...I am reposting my virgin post from last night because I had to move to a new account. For everyone who commented last night - thank you so much for your support and welcoming messages (unfortunately, I can't move the comments). I'll post something new as soon as I find the time...

It’s driving me crazy. I feel like I am being seduced into your literal world of words. I want to post something, I really do, but I don’t know where to start, and I CAN’T SEEM TO FIND THE TIME. Do you people have jobs and families? Do you ever eat? What about sleep? Have you abandoned your daily lives altogether? I’m stumped.  

When I first stumbled upon OS, I was intrigued, but hesitant. Then, after reading a few interesting posts, I realized that this open world is far more interesting than Salon or my local newspapers because it isn't programmed and controlled. It is like the Wild West, a new frontier with no rules, no boundaries, and no editors. I can choose from a smorgasbord of interesting morsels based on how I am feeling at the moment rather than have things stuffed down my throat based on the biases of the editor or owners. I can choose to read about love or loss, schizophrenia or alcoholism, marriage or divorce. And the writing is just so good. So are the responses. So supportive, but again, where do you all find the time?    

Sufficiently seduced after my first few visits, I opened an account. There was a start-up period where I had to figure out the settings etc. and figure out if I really wanted to become part of this world. Then, the little paranoid person in me had to get comfortable with just how much of me I was going to put “out there” for judgment and ridicule (and after reading a post on cyber stalking, I was right to be cautious). The ridicule part came after reading a series of flame-ridden responses to one of Sandra no longer Miller’s posts. There was such anger and bitterness in one respondent’s posts. I presume he is what is referred to as a “troll” because he doesn’t seem to have his own OS blog. I’m not sure I want to expose myself to this kind of negativity. After all, if I want help to hate myself, I’ll rejoin the corporate world and at least get a paycheque for my grief.  

As I write this, what may become my virgin post, my husband just walked through the living room and gave me that “you’ve been at the computer all day and what have you accomplished” look. I write for a living. I spend everyday at the computer. But this is Saturday. If I wasn’t debilitated with cramps (oops, too much info?) he would have been whining all day for me to do something…take down the Christmas tree, go to the store with him, clean up the dining room table where I’m sitting surrounded by the flotsam and jetsam of a day spent surfing the Web. But I love writing. When it works, it gives me such a unique high—better than good chardonnay. Today, I posted two responses here on OS and one on Salon. That took hours, and I still posted with typos - ugh. And, when I finish writing something that pleases me or get a letter published in the local newspaper, I read it over and over just to sustain the high. Is that sick or what? Oh God, now the kimono is open. Look away, I’m hideous.

I started reading Salon.com way back when it was called salonmagazine.com and it had a column called Wanderlust. I think that was just after the last ice age ended, and I just stumbled upon it while looking for travel information. Then a few years ago, I got seduced into Chowhound.com. I love the community there—supportive responses on a well-moderated site. I always consult local chowhounds before I travel to a new city, so I can figure out the best places to eat. Now, I’m being sucked into OS. I don’t have enough hours in the day for this. Please, help me. How do you find the time? What part of your life do you sacrifice for this guilty pleasure?

I have to go now. The cats are giving me the evil eye, and my husband is making dinner (comfort food for the girl with cramps). If I don’t get in there, I’ll have Yorkshire puddings that look like hockey pucks. I could have sworn the sun was shining just a few minutes ago...