The Barometer

The poet may be used as a barometer, 

but let us not forget that he is also part of the weather.

~ Lionel Trilling

Barometric pressure is the force that is 

exerted on objects by the weight of 

the atmosphere above them.

Barometric pressure is often also referred

to as atmospheric pressure.

It is important to measure pressure 

because imbalances in air pressure

cause wind and weather.

Atmospheric pressure is

 measured by means of an apparatus 

called a barometer. Barometric pressure, 

named for this pressure measuring device, 

changes depending on elevation 

and atmospheric phenomenon.

These barometers usually have words 

such as “Stormy” for low pressures 

and “Dry” for high pressures. 

Stormy.

That's my current

barometric reading ~

my mood

my spirit

my heart.

Stormy.

Trying to decide

if I should

keep at this....

endeavor?....pastime?

hobby?....outlet?

known as

blogging.

To be really

really

frank

I've not had

rousing support

for this pursuit

in the

real world.

When I sent an

enthusiastic e-mail 

to my extended 

family last spring

introducing my

blog, I wish

I could tell you

that it received

a lukewarm

response.

But that would

be putting a

positive spin

on it.

The reaction

was

no

reaction....

Or, a

negative

one.

After all, as

a stay at home

mom, I don't

work, right?

And now on 

top of that, I was

choosing to pursue

 {what is often perceived}

as a self-indulgent

diversion.

As for my

real life

friends, the response

{from most}

hasn't exactly

been 

encouraging.

When I decided

to create a web log,

that was the draw.

The word

♥ C R E A T E ♥

An opportunity to

resurrect my love

of words, of observation,

of empathy and

connection....

And to have a forum

to share those

thoughts with 

others.

Am I blogging

to promote a business?

No.

Am I blogging 

to generate revenue?

No.

Is it an activity

that takes time?

Yes.

Unlike knitting

or scrapbooking,

painting or sewing,

reading novels

or playing golf,
which can be solitary
endeavors if one chooses,

blogging has a

social component,

as the writer interacts

with readers and visits 

fellow bloggers, as

the clock permits.

There is a wealth

of wisdom, knowledge  and

inspiration out there

and I find I'm like

a sponge as I hop

from blog to blog, soaking

it all up!

Seems ironic 

that blogging has

the reputation of being

a narcissistic pursuit,

with so many bloggers

willingly sharing their

 voices and talents.

And I, for one,

am  dog-gone

tired of defending it

as worthwhile

 to those

who

 just

don't

get it.

So, at the 

risk of sounding

exactly

like the

grumps who

I wrote about

in my last

post,

I say

Bah-humbug....

The invitation of

♥ C R E A T E ♥

may not be 

enough to

offset

stormy weather.

What is your

current

barometer reading?

Stormy, calm,

or somewhere

in-between?

External heat and cold had little 

influence on Scrooge. No warmth could warm, 

no wintry weather chill him. No wind that blew

 was bitterer than he, no falling snow was more

 intent upon its purpose, no pelting rain less open to entreaty.

~ Charles Dickens

Both photos, Flickr; 

click for attribution.

Word cloud created 

by Privet and Holly.

Barometer graphics 

from etc.usf.edu

Posted in Blog Land