Ignorant Historian

When I first started blogging almost 4 years ago (or even better when I started Xanga-ing a year before that), I’d probably have laughed at you if you’d have told me that within 4 years time I’d have written 900 blog posts.

Sure, some are much more work than others, but I still seem to find plenty of things to say.  My to-blog list is growing faster than I cross things off of it (but certainly not growing as fast as my to-be-read list!).

I suppose it helps that I’m a talker.  While I’m introverted and reserved, once I get comfortable in a situation, I might just run my mouth (though interestingly, I seem to be attracted to friends who are even talkier than I am, so we can talk for days!).

It also helps that I’m quite opinionated…I have something to say about almost every subject under the sun.  An exaggeration, sure, but if I’ve been exposed to it, I likely have something to say.

And it can’t hurt that I have wonderful commenters who add to the discussion.  Reading other blogs (and those old-fashioned things called books) gets me thinking and fuels my writing.  And then you commenters add to my discussion of topics here, helping me to refine and sometimes correct my views.

So thanks for reading.  While this blog isn’t huge (and I seriously doubt it’d ever will be), it means a lot that anyone would take the time to read what I have to say.

Here’s to 900 more!

Isn’t it ironic that my 900th post falls on April 15th…my last day of tax season?  I hit 500 on Christmas and 800 on the day before Thanksgiving.  Let’s see…should I try to hit 1000 on Labor Day?

One of my favorite parts about blogging is receiving feedback on what I write.  Did I make you laugh? I’d love to know.  Do you disagree with me? I’d love to know that to.  Have you had a similar thing happen to you?  By all means tell!

Because of that, I’m thankful for you, my faithful commenters.  I appreciate each and every comment I get, but there are a few people that go above and beyond the call of duty (what? you didn’t know that commenting on the Ignorant Historian was a duty?).  To these, I give you the Super Comments Award (thanks, Pam!):

Caity

G. Zoe (my grandmother to all those unaware) – thanks for all the support you give me!

Iva

Rebecca Jo

Jenn

Irish Coffehouse

And honorable mentions to Jacki and Kristina.

Thanks for each and every comment you leave!

This has been one of the fastest weeks ever.  Of course, I’m of the subscriber of the philosophy that our perception of time means we DO feel like each increment (day, week, year, whatever) is faster than the last because it’s a smaller proportion of our life as a whole.  That means that this week WAS the fastest ever!

Anyway, now time for your comments:

Wickle said: “Just for fun … When someone gets too whiny, you could say, ‘You can’t get a bigger refund because they needed the money to send to me.’

“Of course, you might want to update your resume first. Just a thought …”

You don’t know how many times I want to say something like that!  I love to joke and use sarcasm (just ask any of my little kiddies who’ve fallen victim to it), but I really have to hold my tongue and not joke about stealing people’s money!  It’s not quite professional…

Vicki had some ideas for a celebration post that I think you might like:

 ”1. Give away a million dollars
2. Or just a vacation to an exotic island
3. Or just a Gift card (for $600 or 600 pennies or somewhere in between)
4. Or highlight some of your favorite older posts that new readers will not have read”

Any idea on how to get a sponsor for either of the first two ideas?  If so, I’d totally be up for it!

OneMom said, “Future posts? How about writing about your hopes for the future … 1 year, 5 years, 10 years from now.”

I absolutely love this idea, though I’m not using it for my 3rd anniversary post.  Look for it soon (Soon meaning a few weeks from now…I’ve got several weeks of posts already written!  It’s very freeing.).

Amanda (my future sister-in-law) said about my Christmas/April Fool’s post, “Haha nice one! I was about to comment on the girlfriend/fiance remark, but then saw I was ‘fooled’ since that was irrelevant back in December. Burritos? Seriously? Awesome!  Why am I not too terribly surprised by number ten? He has gotten a lot better about gifting though.”

Iva said, “Oh you totally got me! And you were the only one.”

Yes!

And there were several good comments on the “Tar and Feathers?” post.  Here’s some snippets:

“I’m getting really tired of many of the US blogs I read continually moaning about everything the guys does. Sure, disagree with him and state your case, but if all you do is complain about how bad things are now that he’s in power, it’s going to be a very miserable four years for many people.” – Rodney Olsen

“To be fair, people did the same thing to Pres. Bush; but back then the people who are doing it now were calling it wrong.” – Wickle

“The focus, however, should be on how we as constituents deal with what we’re given which should be in a way that glorifies God.” – Elizabeth

Ah, you’ve been good to me this week.  Here’s some jewels:

Jacki: “You’ve been mentioning the President a lot lately….becoming a fan?”

Well, I’ll let that hang there for a bit (I did answer Jacki via email, though.).  Expect a post about that later this week, probably.  I’ve got other good stuff lined up, but I’ll see if I can squeeze in a non-political talk about politics!

Heather: “Don’t fret, my dear – you’ll get your old passport back with all its kewl stamps!”

Haha, you used “fret” and “kewl” in the same sentence!  Oh, and I’m really glad to hear that.

Elizabeth: “I love that about Open Door. Every sermon/lesson is for the whole church and is modified to be on everyon’s level of understanding. I think it’s incredible what young children really do know and absorb through those lessons and especially if parents work with them at home.”

It’s certainly a challenge sometimes, but oh so worth it!

Joy said, “I try and comment as much as I can. I tend to try and write shorter post and I like to read short post.  I think we’re all stretched for time and like to read as many blogs as possible. When I click on some blogs and I have to scroll my mouse several times just to read the post I’m like aiyiyi. That is why I like your blog. You are great at getting to the point.  Keep em short and sweet people.”

Thanks, Joy!  I like them short ‘n’ sweet, too, though I have a bloggy friend or two that are known for their verbosity that make me laugh, just like Dickens or Fielding (ahem, Heather, ahem).

I’ve been rather bummed lately, bloggy speaking, as I have seen a marked decrease in comments on this ol’ blog. Then it dawned on me.

It’s not about the comments.

I don’t blog for the approval of others. I don’t blog to put the spotlight onme. I don’t blog to be the biggest, best, brightest, or boldest.

So, thank you for reading this, anyone who is reading this. I’m humbled that you find these few words worth the moments you spent reading them. And if you do comment? I thank you, sincerely. They’re worth more than two cents.

It’s been a couple of weeks, but these comments stood out to me this week…

Lynda said, “*pinch*”

Thanks, Lynda.  I did avoid being pinched in real life on St. Patrick’s day!

Iva said, “Come on, girl…we both know that you are a view-nature-from-a-distance kind of gal…you’d never climb Mt. Everest. ”

So true!

Mrs. Mouthy said, “Ronnica’s to-do list:
1. Buy sticky notes
2. Begin making to-do lists again

B/c seriously, what’s the point of life if you can’t cross things off??!”

Thanks, but I think not having anything on the to-do list to begin with is more satisfying.

Joy said, “It’s amazing that Pres. Obama had time to figure out his bracket and pick teams and sounded very knowledgeable (I assuming the teleprompter wasn’t tell him who to pick), but he couldn’t give much time to the Prime Minister of England.
Just my thoughts.”

Well, he did have it written in several different pens, probably not taking the time to sit down all at once. Plus, he’s not much use to the country if he’s going 24/7!

Joy said, “We don’t have Dunkin Donuts out here so I haven’t seen their ad. I’m guessin it’s cause of the word DunKIN and they are continuin with the misspellin theme. Who knows.”

You’ve explained the mystery! The “kin’ ” is short for “Dunkin’.” Of course, that means that it should be ” ‘kin’. ” Either way. ANNOYING.

Lynda commented on my story, Isantim:

“I love this – thank you!”

Aww, thank YOU.

Heather said,

“Heh, I do the same thing all the time.

“See? Just did it again – took your post and commented ALL ABOUT ME.

“I agree with Jennifer above though, that agreeing with people and identifying with what they have posted is a way of positive commenting. Totally. Heck, they’re teaching Kiddo how to do that in kindergarten right now: they read a story, then do a “connection to text” where they write something about either a connection between the text and themselves, the text and another text, or the text and the world. Most kids pick text-themselves. Totally legit.

Hmmm, I’m not sure this is a long enough comment to be from me, but you’re busy so I’ll stop rambling on now!”

When I go to leave a comment on a blog (maybe yours!), I find that most of the time the comment is about ME.  Why can’t I just comment about what they said?  Is it really all about me?  I apologize for all the self-centered comments I’ve left.  I feel like the person (okay, me) that can’t wait for the other person to stop talking so that she can share her story about such and such.

Sorry for this postette.  I’m in the middle of a, surprise surprise, busy tax-filed week!

Mrs. Mouthy: “OMG (Oh My Gosh)–it’s flashing red! The shopping button is flashing red! I’m going to go click on the butto–

Shoot, it stopped.”

Michelle said, “I don’t think I’ve been to your blog before. I came over because you commented on my blog…but I really like the eclectic feel of your blog.”

Karabeth said, “I think you’ve gotten it. Life isn’t about a relationship with a man. It is about a relationship with the God-Man, Christ Jesus.”

Blogstalker said, “A recession is the free markets way of balancing its books. The only reason this recession is so terribly bad is that the government has been and is way too involved with the economy, which artificially influence the market. What we are experiencing today is the effect of too much government on way too many levels. But you will not hear this anywhere out there in mainstream american media. The speech laid out last night called for an even greater govt. involvement.

So this is how America Dies………..to thunderous applause.”

Iva said, “Changing the way you view food is a very good start. It is JUST food. It’s not a friend. It’s not medicine. It’s fuel. Nothing more, nothing less. Eat while eating. Don’t read, watch tv or surf the net while you eat – you’ll eat more.”

I greatly appreciate you commenters sticking with me through thick and thin of blogging. I guess you’ve got to take the good with the bad, right? (Though I don’t blame you for skipping the bad!)

Iva liked the quote I did, ” ‘massive steel in their backs and theology in their brain’ – that’s a beautiful image.”

Mrs. Mouthy said, “Here’s my question: There’s a bar at the top of my computer that has buttons for everything from “news” to “sports” to “shopping.” Sometimes the news one flashes red and I know something important is happening so I should click on it. My question is: Why oh why does the shopping button never flash red??”

Love the idea!

Jen said, “You may appreciate this… I was running around the house like crazy trying to get things cleaned up before my husband gets home. It hit me all of a sudden “Oh shoot! I haven’t read Ronnica’s blog in A WHILE.” I dropped everything, pulled up here to the computer and now..Hello!”

Haha!

And then there were a couple comments like this on yesterday’s post you may be interested in:
“Have you heard? Today is Day 1 of the Where in the World is Wenda? Contest. Head over to Three Bay B Chicks and Hot Chocolate Caramel Mocha to join in the fun. Can’t wait to see you there! -Wenda”