I've noticed a ton of "I LOVE XANGA!" themed posts lately, and rightfully so.  I do love xanga.  Yes, I have a fulfilling life offline, but sometimes logging in at the end of the day just hits the spot.  Xanga has seen me at my best, worst, and downright silliest.  But all of these xanga-love posts have left me wondering: how did we all end up here?  I found xanga in 2004, thanks to my brother and sister.  I created a different username in 2008, just for a little more privacy.  I didn't want to embarrass myself or my family with some of the stuff I wanted to write about! 

So, here's the question:  What's YOUR xanga story?  How did you find xanga, and what keeps you coming back?

Ugh.  I knew this day was coming.  I just knew it. 

I FEEL LIKE CRAP!!!

Sent home early from work today.  Sinus, headache, chest congestion... the whole works.  I want to just curl up in a ball and disappear until this cold goes away.  However, there are still little mouths to be fed, baths to be given, homework to be checked, books to be read, and bedtimes routines to be followed. 

I need a sick day.  Buh-bye, xanga.  Mama needs to sneak in a little nap.

I've noticed that the more you mention "xanga" in your headlines and actual blog entry, the more attention that post will generate.  Now, I'm not quite an attention whore, but I'm also not one of those who simply writes for myself to go back and read alone later on.  The reason I have a xanga is for the sake of interaction.  If I just wanted to vent for the sake of venting, I'd pick up a pretty journal at the bookstore.  I'm not here to get featured (I never have been... not that that should surprise any of you who are familiar with my blog... ahem.), but I AM here for the friendship, the comments, the conversation, and yes... even the not-so-occasional drama.  It's funny how you write something with your heart on your sleeve (or in this case, on your computer screen) and you're really hoping to start up some intellectual conversation, but when you log on in anticipation and... not a whole lot of interest.  Then one night you're feeling silly and write a xanga-themed post, and people go nuts!  Craziness.  But I do love xanga, or else I wouldn't still be here.  My xanga friends have "seen" me at my best and at my absolute worst... and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Honestly, now... and don't give me any of the "I just write for myself" bull ... have you ever felt disappointed after writing something that you thought was brilliant but no one else really cared about?

I haven't gotten a good night's sleep since moving into the "new" house.  It's been nearly a month.

I'm quite sure that the creepy tv shows I've been glued to lately aren't helping.  In fact, I'm sure they're just fueling the fire.  It doesn't help that the view from my bedroom looks like the hallway from The Shining.  And then I see this commercial EVERY FIVE MINUTES:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4-O-tLsCDo  (Sorry, I tried to embed it, but I apparently don't know how to do that.  Just old-school it and click the link)

Is it just me, or are those twins just a little on the creepy side? 

Seriously, though.  I love this house, but it kind of freaks me out.  I laugh and teasingly poke my husband because he gets spooked, too... but then bed time rolls around and he's snoring in 5 minutes.  I'm laying there, eyes wide open, and jumping at every little creak and crack our century+ old house makes.

I need to turn off the tv.  And maybe take some Ambien or something.  Do you believe in ghosts? 

Two weeks in, and we are LOVING the new casa.  It's gorgeous, huge, and already feels like home.  However -- and don't act like you didn't see it coming -- I have discovered that the house has a little more, er... character than that which was initially obvious. 

Character Trait #1:

The house is old (good.)  And huge (still, good.)  And kind of scary at night (not so good.).  Be it the creaks and cracks that we have yet to become familiar with, or the creepy little Coraline doors (Have you seen that movie?!  Um... it scared the crap out of ME and it's a movie for kids!) that are located sporadically throughout the house, this place kinda gives me the heebie-jeebies once the sun goes down.  It probably doesn't help, though, that the Hubs and I decided to be "brave" (read: STUPID) and watch Ghost Lab on our new Direct TV setup.  Yeah... not so smart.

Character Trait #2:

We seem to have some tenants that didn't get the memo that the house was under new ownership.  And no, we're not talking ghosts here (at least I hope not!) but rather, inhabitants of the 6-legged variety.  I've discovered some form of insect larvae in the kitchen.  I keep flushing the ones that I find (karma, shmarma... I don't want bugs in my Cheerios, thankyouverymuch) but they keep reappearing.  Worse, I think that of all bugs they could be, they are EARWIGS!  I think I witnessed the birthing process yesterday by happening upon a swollen, writhing earwig in the pantry.  Don't worry.  I put her out of her misery.  I'm about to put Terminix on my speed dial.

Other than that, life is grand.  I took a week's vacation to get things cleaned, unpacked and organized.  We went back to the old house last night to get it scrubbed down for the new tenants.  Looking in that house, I do not understand how we fit all of our crap in there.  It just doesn't seem possible.  I can't believe we made it work for as long as we did.  I feel blessed to have been in the right place at the right time for this house.  It reaffirms my belief that all things happen for a reason.  There is some sort of divine plan.  Or at least, I hope.  For now, anyway, Mom & Dad are happy.  Kids are happy.  Dogs are happy.  Life is Good.  I've even got the t-shirt to prove it.