Bits 'n' Pieces

How’s this for a Veterans’ Day story? Heard on our local news last night (didn‘t catch where) - A man was recently mugged on the street. While rummaging through his wallet, the two thieves found his Active Duty U.S. Navy I.D. They not only immediately returned his wallet and watch, but both profusely thanked him for his service to our country! Isn’t it great to know there is still honor among thieves?

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I’m working on that challenge I recently issued to all you bloggers. Okay, I was, in actuality, triple-dog dared, first. The challenge is to check in on every one of the followers of my blog. There are quite a few, so it’s taking some time and I couldn’t start till I got home from vacation. I need to leave relative comments for each and let them know I appreciate their following. I made it to ten of you yesterday and the journey continues, so please, leave the light on. I’ll make my way to you soon. By the way, not all the comments I made yesterday were related to that effort, some were just in the course of my regular readings.
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Just for the record, I made a fantastic dinner last night. It was the moistest turkey I’ve ever cooked in the oven. We do a lot of turkey but normally smoke them on the grill. Unfortunately, I don’t know what I did to make it turn out so good. In essence, I did nothing. I basically smeared it with some margarine inside and out and sprinkled it with a nice dry rub - again, inside and out. I sat it on a raised rack in the roaster, and stuck in the oven, uncovered, at 325 ° until it reached an internal temp of 186°. (I was aiming at 190 but it decided on it’s own to simply not to go any higher!) Notably, there were almost no pan juices at all. Now, if I could only get it to turn out as well when there are guests!
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I’m sad. This is the last weekend of the season at our local crab house so we’ve got big plans for steamed crabs for tomorrow’s dinner. They won’t reopen until April ! We will miss them.

A challenge to all you bloggers ...

I've been triple dog dared!!

What can I do but take the challenge?

Jewel over at jewelstreetdesigns has challenged those of us who blog and have more than a few followers to get to know our followers.

She pointed out that most of us really can't remember all of our followers and asked if we took the time to get to know all of our followers? She points out that we all have our regular blogs that we follow but asked if they are the same ones who follow us. I know some are.

She's right. I do follow quite a few of my followers but maybe not all of you. In fact, there have been days when things got hectic and I really didn't take time to check out my new followers. Now, I'm feeling guilty.

Soooo....

Jewel has issued a challenge. She wants me to visit the blogs of all the people who follow me. She says it's okay if I only manage to visit a few each day, but won't let me stop until I've visited all of you !

Then, she wants me to comment on a post each of you have written and the post must be relevant. (As she says, I may find some new blogs that I've just got to follow or, maybe, I'll just cheer you up with my comment. At least, you'll know I've stopped by.)

I can do this. I will do this.

Of course, I can't start until I get back from this trip as I don't have internet access here. (These are pre-posted to run while I'm away.)

So, tidy up gang, I'll be stopping by sometime in November. It's going to take me a while 'cuz there's lots of you out there but I'll be by. So, please leave a light on for me. It may be late.

By the way, I'm passing that triple dog dare on to you!

So, why blog?

I spend a lot of time justifying what I do online to The Big Guy.


He understands the shop but he has quite a bit of trouble understanding participation in forums (other than the ones directly related to business issues). He really can't comprehend blogging, at all. I simply try to avoid discussing Twitter with him!


I try to do most of my posting in these areas when he's not around or at least when he's sleeping in his chair in front of the TV.

He can understand the back and forth discussion of business tips and sales techniques, etc., on the business related forums. He believes they have a purpose. He can liken that to the various engineering forums some of his colleagues at work participate in. Ultimately, he brings most issues down to whether they are likely to reap some sort of financial reward.

I do, however, participate in a forum of craft-oriented folks that spend time just fostering our cyber friendships. He has, to some degree, belittled this activity. He simply can't comprehend making friends with someone you have never met in person or who lives far away and you will most likely never come face-to-face. It was then that I realized he'd never had a pen-pal! I thought everyone had done that at one time or another.


At one point, he referred to these folks as my "make-believe friends." He's eased up on them a bit as my "make-believe" friends sent real sympathy cards recently when we sustained a loss and real e-mails outside of the forum when I truly needed them. I've also received both birthday gifts and Christmas gifts from several of these "make-believe" pals.


I Twitter to promote my shop, my blog and just to comment on what's happening around me. I do not tell my Twitter followers I am sitting on my porch, or eating my breakfast, like the commercial that satirizes Twitter a bit. Rarely do I Twitter more than, say, six times a day and often not at all. I don't Twitter when he's around at all.


But blogging ... now, blogging has become an addiciton. I admit it.


When asked by some poor soul who honestly doesn't understand what blogging is, I've equated it with a newpaper column. Since I started college as a journalism and mass communications major, my friends and family can immediately identify with that.


When asked why I blog, I have to give it more thought. I started because I was told it was a great way to get the online business out there in front of everybody. Promote - promote -promote. However, I don't do a lot of shop promoting. I do occasionally show something new and once in a while I push an item or two for whatever reason but for the most part, my Etsy mini is over there on the sidelines and that's about it.


But I think I blog mainly because I love to write. As I said, I planned a career in journalism but print journalism just isn't the career it once was. Broadcast journalism is a field for the young and beautiful. I've outgrown that!


I like to share information, tell stories and relate humorous events. I try to do it creatively. I believe this exercises one's mind. I also love to read others' writing and read their stories and tales. I've made some great friends through blogging. When I'm away without access to the computer, I miss all of you and can't wait to get back and "touch base" again.


I find writing therapeutic and, if you're going to write, you might as well find some readers. I often find I write something, planning to post it on the blog but, upon review, I decide it's a little too personal or too candid and I keep it to myself for my personal journal. (I actually call my personal journal "Blog Post Rejects.")



So, tell me, if you're a blogger, why do you blog? If you're a reader, why do you follow my blog or others?



Please give me some insight through comments on this subject. I can use all the ammunition I can gather for the next time The Big Guy asks.