I VALUE YOUR OPINION

I need your help. I adore blogging. It brings me great pleasure but it consumes my day. I should be cleaning the house. I should be reading a good book. I should be out shopping. I should be sitting at a machine at the casino. I should be outside playing with Skye or taking her for a walk. Yes I should be exercising too! I think about these things all the time but here I sit.

When we were in our twenties we played a game called Aggravation with our dear couple friends. It is a game where you have four marbles that must go around the board from your start position to home. We use to joke about overextending yourself. That would be putting all four of our marble out on the board at the same time. More chances of someone landing on your marble and sending back to start. I am feeling overextended with my blogging.

My finger is always ready to push that follow button. Obviously I can't follow everyone but God knows I am trying. Eventually I had issues with following in Google Friend Connect. My dear friend Headless Mom taught me how to use reader. Haven't had any restrictions in reader. So I don't actually push the button all the time but I do follow lots of people in reader. (like close to 600) So I can't read everyone, that would be impossible.

I started out by following everyone who follows me. I thought that was the kindest of gestures. I still believe in that plan. Now if those were the only people I followed I wouldn't be in the mess I am in. I have to say that I have allot of people I really enjoy reading. I comment wherever I go. I know some of the people I read have so many followers that there is no way they could read each of them. Heck they get so many comments each day that I don't even know how they handle that.

Do you? That is what I need to know. How do these people handle it? I have heard that some people only go over to visit the people who comment on their blog. I get that, I really do but I don't want to visit someone just because they left me a comment. So I only read them if they comment on my blog, that just doesn't seem right. It's like I'll scrub your back if you scrub mine. Now if that is common practice and how most people handle their blogs I want to know that from you. I would appreciate your input.

My regular commenter's are not the issue. I know who they are, we are now friends and I love reading them too. I visit them regularly even if they didn't comment on a particular day. What do you do when you enjoy reading other blogs but they never visit you, do you keep reading them or fly away?

I do not go over to meet new people because I want them to come over and follow me. That is not how I roll. I usually go over because someone mentions them in their post so I go and check them out. Don't we all do that? So how do I change my reading of blogs? I will often start reading blogs at 7am and I would be sitting here to 1pm. It isn't like that anymore, I can be here ALL DAY LONG. I will break and take a shower but it consumes my day.

How do you pick and choose? I don't want to hurt anyone along the way. As I go forward I am finding more friends. My regulars will always be my regulars so don't stop over and say "you don't have to read me", this isn't about you. Do I stop going to new blogs when I see them or someone recommends them?

I would appreciate you sharing your blog reading with me. How do you decide who to read, who to follow and who to let go of. I really need to get a handle on this so blogging doesn't get me down. I can't just turn it off after two hours, that doesn't work for me. I really need to limit my reading list. My blog roll use to consist of my followers. I had to stop doing that because listing 100 and something people on your page is hard. Actually I need to change mine. How do you decide who to list?

I see how the percentage seems to pan out. Not every follower is going to comment everyday. Some never comment. On a good day I will get about 30 something in comments. I love them, it's so much fun. Those women who have thousands of followers will get several hundred comments. How do you feel when you make a comment to someone and you know the only reason they came over is because you commented on their blog? Like I said earlier if this is how it works for most people then I will join in on that.

Okay I know this is too many questions. I'm just interested in hearing how you read blogs. Any advice you can give me would really be appreciated. I also want to know if you answer each comment. I do, I think it's the best part. For those of you who are NO-REPLY I wish you would change it. I understand your need for privacy and respect that. Just know that if I could reply to your comment I would each and every time! I don't want you to think that your comment doesn't mean something to me. It does but I just can't reply to it!

Thank you for listening, I appreciate the time you took to read this post. Debby

JUST WANTED TO SHARE THESE WITH YOU

Last Friday morning this was the sky I saw. I thought it was beautiful. I know on the news they talked about the evening sky that same day.

So the kids came over on Saturday for dinner. I decided to try a recipe I saw over at my friends Lori's blog @ Altered Glass. It called Light N' Creamy Chocolate Cake Roll. It was really good and actually not that hard to make. Her pictures are better but the end result was the same.

So here it is. The rug arrived on Wednesday. The UPS guy didn't even ring the doorbell which surprised me because he is usually a really helpful guy. The rug weighed 50 pounds, 8 x 10 in size and he just leaned it against the house. I got it into the family room and took a few pictures. Then when my husband came home we arranged it where we had planned on putting it. Let me tell you that for $375. it is a beautiful rug. I always look at rugs at Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, etc. The quality is amazing. I know that they messed up on the original shipping but it was well worth it. You can compare it to rugs that are easily $1,400. My husband said we should order rugs for every room. The other rug in the picture is a rug that I bought two of for in front of our sinks in our bathroom. We really like them.

SUNSHINE AWARD

My dear friend Sarah at Caiafa Craziness... has given me the most beautiful award. Thank you Sarah for the Sunshine Award, I am honored to accept this award. Please stop over and visit with Sarah. As a mother Sarah has a beautiful caring heart and is raising her two autistic sons. As a family they have some wonderful changes going on in their lives, head on over and read about them.

I must do the following and you the same if you choose too:-)
1) Put the logo within my blog or on my post
2) Pass the award onto 12 fellow bloggers
3) Link the nominees within my post
4) Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog
5) Share the love and link to the person whom you received this award from.

To get an award is an honor and some work. So I’m off to do what I need to do but you know that it’s so hard to pick just 12 people out of all my friends. Here is what I am going to do with this award. I am going to send this award to the last 12 people who have signed up to follow me in Google Friend Connect. Let's all get to know them......

1. Olga at Twinspirational Runner
2. Lori at The Shewbridges of Celebration, FL
3. Julia at Freelance Writer Blog
4. Brittney at Mommywood
5. Amy Amy Bo Bamey at Life Of A Nguyener Winner
6. Crystal at Balanced Moms
7. Nel at Fastenau Facts
8. Alyssa at Bloggin 2 Noggin
9. Chili Pepper at 365 Ways...to say..."I Love You"
10. Poe at Sprinkles on the Frosting
11. TechnoBabe at TechnoBabe's Adventures
12. The girl with the flour in her hair at Peeling An Orange with a Screwdriver

So there you have it. These are my newest followers who I am just getting to know. Head on over and say Hello. (gee, I think I might be poetic or is it pathetic?)

RANDOM DOZEN

Head on over and join us. Visit Linda at 2nd cup of coffee and pick up your random dozen.

1. Do you use the labels various charities send you as “free gifts?”
I use to. I really don't get them anymore. (but I have made donations in the past)
2. What is your favorite time of day (or night) for skywatching?
Well I really love the morning before sunrise allot but I also love a great sunset and I'm crazy about the moon. I guess I really can't answer that.
3. What is the most adventurous you've ever been with trying a new food? (Keep it G-rated please)
Escargot
4. Have you ever heard a rock sing? (Trust me, there's a reason for this one!)
No
5. If you could learn a language you don't presently speak, what would it be?
French
6. Al Capone's tombstone read, “My Jesus, Mercy.” If you could write your own epitaph, what would it say?
"You would have liked me"
7. If you were a famous musician who was known by one name, like “Cher,” “Sting,” or “Jewel,” what would it be? It doesn’t have to be your first name, but it can be, if you’d like.
debby (see how creative I am, must be lower case)
8. Have you ever been inordinately “into” a television show?
I think that I may have been at some point in my life.
9. When you sneeze, do you go big, or do you do that weird “heenh!” sound that makes people think you’re going to blow your brains out? Any other variation we should know about?
It's usually very big and comes from deep within me.
10. Do you still read an actual newspaper that you hold in your hands, or do you get your news elsewhere?
I don't read the paper or watch the news. I live in my own little world.
11. Are you a good speller?
No but I feel like I am getting better. I must read my blog 20 times before I post.
12. At what time each day do you start thinking about lunch?
I really don't. I can go almost all day without thinking about eating.

POST IT NOTE TUESDAY

CLICK ON THE ABOVE NOTE ~ JOIN IN THE FUN!

PROLIFIC BLOGGER AWARD

A prolific blogger is one who is intellectually productive… keeping up an active blog that is filled with enjoyable content.

I received this award from Christy Rose over at The Secret Life of an American Wife & Mom.She thinks I'm prolific and I am so honored to accept this award. Please head of over and visit her.

1. Every winner of the prolific blogger award has to pass on this award to at least seven other deserving prolific bloggers. spread some love!
2. Each prolific blogger must link to the blog from which he/she has received the award.
3. Every prolific blogger must link back to this post, which explains the origins and motivation for the award.
4. Every prolific blogger must visit this post and add his/her name in the mr. linky, so that we all can get to know the other winners. (click here for the mr. linky page)

You know how hard it is to pick just seven but I am going to try. Please head on over and say hello to them. Also, try to read several of their post and you will see exactly why I picked them.

1. Tonja at Gatherings


2. Kat at Heart 2 Heart


3. Keetha at The Eclectic Company


4. Colleen at Main Street Memories


5. Janean at Old Sweetwater Cottage


6. Elise at Ballet News


7. Technodoll at Bubblegum Diaries

So there you have it. Enjoy reading........

PROLIFIC:
producing in large quantities or with great frequency; highly productive: a prolific writer.

~A DIFFERENT KIND OF GIVEAWAY ~

Let me share a little story with you. My husband was (and still is when you can find one in an arcade) a huge fan of the pinball machine Galaga. So when Hallmark came out with an ornament for 2009 I knew I had to buy one for him. So here we are opening present on Christmas day and I suddenly remembered that I didn't remember wrapping his Galaga ornament. So I immediately went on a little search. I could not find it and that made me mad. I am not one to lose things. I may look disorganized at times but I have always been able to put my hands on something within minutes. (I use to amaze my kids with that, especially when they searched their whole room for something they couldn't find and I would walk right in & show them) So lets face it, I'm a little older now so I guess it's pretty likely that I could misplace something.

Never did find it on Christmas day. So when I went to Hallmark for the day after Christmas sale I was lucky enough to be able to buy one at half price and was able to give it to him when I got home. It's really cute. Well guess who found it when she was putting away her Christmas stuff last week. Well the answer is ME of course. So I now have one to give away to one lucky winner.

However, I would rather you NOT comment on this post unless you really want this ornament for someone who would really appreciate it. (please don't sell it on ebay)

As much as I love comments, just like you do, this ornament was bought out of love and it would be really fun to give it away to someone with the same appreciation for Galaga.

I apologize in advance if I hurt anyone's feeling about not commenting on this post.

You know I love all of you.....okay if you want to leave a comment but don't want to enter to win just let me know in your comment. I am of course a people pleaser in case you haven't noticed.