(Oh, that title’s a groaner. Sorry, couldn’t help it.)

Someday I will blog again. Someday I’ll write a blog post that’s longer than two sentences. But for now, there are two crazy Tredways awaiting me downstairs and movie night will soon commence. Also, it should be noted that my computer is on the outs again (so moody! or perhaps it has seasonal allergies) and I have little tolerance for the slow pace of our old iMac. But truly, I want to blog more. We’ll see about that.

I read political commentary on blogs and news sites last night before bed. Not a good idea. Perhaps these bloggers were more deranged than others (the medium allows you to be a wallflower in real life but completely outspoken online, so I imagine it brings out the crazy in otherwise normal individuals), but oh man did I feel like puking from the insanity. Why is there so much hate and dysfunction in political discussions? Here’s my theory: we’re looking for a Savior, not simply a President.

Newsflash, peeps. The future president is a human being. And as such, the future president will not lead us into the Promised Land of stellar healthcare, perfectly educated children, and peace, love and happiness in general.

We could talk until we’re blue in the face about these candidates, but the truth is that each one is a human being who has made both good and bad decisions in the past. And surely the candidates, as human beings, will make good and bad decisions in the future. So feel free to rip them apart with derision and hatred from the laptop in your living room, but face reality. We have two major candidates to choose from in November, neither of them are Saviors (and neither are the Devil incarnate either).

**I have strong opinions pertaining to this election and I know who will receive my vote come November. Don’t misunderstand this blog post; I believe we all need to be informed about each candidate. I am concerned, however, with the vehemence contained within many political discussions.

There’s websites I link to (see sidebar), blogs I plug into Google Reader (best thing ever), websites I run through for daily information, and other sites I stop by on occasion. The only sites I can’t live without are View from the Prairie Box and my Gmail account. The rest is icing on the cake.

So, final question for the week:

What are you favorite websites and why do you enjoy them?

Feel free to list between one and ten different sites (I’ll check with the web guru to see if hyperlinks will work) and give a general description of the them. Do you like to read comics online? Watch funny videos or trailers? Do you do all your shopping online or are you addicted to a social networking site? Are you into high fashion or celebrity gossip or NBA scores or MTG cards? Is there a blog author who is consistently hilarious or another writer who is always inspiring? Do you debates politics in a public forum or contribute to discussions of theology online? Share with us your favorite stops on the www.

Now that I’ve asked all the questions, I’ll drop a few sites as well. After I’ve read my mail and peeked at Google Reader, I like to check a few news outlets: the local JournalStar, USA Today, CNN. Then, if there’s time, I’ll head for even lighter fare with entertainment news like Entertainment Weekly and E-Online, with a special stop at some point for the Pop Candy Blog. I enjoy reading Pioneer Woman and Dooce as well as Design Mom. I frequent the Terrablogs to keep up with folks I know from Covenant College days. Recently Jeremy and I have enjoyed Facebook—it’s been fun to delight in reconnecting with old friends (“Did you know so-and-so has kids now? Wow!”) and marvel at some profile pics that are out there (’nuff said). I could go on with the listing, but I’ll let the rest of you do that…

There’s an oddness in blogging that comes from the ability of the author to pick and choose among blog topics. Should I write about the one thing my husband said last night? No, no. That wouldn’t be good for my marriage. Should I type up the numerous fart/poop/burp anecdotes my child finds hilarious? No, everyone would realize how gross we truly are. How about a few compositions about how selfish I am day in and day out? Nah, I’m not in a mood for public confession.

The struggle with blogging is what do I tell? And am I even telling the tale accurately? Is anyone out there getting a realistic picture of me and my family? Or am I spinning stories that intentionally make me look like someone I’m not?

I don’t try to think too much about all those questions. When I do, I quit blogging because it feels so overwhelming. One thing I would like everyone to know is that I’m a mess of a person, just like everyone else. Though I try to keep my postings positive for the most part (because, really, who wants to read lots of negative moping?), I feel like my blog doesn’t represent me to the fullest capacity. But don’t hold your breath for full representation. If I ever choose to release my life’s stories, it’ll be in a memoir one day before I die.

• The days are getting warmer, not to mention longer.
• My speedy computer is on the fritz.
• My three-almost-four year old requires a lot of attention.
• I feel like I’m updating my blog to keep up with something or someone (the Joneses?).
• I haven’t written anything of substance in quite some time–not good for a writer.
• My blog posts are hardly representing my life right now.

Sound like time for a blogging hiatus? I think yes.

I hate it when other people take breaks from blogging. And I also feel kind of dumb announcing a break only to pick up the habit a few days later. But I’ll take that chance and trust that my online friends will patiently await my return. Just so you know, you’ll have full permission to laugh at my break if I show up with a new post tomorrow afternoon.

Hasta luego.

Our Mac Mini is giving me all sorts of grief. Considering it’s the computer that operates at the speed my brain works, it’s the only one that functions well for blogging, in my snobby opinion. I upload pics on this one and do all my blog-checking and news-reading here. In the few moments I’ve blogged this entry, for example, the Mini has behaved itself. I consider myself lucky at this point.

All this to say blogging will be slow for a bit, at least until we’ve solved the problem on this computer. I hate to say anything negative about Macs because this is the first problem I’ve encountered on a Mac in four years. And only the second in 10 years of Mac usage. Anyhow, I hope to be present here more fully in the days ahead.