Sunday meme

My creativity is apparently on a long vacation. Unfortunately, we are not. I actually have a great product review to share, but every time I feel compelled to write it, someone cries or falls or needs something washed.

So, instead, I'm going to do a meme. I found this one here.

1. How did you come up with your blog title OR what does it mean?
Here's the entry which inspired the title: Notes From A Former Military Wife.
In While They're At War, Kristin Henderson writes about returning to civilian life after the military,

"And then one day, you go back to Earth, maybe just for a visit, maybe for good, and as you step off the spaceship, all around you in the spaceport, you hear a Babel of voices, over the loudspeaker, passing you in the concourse, speaking in some strange foreign tongue, and all of a sudden, it hits you – that’s the language you grew up speaking. In conversations, you sometimes find yourself searching for a word, a word you should know. Sometimes, you dream in Martian. Your time on Mars has gifted you with a new way of speaking, a new way of looking at the world. And it has robbed you of the easy comfort you once felt in your mother tongue.” pg 131


2. What are your general goals for blogging?
Initially, I wrote to give people a fuller picture of what military life was really like. There was so much coverage of the goings to and coming from "War," but nothing that showed the horror and everyday issues that happen during deployment and after.

Now, even though dh is no longer active duty, I blog for the same reason. Although, I think my focus more recently has been on religion--teaching and learning.

My main goals are probably to connect with other bloggers and learn from them.


3. Do people “in your real life” know that you blog and do they comment on your blog OR is it largely anonymous? How often do you post (x per week)?
Only a handful of people I know IRL are aware of this blog. I try to be as anonymous as I can be. My posting varies, but lately, it's 3-5 times per week.

4. How often do you read other blogs (x per week)?
Oh my word! I'm always reading other blogs. I have hundreds on my Google Reader, but lately, I have fallen WAY behind with those. I used to clear out my reader every day. Now, though, I rely more on twitter to stay connected to a few specific bloggers. I still check their blogs regularly, though.

5. How do you select blogs to read (do you prefer blogs that focus on certain topics or do you choose by tone?
Often, I find a focus with which I connect (breastfeeding, birth, Judaism, multiples, etc), but there are a few I follow simply because I love the writer's style.

6. Do you have any plans to copy your blog entries in any other format, 0r do you think that one day, you’ll just delete it all?
Haven't given this much thought. I wouldn't delete them, but I have no plans to bind them all together in a coffee table book.

7. What are the things you like best about blogging?
I love all the new people I've been able to "meet" through blogging. I also enjoy having a place in which to publish all the stories my children will probably hate me for sharing in 10 years or so.

8. What are the things you don’t like about blogging?
The fact that I have to try to stay anonymous. The internet seems to suck the empathy/sympathy/common sense from some folks. I would love to be able to share more details without the fear of someone being a PITA about it.

9. How do you handle comments?
I don't quite understand what the question is asking.
For negative comments, I prefer not to censor. I leave them here and take part in the discussion. I don't think I've ever removed a comment.

When someone new comments here, I try to repay the favor, but especially lately, I haven't been able to do that. That's a shame because I've found some wonderful blogs through comments left on here.


10. Do you have any burning thoughts to share on blog etiquette?
Common sense, people. The use of common sense makes the blogging experience so much better.

11. Any desired blog features?
I could probably create a list that would go on forever, but I won't.

12. Have you suffered blog addiction?
Yes.
(slides chair aside and stands up) Hi. I'm Reiza and I'm addicted to far too many blogs.
FTR, Twitter just makes it worse. It's a gateway drug. I've found so many more blogs since I started on twitter, but since I'm on twitter, I don't have time to read as many blogs. AHHHHH, vicious circle!