My acceptable level of caffeine stops at orange/black teas, but it’s different for every person. There’s a handy chart on the levels of caffeine in certain types that you may want to check out.

@amy — I’ve also learned to say no to helping people with their computers. I think that some take advantage of it, like getting free legal advice, something that stores charge $60+/hour for.

It’s not that Pat doesn’t enjoy baking, I think he just finds it difficult. One time, at a party at Aaron and Karen’s, he told us that he tried to make a pineapple upside-down cake for the party, but it ended up so bad that he had to throw it out. It’s interesting that something that comes easily to one person is much more difficult to others.

You flatter me with your kind words about my writing. To be honest, writing doesn’t come naturally to me. I find it’s often amateurish and contrived. I don’t think I’ll ever be as wildly lyrical as Vladimir Nabokov (whom I admire most), but reading his words still inspires me to try.

Your blog may simply be about your every day goings-on, but it serves a purpose as you said: to keep your friends and family informed. There’s nothing wrong with that.

I find my writing has changed a great deal as well. Reading back on the entries I linked to in this post made me cringe. I used to do a great deal of blogging on my daily life, but after a while I felt like I wasn’t really saying anything.

It’s interesting that you say Eckhart Tolle has provided you with an outlet. I don’t think I can ever lose blogging as an outlet. Even when I gain a certain amount of serenity, wisdom, or knowledge that helps me, I still need to express myself. The Power of Now is 3rd on my list of books to read.

And I haven’t even heard of Rooibos tea, but it sounds curiously delicious. I’m a person who would only drink tea with lots of cream and lots of sugar. Right now I’m strictly on Oriental tea because of caffeine issues, but the Rooibos alternative sounds like a great idea. I’ll have to read more about it and try to find it in my city.

I do a fair job at cooking, but I excel as a baker
LOVE baking, hate cooking, funny hey?
must be a comfort thing

I enjoy reading your blog entries, I love your candor. Most blogs (including mine) are often filled with : I did this, then that, then we did this, here’s the pics.
Your blog is an outward expression of an inner diaologue.
I have an anonymous blog that I use for that, but for the most part, my (public) blog keeps distant family and friends abreast of what we’re up to and how the kids are growing.
Lately though, I find I’m not even writing in my anony blog.
Since reading Eckhart Tolle’s books, I’m finding I need that outlet, less and less.
I highly recommend them to you.
As one who grew up with all sorts of abuse (physical, sexual & emotional)
his books help me put my past and present into perspective.
He has helped me overcome the ‘disease’ of compulsive thinking.
“The Power of Now” is a good book to start with.