Happy birthday, squeetus

So, I've been blogging now for seven years. Several of those years are archived and unsearchable (but you can get to them eventually if you follow a trail of links). Seven years, and I still feel like I'm learning what this blogging thing is all about. But I've come to one very strong conclusion: only blog what I would say to anyone in person. I'm so appreciative of how kind you commenters are. Thanks for helping to keep this a safe, positive place to be.

Speaking of safe, positive places to be, I'll be at The King's English Thursday, Dec. 3, from 5:30-7:00 pm, signing with other authors as part of their annual holiday part.

Saturday, December 5, I'll be part of Literary Luminaries, speaking with Dean in the auditorium of the downtown Salt Lake City library from 3-4, and signing at 5:30 at the adjacent Night Flight Comics.

Next time I'll post my fav-books-of-the-year list, but don't have time tonight. From this blog, it probably could seem like my life is books and writing. Of course my life is my family, and the cracks in time are filled with reading and writing, as well as some other major time commitments of the volunteer-type capacity. How do I do it all, people often ask. Let me tell you how: today I had my first dental x-rays in probably seven years. About half the meat I buy I end up throwing out because it goes bad before I get a chance to cook it. (Freeze it, you say? Then I'll never defrost it and throw it out after it gets freezer burn.) No one can do it all! I say, we all are capable of doing, say, three things well: I'm one heck of a mother and wife, and I write books. The end.

Comments

[Christen]

I can't wait for that list. It'll be great for Christmas shopping (and for wish lists, heh heh)! :D

[Stacey]

Yay! I SO wish I could be at TKE tomorrow! This is such a crazy time of year. Have fun.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who throws out a lot of food. I always feel so bad...

[andalucy]

I like that about being capable of doing only three things well. I'm borrowing that.

Happy birthday, Squeetus! You haven't aged a bit.

[Jer]

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who throws out spoiled food because there just isn't time enough in the day. Thanks for the validation, and thanks for the great books!

[myrna]

Happy Birthday! I've been reading your blog since the end of 2005. Thanks for the giggles and good advice!

[jenelc]

Other than friends and family, yours is the only blog I read regularly. It isn't just the writing, but its the real life stuff both funny and serious that you deal with.

These last couple weeks I've had the "trying to be too many things to too many people" problem. So your blog is just what I needed. Thanks and Happy Anniversary!

[Nadia]

I recently became the mother of two teenagers (I married their father about 10 months ago), and I completely agree with "you can do about 3 things really well". If you can say that you are doing your best to be a good mother and wife, you're doing better than a lot of other women I know. I am learning how to be one heck of a mom and wife, and I do a killer job at music. Writing for me comes fourth, but maybe there will be a time when it and music will switch places. To everything there is a season. Thanks for the great blog.

[Karen]

Amen to focusing on the most important things. Of course for me it's hard to ignore eight other hungry, needful bodies in the house (plus a dog), but doing it right is what takes an immense amount of time and energy. And it's worth it! And FYI...frozen meals that go right into the oven is cheaper than wasted meat. I learned that one this last year while writing. :) Have fun with your three things. :)

[Apryl]

Blogging is fun but weird. Every time I write a post, I think, "Pioneer Grandma would tell me to quit wasting my time and go clean my house." Sorry Pioneer Grandma. I'll got vacuum now.
I could singlehandedly provide compost for my neighborhood with the amount of rotten produce I used to throw out.

[Jenny]

I just finished the Actor and the Housewife. I am a very avid reader and it is hard to make me cry. But I sobbed at this book. I also laughed out loud, which is near impossible for me when reading. I have read most of your books and I must say, I am very pleased that you are writing adult fiction. I totally relate with it. Please keep writing for adults. I need you to continue to make me have emotions. I would not be emotionless without you, but my world would be a much more boring place!

[Emilie]

I aspire to do those three things well, too:) I'm not a mom yet, but many children I care for and teach at church and in their homes think I'm pretty cool. My husband says I'm a good wife, so I guess I have to believe him. And I just finished the rough draft of my third book. Whether it's good or not is left to be determined, but I figure if I've finished it, that must be worth something. And please keep up the blogging--that's another thing you do well:)

[Miss Erin]

Happy bloggiversary!!

Coincidentally, you and Little Red were both in my dream last night....hmm...

[Heather]

Thanks for what you do, and do so well. Within those three categories is an awful lot of awesomeness. If you've never read the poem "Lifters and Leaners " go google it so you'll know what I mean when I say, thanks for being a lifter.

[Erin]

What a coincidence! Yesterday was my dad's birthday too! I'll have to tell him he shares it with your blog. I'm sure that will thrill him to no end. Haha.

Happy blog birthday! :D

[Aprilmom00]

Congrats and can't wait to see your books that you liked this year.
Happy Blog Birthday and I totally understand with family and life.

[Je Reve]

I started following in the early summer of '08, but I found the archive, and I love the concept of authors making contact with their fans through limited interaction online.

Anyway, Happy Blog Day, and may their be many more to come!!!

[L.T. Elliot]

Happy Birthday Blog!

[Natalia]

Thank you for this blog! I love your books and your blog is the only blog I read regularly- I love each and every post. Happy Birthday, Squeetus!

[Priya]

Happy blog anniversary! Squeetus rocks!

[Caroline]

Happy Birthday, Squeetus! I can't wait for that book list. Post it soon!

[Heather Z.]

"I'm one heck of a mother and wife, and I write books. The end."

Amen!

[Stephanie]

Today is the first I have ever read Squeetus! I am enjoying what I have read so far. LOVE your books. I just started reading them a couple of months ago, and I have already read 5 or 6 titles.

Thank you for your 'real life' perspective. I am an avid food shopper, but not an avid cook. So much meat and produce get wasted. (I could probably single-handedly feed 3 or 4 chickens with the produce that goes bad in our fridge.)

[Libbi]

you said it, jenelc^. This week has just been extremely hectic and crazy and I have just been trying to be too many people and I've hardly done any Christmas shopping. I love this website, Shannon, and I wish you many more years of blogging. Happy Birthday, squeetus!!!

[Shannon M.]

OMG-another person with my frozen meat issues! My friends all make fun of me because I can NEVER remember to use frozen meat--ever. It's so bad, one year my in-laws gave us a meat sampler from Omaha Steaks for our anniversary (which I thought was a REALLY weird gift, btw. Anniversary MEAT? Really?) I put it in the freezer like the instructions said and didn't even think about it again until the next anniversary came around and I had one of those wonderful *facepalm* moments. Le Sigh.

Thanks for the post, as always. I've only been following your blog for the last year, but I enjoy it immensely. :)

[Katie-wa]

That's all I want to do: Be one heck of a mother and wife and write books. ^_^ Love ya, Shannon. Glad you keep going strong everyday. It's so hard sometimes! So much to do. I don't know how we all manage, but we do. :D

[Laura Z M]

If we're all capable of doing three things well, I'm due about two and a half more things. Come on Universe, pay up.

I love you and your blog, Shannon.

The end.

[Mary Ann]

I really enjoyed Forest Born, but felt like it left more questions. Please say there will be another Bayern Book.

[annette-wa]

Happy Blogiversary! You (and some of your blog readers) crack me up!!!

[Caroline]

I totally agree with Mary Ann... please say you'll write another Bayern book (even though I still have to read Forest Born:)! Of course we'll understand if you don't, but we will be very sad.

[Tamsen]

It is very reassuring to hear that we can only do three things well. I am not married yet, and don't have kids, but I am a writer and have wondered how I would balance it all, not wanting to sacrifice motherhood (when I get there) for anything else. To hear you say that is quite the confidence booster. Thanks.

[Erin]

i used to complain to my mom about not being able to do it "all" because i swore that, in utah especially, i saw women who seemed able to handle so much more than me. but my wise mother told me that even if it looked like someone was doing it "all" their lives were suffering a lack of something somewhere. that even if i couldn't see where they were falling short, it was happening somewhere in their lives. so yeah, we should just pat ourselves on the back for what we do do right and be more happy with our lives. so i'm always glad to hear someone say something positive to that end, so thanks for your words shannon!

[Hannah(your #1 fan!)]

Happy Birthday Squeetus!

[Sarah Kim]

I really like the Goose Girl and the Book of Thousand Days.They are all fairytales but so realistic~ Dearest Shannon Hale, I hope you will continue writing fantastic stories. All the BEST to you~^^