” me? You can see my page, here, or do a search for “Ronnica Z. Rothe, author.”

Ha, that sounds so official.

So do you have a question for me? A topic you want me to address? A bone to pick?

Feel free to make your comment anonymous if that’s more comfortable for you. I’ll do my best to address all questions.

Because 5 years ago this week, I started blogging.

Instead of doing a usual one-post celebration, I have to drag it out all week. Five years is kinda a big deal, right? So all week I’ll share 5 this or 5 that (I haven’t quite figured it all out yet).

Today, let’s talk about my 5 favorite things about blogging. For the fun of it, each post will also include a childhood pic since I have so many to choose from (thanks, Dad). None from when I’m 5…that’d be too obvious.

1. I get to write what I want to. I’ve had to write for school, and I’ve had to write for work. For the most part, I don’t enjoy that kind of writing. Something in the compulsion and formality of it bugs me. But here on the blog? I can write what I want.

2. The fact that blogging isn’t a monologue. Sure, I love to share my opinions, but I love that people respond, making it a dialogue. I have the best commenters, too.

3. Blogging refines me. Blogging refines my writing (I hope!), but it also refines my beliefs and opinions. I know that I have to defend what I believe, not just state it.

4. Blogging is a record of what I’ve been thinking and doing. Now that I have 5 years worth of a blog, it’s interesting to look back. It’s amazing how much I forget. Something that can seem like such a big deal at the time can be really small in hindsight.

5. By reading other blogs, I learn. I learn more about individuals and ideas as well as about people in general.

All that to say that I’m taking a blogging break this week. It’ll give me a chance to focus on other areas and take a breath going into the last month of tax season.

Thanks for understanding…see you next week!

Hope you have a great weekend!