three day blog

So I have really been thinking a lot about the whole working mother/stay at home mother "feud." Just lately I have taken a part time job as an administrative assistant. It is a two days a week job that is supposed to last through the summer. My mother babysits half the time and the teenage sister of my boss babysits the other. What has gotten me aggravated though, are all the well-intentioned people that are saying "oh, it is so good for you to get away from your children." I probably wouldn't get quite as annoyed if they were saying that it is good for me to get out into adult interaction... this is very true... ....but they always, without fail, say: "away from my children." I know I am a bit biased, but my kids are really great and I don't have any desire to get away from them . Whenever I need a break, my husband will stay with them or even takes them out so I can have the house to myself (where I usually indulge in wild house cle...

What attracts you to the blogs that you like? John says: Insightful commentary, informed author, a topic I am already interested in, and (if you promise not to tell my wife this) if it is written by a beautiful woman that certainly helps. Hey, it is something that catches my eye and gets my attention. Groovybabe says: …subject matter, writing ability, visual look... that’s initially... Mamacita Chilena says: For me the blog either has to be a subject I'm interested in, or if it's not a subject that interests me, it needs to be very well written, and usually funny. What keeps you coming back? John says: Consistent posts, high quality, some humor. Groovybabe says: interesting content and interaction (someone who comments on my journal as well as me on theirs) Ten Pound Club says: Writing style is important. I also need to feel a connection. I enjoy seeing pictures. And I love your sense of humor--a huge draw! What detracts from one? John says: No consistency in posting! ...

So I have a question, or two, for all of you. It concerns bloggers and non-bloggers alike. What attracts you to the blogs that you like? What keeps you coming back? What detracts from one? What makes you decide you don't like a particular blog? Each question that I am asking pertains to content, appearance and any other aspects of blogs. So speak up, comment...be heard. I am very interested to know. If you have been reading and you have never commented...then consider this your big chance. I would love to hear from you.

Update Below The whole blogging phenomenon is quite fascinating and the reasons for having one is varied. I have met so many people and been invited into so many lives and in turn invited others in. I have learned much in the past year and still have immeasurably more to learn. On a side note, I did design the blog header and footer for a friend/blogger so by all means check it out Link update: http://browneyedgirl30.blogspot.com and be sure and leave her a comment telling her how lucky she is to have a friend like me....hee hee...oh man, I crack me up. When I asked why you all blogged---I got the answers that I think are pretty typical reasons for everyone yet each and every blog is as unique as a fingerprint. And by the way.... about my mom reading my blog. She only reads it when I ask "mom, did you read my blog?" Then she scrambles to get caught up. Even worse is my husband...he only reads because he fears retribution. My best friend reads it for entertainment...not the...

...so then I asked myself..."what is the point of blogging?" "Nothing." I answer myself, you see. Just like a real honest to goodness crazy person. Nope...no point to blogging, except for the creative outlet, coupled with the satisfaction of seeing some proof that our nerdly existence is accepted...even if it's only by other nerdly bloggers like ourselves. ... you know ...that reach out and touch someone, happy feeling that all of us social networkers get when someone "gets" us. We haven't had that kind of acceptance since---well...since mom started reading our blogs on day one. And that feeling, my friends, is what keeps us going. Leave me a comment and tell me what is your main motivation? Why do you blog...?

UPDATE: (I need to do a huge shout out to Amanda Fazani at Blogger Buster ---because without her tutorials I would not have been able to do this. You can definitely find template tutorials on the web but they are not always clear or updated. With Blogger Buster, everything you need is in one spot and very easy to understand. However, if you are more interested in the social side of blogging rather than the technical---then I think playgroupsarenoplaceforchildren is a great place to start. Jennifer has some great ideas, backed by experience, along with useful links, all in a neat concise little series ) End of update. ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ So I have finally unveiled my new blog (re)design. What do you think? If you are having trouble remembering exactly what it looked like before... here is a screenshot, taken shortly before I started fiddling with it. You may have to click on it to get a better look. go ahead click... ...you ...