It's My Blog and I'm Sticking To It

Shelley found this great Blogging Questionnaire. I don't really feel as qualified to answer most of these because I am brand new to this world. But, it is a good world. I love it. Here are my answers to these questions about how it all began...just 1 month ago. Sixty one posts in 42 days. I would say I am a junkie.

HOW DID YOU START BLOGGING?
One word at a time. Seriously, one really late night at the Steak and Shake. Voila! Alana was just a reader at the time. She quoted several good one-liners that night. One stands out in particular from a certain blog-queen, Big Mama. "Folks, if you have to google expired mayonnaise, throw it out!" We were intrigued. Just for the record, I thought Alana had already started one. I didn't mean to steal her thunder!

DID YOU INTEND TO HAVE A BLOG WITH A FOLLOWING?
Since I just heard the word "blog" that night, I would say NO. What a thrill it is to have new friends whose real names and identities have been hidden to protect the innocent. There are a lot of cool mommas out there. I do read a lot of blogs...including BETH MOORE's. What a fun hobby!

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH WITH YOUR BLOG?
Record our memories, use my rapidly shrinking brain, encourage my friends, show my family that I treasure this time. It has made me start to look for the story of our life. I want to record our story in hopes that it teaches my kids how to laugh, love, and live life to the fullest. Basically, I want to freeze time so we can enjoy it more.

HAS THE FOCUS OF YOUR BLOG CHANGED SINCE YOU STARTED?
Um...no. I read back to the beginning and realize that it is me...sometimes funny, sometimes thoughtful, sometimes blah. Just me. Actually, I did think it would be more serious. It is hard to type a funny story. But practice, practice, practice.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW NOW THAT YOU WISH YOU KNEW WHEN YOU STARTED?
That this is a time-hog. Hours, minutes, seconds are gone...unaccounted for. I sit down just to read ONE BLOG...46 minutes later I realize that I have gone through my entire BLOG WORTHY list. I didn't realize it was a time vacuum.

I also didn't realize that I you could write about the most trivial things. One lady honks at me and BOOM...4 posts about honking.

DO YOU MAKE MONEY WITH YOUR BLOG?
No, my blog is strictly not-for-profit blog. HOWEVER, I would venture to say that if Skip found out I could make money...he would be a little less likely to expect dinner, clean clothes, or anything (wink-wink). He would be a blog-pimp. It would really take the fun out of it. I just wouldn't be able to respect myself.

DOES YOUR IMMEDIATE/EXTENDED FAMILY KNOW ABOUT YOUR BLOG?
They do now. HI!

WHAT TWO PIECES OF ADVICE WOULD YOU TELL NEW BLOGGERS?
Well, I don't know if 42 days qualifies me as a mentor. But I will give it a whirl because I always love sharing my advice--lol. Moderation is the key to success. Not sitting in the special chair day, noon and night...that only leads to problems. TRUST ME. Secondly, write the way you write. Make it yours, there is only one you. It is tempting to adopt someone else's style...just be yourself in life and in blogging.