How did my National Blog Posting Month challenge end up? Well, I wouldn’t dare commit to another month of posting every day – at least not until November, 2014. I missed two days this year, and one time I posted fifteen minutes late, but this was still a personal record for me; the longest NaBloPoMo run I’ve ever had.

It seems inconceivable that I would skip the last day and again yesterday, but twice in the past couple of months I’ve had pieces of paper shoved in my general direction with pretty pie charts which discuss life balance. I have taken that as a hint that I need to pay closer attention to how my time is divided.

My husband gets almost the same amount of time as prayer, so he has that going for him.

Granted, some of these sections overlap. My kids really cover the whole pie, because my life revolves around their existence. Period. Also, I would say that my immensely satisfying work is part social, part self-care and part financial, and because my husband and I work out together my time with him trickles into the section of exercise. Sweat is totally romantic.

But, this weekend when the opportunity arose for me to spend time with family instead of working or otherwise sitting in front of a computer screen – I took the chance and ran with it. Sure, there were projects to work on, laundry to do, and my kids would probably appreciate it if I’d go buy some milk and cereal, but those things can wait. At least until we run out of underwear and bagels.

So, yeah, I didn’t post on the last day of November and I skipped right over the first day of December, but that’s okay. I’m trying to even out my pie.

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She’s once. Twice. Three times a failure. But, you la-uh-uhhhhhve her. Right?

What can I say? I simply forgot to post yesterday. But, look how much my poetry has improved in 48 hours! Note: Whoever said that something becomes a habit once you’ve done it for a few weeks is a big, fat liar.

Between two early weekend mornings in a row, helping a friend move, a funeral and a Benadryl, I still don’t really have the energy to write even though I have a lot to say. I think that’s the point of posting every day for a month anyway, to prove to yourself that you CAN find something to write. And, I could have. So I’m still winning. Except not at the Wii Fit soccer game where they pelt you with cleats and panda heads. I always lose at that.

As I was sitting quietly, waiting for the funeral to start today, I thought I’d better go ahead and write my own eulogy. I’m kind of a control-freak and what if something important is left out of my remembrance; like my deep love for my family or that my favorite Looney Tune character is Foghorn Leghorn?

But, then the son of the deceased stepped up and read what he had written. It was simple, funny and heartbreakingly beautiful. Until there is a work project, a letter to the editor, or a eulogy to write, very few people will jot down the things they have to say. I think we all have the ability to write every day and touch people on some level; we just don’t know we have it in us.

Can YOU find something to write?

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Oh, pop culture. Sigh. I am in your news every day and sometimes you confuse me. Most of the time, actually. Before I burst, these are some things I need to get off my chest. It should be noted that my mother is going to read this and not recognize a single name. Some day, maybe I’ll rant about Doris Day.

1. I don’t care what the Kardashians do. Not even a little bit. Not ever.

2. Why is there going to be a live version of The Sound of Music and why is it starring Carrie Underwood? This question looks absurd, but I can assure you this is happening, people.

3. When I grow up I want to be Jennifer Lawrence.

4. And, I want Jimmy Fallon to be my neighbor.

5. I don’t know what Miley Cyrus is doing, but I don’t approve.

6. Rihanna needs to dump Chris Brown once and for all.

7. Jay Z is awesome. Justin Timberlake is awesome. Now they should go their separate ways.

8. How could AC/DC sell “Back in Black” for retail, commercial purposes? Bon Scott is rolling over in his grave.

9. I’m a big fan of Mark Wahlberg, but even I can’t stand behind him starring in a reality show about his restaurant, “Wahlburgers.” I can’t even stand behind the name “Wahlburgers.”

And, to redeem all of the above nonsense:

10. Downton Abbey’s fourth season starts in 54 days. Not that I’m counting.

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I hit a new cooking low tonight – I burned rice. I checked on it a full SEVEN minutes early, yet there was my new stainless steel pot with 1/2 inch layer of crusted grains stuck to the bottom.

In a Thanksgiving cooking class a few years ago, I forgot to put sugar in my pumpkin pie. And, during a Christmas dinner I served brownies iced with Cool Whip and crushed candy canes. Do you know what it sounds like when eight people are eating crushed candy canes at the same time? There isn’t enough Andy Williams in the world to drown out the crunching.

My husband would probably have a much longer list of my kitchen fails. So would my daughter. My son once ate a beet and a radish at the same time so he doesn’t get a taste opinion.

I won’t even mention my cakes.

Cooking is a lot like life. Sometimes it turns out crusty, soggy or just plain rotten, and sometimes it’s smooth and delicious. What I can say for certain is that there isn’t always a quick fix; you can’t come to depend on microwaved meals all the time.

So I’m going to step away from the instant stuff and do a little more slow cooking. I won’t give up on my kitchen dreams, because you just never know when you won’t burn the rice.

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