thoughts on the spaces in between
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2013 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 26,000 times in 2013. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 10 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.
..because otherwise, your facial expression would be far less attractive.
I received an email last week alerting me to the fact that I was going to be “Freshly Pressed”. It was the ode to the stink bugs that piqued the interest of the perusers of posts. I was excited and more than a little surprised – I never expected to be selected and I certainly would never have expected to be selected for a short little ditty about my passionate disdain for this particular insect.
Anyway – it’s up on the Freshly Pressed page now. And do you know what it’s under? “More Entomology”. Not “humor” – which may have something to do with my blog on occasion, not “life” – also not an unreasonable category. Nope – I am now infamous for “more entomology”. I’m sure this will drive my readership numbers through the roof and the sheer volume of people trying to read my blog will crash the system temporarily.
Oh well, it’s cool to be Freshly Pressed, I guess – though it’s a bit of a bummer to think that that little square on their page will be of no interest to anyone except those who are blogging about bugs. The picture below is for all those who find these little guys fascinating. I must admit, I liked him too.
To everyone else – I’m just going to keep writing about the things I always do. And thank you for hangin’ out with me – without any reference to entomology.
I want to thank Ivon Prefontaine (teacherastransformer@word.press.com) and David Kanigan (davidkanigan.com) for nominating me for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. The irony of course is that David’s blog has inspired me from the first day I started blogging six months ago, and Ivon has been a recent, delightful and thought-provoking discovery. That either finds me worthy of being in this category is super-surprising to me. I don’t think I’m in their league, though like a persistent, pain-in-the-butt sibling, I keep knocking on the door… And then David whispers through the door “what’s the password”, I say “please?” and he laughs…Seriously, thank you both very, very much..
Ok, seven things about me that you don’t know…
1. I’ve got a safari on my bucket list. My sister is going on my fantasy trip next year, and I’m totally pumped for her. And a little jealous too.
2. I’ve got a lot of places I want to see – and I’m embarrassed to say that many of them are within the US. It’s strange to talk about seeing other countries when you haven’t even seen your own. Road trip anyone?
3. I can cry just thinking about the music from “An Affair to Remember” with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr…”Dahling, I was looking up…”…let’s not even talk about the last five minutes of any rom-com, drama, cartoon or action movie. This makes me a lousy movie date.
4. But I’m a cheap date – which doesn’t mean I can be had. Well, if you asked my husband..
5. Andy and I are coming up on our 20th anniversary – which I will write about later. Given that this wasn’t either of our first trips down the aisle, I’d say it’s an impressive number. More importantly, I’d say we have at least another forty or fifty to go…
6. Yes, as the admission above suggests, I plan on sticking around for a long time
7. I have never been as transparent with my thoughts as I have within this community.
So…hoo’s next?? (Sorry I couldn’t resist and was looking for a chance to use this picture)…
I am hoping to list blogs that I have not written about before. This is the fun part…Here are seven more blogs I find inspiring, rewarding, funny, thoughtful and rife with talent…
anakegoodall.wordpress.com – Anake posts incredible images and music – I anticipate each post with curiosity and enthusiasm
clotildajamcracker.wordpress.com – she is a hoot and very popular..you’ll read her and understand why..
magnoliabeginnings.org – Maureen’s journey is honest, open and welcoming. You can feel her heart in her words, and I just love that.
lifeinthedashlane.wordpress.com – Lee is amazing – smart, frank and so full of life she practically jumps off the page.
awindowinthewoods.com – Suzanne is a talented photographer, sharing pictures that delight and remind us of the wonder all around.
shoesonthewrongfeet.com – I delight in the stories of day-to-day life with two very active, curious and gorgeous little boys as seen through the eyes of their adoring, busy and on-the-move mom. You don’t have to be a parent to enjoy her posts and pictures!
newsofthetimes.org – Jenni is provocative, engaging and challenges her readers to think and engage in a dialogue about timely news making issues and topics. I may not always add my two cents, but I will always read her perspective (and those of her followers) with interest.
My thanks again to David and Ivon – I make no promises, but will try to get close to the bar you have set..
If you have never visited the site of DrBillWooten@wordpress.com – I enthusiastically encourage you to do so. Dr. Bill provides me with a daily dose of thought-provoking quotes paired with amazing pictures that enhance the inspirational impact of his posts. He was kind enough to include me in his list of Sunshine Bloggers, and I am very appreciative. Rather than respond to the questions – for which I still haven’t answers, I am excited to once again acknowledge some blogs which I now routinely visit. I’m trying not to repeat the names of ‘old friends’ (six months being the definition of ‘old’); I trust you know how much I think of your writing, your heart and your humor.
First and foremost there’s kizzylee@wordpress.com – She included me in a game of tag, and I think I’m still ‘it’. I may be a failure at the game, but kizzylee hits it out of the park every time she shares her perspective on life and family, challenges and joy. I think she writes as she must speak – fluid stream of consciousness that is a joy to follow.
Momentumofjoy@wordpress.com – Joanna doesn’t ignore the tough stuff, she just refuses to give it any power over her approach to life. She has amazed me with her writing, but also on a personal level with her knowledge of me (without ever having met or spoken with me). She shares her gifts with heartfelt generosity – I am but a lucky recipient. You will leave her blog always the better for having visited.
PaperKeeper@wordpress.com – Bonnie calls it as she sees it – but always with a smile on her face and in her blog. I am a relatively ‘new’ visitor, but am thrilled that I have made the connection! You will be too.
AGratefulMan@wordpress.com – Russ makes me want to be a better person. Don’t ask me how he does it – it’s just reflective of who he is. Genuine, funny, deeply caring, observant…I could go on, but I’ll sound like a mush (ok, I am a mush). Russ is a grateful man; he is also an amazing one.
TeacherAsTransformer@wordpress.com – I think many of you already know Ivon’s beautiful work and equally impressive photography. If you have not had the delight of reading his blog, please visit – you’ll be so glad you did.
SusanDanielsPoetry@wordpress.com – I found this site through HelpMeRhonda@wordpress.com – and I am continually amazed at Susan’s talent and her prodigious ability to make words leap into your heart or challenge your perspective.
TracyLouisePhotography@wordpress.com – The most amazing images from an amazing talent (who is so self-effacing she doesn’t even realizes how talented she is)…You’ll be awed – and she’s self-taught!!
There are more, but I want to save some up just in case I get lucky again and get to share more with my friends. Thank you again and have a superlative Sunday!
Waiting for the Karma Truck 