Have y’all ever been sitting on the porch chatting with friends and found the conversation changing from one topic to the next with lightning speed? This is one of those kinds of entries. I’ve got a lot I’m thinking about this morning, and so I’m putting it all together piecemeal. I’m switching back and forth between writing and piecing together this afghan for Share A Square.
It will be the eighth afghan that I have put together, and I have eleven of them “farmed out” with other people. I’ve gotta get that afghan off the table so we can have lunch!
Every now and then, bloggers get a delightful surprise and someone reads a post in our archives. We pour our hearts into writing a post, and after it’s off the front page people rarely see it. Back in May, I wrote “A Circus Story,” which was really a family story, but I told about the Gainesville Community Circus. It was founded by a man named A. Morton Smith, who was a newspaper editor in Gainesville, Texas back in the 1930s.
Recently, Greg Smith was doing a Google search looking for history about his grandfather. He came across the post and wrote to me. He sent me a link to this family picture of his grandfather. I’ve uploaded it without asking, Greg (it’s easier to get forgiveness than ask permission). He also sent me this link of pictures of the circus. Greg left this comment:
Found this blog entry while searching the web for Gainesville Community Circus pictures. My grandfather was A. Morton Smith, and my father Dan, uncle Jerry, and grandmother Louise were all clowns in the circus.
My father Dan is still alive, and if anyone reading this is interested in jogging his memory about the Gainesville circus days, I’ll be happy to put you in touch with him.
If you are interested in “living history,” I’ll give Greg your e-mail. I’m “screening his calls.”
I also got a comment on a post I wrote called “Helium.com–It’s A Lot of Hot Air.” This was back in February, when I had barely started blogging.
Some guy named “Alex” swooped in last month to comment and said:
You spent all of two days there and now you think you know what Helium is all about? I think you are just as uninformed about the site as the writers you trashed who participate there.
Well, I tried to write “Alex” and tell him:
I might be wrong. I did go back and spend a little more time there. Enlighten me and if you give me compelling reasons to do so, I’ll update the post with your views.~skt
Guess what. He didn’t give his real e-mail address. “Alex,” if you are “man” enough to come in and make snide comments, be man enough to give me a way to contact you. My views about Helium haven’t changed.
Do y’all like to get a laugh in the mornings? Laughter is good for you. One of my favorite stops is Comedy Plus. This post gave me a giggle.
One of my favorite reads is Riley Central. Damien is a school teacher with very eclectic tastes. I always enjoy his insights. Recently, he got his wife Sarah into blogging, and now she is writing at Party of Five. Both are delightful folks, and you might enjoy reading their words. Fortunately, they both have computers so there are no squabbles about who gets to blog. There is an old saying, “The family that plays together stays together.” That may not be the case with blogging, if there is only one computer in the house.
You might also enjoy SusieJ, a sweetheart of a blogger who talks about life raising four(!) boys. In June she was selected to be a part of The Parent Blogging Network. It’s well deserved.
I enjoy writing, but sometimes feel blocked. Has that ever happened to you? There are tons of sites out there that give writing prompts, and you can use those to build a post on days that you are floundering. One that is quickly becoming a favorite of mine is Manic Monday. Mo, at It’s A Blog Eat Blog World, gives a writing prompt at 4:00 pm EST on Fridays. You can think about it all weekend and write a post; then have fun visiting other participants and see their post on the word. I first got interested in it reading Jaime at Duward Discussion(another site to visit if you enjoy an intelligent and thoughtful post).
My friends Marcia and Harlekwin sometimes participate in Unconscious Mutterings from over at Luna Nina. I’m not sure how free association is supposed to “bring forth repressed thoughts and feelings that the person can then work through to gain a better sense of self,” but I’m giving it a shot this week. We’ll see if that makes me less repressed :shock:
- Darling —Clementine
- Majesty —Purple Mountain
- Pebble —Beach
- Fate —Tempt
- Instant —Replay
- Screen —Door slamming
- Unplugged —Acoustic
- Dairy —Queen
- Benefactor —Sugar Daddy
- Market —Farmer’s
Hmmm. Nope. I’m still repressed.
Yesterday, I asked y’all to answer a poll and tell me the button you would push if your life was on videotape and you had a remote control. You can vote daily (if you feel the need), but inquiring minds want to know, so I’m gonna put it in front of you again.
Right now, rewind is in the lead. Tell me what YOU think.
Today I was going to have a raffle drawing to give you a chance to WIN FABULOUS PRIZES just by linking to Jessica The Rock Chick at Life is RANTastic. Unfortunately, as I told you, I’m cursed.
In order to do this raffle, I need Jessica The Rock Chick. She is the one who has been keeping track of her Technorati links. She lives in Chicago, which is suffering some severe weather right now (dagnab curse!), and her household is one of about 310,000 without power right now. As soon as we get her back on line, I’ll hold a raffle.
Jessica wants links so she can be an A-list blogger. You have to have 500 current links (less than 6 months old) to be on that elite list. No matter how many links we were giving her, Jessica’s score kept dropping because her links were “old.” Harlekwin did some research about Technorati, and put together a very readable post called “Technorati Giveth.” If you are a blogger, you need to go read it (If you are not a blogger, you will still enjoy Boho Rhap, because it’s mostly full of gorgeous pictures and inspiring writing).
Are you one of those bloggers who say, “I don’t care about Technorati and links. I’m writing for me.”?
Is your blog public?
Then, you want readers. Don’t try to kid me or yourself. You have to care about links, because that’s how people find you. Tell me you weren’t tempted to click on one of the links I gave you. Sure, you can go around and comment on other blogs and hope that people come to visit yours. Until those links to other blogs start happening, you won’t see a huge surge in your readership. A sidebar link is grand. A mention in a post is better. You want people to link to your stellar posts. That way readers fall in love with your writing and come back to see you another day.
I guarantee that the more generous you are about giving links, the more links you will get. That’s just kinda the way life works, isn’t it? Y’all give a little “link Love” today.
I mona whup up’n afghan.
[translation: I'm going to go make an afghan.]
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{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
What a beautiful afghan…I love that you do that and I love looking at it, thinking how cozy it will be for someone.
How cool that grandson found you!
GL with finding “Alex” and honest real good luck to Jessica and all your endeavors!!
Julie
Ravin’ Picture Maven
I don’t want to find the bum who commented, I just wanted to rant
Yes, Julie, it was pretty cool that a google search brought Greg to this site. And, the afghans are much more beautiful in person than they are in pictures! I can’t wait to get to give them out (but I guess I have to, don’t I?)~skt
Helium. I’m glad you wrote that post — what is up with that site?!! Pathetic. And, really, I’m not surprised that Alex wasn’t even Alex.
I’ll just stick to this blog, where I know the writing is always informed, and good, and entertaining. Thanks for the links to the circus pics. I loved that post you did earlier with the photos.
YOUR blog is the one to see, honey. I’m always impressed by your writing. Helium…pah! Waste of time~skt
Wow, I don’t know where to begin, there was just so much in this post! That and I clicked on a few of your links, even left a couple comments.
As always, I appreciate how informative you are!
I could drive folks crazy with the information I start listing. Just ask Marcia. She’s almost afraid to look
~skt
Loved the circus piece. Very nicely done. How cool to meet an heir, and to have someone go back in the archives too.
I’m so thrilled that I have permalinks again. Thanks for the shout-out and a link to a post you found funny. The Hikers is a fave of mine too.
I checked the results of the poll and it looks like pause and rewind are now tied.
Have a great weekend my friend.
Thanks for always stopping by, Sandee. Glad you got the permalinks fixed. I look forward to getting to link to lots more:lol:~skt
The afghan is AWESOME! I’m so glad you started this project, and that I can be part of it!! I’ll be sending a package or two of squares out tomorrow morning.
I read through old posts on blogs a lot of times, but never comment… even if I have comments. I think I’ll start leaving my comments, even if they are regarding a post written two years ago!
OH! I have a MySpace page. Would linking to The Rock Chick’s blog work there? Hopefully. I’ll set that up tonight.
Hope you have a great weekend!!
You and I both know that those comments are necessary! Start leaving them. You have a good weekend, too.~skt
Shelly, you are too cool. That was such a nice little paragraph you wrote about Sarah and I and thank you for linking our blogs too! Humorously enough, there was a time when we had only one laptop in the house and yes, it was quite “edgy.” Having our own laptops and a tower upstairs for the boy makes a harmonious nerdy bunch at the Riley house
Good work on the Afghan and Thanks aFgHain 
Punny fellow, aren’t you? I’m delighted to get to link to you, Damien. Both of you are interesting people…can’t wait until your kids are blogging!
~skt
I love all your posts, Shelly, but have to say your hodge-podge posts really make me smile! It’s fun to see the way your mind works… you’ve definitely got one busy head.
Thank you for the link and the kind words, that was sweet.
Isn’t it strange to wonder if anyone reads our archives? I will often visit older posts in an effort to get to know someone better and like Stephanie, I don’t comment either. I think I’ll change that policy too.
How awesome that Mr. Smith’s grandson contacted you! I can’t imagine what his childhood must have been like and I applaud him for wanting to gather as much of his family’s history as he can. I can’t help thinking as I read some of your posts you are doing the same thing here.
I’m going to go visit the people you’ve linked today. You have some of the nicest friends.
I do have a busy head, honey, and that’s because of all those voices talking to me! And, I have some of the nicest friends—you are one of the nicest~skt
thanks for the reminder about linking to jessica, i just went and posted another one for her!
the technorati info was also really useful! thanks for that!
have a nice weekend!!
I’m glad that Harlekwin could shed some light on Technorati for you. You have a great weekend, too!~skt
That was cleaver adding the praiseful and confronting comments. So glad the grandson found your story. I bet it made him smile!
He said it did! ~skt
hey there – I have been busy making more squares – and now I have a question for you – would it help if I added the black border before sending them on to you? If you want, I can do that. I just need to know what type of border – single crochet? Are you doing 3 sc in the corners and 1 in the spaces between the 3 dc?
sounds like it would work to me, but I don’t want to mess up your system.
so, just let me know. I have about 15 more right now, but hope to do some tomorrow between church services, too.
Hmmm – actually, I won’t get to send them until Wednesday at the earliest because I am speaking at a conference M & T – so . . .
thanks again for letting me help with the fun.
>
Hey Barbara, thanks for being a part of it. I think I answered you in personal e-mail, but it’s just the way you described (using Red Heart yarn). I appreciate you!~skt
My that was quite a collection of interesting tidbits. I pushed rewind on life since there wasn’t a “play” button. I guess we all have things we would want to go back and change the dialogue or action. Then there are the truly wonderful spots where you would just like to redo over and over because you might not have appreciated them as much as they deserved the first time around.
On the people who drop in just to insult you, I just don’t understand the urge. If you disapprove of a post or blogger, don’t go there. If you have some information on insight share it. But meaness just for the sake of meaness doesn’t make any sense at all.
I notice that you’ve had a couple drop by who made comments that weren’t pretty. I guess I could delete them, but hey, unless it’s profane I guess it’s ok for them to say it. As for that “play” button, I should have added it. Rewind? I wouldn’t change much, but I’d love to watch some of the good parts again. Thanks for commenting!~skt
Shelly, your story about my grandad *did* make me smile, and it made my dad smile, too. Thank you so much for posting it.
I’m glad it made y’all smile, Greg. Wish I could sit and talk with your daddy. I bet he has some stories to tell. Get them on paper!~skt
I’m BAAAAACK! I will email you later or you can email me with your home address as I am going to be mailing you a box on the weekend. I have the afghan that the ladies donated as well as about 40 or so squares.
Glad to see you back from vacation, and I’ll email the address. I appreciate you!~skt