Why do you blog, or, why do you read blogs?
Beth just wrote a “Why I Blog” post (I love it when people write on this topic!). It reminded me of a post I wrote about the same topic a long time ago, but with a somewhat different answer.
Like Beth, I do blog to meet new people. That is one of the biggest perks! I love “knowing” people from all over the country, and even getting to meet some of them.
But that is not solely why I blog. It started as a way to keep in touch with friends and family, but now it’s more than that, at least for me.
Now it’s a place for my voice. It’s a place for me to say whatever the hell I want and not have to think twice about it OR worry about being interrupted. I waste so much time in the real world trying not to offend people OR letting them do all the talking, I feel like I should have one place where I can just be myself.
I just have to keep remembering that.
We have monthly “birthday celebrations” in my office during the months that the staff has birthdays. The company orders treats and we all sit around in the conference room, chatting for about 30 minutes (or more!) while enjoying the treats. It’s actually a nice break, to just sit and chat with everyone. I think of it as a morale booster.
Sometimes the company orders individual treats, like drinks from Starbucks (bleh), and sometimes they order one big thing, like a coffee cake.
You may recall that I am on a “healthy lifestyle” quest. Whenever they order individual treats, I try to order something healthy or low in calories, like a fruit cup or a diet soda.
Today was the August celebration (duh) and our receptionist/secretary/all-star came up to me and said, “I’m going to order that cinnamon-cake thing from Corner Bakery. Do you want a fruit cup, since you are so being so good [healthy-eating wise]?”
She didn’t say it meanly – she was being nice. She noticed I’ve been watching what I eat, and actually asked me if I wanted an alternate item for the birthday celebration. I thought it was very nice that she provided that option for me, because some people are actually pretty mean when you are eating healthy. They become “food pushers” who want you to eat what they are eating or what they are making. I’m happy no one in my office is like that.
But damn, that cake smelled good when I was sitting there eating my fruit cup!
And a little bit of housekeeping… called “How I Blog.” Continue reading 'Fruit Cup'»
Today is my three-year blogging anniversary! You can’t really tell by looking at the (drop-down) archives in my sidebar, but I have, in fact, been blogging since July 21, 2005 (just not on wordpress). Crazy!
What would a blogging anniversary be if I didn’t talk about blogging?
One of my favorite parts about blogging is the comments (duh). I am amazed at the amount of feedback I get… and always amazed that it is never quite what I expect!
I don’t know about you, but when I write a post, I have an idea in my head of who will respond, how many responses I will get, what people will say… blah blah blah.
I’m never right! And for some reason, it really surprise me, every time.
This is coming off pretty lame, but what I’m trying to say is, that I love the diverse amount of feedback I get, and all the cool bloggers I meet. So thanks for coming by (even if you don’t say anything).
Here’s to another year.
Isn’t it funny trying to explain blogging and blogger-meetups to a non-blogger?
I got into this conversation with my boss tonight, when I told him I was going to meet Beth and Kevin. (He saw I was looking at Beth’s site, then asked what the heck I was looking at (her pictures from an American Girl Store visit), so I went on to tell him this was her blog, and I was meeting her tonight, and blah blah blah.)
He actually sounded interested, and told me to have a good time when I left.
I’m happy he didn’t ask, “Now, why would you want to meet up with people you don’t even know?” I’ve heard that’s a common non-blogger response.
Why does anyone meet up with people they don’t know? To try to create new friendships? That is always my hope. I think it probably worked tonight. We had a great time!
I have a little problem – I can’t keep up with google reader.
I keep adding more blogs, but finding less and less time to read them.
Right now, I am subscribed to 72 blogs… and have 73 unread items! I’ve ended up being that person who has to catch up on the weekend, and is leaving comments on posts that are days old, after the conversation has died out.
My question is this – how do you keep up with reading all the blogs you like?
My ideal solution (are you reading, Steven?) is to buy a small $600-or-so computer that I can throw in my purse and use on the way to and from work. That’s almost 3 hours of time! I could catch up with a lot of internet “things” then too (I didn’t even mention how far behind I get on personal emails) and spend more quality time with the “boys” at home!
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Today’s Idiom: stock in trade – the goods, tools, and other requisites of a profession
The Architect’s stock in trade seems to be a cocky attitude, coffee-addiction, and an affinity for wearing dark colors.
Fellow bloggers, how often do you find yourself wishing your blog was completely anonymous so you could just write whatever the heck you wanted? No worries about people reading and misinterpreting, or just the wrong people reading…
Ugh. More and more lately I am typing up posts only to delete them. It’s pointless to tell stories that are missing all the details. Like the story about an annoying “friend” who is constantly telling lies to some friends and truths to the others. So even though you didn’t tell the lie yourself, you are caught in continuing the lie for them around the people who don’t know the truth.
Ugh.
And there is no way of even knowing who reads your blog! Only later do you find out that your coworkers, family members, friends from college, and people you have never met are reading what you write.
Ugh.
But of course, that is the challenge and fun of having a blog. And I wouldn’t trade that in for anonymity. I just like to complain about it!
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