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| original image from cattime.com |
I've already tossed most of my Sidebar Elements, which were worky and cluttery. Links are now on a separate page, tabbed up top. I've had to eliminate Anonymous comments because they were all--without exception--being left by spammers. Blogger (owned by Google), as I said before, has disallowed Open ID commenters. If you don't have any one of a number of Google accounts, you'll either have to open one or I'll lose you as a commenter. This is upsetting, but I can't do anything about it.
My posts might be shorter. I might not labour so painstakingly over them. I might try to stop being such a Gold Standard Perfectionist. Seriously, I might.
Your support, encouragement, and empathy in Comments on my last post gave me a great deal of help. So did the continued reading of your blogs (and others'). And so did the time away.
June was a very odd month. I felt a little like a jar of mayo--kept refrigerated and only allowed out for short amounts of time lest I get too warm. July is not proving to be all that much better. Thank goodness for early mornings and very dark sunglasses, or I'd never get my walks in (sans le makeup, the victim of a Very Bad Haircut).
It's feeling pretty good to Be Back. Catch me up in Comments.
I think we are ALL getting those weird spammy comments. Glad you are back and looking forward to catching up.
ReplyDeleteDee--A Very Warm Welcome to you here at the Dept.! I had turned off Anonymous commenting long ago, then Blogger decided to no longer allow my WordPress friends to join in here. It's irritating. I experimented with allowing Anon comments then, but really got slammed with junk. I don't understand the reason behind the change, but oh well.
DeleteWelcome back! I've missed you and your unique twist on writing about language or whatever crosses your path.
ReplyDeleteTo Dee above: I added the feature in our comments settings that makes everyone prove they are human and I haven't gotten any weird spam comments since and it's been about two weeks and I still allow anonymous commenters.
Jean R--It's lovely, truly, to have been Missed.
DeleteThanks for the tip regarding that setting. I may try it as long as it doesn't involve Word Verification. Those are so awful.
WElcome back! I missed you !!!! I love short posts.
ReplyDeletekathy b--Oh, thanks. We'll see if I really can write short posts, won't we?
DeleteWelcome Back! Sometimes a brief vacation can be the best thing!
ReplyDeleteVera--Thank you. I think rest and perspective are therapeutic for lots of things (maybe Most Things, even).
DeleteGlad you decided to come back. And you did it on your own terms. We need all the smart people blogging we can get.
ReplyDeleteJill--Yes, you know how Independent I am. ;-)
DeleteThank you for the support and the much-treasured compliment.
I'm so glad you are back, I've missed you!
ReplyDeleteBridget--Well, thank you so much! I did try to stay connected, still commenting on blogs all around. Not quite the same; I know.
DeleteYay! More nance, dept of. I'm happy you've reconsidered your decision to leave, and that you've found a way to think about how to keep your blog going whilst not driving yourself crazy. Looking forward to whatever you decide to share here.
ReplyDeleteAlly Bean--Thanks for the vote of confidence. "Not driving myself crazy" is definitely one of my Main Objectives.
DeleteHi Nance....Welcome back. Glad to see you.. About "Not driving yourself crazy", I'm so crazy that it wouldn't be a drive, it would be a putt...
ReplyDeleteNancy--Glad to see you, too. Nice one! ;-)
DeleteI've been such a sporadic blog reader lately that I hardly missed you! Wait, that came out wrong... Anyway, I am ALWAYS delighted to see a Dept. post show up in my feed!
ReplyDeleteBug--Um...thank you? ;-)
DeleteI certainly approve of streamlining the sidebar, but l do lament the lost opportunity of cashing in my points. (There WAS a cash prize I missed, wasn't there?) :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you decided to continue the blog. I do enjoy it. And in this political climate, that is a big positive. Thank you for bringing some reason in this world of chaos. You make me think and often make me smile. I'm glad you are going to hang around.
NCmountainwoman--Oh, gosh, that's right, the Dept. Points Leaderboard. I do think you were up there, possibly in second place, weren't you? Sadly, there was no Cash Prize, just Bragging Rights (LOL LOL), but happily, those never, ever expire.
DeleteAnd bless you twice for such kind, kind words about my efforts here. They are yet another Bumper Sticker I want for my Prius: I Am Reason In This World Of Chaos.
XXOO
Oh good! I have two posts started, but am ding ESL aids at present. Will report on this, some day.
ReplyDeleteI read with joy anything you write, polished or unpolished.
Are you doing a wine tour this summer?
Mary--Terrific to hear that you're not only writing for publication over at your spot, but that you're doing some helpful work, too. Hooray! And if I bring you joy, that brings me joy as well.
DeleteAnd don't we all need that?
We just returned from our second Wine Jaunt, which is why I'm so tardy responding to comments. I do think you'd better get over to NotL and Twenty Valley/The Bench, before we buy up all the good stuff. (Oh, the cab franc! So incredible!)
I was there on a wine tour some years back. And yes, yum, if that is appropriate for wine. JG grew up in Fort Erie, so I have passed through the wine country many times on our way to visit his folks. So many changes. There used to be many orchards and now there are many vinyards. Some of the wineries win international prizes too, as I am sure you know,; much to the chagrin of France. We have also done some touring in California. JG is a dry red wine lover and there is a lot of high quality in those grapes coming from there. But the poor old Okanogan is full of wild firs. Scary.
DeletePunctuation fail. I am not sure how to fix it either. Rewrite time.
DeleteSigh. Wild fires.
DeleteMary--California's reds are coming in so hot and chewy (in the Napa region) that I've stuck to the Sonoma and Lodi regions there. I cannot abide the high alcohol contents although a few of the red wines in NotL being done in the appassimento style are hitting the 14-14.5% range now. But NotL and the Bench area are still producing more Burgundian style (i.e. dry [0 on the sugar scale] yet fruit-forward; complex nose) wines, which I really prefer.
DeleteGet over there! I'll recommend some really great places, or at the very least, tell you where not to waste your time.
So happy you’re not going away for good; tried to comment on your last post but don’t think I got through. Love reading your posts!
ReplyDeleteRose--I'm happy you're happy! And I hope your summer has been restorative and lovely. Here's hoping I give you things you love to read for a long while yet.
DeleteSounds like the blog break was good for you. Glad you’re back and will explore writing in a manner you can experience as enjoyable foryou — most of the time.
ReplyDeleteJoared--It was. And yes, I agree with you: writing should be a little uncomfortable for the writer every now and then, perhaps. Thanks for stopping in and commenting.
DeleteNance, I haven't commented in quite a long time. But I'm happy to hear that you're not dropping the project. Maybe now I'll even join in the conversation from time to time.
ReplyDeleteUnknown--I'm very glad you've been moved to comment again. The conversation is, as I said in the post previous to this, the Very Best Thing about writing here. Thanks for the support, and I hope you chat here with me again, often.
DeleteGood to see you back! You know, of course, that we all relish every tidbit you put out, all the while totally respecting your possible decision to quit blogging. Personally, I hope you do not, as I love your posts, and, for the record, if it is only once a month (or less often), that's O.K., too. We will be here.
ReplyDeleteOrtizzle--You, too. I'm heartened immeasurably by the idea of so much support, and so little pressure! Hopefully, I won't be so long between posts as that.
Delete