I mentioned last time that the new version of WordPress had thrown me and that’s why I wasn’t writing. I absolutely HATE having to completely relearn how to use software just because somebody thought it would be “cool” to have everything look completely different. Call me a dinosaur, I am NOT hip and young. If I spent the time to try to learn to use something, I don’t want to wake up the next morning and have to completely relearn it. Steve is mortified by this attitude. Probably because he’s a software guy and enjoys getting to know new software. Honey, I always did hate to RTFM.
But all that is not the whole reason why I haven’t been writing. If you’ve followed my blog for any length of time, you know my tendency to be irreverent and out spoken. And while you all get good laughs out it, I get harassed. I am so tired of being harassed. I’m tired of people threatening to sue me. I’m tired of now pausing before I type anything to wonder which family member is going to send me some irate email or letter over what I just said. I have family members who check every week or two, to make sure I haven’t written something that they don’t approve of. If they find anything, they report back to other family members. I have family members who haven’t spoken to me in over a year for stuff I wrote. Yet? They didn’t read my blog for the first two years when I was all reserved and worried about what I say. So much for the right to free speech, eh?
Anyway, I’ve been toying with the idea of moving to password protected entries. Steve would rather I just start writing a book. I’m not even motivated to write anymore, just disgusted with the whole situation. I guess the pen is mightier than the sword after all. Anyway, that’s why I’ve been silent. I’ve been trying to figure out what I want to do. When I do, you’ll be the first to know. 
January 5, 2009 at 2:13 pm
I for one miss your posts. But then you don’t know me so it isn’t me you are talking about
Although I am pretty good about laughing at myself.
If you change to password protected I will be the first to sign-up for a password but I will also buy the book if you write it.
January 5, 2009 at 2:40 pm
And I thought is was because you fell into the trap of FB. FB andtwitter have started being substitutes for my blogging. I wish I had the time to write more, just to keep my writing skills sharp.
Heather has some of those same family issues about her writing. I’m sure she’ll comment once she reads this.
I, and I know I’m not alone, enjoy your posts. I hope you do keep blogging. Like Colleen, I’ll sign up or buy your book!
January 5, 2009 at 3:04 pm
I am right there with ya, chickadee. I have been struggling lately with wanting to NOT have to hear about my bad language or feel like I need to tiptoe around a topic so that I don’t hurt someone’s feelings. It gets old.
Maybe you and I should share a new “undercover” blog for when we want to stay under the radar. hmmmmmmmm.
And….if you do go to password-protected-land?? I BETTAH get the password!! y’hear?!
January 5, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Nooooooooo you have to keep writing. You should have never told them about your blog. My family is clueless about mine so I can say what I want! To hell with them I love your writing!!
January 5, 2009 at 4:34 pm
I’ve missed you, but I understand. If you decide to go password protected, you’ll send me the damn pwd, right?!?
And as for you hating to learn new versions of software…that’s rich coming from the wife of …
Snort.
January 5, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Bitch, shut up! I mean shut the hell up. I thought it was Facebook or the holidays.
All my favorite bloggy friends are going private or have been deleting their blogs. Nooooooooooooooo!
Fight back. You know me. I can be mouthy and snarky and filter-less like the best of them. Yes, like Beau said, my Mormon side of the family does not appreciate my blog. I even fell off a sister’s Christmas card list because of my outspoken blogs, emails, and views on gay marriage and prop. 8.
Welll….it could have been my filthy mouth and talking about uterine ablation and my daughter finding our sex toys as well. Who knows?! Shrug.
I’ve been discovered by everyone except my parents. Woooo, doggyy. I am sure it’s not long off. That one will be a riot. I am pretty sure MIL reads, but I haven’t talked to her in years, so no filter there either.
The weirdest situation though is when you find out weirdos from the same town read your blog. Oh, wait! That was you. Heh!
No, seriously, I suspect some neighbors might read because my husband’s blog leads them to me. He has his blog on his signature and blogrolls me. Sigh. If a couple of neighbors found his Yelp account that way, I am sure they found my blog talking irreverently about my trophy wife ‘hood.
So, fuck ‘em, my friend. Blogging is too fun. Filter if you must. Although I do like the idea of an undercover, secretive desperate plateau housewives idea. You know the secret lives of wimmins married to nerds. Dealing with the white socks, the microsoftese, you know. Living the high life as a tech mommy. Heh!
As for those family members, maybe make a truce that you both pretend you don’t have a blog. It works for me.
So, to summarize: Bitch slap yerself out of this funk, my friend, or else…I’ll dig Beau’s burnt, stanky shoes out of the trash and huck ‘em at your car while you’re at the gym. Heh! I’m not afraid of your kung-fu.
January 5, 2009 at 8:40 pm
I can completely understand where you’re coming from. I had a “dark blog” for a while where I posted my darkest angriest thoughts and only gave access to a handful of people. All of these people knew the purpose of the blog, but they started harping on me for things I said there until I stopped writing in it as well.
Fortunately however, you have a HUGE fan base who would gladly follow you wherever you go, password blog, book, wherever!
So count me on that list too!
January 5, 2009 at 9:27 pm
People with no sense of humor should not be allowed on the Internet. Period. But that’s not going to happen. So if you pwd protect I want a password. If you write a book (which sounds like a great idea BTW – smart husband you have there) I’ll buy a copy. What ever you do I’ll support you.
January 6, 2009 at 4:32 am
I was expecting to hear some hand injury story or some other crazyness that had kept you from your adoring public. I am surprised that you let these people get to you, as you really don’t seem the type to back down to that type of pressure (I don’t seem to be able to rewrite that in the less hostile tone that it was meant in).
But that being said, you owe us nothing so if it is causing you heart/head aches then, I am sure your readers will reluctantly understand
P.S. If you do choose to go down the password protected route, count me in too (or the secret blog thing, I can keep a secret
)
January 6, 2009 at 4:39 am
Hang on, I just realised that this is blatently a … “It’s not you, It’s me … I’ve changed” breakup message!
You are leaving us aren’t you … don’t go … we can change … we’ll be a better audience … What if I promise to do the Whatever Wednesdays actually on Wednesday … How about if I actually send physical hate mail to those BRIGADOON VACATION RENTALS BASTARDS … will you still love us …
..
We can still be friends right? … … .. .. . . right? . . .
January 6, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Ive always gone by the rule of thumb of “If I wouldnt say it face to face then I dont write it” Not that anything that exciting gets put on either blog tbh lol.
You will be missed if you go Helen, but at the end of the day its up to you.
You’ve just got to work out if its worth the hastle you get from a few people.
January 6, 2009 at 6:32 pm
This lurker will miss you if you go! You were one of the first blogs I really started following. I found you from a link on digg– the top 10 reasons to marry a geek (or something like that)!
January 6, 2009 at 9:47 pm
You guys are all so sweet!
Thank you for your love and support. If I change to password protected entries, you all will be the first to know! 
Colleen- Thank you!
Beau- You know, at first I thought it was Facebook. But then I realized that I dreaded writing new entries. I’ve been hoping a little break might just fix it all. We’ll see….
Ms. H- I KNOW! Right? I *LOVE* the f word!
Brandy- that ole hindsight is 20/20 eh?
Hot- I would appreciate it if you would NOT mock my software issues… ;P
Scout- LOL! I can always count on you! I started laughing as soon as I read Bitch! Shut up! I wrote you a little windy love on FB.
Jeff- WTF is wrong with people?! Seriously!
Mr Geek- I am not breaking up with you. At least not yet. And I’m not the type to ever back down. However? I am worn out. I am sick of fighting ridiculous fights. That isn’t how I want to spend my time. People are effin crazy. I’m tired of literally being STALKED by strangers. I’m tired of being harassed by people I know. I’m just so sick of opening up my comments and uttering “OH FUCK not again.” Or worse, having people walk up to me and say “I was reading your blog…” I *HATE* that because then I always wonder what I happened to have said *that* day. Sigh.
Nemma- I actually LOL at what you said. Because if you knew me, you’d laugh too. People say I have no filters. I just say whatever is on my mind. And I’ll write whatever is on my mind. For some reason though, that makes some morons think they can sue me because I wrote something they don’t like.
Gini- Sorry you had to de-lurk, but I’m glad to finally meet you.
WOW I wrote that a few YEARS ago. 
January 9, 2009 at 7:22 am
Well, that was anti-climatic.
All this time I have been imagining you in a black leather cat suit and ski mask, having been tracked down and captured by special forces, and are now being held against your will, being subjecting to unspeakable means of interrogatory torture. I didn’t know how you were going to do it, but you. would.. get… word…to…us…somehow…..before…..you…..expired.
Those pain in the ass family and friends are poo-pooing about your language? They’re getting their feelings hurt? Hey, you out there – newsflash – you don’t HAVE to read Helen’s post! Find something else to do or someone else to bother. Or get laid.
January 10, 2009 at 3:22 pm
I have been stalking you for probably two years now and I don’t know what I’d do without you. I’d be sad to see you go, but if you went I’d understand (and read your book). If you go secret blog, let me know?
January 10, 2009 at 3:58 pm
Greanbean- I was totally wearing the suit. ;D
Blogjane- Wow, I had so many stalkers I never even knew about!
I will totally let you know. 
January 12, 2009 at 7:53 am
I’ve missed you! Your humor and tell-it-like-it-is style are priceless!
Please include me whereever you go!!
And if it’s book, I’ll be on the wait list to get it!
January 15, 2009 at 5:22 pm
CMV- Thank you. I will.
February 3, 2009 at 3:28 pm
I appreciate your dilema. The naysayers always seeme to take the fun out of the party. If you didn’t have such a popular blog that people actually read, you wouldn’t have this trouble. It’s the double edged sword of puting yourself out there, and being so good at it. Count me a fan.
February 3, 2009 at 10:33 pm
Thank you Lisa!
February 10, 2009 at 5:16 pm
I have been thinking about the exact same thing. My husband went on a job interview a couple of weeks ago, and was asked about his blog (which he keeps very professional). THEN they asked him about MY blog. In an interview! He told them it was none of their business. ANYWAYS, I’m facing the same quandary.
However, i think you should totally write a book, it could be like “Sippy Cups Are Not for Chardonnay” for the elementary years. I’d buy it in a heartbeat! Good luck, and thanks for turning us all onto blogging!
February 12, 2009 at 11:57 pm
REALLY?! HOLY CRAP! Steve would never get another job!