bloiter-dom is back

I just found out yesterday from my mom that an old friend of mine reads my blog. Someone I don't really talk to, but do think about (and would love to talk to on a regular basis!). My mom talks to her mom and grandmother and keeps me up-to-date on her and her children. I am always sending good thoughts her way as I think about her often. We grew up together and have shared a lot of memories. She's had a lot of tough struggles herself and she is just on my mind a lot.

With that said, I never ever thought mom would tell me that Jennifer reads my blog, and that her mom and her grandma do also! Wow! It really made me smile. I've found out friends of my mom's read it as well and it just started me thinking, "hmmm, I wonder who else reads it who I don't know about?". I would really love to know.

People seem to like to be in hiding, and that's ok. I just would love it if my lurkers, stalkers, bloiters, fellow hidden friends would just come out of hiding for a second and say "hi", even if it's just once. I would so LOVE that. I know you may not have anything to say most of the time, but when you do, feel free to comment. And if you never do, well, that's ok, too. Just stick your head in and say "hi". I would love to know you are out there.

How do I comment, you ask? Well, if you go back to my blog entry in March, it explains how. Just click here.

Can't wait to "see" you!

Come out, come out, wherever you are!

There's actually a word for people who read blogs but never comment and that is a "bloiter". I think I have a few bloitering souls reading my blogs. Some of them have came out the bloitering closet like Johanna and Sara (*waving hi*). It's always nice to see new names pop up when I do know you're out there . . . I have ESP, ya know? (It's also called a stat counter - - hehe - - which tracks where in the world you are reading my blog from. Sneaky, eh?)

I think it's a funny term, but it makes total sense. (You know the term "loitering", right?) At first it didn't bother me that some of my readers read but don't comment, however, now that I have pondered it a little bit, it does bother me some. And I think it bothers other people too, hence the little "no bloitering" logo that is located to the left. If you'd like to get one of these yourself, please hop on over to Bringing Good Home where you can get one of her free graphics.

Why does it bother me? Well, because I feel there are three main reasons why some of my readers do not comment and that is 1) you don't want to be known, 2) you have nothing to say, or 3) you don't know how to comment. It appears to be #3 for many of you, my mom being one.

I realized my mom did not know how to comment and was interested in doing so when she was over the other day and said "how is it I can comment on your blog?". I was like "mom, it's so simple!". So I showed her, and here's my little tutorial for you as well. Really, it is very simple, and it takes just 3 seconds to do a comment. Less if you're really good at it.

How to comment on blogger:

After any given post you will see some info similar to this at the end of it:
Posted by it's me, Val at 4:50 PM 8 comments.

• You want to click on "8 comments" (any time a word has an underline under it or is highlighted a different color, it usually means it's click-able and will take you to another page or another website).
• You will then see other peoples' comments. If there are no comments here, it will read "no comments yet". This means you can be the first!
• Once you are on this new pop-up comment box, leave your comment in the box that says "leave your comment" . . . see how simple it is so far?
• Now you are about ready to finish! Go down to where it says "choose and identity".
  
• You now have 3 options: blogger identity (only if you have a blogger account do you use this one and if you have a blogger account, you probably already know how to comment), other, or anonymous. Obviously, if you don't have a blogger account, you click "other", where you will then be prompted to type in your name and/or web page but both of these options are optional, or you click "anonymous" and you can choose to remain anonymous or else in your comments area, you can sign your name.
  
• You are done! SIMPLE AS THAT!

I'm a comment queen. I love to comment and let others hear my thoughts. It's just about my only adult conversation on a given day - it's my outlet! And sometimes people even respond to my comments by email or by commenting in their own comment area -- woo-hoo! -- the highlight of my day; conversation! It's also one of the reasons why I love to have comments. It's something I look forward to, especially when my kids are driving me up the wall and I need a break from insanity. My blog usually keeps me sane on most days.

So, until you start commenting, you will for now on be a "bloiter". Bloiters, you know who you are! Come out, come out, wherever you are! C'mon make my day, please!?