BLOGGING IN THE ZONE

Yesterday’s post brought lots of requested opinions and information. It seems as though some of you do go back to read my responses to your comments at your next visit and that’s good enough for me. I will continue to respond in the comment section but will begin to email my response when an email is available. If you haven’t attached an email to your commenting ID, you should consider doing it. I personally love to get a response to my comments on your blogs in an email. I get email on my crackberry and they give me a little lift to my day while I work, shop, travel, etc.

I realized as I was reading your comments that I said that I didn’t pay much attention to info in the sidebar of blogs but that isn’t exactly true. I always check out the sidebar when I visit a new-to-me site. It’s a great way to get to know the blogger. Once I “know” the blogger, I seldom look at it. That extends to my own sidebar which by the way needs a little updating…..especially in the blogroll department. There are many that need to be added and possibly a few that need to be removed. I’ll get to it. I promise…….one of these days.

Thanks to everyone who commented. Many seem to agree on a few things. Here’s what the majority said:

• Word veri is a pain in the arse.
• We don’t like comment moderation because some of us (read me) are a little ditsy and will repost a comment when we don’t immediately see it there after publishing. I know there are some who use moderation as a tool to ensure their anonymity. I respect that. But that doesn’t mean I have to like it. We like immediate gratification.
• Copyrighting is a must if you don’t want to see your words republished under someone else’s name. This really happens? Hard to believe but that’s what you’re telling me. You don’t take someone else’s stuff. Some people need to repeat kindergarten and learn the basics, I guess.
• Comments! We all love comments. We love to read comments on our comments. There are some blogs where the comment section is almost as entertaining as the blog. I know that has been the case right here in SMBland more than a few times.
• When time is short, it is agreed that everyone would prefer a comment on their own blog over a response to their comment on yours.

For the record, my choices:

Jif creamy - but what I’m actually eating these days is Smuckers natural because I’m in the damn ZONE.

Vanilla – if it’s ice cream. Chocolate for anything else. Deep, dark chocolate, preferably with red, red wine or beer. (It’s a weird quirk, I know.)

Thelma or Louise? – That was a trick question. You can’t separate them. Thelma & Louse, in the words of Forrest Gump, “go together like peas and carrots.”

Speaking of the damn ZONE……we are surviving. Tonight we had Shrimp Scampi with vegetables and it was delish!

I had good intentions.

I planned to take pictures of every step.

But I was starving and after the first few pics, I could only focus on eating and forgot all about you……………………..SORRY. *sigh*

Please ignore my icky kitchen. I have a whole new kitchen sitting in my dining room just waiting for MHS to find the time for this major project. We are always a work in progress.

Tomorrow I will have an update on our diet and fitness plan. Stay tuned…………………….

ALL THINGS BLOG

My one year blog anniversary is coming up soon. I recently posted my 200th blog post which I would have made a big deal about if I had noticed but I can’t count and missed it. All this has gotten me thinking about all things blog. I have some questions and what good is social networking if you can’t use it access info from your peeps, right?

From the beginning, I have always tried to respond to every comment with a comment of my own. I have missed a few but for the most part, I’ve always responded……that is until recently. I really enjoy reading your comments and responding to them. But I’m wondering now after a year, yes I’m a bit slow if anyone comes back to read them. Is it important to you that I respond? Do you care? Do you come back to read my response? I sometimes go back after leaving a comment on other blogs to see if there is a response but lately I’m finding it hard to find the time.

What do you think about word verification? I used to use it. I still got spam. I removed it and coincidentally I’ve had no spam since. *knocks wood* Do you use it? If so, why? Are there any spam horror stories out there I should know about? Am I living too dangerously?

Do you pay attention to what is in the blog’s sidebar? I have to say that I don’t pay too much attention. There are times when something will catch my eye but for the most part, I just read the posts.

Do you copyright your content? Should I? Why?

Peter Pan or Jiff?

Chocolate or vanilla?

Thelma or Louise?

I appreciate any and all advice….good, bad or indifferent. C’mon, share your wisdom with me.

POOF! and just like that……………SHE’s GONE

I use Google Reader to read blogs. I’ve been pretty busy lately and am way behind in my blog reading. Yesterday, I tried to catch up on a few. One of my bloggy friends had eight unread posts in my reader. I always go directly to the site from the reader for those of you who are interested in your numbers. I clicked to be directed to this friend’s site and Blogger informed me the site didn’t exist. I tried it again. There was a trouble-shooting suggestion telling me to check my address for accuracy. I’ve used my reader to go there several times so I knew that wasn’t the problem. I tried a few more times with no luck.

I emailed my bloggy friend and asked if everything was OK because that’s the kind of nosy broad I am I was concerned that she may not even be aware of the problem.

This morning, I received an email telling me she’s done. It’s something she has been thinking about for a long time and she decided to just quit. She’s deleted her blog and she’s happy about it. She assured me that she is fine. But now as far as blogging goes she’s GONE. Done. No more.

Now I’m wondering. Have these thoughts gone through your mind too? Will I click to be directed to your site next and find that you’re gone? I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop. I’ve got a lot on my mind: The economy, world peace, is orange REALLY the new pink? And now THIS!

If you’re leaving, I’m gonna need a heads up. Just sayin.