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12/16/2008

In answer to the question

The question was from Vikki at The Red Chair Gallery - "Now the big question: Are you going to blog everyday of 2009?" And the answer is ... I have no idea. I know I won't have to. That's the big thing. There will be no self-imposed challenge to face, no obligation felt, no pressure. It will be much easier, I think. I hope.

I do know that I need to cut down on the time this takes. I took a look, recently, at the number of blogs I read and comment on and the number of comments I get on the average. It turns out I average around twenty comments a day. There are about 35 or so different bloggers who account for those 20 or so comments a day. That's roughly half of the blogs I comment on. So I have decided that if you comment here I will comment there. If I don't hear from you for a month or so, then I will stop going to your site. It isn't retribution or anything like that, it's just a question of focused effort. There's a whole bunch more to it, of course. But I think I'll save that for another time. It's not like I haven't covered it before.

Anyway, that's my plan for the coming year. Well .. part of it, anyway.

You all have taught me so much ... some of you, more than you know ...

- there's a lot of love in the world

- there's an incredible amount of pain in the world

- women are the strongest things in the world

- depression is the cruelest thing in the world

- kids are the neatest things in the world

- and you can't trust everybody, as much as you would like to.

Click, click, click on the links on the next paragraph and let's drive that traffic into Zoeyjane's site and help her build her revenue - for charity.

Zoeyjane of Mommy is Moody is DOING something. She is donating all the revenue from her advertisements on her site, for this month, to To Write Love On Her Arms. Go to Zoeyjane's site and read This Post. She gets paid by 'Impressions'. Just going there helps. Click on her ads - and help more. Click through to To Write Love On Her Arms and see what they do. Just doing that will help, too. This paragraph is going to appear at the end of each post, each day until the end of the month. As a reminder. Just click through. And help. Save the women and men and boys and girls that don't need to live without love, that don't need to suffer addiction and depression, that don't need to die.


Peace.

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

I still cannot get over that you've posted (and really great posts at that) every single day in '08 so far and that you still manage to read, truly absorb and leave thoughtful, thought-provoking comments on so many blogs. I do hope something gives a bit in '09 because really? It must be overwhelming sometimes I'd think. Anyway, you're so right in that list up there. I think I can relate to every single point you made :)

Jientje said...

Knowing you don't HAVE to might be a big relief, I agree! But I think I would find it hard NOT to blog, and visit the friends I've made. I'm not looking for extra traffic either, it is too hard to follow all of them, I think. I have met some great friends, (and you're one of them) whom I never want to loose track of any more. And yes, women are perhaps the strongest things in the world, but not without the advice of a wise man like you, who offers his shoulder to cry on when they need it. Or by making them smile with some witty comment. I would miss your comments, that's for sure!

That Bread Lady said...

I just read your list of things you have learned from other bloggers and I have to agree with you on most of it. Men and women are both strong but in different ways. I believe love is the strongest thing in the world. The more we give it away, the more it multiplies. Kids are definatley the neatest. They have a lot more wisdom than we give them credit for and it's a shame they grow up so fast and lose their innocent outlook on everything in their daily lives. We need to take lessons from them and enjoy all the little things in life. The happiest sound is a child's laughter.

Unknown said...

Lou,

I'm in awe, dumplin'!! I don't know that I'd have anything of relevance to say for 365 days!!

Dina

Anonymous said...

Dude, you are awesome.

And yeah, I am guilty of not coming over every day. I am sorry. But every time you comment on my blog it makes me smile. Or laugh so hard my face hurts.

Christy said...

I had obligatory things--even though I'm proud when I'm finished.

And I agree with what you said....mental illness is the worst kind.

But you can't trust anyone all the time, including yourself. Ever given in to temptation?? LOL

So don't be too hard on the world.

We all have the capacity to be wrong.

And women ARE great....

Ndinombethe said...

I agree with Huckdoll - really great posts every day.

I might have to prevent you from posting in January while you're in Trinidad cause I intend to keep you two very busy while you're here.

But - If you can type with a rum or beer in one hand, your feet up on a bench, the ocean in front of you and idle chatter all around then I supposed I'll let you...

Anonymous said...

I gave up on the 365 thing about midway through. Just couldn't do it. Good for you!

And yes, I know how much time it takes to visit and comment thoughtfully.

moneythoughts said...

It's been fun. I, like everyone else, have enjoyed reading your blog and your ability to write and touch people with your thoughts. 365 is, in my opinion, an unrealistic hill to climb every day. I hope you will continue to blog even if it is only when you have the time to spare. As I have said before, I don't know where you find all the time to do what you do. Take care and be well.

Anonymous said...

I look forward to you in my reader each day... though I am happy you will not have to post..that has to be a huge relief off of you.

So here is an early Congrats on the 365 completion.. Blogging has taught me lessons in ways that I never expected.

PS. I will try not to lurk as much as I do.. xo

Unknown said...

I agree...focused effort. But please, please don't give me up! I can't live without you!!

Anonymous said...

"To be human is to feel both ends of the emotional spectrum and to understand that for every choice we make, there is an equal & complementary consequence."


I don't comment much, but I love reading what you write!!! I've got you on my feed!

Unknown said...

Geez, my goal for the year was blog everyday and make comments on at least three blogs. You left me in the dust on the comment part!

The other night, my husband made a comment to me about blogging through 2009. "You signed up, right? I can't see you taking a day off anymore!" It surprised him that there isn't an event for next year, but I had to confess that I'll keep going as long as possible.

Or else, I'll get phone calls from Joyce asking where my post is! ;)

hockeychic said...

Wow, blogging every day is really an amazing achievement. You make so many people's day with your words and your kind comments. I do love dropping in here and knowing there is always something new to read.

At the same time, I understand that it is a huge time commitment and I can understand needing to scale that back.

Hope you are having a peaceful day.

Unknown said...

Huckdoll: Thank you for that ("really great posts"). I'm glad you're still out here.

Jientje: Yes, it would be hard NOT to blog. I just have to be more realistic about the amount I read.

That Bread Lady: Yes - the happiest sound IS a child's laughter.

Queenlint1: Believe me, not everything in the last year has been relevant.

Kelley: I ain't lookin' for every day, Kelley. Once in a while is fine.

Christy: There is no more special hurt than not being able to trust someone whom you thought you could.

Tash: I'm looking forward to hte challenge.

Ree: It's tough. But it's a labor of love, for me.

Moneythoughts: Thank you, Fred. It's become something of a habit - and habits are hard to break, right?

Kimmylyn: Thank you, Kim. That's sweet. Yay, to lessons learned, eh?

Hyphen Mama: Never. You are stuck with me until there is no more me.

Miss Ash: Thank you, POHA. (I LOVE knowing what POHA means)

Suzanne: Don't want any phone calls from Joyce, now do we?

Hockeychic: I am. And thank you.

Joyce-Anne said...

Blogging everyday is a HUGE undertaking, I think that's part of the reason I haven't started my own blog. Just think, only 15 more days to go!! Great job my friend! :)

Anonymous said...

That's pretty much how I do the comment thing. I visit the bloggers who visit me, I contact people I find interesting and comment on them and hopefully they like me too, and if not, oh well. I don't feel obligated- I hate feeling obligated. I don't work well under pressure. Hell, I don't do ANYthing well under ANY pressure. Except catch falling objects.

Theresa said...

I like your blog karma! As for how you are able to post such great writings every day... you are truly gifted my friend :)

Theresa said...

I like your blog karma! As for how you are able to post such great writings every day... you are truly gifted my friend :)

Theresa said...

*bow* thank you for clearing that up. I was MAJOR confused :)

Unknown said...

Joyce-Anne: You are not obligated to blog everyday - that was a challenge I accepted for myself. Momisodes and Ramblin's by Reba have kept it up - but not many others, for sure. Start your blog. Let us get to know you. But thank you - for coming here and for liking what you have found here.

Loraine: I really don't feel a LOT of pressure - I mean, the world will NOT end if I don't blog every day. And, for one, that's why I quit going to your sister's site - she never came here to comment.

Theresa: Thank you, Theresa - and I'm glad I was able to clear that up for you.

Julie said...

I got lost somewhere in Canada and it took a while to get back to blogging this year...up til then I was doing good on posting every day...

I am posting every day because I like to, and it's weird, I will have nothing to say and then the next day enough stuff for two or three posts. I do fall back on my photos pretty often, though, since that's easy and I have thousands and thousands of them to choose from.

I have a reader, but mostly lately to save time I read and comment on the blogs in my blog roll (and yes, you are definitely there.). And lately I have been purging my reader, because I would rather read and comment on a smaller number of blogs and feel like I have a real connection than lots of blogs and comments but no connection.

And there is only so much time in a day.

Wait. What? said...

Posting once a day for a year is certainly a challenge I think I would have a difficult time keeping up with. It would take dedication that I do not think I could muster right now.

But that is not to say I am unimpressed with your effort and success this year!

Anonymous said...

i love he list you posted expecially the 'depression is the cruelest thing in the world' one.

i have only been blogging since august and i too am blown away at the number of people that blog about depression.

although it is sad it is good that people are blogging about it - it needs to come out of the shadows.

Tara R. said...

You've done amazing things during this past year. While I wasn't here at the beginning I am glad that I am to witness the grand finale for 2008.

BlueBella said...

You make me giggle . . thanks for the comments:)

Shadow said...

shouldn't blogging (and commenting) be about WANT to and not HAVE to... i believe so. i follow 'my' blogs. if i don't want to anymore, i stop. i normally blog every day. if i don't feel like it or have nothing to say, i don't.

i love your observations btw...

Anonymous said...

I kind of miss the blogging every day that I did in November just because it kept the habit strong because the momentum kept the will to write from going flabby. That said, it's kind of nice to not *have* to write. Keeping up with comments can be insane, especially if you get as many as you do, so it makes sense that you have to do something that works for you.

Anonymous said...

I gotta say, I admired you for the longest time for sticking with the blogs whose owners obviously don't comment back in your little world.
You've mentioned it before.

I usually do it as you suggest you will in the coming year.
If someone doesn't visit me back after some time, I say "ByeBye".
Or I keep them in my reader just for the hell of it and play silent guest.

I sure as hell look forward to your posts in 2009.
To your words of comfort, to your thoughts, to your encouragement.

Oh well, before I get stupid, hugs to you and your lovely wife!

witchypoo said...

Blogging has left me somewhat whelmed of late. I read every post, and the comments. I think even my commenting mojo has taken a vacation. But look! New avatar!