Back by... (aghast!) popular demand?

So, I know it's been a little slow here lately and my apologies to my one fan. You see, I just got the sweetest email from a friend of mine that was chock full of blogging encouragement. And to be honest, it couldn't have come at a better time. (So much so that it makes me wonder if my dear sister put her up to it since she has probably grown weary of my blogging complaints...) Regardless, that email was a much-needed shot in the arm propelling me back into the great blogosphere. It wasn't that I ever, ever blogged just for all the mad props I envisioned receiving (hey bloggers... don't we all?!?! We are, in fact, a needy bunch.) But I do have to admit that I have a hard time finding-- shall we say--motivation when it appears on the surface that my only readers are my parents and my sister plus my husband when he is sufficiently guilted. Because let's face it, it's easier to just pick up the phone and have a conversation with any one of those people than it is to compose my thoughts, spellcheck my thoughts, and then publish my thoughts out there where everyone in the English-speaking (ok, reading) world can critique them. Not that they do, mind you. But you know, they could if they so choose and that leaves me feeling a wee bit vulnerable. Believe me, I've come a long way in letting people read anything I've ever attached my name to. I even hated for my teachers to read it and then (gasp!) use their nifty red pen to junk it all up. But even that didn't bother me all that much because A) it was probably written at the breakfast table a mere hour before it was due and B) it was about the state of Pennsylvania or Edgar Allan Poe (not that there's anything wrong with that... it's just not near and dear to my heart.) So to actually discuss (ok, type) politics or--even riskier-- college football is quite a stretch for me. And if you were to sneak a peek at my daily to-do list, you would see that blogging just isn't and can't (hello tyranny of the urgent!) be near the top. That's why it has been mucho easier-o to just rant to my husband as of late than actually sit down at the ole desktop and pound out a post. And I'm sure that's why it's probably always easier for you, the reader, to just glance at my posts without leaving a comment or even so much as CLICKING TWO LITTLE, ITTY BITTY TIMES to vote in my latest poll (not bitter or anything) so I totally understand. But you'd be surprised at what a little "CHOMP" here and a "hi" there would do for a girl like me and her humble blog...