A New Direction For This Blog.

Beth June 24 2009 Blogging, For The Tweeters, Life As I Know It, My Geeky Side 2 Comments

I know I have not been updating this blog as much as I once did. Sometimes, life gets in the way and so does one’s direction. I have a new project in the works-in fact, I received my first comment this morning and only a handful of people know about it- so it is being indexed. I’m not ready to reveal the blog and I may not until the end of the project. It’s more personal than my little blog here has ever been and for that reason I’m staying anonymous for now.

With Google cracking down on blogs with “non-quality content,” I’ve become a bit jaded with the blogging process. I think anyone who shares their stories, their lives, knowledge- is contributing. The sad fact- too many people believe they can be, or are, professional bloggers. My belief is- blog for yourself first, be true to who you are and you’ll gain readers. Don’t blog on the hopes of making money or becoming famous-this isn’t blogging, it’s called journalism.

**Edit**

Any comments without a real name, or linking to questionable sites, will be marked as spam.

It’s On Again: The Six,(Or 600), Degrees Of Separation Between Myself And Diane Sawyer.

Beth March 27 2009 For The Tweeters, Life As I Know It, My Geeky Side 2 Comments

Six Degrees of Separation?

Oh, no, I don’t give up that easily. Ok, I’ve given up on the knight in shining armor, galloping through my front yard, coming to rescue me from the evil queen because he’s so madly in love with me, (I will, however, settle for a man driving a white, Chevy, pickup truck with a few rust spots and one of those cute window decals of the little boy peeing on the word Ford, yes I am a Chevy girl), but my goal of receiving the pep-talk phone call from one of my role models, Diane Sawyer, is alive and well.

It will happen.

For those of you who never read the original posts, they were in the 30+ that I lost in a database fiasco, I wanted, for my 36th birthday, since it didn’t happen on my 35th, a pep-talk phone call from Diane, telling me life after 40 does get better and how to make it in a male-dominated field. Yeah, see, it didn’t happen. I let it go for a while, but, after events in my life involving certain family members that shall remain nameless, the need to know I don’t have to be the perfect daughter, have the perfect career and not all of my mother’s problems have been caused by me, became greater. An outside voice- from a strong woman, who, unknowingly pushed my dream of becoming a journalist, which didn’t happen due to the aforementioned situations.

This is where I need your help. Will it be six degrees of separation, or 600? It doesn’t matter. One phone call, that’s all I ask. Am I nuts? Not a bit. Determined? You betcha. What are the situations I speak of? Secret Squirrel stuff between Diane and myself. For the person who is the last link, which gets me the phone call from Diane- he/she will receive one bottle of West Virginia wine-in the flavor of your choice. I’ve tasted the blackberry-not bad. That’s a hell of a price- a whopping $16.99.

Now, where’s the freakin’ redneck in the white Chevy. I’m in the mood to go muddin’.

When Will I Ever Need To Know The Answer To x+y=?

Beth February 27 2009 For The Tweeters, Life As I Know It, My Geeky Side 6 Comments

$Math-The Square Root of All Evil$

Math-The Square Root of All Evil

It’s no secret: I abhor math. When I was little, age 3, or so, in order to get to sleep at night I would force my poor mother to, “do math,” with me, addition, subtraction and yes, even a little multiplication. Until my Sophomore year of high school, I enjoyed the subject. Then, Mr. Hundley, the world’s worst teacher, entered my life. On the first day of Geometry class, he said, and I am quoting, “Over half of the girls in this class will fail, because girls can’t do math.” Great way to encourage anyone. He intimidated me, so I did have a little trouble, but luckily I had my dad to help. But, later that Fall, my dad passed away. My in-home Geometry tutor was gone and Mr. Hundley knew it-not only did he pick on me in class, but after I returned to school, he refused to allow me to make-up any work. (Until the Principal stepped in). From this point forward, anxiety set in any time mathematics was involved.

Sure, most of you are saying, “Beth, why in the hell are you discussing math?” Because, tomorrow at 9am, I again have to prove I’m intelligent by taking an exam. Math is involved. The exam does not guarantee a job-I have to take it in order to be considered for classes which would lead to a job. In a hospital, pulling patient charts and answering the phones. Tell me- how does knowing the answer to x+y= prove I can answer a phone? I’m literally pulling my hair out-ok the white hairs, but I really need to pass the test. I’ve studied, but retaining the information has proved difficult. I have an IQ of 143 and I’m worried about freaking x+y.

If I don’t blog for a few days, you’ll know why. I’ll be the one at the drive-thru window at McDonald’s asking if you’d like to try a latte.

AFrogtokiss.net IS Do-Follow: But You Have To Earn It.

Beth February 4 2009 Blogging, My Geeky Side 31 Comments

The New Face of Bloggers

This blog has been do-follow since “do-follow” became almost mandatory in the blogging world. In fact, thanks to using do-follow and writing sponsored posts, (which I no longer do), my once PR5 blog, dropped to a PR0. I gave, other bloggers and sites took. I once actively participated in commenting and interacting on blogs I enjoyed: until everyone who owned a blog began calling themselves experts. On every topic, from SEO, (Search Engine Optimization), to marketing. No more.

I have never claimed to be an expert in anything. I started this blog 5 years ago out of boredom-it soon progressed into connecting with others around the world and allowed me to hone writing skills I thought I had lost. Blogging was fun-simple. I shared stories from my life-not telling people how to blog, or what to write, just for the sake of gaining back-links, or popularity in social networking and search engines. I’m lucky-although my blog is small compared to most, and even with a PR0, I received 14,246 page views last month. 13,118 of which were unique. Not bad for a blog about nothing.

I am changing how I do-follow. I’ve received grief from several so-called do-follow experts for using the Lucia’s Linky Love plugin, one blogger saying, “I don’t consider a blog using this plugin as “do-follow.” I beg to differ. While new bloggers are allowing spam sites and “marketers” to fill the comment fields with irrelevant content, hence, in my opinion, ruining the entire concept of blogging, including, active, intelligent participation-on topic, those who comment on my blog will now have to earn the right by commenting 3 times, before your author link becomes do-follow. No more free advertising for your dental practice, flower shop, or link to a favorite post. Interaction is the key. If you want visitors, participate. Engage with blogs and bloggers. Stop over saturating the blogosphere with marketing and “pay me $29.95 and I’ll show you how to…whatever.” Blog because you have something to give, not because you want to take.