Why is it so much harder to be honest with nice people than mean ones? I'd like to think nice people deserve honesty, but maybe that's not the way to think about it. Is honesty a good thing? "Thanks for the vase, but it's really not my style." "What you lack in natural talent you more than make up for in passion for your craft." I'd have no problem saying these things to unpleasant people (and I'd probably say them with less tact), but are these things that should be said to nice people? I'm trying decide how I'd want to be approached and I've got mixed feelings about it. Generally I want people to be honest with me. If I've wronged someone or there's an area of my work that needs attention or something like that, I'd like to know, no matter how poorly I may receive it. But negative feedback can also be a blow to one's confidence, which can often make things worse.

If you've got thoughts on this, post them in comments to this post.

You'll notice My Back Pages has a new look. I can't say I'm entirely crazy about it. But I felt it was time for a change. So I'll do some tinkering and see if I can get it to my liking. Too bad I suck at html...

I am proud to say that the party was a great success. A good time was had by all.

The grill was assembled, the bathrooms clean, the meat purchased, the beverages on ice. So I felt rather prepared. But there was a still a few moments of panic. Will the dismal weather keep people away? Will things get dull and people scatter after scarfing down their food? But the answer was "no" on all counts. The turnout was as expected and everyone stuck around. The food was tasty and the conversation lively. Even the kids had a good time, I gather. I found muddy little footprints in my shower from their game of hide and seek. And somehow after it all, I ended up with more food and drink than I started with.

So I guess I need to have another party. It's so wonderful to have a home I can entertain in.

I have been shamed. On all sides.

First, I have been shamed into posting again. Not just by people asking when I'm going to post again. But now both of my siblings have started up their own weblogs and I feel I must fulfill my sibling rivalry obligation and get back to the business of posting mundane and occasionally interesting details about my life. Hopefully I will be able to whip myself back into shape and find my A-game once again. I'm also hoping their work will inspire me as my creative juices have fizzled as of late.

I can tell that my brother is finding out how difficult it is to stay inspired while blogging as he has already fallen to posting every couple of weeks. And mostly about the Ryder Cup. But hopefully he will become inspired once again because those early posts were quite entertaining.

My sister has only just begun, so who knows what she'll come up with. She's headed off to college, so there will be plenty of excitement to post about. The only question will be whether she will have the time to post about it. But I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

But on to my second source of shame. I have been shamed into having an open house this weekend at my new abode. A friend at work planned a cook out at his house and on the invite listed the occasion as "a reason to gather and ask Sara why she has not had a party at her new house". Ouch. So when his family got sick and he was on the verge of canceling, I decided to step up, redeem myself, and host his event at my house.

So here I am having a cookout at my house. Only I've never hosted a cookout before. And I don't have a grill. Or at least I didn't have a grill until yesterday. But that's another story I will hopefully have time to write about tomorrow.