Blog Review: The Crash Test Dummy Diaries

I may regret this day's work. Yes, I think I definitely will regret this. Why, you ask? Because I am going to tell you about one of my very most favorite blogs. It's one of those best-kept-secret kind of blogs -- still small yet but destined for greatness. I'm going to regret this because once you visit this blog you will be spoiled forever and may never come back to the Funny Farm.

But you know what? That's fine. I'm not blogging for fame and fortune anyway. Actually I'm kinda over blogging this week. So if all my followers forsake me for this great new blog, I'll be mostly okay with that. Totally Oh-Kay. In FACT, I am so okay with it I'll even open the door for you! And don't let it smack your cute little behinds on the way out!!

Ahem.

The Crash Test Dummy Diaries (CTDD) is clever in a lure-you-in-with-humor-and-then-pierce-you-to-the-heart kind of way. Take this post for example. Drop Dead Funny. Here's another one of my favorites. Her observations on spousal snoring are spot on. The one about the bed made me chuckle. The Crash Test Dummy tells the truth about family bliss and her religion with a satirical twist that will have you laughing at the same time you're shaking your head in frustration because dang she is so right.

And then, when you're least expecting it, she'll pull a fast one on you. Every now and then she gets deep, and every time that happens I find myself in over my head wondering where the bottom of the lagoon went! One of the things I appreciate most about this blog isn't the humor, although there's plenty of that. No, the thing that makes The CTDD a great blog is the pain behind the laughter. All the best writers have that in common. The Crash Test Dummy is no exception.

Go. Read. Laugh. Cry. And if you ever get tired of really great writing, I'll still be here.

Expectations

See, now I'm feeling pressure. I've gone public, and people I don't even know are checking out this site, and one person on the poll even said that I am boring! GAH!

Actually that response on the poll made me laugh out loud, literally. I threw my head back on the couch and cackled for a good 10 seconds. The NERVE! Well, whatever. At least that person was honest. The rest of you are probably just saying nice things to be nice because you don't want to hurt my feelings.

And you know what? I've decided that it is okay to be boring sometimes. Cuz life is boring, sometimes. Actually, life is boring most of the time. The daily ins and outs of raising kids and paying bills and cooking dinner and carting people to swimming lessons and piano practicing and saxophone lessons and softball and physical therapy are BORING. That's why I almost never blog that stuff. It just happens and it doesn't seem newsworthy to me. What I'm wondering is when did this blog change from being a vehicle to preserve my personal and family history into something for the entertainment of the scant masses? I guess that happened when I started craving approval more than I wanted to preserve memories.

I must think on this. I need to decide who this blog is for: me, or you. And whether or not it can be both at the same time.

Insecurity and Boredom

Many of my friends have blogs. I go to their blogs, and they have adorable, creative, artsy layouts. Then I go to my own blog, which is utilitarian, like I am. And I wanted to try something new. Something Garden-y. I like the sunflowers, but the white text is a little hard to read, imo.

What do you think?

Oh, and besides cutestblogontheblock.com and pyzam.com, where do you people get cool layouts?

I'm too busy weeding to figure this all out. I should hire someone.