What do you call the block a blogger gets?

Baby squirrel in our Willow tree.

Writers have it easy!  Yes, Carol (@Facing 50 with Humour) and, Karen (@ Out of My Mind)...I am referring to you, two, too!

For anyone who hasn't yet discovered either of these wonderfully gifted, talented writers, you don't know what you've been missing!  PLEASE DO POP OVER.  I guarantee you will not be sorry you did!

OK, back to MY BLOG now...Have you noticed, every time writers want to cop-out (opt out) they latch on to the dread disease, professing they are suffering from writer's block.

Strangely, this is not a medically verifiable affliction.  It's not like a germ actually manifests itself in their bloodstream or anything.  Furthermore, it's something they always self-diagnose.  They don't actually go to a doctor to be told, after careful examination, that they have contracted writer's block!  Yet, when a writer announces that he/she has fallen prey to this scourge, everyone around them retreats into a sympathetic huddle, discussing this malady in hushed whispers, as though the mere mention of it will cause the writer to explode into a fitful rage, which I suppose they often do (No, Carol and Karen...I'm not including you, as I'm sure neither of you has ever thrown a fit!)  

Please click the Read more button below to continue this rivetting read... 

What's up with you bloggers?  We've doubled our attraction here, yet you're still reading that rubbish!

If you happen to bump into the regular hangers-on of writers, while they're out shopping for example, they'll sidle up beside you, offering you their confidence, in undertones, as though they were offering some highly secret, classified information.  They will take delight in regaling you with detailed accounts of how the author of the moment hasn't slept or eaten for days and has barely even washed him/herself, let alone brushed his/her teeth.  Really!  As if you needed to know that!

These well-meaning sycophants will give detailed descriptions of how wan and hollow-eyed their writer friend has become and they'll share their latest failed attempt at shattering this paralysing ailment.  You'll be told how much they spent on the very best quality, imported wine/chocolates/fillet steak, but how none of these surefire attempts has worked this time, so they're out there trying to up the ante.

Yes, for sure a writer knows well how to trump up support and gain sympathy for those times when an excuse is needed to break from the books, so to speak!  To be indulged to the nines and not have to spend a cent of their own money!

Yes, I see you...do you see me, too?

But what of the blogger?  Do bloggers get to mould or adapt the writer's block malady to fit their own blocked state?  Can they feasibly go around proclaiming they have blogger's block?  Is there a copyright or patent on this label?  Will they be sued for illegal copy?  Will anyone even believe them, if they suddenly profess to be suffering from this new disease?

So, what do bloggers come up with when they need a reason to take a break from blogging?  Do they risk losing their loyal followers by being honest?  If they say, "I'm tired, bored out of my mind, can't be bothered to blog right now, so expect me back when you see me!" will their followers remain loyal or dump them?  What of their families, those long-suffering loved-ones who sit alone, night after night, LONG into the night, while the blogging member of the family contentedly taps away the hours at the keyboard, occasionally calling out, impatiently, for more tea/coffee/something a lot stronger?  Will they believe the blogger member when he/she announces, "I'm afraid I have blogger's block?" 

Hey!  I'm trying to attract your attention over here...stop reading that stupid blog!!!

Will they be relieved?  Will they do their best to ensure the patient never ever recovers?  Or will they pull out all their hidden sympathy guises and do daily battle to break the hold of this paralysing affliction?  Will they realise, ultimately, that all their complaining over the past weeks, months and maybe years was unjustified?  That they actually got used to having so much more free time to do their own thing, without a nagging son/daughter/husband/wife to bug them?  And now, the bug--r is back (you fill in the blank spaces yourself.  I'm not into swearing!) and bugging them?

Maybe, just maybe, bloggers can use a similar tool to arouse sympathy, albeit it of the false kind...but what on earth can we call it, without risking all those writers suing us for copyright or fraud or stealing their patent on their malady?  Any ideas...anyone?  I know there are some bloggers out there who read my ramblings...don't be reticent...put your life on the line here and help us out of a potentially tough spot!  Aren't we all in this, together?

OK, now I've moved over to the Japanese elm  (ulmus parvifoliar) to nibble on this piece of apple...want some?

OK, I guess any regulars I have will have guessed it.  I'm out of material.  I had to fill in with something.  I have a cold, my dog has bronchitis.  My husband is tired of photographing the moon for me...this was the best I could come up with.