Thursday, May 21, 2009

To Blog or Not to Blog....

Alas, my poor little blog goes neglected another week.

Sometimes, I wonder, if my blog is like a sitcom. Have I run out of good material and need to bring it to a kind end? Was the birth of that baby my "jump-the-shark" moment? Maybe it was the move? Whatever it is, I'm in a slump. I fluctuate between wanting to come up with good material to keep the five readers I still have to throwing in the towel, printing it all out for the baby books and shutting it down.

I've been blogging almost four years now. Adam was 9 months old when I started. Jacob was in preschool. The thought of a third baby, much less a girl baby, would've sent me howling in hysterics. I lived in a crappy neighborhood surrounded by "neighbors" who just weren't. We stayed inside a lot, you know, to keep the neighbor kids from beating my littles up. I didn't know many people, I didn't care for Texas, and I was just plain lonely holed up in my house with a baby and a preschooler day in and day out.

I started my blog on a whim one evening after clicking over to other mommy blogs from an old pregnancy board I had been on. I thought, WOW, those moms are INSANE to just write every old thing about their lives for the entire internet to read! Aren't they afraid of someone finding them and killing them for no apparent reason? But it didn't stop me from reading them and it didn't stop me from starting my own complete with real names! Seriously, I don't think I thought I'd be here four years later. Or that I'd even follow through with it.

But here I am.

I just recently finished up being part of a product development community board. A certain company ran a message board in part of development for a new product for the past six weeks. They'd ask questions and you'd post what you thought of things. It was fine at first, but after a couple of weeks it got really tedious and a tad boring, but I didn't give up because I wanted my fifty bucks. Having that to deal with, along with my hourly daily jog through Facebook, took up most of my computer time. It was during this time that I was really thinking about throwing in the towel.

The last few days of Productgate, many of the women were making arrangements to join other groups together and starting threads about so many different subjects I just couldn't keep up, I mean, I HAD to beat Hope in Bejeweled keep my daughter out of everything she shouldn't be into, I just didn't have time for giving my input about my fave American Idol or what kind of diapers my kid was wearing.

Until one caught my eye.

The one that said, "Do you read blogs? Do you have one?"

Hmmm. Gotta take a look at that one.

So apparently the board chairman wanted examples of any blogs you happen to read, why you read them, and why you blogged if you did and I was kinda getting the feel that she was wanting some of us to review her product, which BTW, I have products I need to review, someone remind me before people get mad. Anyway, I was a few days late catching that one, so I got to read a lot of posts before I got to the blank section at the bottom.

Apparently they are NOT blog lovers.

If the site were still up I'd cut and paste, but then we'd be here all day, so I'll just summarize.

Not one of the forty-some people who replied had a blog. Some didn't know what they were, but the ones who did had very strong opinions about bloggers, especially Mommy bloggers. One post in particular really struck a nerve with me. This woman went on and on about how bloggers were just out for attention, they made up crap, they bitched and moaned about everything, they just wanted everyone else to follow their own agenda, that only weirdos would throw their life out there for anyone to read, that people who blogged or read blogs were obviously losers with no life and too much time on their hands. To which a few others wrote after her their agreeing sentiments.

And then I got to that blank box at the bottom.

I don't remember exactly what I wrote, but I pretty much directed it to the woman asking the question (although I really want to call out the anti-blogger chick). I told her I had a blog. That I read blogs. That blogging was a part of my life and I enjoyed it. I told her about my blog friends that I've never met in real life (well, except for one) who mailed my newborn gifts and checked up on me after my mom got sick. About the same friends who'll email me if I'm MIA too long. The same ones who cheer for my kids when they do something great and commiserate with me when they don't. How one sent us a goody package just because I was feeling low and another shared her awesome coupons with me just because she knew I'd want them. How all my bloggy friends help me see the humor in a bathroom smeared with sunscreen and indirectly encourage me to snap a picture instead of snapping at them. Then I clicked post and left it.

No one posted after me.

I'm thinking they were all sitting back slack-jawed at my candor. That or they were praying I wasn't being killed by some internet blog stalker.

And then I realized I can't give up my blog. Not only does it serve as a record for the many things my kids do that don't make it into the baby books buried deep in the recesses of my closet hole, but it's a link to my friends. Why would I give that up?

I want to blog more. But I can't promise that I will. The weather's getting hotter so we may be stuck indoors more, so it's a possibility, but I've decided not to sweat it if I don't. So I've lost some readers. Eh. When I started this blog, I started it for me. ME. And my kids. And I know my friends are still reading. And if they aren't. Well, oh well. I'm sure they'll catch me on Facebook. And if you want to see me whip Hope on Bejeweled*, you're welcome to follow me there too.

Oh, and while we're on the subject, I'm trying to comment on everyone's blogs at least once a week, but just know that if you have a lot of sidebar content, especially videos and such, my computer won't load your blog AT ALL for me. I'm apparently low on memory and it just boots me off and shuts my computer down. I'm not telling you to fix your blog for me, just know that I'm reading you in Goo$le Reader until I can get this fixed.

But I don't have these problems with Facebook, well except for Mafia Wars, but I never liked that one anyone.

And just to see how far we've come....one of my first posts.

See!? I was trying to get a decent picture even then.



*Actually Hope is whipping the crap out of me on this game and I seriously think she has some ungodly fast internet connection or she's cheating somehow because there is just NO way. NO WAY to get a score that high.

16 comments:

Erin said...

I'm glad you decided not to stop blogging. Even though I don't always comment, I still read when I notice a new post.

And *AHEM*, you didn't care for Texas?!?! HOW DARE YOU! Lol.

Jana said...

Yay - I'm glad you're sticking around! I really enjoy reading about what you and your kids are up to.

And thank you for defending all the "mommy bloggers" on that message board. Sometimes the amount of judgement from other mothers just astounds me.

Aunt Becky said...

Don't stop blogging. I'll miss you.

Krys72599 said...

I, too, am attempting to whup Ms. Hope's southern butt at Bejeweled!
I, too, swear she must have either crazy flipper fingers (thanks, Elton!) or one HECK of an internet connection - I'm on either my cable connection or my work server and there's just no way...
I will do my darndest to beat the socks off her!!!
Good luck to you! (As long as one of us does!)

tracey.becker1@gmail.com said...

You tell those blog haters to kiss my butt.

I have been feeling a little overwhelmed lately, and am thinking that this sudden interest in giving my little blog lots of reviews is nice and all, but.... I don't know. it's becoming a bit like WORK instead of fun... I need to watch what I say yes to!

Glad you're not a quitter.

Dana said...

Andria, I'm so glad you're not throwing in the towel. I LOVE to read your posts. I don't always have time to comment, but I do always read. You are hysterical and you have a way with words. Keep it up.....even though it won't be as often during the summer. I'll keep reading! :0)

Sadie said...

Well, you know i understand how it goes-- not blogging for a while, or feeling like you don't have anything to say.

I'm glad that we're FB friends, so if either one of us leaves the blogosphere I can keep up with you there.

And I LOVE Bejeweled.

kelly jeanie said...

I'm glad you're going to keep posting! You're one of my favorite "mommy bloggers." I lurk more than anything but I look forward to your posts like I might look forward to a columnist in a newspaper. :)

ChupieandJ'smama (Janeen) said...

I'm glad you're going to keep blogging too! I'd miss you.
It does get harder to keep going. I've run out of blog fodder too. I've decided to try to get back to my "roots" a bit more (except for food allergy awareness week. That went All Things Food Allergy). I started my blog about my family, not food allergies. I can't always come up with stuff to write about (let's face it, my family isn't all that interesting) so I'm back to slapping up pictures so the family members that do read it get updated on what's going on. I've already lost a few readers but I'm ok with that. I've never been popular IRL either ;)
I've not been on Facebook for weeks. I just don't have the time to fit it all in.

MARY-ANN said...

I Love your blog!
Plz dont go....

JessieE said...

COMPETITIVE Bejeweled??? WHERE????

Lynsey said...

All I have to say is that I'm grateful I came across your blog almost 4 years ago, and that I'm lucky enough to have met you and your beautiful family in person.

Take that, blog haters.
Lynsey

Mommy Daisy said...

I've been in a bit of a blogging slump myself. I'm trying to work out of it, but it's not happening. Why is that? I don't know.

But, I know what you mean. And I completely agree that it's all about the community that you find from other bloggers. I love it and I can't give that up.

Shane H. said...

I'm glad you're not closing up shop! Even though I can't manage to keep my own blog updated, I so enjoy stopping by yours! I love the pictures you post of your little ones that are never picture perfect... they're better... and real.

Ruby Red Slippers said...

You should stick around!!!
I love reading yours~
Great comment on that site!!! You should be proud...

Maggie said...

This was a GREAT post. I am glad you decided to stick around - your stories always crack me up.

I blog to document my boys' lives, like you were saying - I'm not so good with keeping up with their baby books. =S Someday, I hope to make a blog book of my posts about them and make several copies for them and other family members. That's what keeps me motivated. lol

I love a blog that can make me laugh... and I love to read other mom's stories, too (which generally go hand in hand!)

I can't believe those comments you read - wow, unbelievable. Good for you and your comment - I hope it did make people stop and think!