You're not getting as many comments on your blog, Mr. C randomly says to me this morning. So...., I respond. Well, there used to consistently be about 20 comments and now there are hardly more than 5 or 6. (You can tell what kind of job description Mr. C has, can't you?...). I don't have time to comment on other peoples' blogs, so they likely aren't commenting on mine, I say.

But it got me thinking...I used to enjoy seeing the numbers of comments rise. Who doesn't? But my blog has morphed into something more introspective and personal than it used to be. I find that more and more I am writing here for me as opposed to writing something for an audience. Perhaps that has made it less interesting. But I do know that I don't come around and visit you as often as I used to. This I do regret.

So tell me...do you pay attention to the number of comments you get?

Or does it really matter?

(Oh, and if you are just passing by, please leave a comment: it would likely make Mr.C feel better :)

When will there be leaves on the trees again, mum? my older son asked me while driving in the car today? Very soon, I reply, but wonder the same myself. The desolate cold and damp is making me cranky. I need warmth and spring flowers. But then when that comes I will curse it for making me want to avoid my work.

Where does water come from? He quickly asks before I could pity myself much longer about our terrible weather. As I start to explain clouds and rain droplets, he interrupts Oh, I know that, but I mean the water that we can drink; how does it get from the rivers and lakes to our taps and to bottles in the stores? I explain about water purification which quickly segues into an explanation of the fact that many people in other parts of the world don't have access to water, much less clean water.

The world is not fair, mum. He says after pausing. If everyone sent the people who didn't have food and water something, then it would be fair...

What's Yours?

Mr. C has become obsessed with checking the live-mouse trap in the attic (we do not kill mice in this house, daddy, said our oldest). He caught one yesterday and drove it 2 km down the road to freedom (lest he return).

I, of course, am obsessed with checking my e-mail, and now Facebook is obsessing me. Have you gotten sucked into that? It is keeping me away from blogging (now getting to be an old obsession).

In my recent reading, I came across a concept that is a combination of the gift economy, sustainable thinking and a kind of reverse e-Bay. I have to admit that I have never gotten involved in the whole e-Bay thing. I never really knew why until I came across the "Freecycle" concept. I guess I don't like the idea of having to pay for someone's used stuff. If they don't want it anymore, why don't they just give it away?

I mentioned in my last post that I was going to be more "green" in my posts, and this reflects what my life is like right now. I have challenged myself to make better choices, and to test myself and my lifestyle. I am reducing my carbon footprint by not flying this year and putting more thought into the products I purchase. I am reading a plethora of magazines related to environmental topics, and I feel the environmental movement gaining momentum as it starts to go "mainstream". There is a paradigm shift in the works, and I am excited to be a part of it.

I think most of my posts will have at least a little infusion of "green" from now on. It will still be about me and my family and my life, for all its monotony. But here's an example of how I can do a better job of integrating these enhanced green lifestyle choices into my posts:

Mr. C and I went out to dinner last night to this restaurant in downtown Halifax. The proprietor and head chef is a good friend of ours and we are proud of the fact that he emphasizes locally grown and produced quality ingredients in his recipes. While looking at the menu, I quickly realized that some of the seafood on the menu was on the "avoid" SeaChoice list. When you go to a restaurant and order fish, think about the methods that were used to catch that fish, and whether it might be a threatened species or not. There are good alternatives, and restaurants can be persuaded to make better menu choices if the public is informed. If you want to know the better choices of seafood, you can print out a .pdf guide from the SeaChoice web site. Or ask me any questions if you have any.

I am finally back at the book and now I have a major research and writing stretch ahead. It will consume me for the next 5-6 months. In the meantime, I am struggling with brushing other work obligations aside so that I can clear my desk and focus on this one major task.

I won't stop blogging through it all; Blogging keeps my creativity flowing, and I have decided to make more "green" posts. You will see what I am talking about when you come back next time. Stay tuned.....

So Easter has now come and gone, and I am so looking forward to things getting back to a normal routine and being less hectic. Too many birthday parties and events and work going on lately. But now things are wrapping up and I am looking forward to working from home more frequently.
A rare loving moment (but is he trying to kiss or bite the babe? kidding.) I am soon going to have to stop referring to him as the babe...
A good deal of Easter Sunday morning was spent playing out in the snow (!), which is mostly melted as of this afternoon already.
It wasn't easy getting that one into his snow gear, though. Let me tell you...well, I guess the picture says it all, eh?

Most definitely! (as evidenced by my son and the babe on the drive home). I will post more photos from our weekend "vacation" on my flickr site soon. I am in the home stretch: last week of teaching and then I can return to writing again. Hip hip!....well, then there's the matter of marking exams and research papers and assignments before any real celebration can begin. Back at it...I will be visiting your blogs again before you know it, though.