Me and my blog

So this photo says it all. This is me and my blog. This is what my blog is about. Me, my cats, my photography, and my condo.

It's the second anniversary of my blog. Actually my blogaversary was May 17th. After two years, I feel comfortable enough with all of you to post a picture of myself in my bathrobe with bedhead. Enjoy the photo, as you know I rarely post photos of myself. I like to keep an air of mystery about myself. I do, however, feel comfortable expressing my opinions and well, saying anything that pops into my head. My blog is my online diary.

I've decided that in my second anniversary post I would like to share my feelings and opinions about my blogging experience.

Shortly after I started blogging, I signed up for a blogher conference. I went to the geek lab and learned a lot about the technical side of blogging. It was a big help. Some of the speakers were interesting too. I have to say I found it appalling that some of the women in attendance had brought their babies. To me, a conference is a business event not daycare and I did not appreciate the distraction. At the beginning of the conference, we did sort of a 30 second networking thing. We formed two lines, one woman across from the other and every 30 seconds you moved to the right so you met a new person. Lucky me started with the woman with a baby on her hip, so first I met her, 30 seconds later, I spoke with her baby, as I moved down the line I met her baby carriage handle, and 30 seconds later the front of the carriage. I was not amused. That was a total waste of time!

In two years, some things about my blog have not changed. I still don't sell anything on my blog and I don't have any business ads. Unfortunately, I have almost the same number of comments as I did on my very first post. I fear my writing has not improved either. But I guess all that matters is that I get my point across. I like to use a casual writing style.

The number of blogs I read has changed. I spend a lot of time reading other blogs and commenting when something moves me. I can't tell you the number of times I've said the words, "I got the idea from a blog I read". Whether it's a home decor idea or a new place to shop, most of the time it came from another blog.

I am amazed at the talent in blogland. The writing and photography on some blogs, well, it's magical. Sometimes, you just have to keep reading a blog. I can get so wrapped up in stranger's lives. Some bloggers post about the drama in their lives. I guess it goes back to that comfort level I mentioned earlier in this post. When you post, don't you feel like you are having a conversation with friends? I know I do.

How do you feel about swaps? I learned a new word from swapping. It's flaked. I no longer participate in swaps. I had one great experience through a swap, the swap partner was great. She posted about her excitement at receiving my swap (which was my first swap) and someone commented that I "overdid" the swap. That kind of took the wind out of my sails but I signed up for another swap. This time I got paired with a woman from Holland. It was quite expensive to ship my package but I thought oh well, I will receive some really cool stuff from Holland. I waited and waited yet no package. First she said she had the flu, then she said her cat ran away, then she said she sent it but it must have got lost. She said she would send a second package, then I never heard from her again. And the worst part is she never mentioned my swap until I emailed her to see if she received it. She never even thanked me. So no more swaps for me.

Sorry about some of the negative statements in this post but I am doing a retrospect on my entire blogging experience.

Overall, I have learned a lot about blogging in the last two years and I've made some very nice blogging friends. I am friends with bloggers in Australia, the Phillipines, Turkey, Canada, and all over the US. You all lead such interesting lives. You keep me coming back for more. I want to know more. And I hope you want to know more about me too...