Quietly

Ever so quietly

She tip-toes back.

There is no fanfare.

No warm embrace.

Just the click-clack

Of well-worn keys.

She is home.

At least for now, I’m no longer out of my head. But I know the malady may return at any time.

In the meantime, please stop by and visit my other blog:

Work Coach Cafe

xxxxxx

Peace in and out.

Ronnie Ann

Well…I think it’s time for me to let Out of My Head take a nice long rest on it’s blogging pillow. I’ve been on a break for a while to test the waters, and I just don’t feel tugged back here other than to say hello to old friends.

This has been a fun ride, but I have Work Coach to take care of (as I mentioned before it may be going commercial) as well as a new baby blog I’m trying on for size. Still, other than Work Coach, I really do think I’m pretty much blogged out for a while. We shall see.

Thanks for all your support and for helping make Out of My Head something I’ve really enjoyed. I hope you did too. I’ll keep it open just in case I ever need to pop back for whatever reason, but as of now, it’s gone fission!

Change is good. The river flows. New adventures await.

Namaste y’all!

Ronnie Ann

UPDATES BELOW on TypePad and Blogger! (This post has turned into a short history of my exploration of three blogging platforms, my reactions as I went along, and what I finally decided was right for me.)

I’ve been thinking of braving the commercial blogging world for my Work Coach blog. Yes…I’ve read the forums and know I may soon be raking in pennies rather than megabucks. But then again…ya never know. Plus I think it will motivate me to grow the blog into something even more meaningful for me – hopefully still keeping it warm and welcoming.

Although I’ve been a huge fan of WordPress.com, moving to WordPress.ORG just seemed to be a little scary. Where would my lifelines come from? I decided to look for a place that promised more hand-holding and less need for a techie brain. I’d already tried Blogger and wasn’t a big fan, although I know many are happy enough there. A friend told me about TypePad, where I am now taking advantage of their trial period.

While I think TypePad’s a pretty good place for an absolute beginner or someone who’s never sipped at the WordPress well, I found it clunky and less than user-friendly when it came to navigation. For instance, there’s no edit link on your posts! Now I did find a jerry-rigged fix that involved some CSS in Advanced Template, I think, but quite honestly…I just had visions of my whole blog blowing up. And the TypeLists were just not as easy for me to work with as our good old widgets here at WordPress.com.

And so, although I had dismissed WordPress dot org as something way beyond me, I started looking at it again. It actually appears to offer an amazing amount of cool code and generous geek user support out there. Also cyber-friends using it assure me it is the way to go. They just love it.

If you’ve been reading the message boards of late, you’ll see a lot of really pissed users raking the WordPress gang over the coals for 2.5. Migration glitches aside (I’ve worked on major system implementations and migrations to new platforms and it’s often a rough ride at first), we’ve got a good thing going here. And it’s all free to WordPress dot commers. While I would have appreciated some notice and maybe a bit more input on things, I gotta say that what we have here runs rings around the other two biggies I looked at.

And so…ever so gently and with some trepidation still remaining, it looks like I’ll probably be moving my Work Coach blog to WordPress.org. I still have a lot to figure out, but having found Blue Host (they have an easy handy-dandy download of WP 2.5 from their site, or so I’m told), I feel pretty good that going with them will be one of my first steps toward the oft-reviled and yet temptingly multi-faceted and hopefully exciting world of commercial blogging.

Thoughts. Advice. All appreciated. Wish me luck!

NEWSFLASH (4-14-08): I’m reconsidering this move after spending a whole day checking out 3-column WP.org themes and what it would take to customize them for my purposes. Not sure I have the desire to get that far into code and I am not crazy about any of them as is. TypePad has its pluses and minuses, but I see WP.org does too.

And so my research continues. Hopefully I’ll know within the next 9 days when my free TypePad trial expires! But even if I do wind up at TypePad, I think WP.com is an amazing place and will probably keep one or two blogs here too.

Will update this again when I know for sure what I’m doing.

—–

FINAL DECISION ON TYPEPAD (4-19-08): No way! Even though I am not in love with any 3-column theme I’ve found yet for WordPress.ORG (I’m still looking), in all other ways WordPress runs rings around Typepad as far as I’m concerned. Although I know TypePad is a fine platform for many people (especially beginners who want to have ads), it doesn’t offer the flexibility, administrative navigability and (visual) comment differentiation I want, need and have come to love using WordPress. (TypePad does have a nice clean look though!)

Not even sure if I want to take Work Coach commercial any more; part of me wants to keep it as something I do from the heart – not that earning a few dollars would change that part, I hope. But if I do go commercial, I’m most likely going with WordPress.org and Blue Host.

Just had a thought. To be fair and to make sure I’m not missing out on an obvious good alternative, before making my next platform choice, I’m going to give Blogger another chance. It’s been over a year since I tried it and, with Google being who Google is, I’ll bet it’s had some cool changes with more to come. Here I go. Stay tuned.

Later this same day: I was wrong about Blogger having changed much at all since I last tried it at the end of 2006. Wouldn’t you think Google would bring it up to the 21st century? It’s ok, but it’s no WordPress.

Most critical to my decision, Blogger doesn’t allow me to edit comments. Since my comment responses often contain advice/encouragement and I often go back and add more info or tweak my words after I post the comment, I need to be able to edit them. But ya can’t. (I do understand that it protects others from having their words changed which is an understandable design decision, but I at least need to be able to edit MY words on my own blog!)

And so Blogger is OUT!

Ok. Gotta say it. WordPress rocks. It’s an amazing system, no matter how many things needed a little fixing after the implementation of the new 2.5. Implementations are often a little rocky at first. But what they delivered is phenomenal compared to anything else that’s out there. And I am NOT paid to say that.

—–

NOTE: I’m still officially on break here. Just had to share all this.

So once again I’m giving myself time off from this blog. In the meantime, in addition to my older posts, here’s something that might amuse.

If you wonder where I’ll be spending some of my time, I have another blog called Work Coach where I offer work-related thoughts and advice. Lately I’ve been getting a nice flurry of Dear Work Coach questions, and have had the pleasure of realizing a lifelong dream of having a Dear Ann Landers type advice column. Well…kind of.

I actually hold myself back from those snappy, in-your-face “Wake up and smell the coffee” remarks for which she was so well known. I do try my best, as she did, to give caring and practical advice – but without the famous one-two punch. But truth be told, at times I feel myself channeling Ann and, when I do, I have to wrestle those snappy-answer demons down by remembering there’s a real person on the other end who might need to be treated with kid gloves.

I love when someone writes back and lets me know my advice helped, although often it’s not much more than some comforting thoughts. Nothing make me feel better than to know I made someone else feel better. And it really does make up for all the tempting wise-ass remarks I had to let go.

So if you’re curious about some of the questions I get and want to see how surprisingly restrained and civilized I can be, you might want to check out the post where I get the most questions:

How to Tell If a Job Interview Went Well

And should you catch me being mean or snappy (at least on THAT blog), you have my permission to give me 40 lashes with a wet noodle! (Ann Landers would be so proud.)

See you after my break!

I hope it’s ok to tell you about a blog called WTF? Random food for thought since I know the person who started it…but I really do get a big kick out of the things he comes up with.

My pal Terry B. of Blue Kitchen (a wonderful food blog out of Chicago), created a beloved stepchild blog where he gets to talk about anything and everything that pops into his head. (Right up my neural alleyway.) He’s a writer, creative director and photographer, so it’s not only a smart blog, but a feast for the eyes.

Just perusing some of his recent posts: he pays tribute to the man who gave the U.S. its first public library (with a surprise comment from the man who runs that library today); points us to the history of the world in five minutes; talks about the joy of snail mail; shows us our inner fish; plays meme tag (we learn he met his wife in an elevator); thinks green; and even gives us his 1.67 cents on the state of the penny.

Check it out if you’re looking for some random cool stuff to feed your head and eyes. I’m a big fan myself – and it has nothing to do with him being a lovely person and friend. It’s just fun:

WTF? Random food for thought

Oh…and, in a twist on the whole meme thing…anyone out there want to tell us about a cool off-the-beaten-track blog that you love and we might too?

—–

This one’s for you, CB.

RubySchooZ, on her new blog A Thyme of Peas, just posted about a worldwide energy-saving event taking place on March 29, 2008. Borrowing from her words:

You can make a difference in helping to get others to take notice of the importance of saving energy by joining us in the “Earth Hour 2008″ campaign. The central goals for Earth Hour 2008 campaign are to help get as many people, houses, communities and businesses to turn off their lights on March 29th, 2008 from 8pm–9pm (local time).

The main goal of this campaign is to help make a bold statement that the climate changes we are facing are very real and that something as simple as turning out our lights is an important thing that is easily enough done and can truly make a difference.

I’m joining you, Ruby. Thanks for letting us know and thanks for your great new blog. I can’t say it any better.

How about you my fellow New Yorkers? (And anyone else of course.) Want to join us from 8-9 pm? It’s an easy way to make a statement and see what else life has to offer when the lights are off.

The event was created by the World Wildlife Fund chapter in Sydney Australia in 2007 and, according to the event website:

More than 100 cities across North America will participate, including the US flagships Atlanta, Chicago (your city rocks Terry B.), Phoenix and San Francisco – as well as Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.

Even though my own fabulous home town New York City is NOT yet an official participant, I would love to see all of us join in big time! Mayor Bloomberg talks about conservation and congestion pricing, but where will he be when the lights go off? And why aren’t we one of those cities?

Hey…let’s show the world we do care, ok? My lights will be off. Please join me.

Thanks again, Ruby. You lead the way, grrrl!

——

For more information about the event and its origins:

Earth Hour 2008

Seems Dick Cheney thinks President Bush is suffering more than the families of the 4000 Americans killed. (Not to mention all the others killed and maimed during this horrible war, as well as their families.)

In an ABC interview marking the solemn occasion, Mr. Cheney said:

“The president carries the biggest burden, obviously,” Cheney said. “He’s the one who has to make the decision to commit young Americans, but we are fortunate to have a group of men and women, the all-volunteer force, who voluntarily put on the uniform and go in harm’s way for the rest of us.”

Poor President Bush. Oh…there was some mention of the sacrifice the families have made too. But there was also a clear message in the statement that they are all volunteers. Ah…yes. So the burden for the families is lessened by that, is it? And the President, forced to make all those hard decisions, is the one suffering the most?

I think not Mr. Cheney. You should be ashamed of yourself for what you just said. As if the pain weren’t enough for the families, this is just rubbing salt into their wounds. And into the real wounds of all those living the rest of their lives psychologically and physically disabled because of a war you forgot to adequately plan.

What were you thinking?

——

To see what the National Priorities Project estimates

the dollar cost of the Iraq war to be as of this moment:

CLICK HERE

One more random thought that came to me the other day. I will let it stand on its own:

Joy and peace come from within. We don’t need to wait for others to create it for us. We don’t need to blame others when we don’t have it.

Namaste.

Having a nice day and just felt like sharing what flashes through my brain while sitting here hugging my darling kitty Lucie and watching really bad TV.

Lots of talking heads slicing and dicing up political analysis to the point where every candidate begins to resemble Humpty Dumpty – after the fall. Lots of courtroom reality TV with neighbors, (former) friends, and loved ones suing each other and sneering a lot. Are people really this small-minded? Sheesh. And then of course there are the countless commercials telling us about some great new disease or at least some cool symptoms we could get.

Hah! Just look at what those of us who watch TV feed our poor brains during the day. No wonder I haven’t yet figured out how to solve our monetary crisis, bring peace to the world, or even invent a fail-safe cure for indigestion. And no wonder my brain produces so many fleetingly brilliant and then just as quickly forgotten thoughts.

Some of today’s random thoughts in no special order:

• If we perpetually look to the heavens for inspiration and answers…then don’t we also wind up missing out on a lot of what heaven has already sent us here on earth?
• If we perpetually rail about all we don’t have or wish were different in our lives…then don’t we also wind up missing out on what we ourselves might make of what we have right now?
• And if preservatives preserve food, why won’t they preserve us too?
• If naps are so good for us, why are cats so darn crazy?
• And just what is a dog telling us about the food we feed him if he happily drinks out of the toilet?

Just some stuff that floats around and tries to come out. So I let it. I’m sure there’ll be more. Even when I meditate, empty mind is a rare thing. I keep thinking “Is it empty now?” “How about now?” “Now?” “Must be empty now.” And so it goes.

Namaste y’all!