Bloggers Anonymous … Plus Worthwhile Toy Recommendation
by Jenners • 12/09/2008 • Blogging • 35 Comments
My name is Jenners… and I have a blogging problem.
It started innocently enough. A friend told me I should get on Facebook (perhaps the gateway “drug” to hard-core blogging). It was fun … I loved writing about myself in the profile. Then I discovered the Notes section and started putting stuff in it. Then a friend saw my notes and said “Hey, check out my blog with my reading list.” And I did. And I thought: “Hmmmm. This is like your own personal website. Let’s see…Google says I can just sign in a create my OWN blog. Let’s try that.” So I did — not thinking through the blog name very well. It was just a lark you know. So I played with some templates. Then I wrote some stuff. Then I posted the info on my Facebook profile about my new blog and e-mailed people I knew about it. And it was fun.
Then, one day, a person I didn’t even know made a comment on my blog. It was a rush. I needed to get that rush again. So I went to their blog and left them a comment. And I found another blog from that blog’s blogroll. And then it started to snowball and I was commenting all over the place — leaving little tracks all over the blogosphere.
And then someone I didn’t know added themselves as a Follower. It was like I was some kind of religious leader of something…I had Followers. One grew to 2. Then 2 to 3. And there were more comments. I was hooked. I needed more, more, more.
My blogroll grew and grew. I spent more and more time writing for my own blog, commenting on others. I knew I had a problem but I tried to keep it hidden.
Then one night I stayed up blogging until 1:30 a.m. And I got caught by my husband. He sat me down for an intervention and gave me the rules.
- No staying up blogging past 11:00 p.m.
- Housework must still be done when the Little One is at school.
- No photos of the Little One on the blog.
I agreed. I had to. I had to have my blogging, my comments, my creative outlet, the connection with my new bloggy friends. Something I hadn’t even heard about two months ago now consumed my life. Everything my family did became potential blog material. I couldn’t walk by the computer without checking for a new comment. I dug out old journals looking for material. I got shaky if I couldn’t come up with a post to write. I discovered more fun things to do like Mission Monday, MamaKat’s Writer’s Workshop, Wordful Wednesday, PhotoStory Friday. I became a SITSa — a support group for comment junkies like myself.
Then I started a second blog. One wasn’t enough. I had to have more. I recruited the friend who had the blog that got me started to work on it with me…and then posted 20 posts to her 2. I was a maniac.
I bought a book about blogging to help me out. I started tracking statistics, added a counter. Broke out of the basic Blogger templates. Began long-term planning for posts. Developed a schedule and system to make my limited blogging time more efficient. And I know it will get worse before it gets better. I don’t know if I want to get better.
My name is Jenners … and I have a blogging problem. And I love it.
As a public service for the holiday season, I will be ending all my posts for this week with recommendations of toys that I’ve found to be worthwhile in case you need any ideas for the child in your life. Today’s recommendation:
Magnetic Mosaics by Orb Factory
Product Description From Amazon: Kids love the surprise of watching a colorful sea-horse or parrot mysteriously emerge from the black and white numbered templates. Use any of the 20 fun designs or create your own mosaic masterpieces. The 1/2″ magnetic foam cubes are easy to handle, and the large easel can be flipped into either portrait or landscape orientations. Contents: 600 Magnetic Foam Cubes 20 Reusable Templates 12 x 17 inch Easel Convenient Easel Stand
What I Say: I bought this for my son’s birthday after I had gotten a smaller “Sticky Mosaic” kit at a zoo gift shop. He loved the sticky one so much that it was a no brainer to get this reusable magnetic version. The mosaics look really good when you get done (one we did is shown to the left), and there are a wide variety of these kits — mermaids, princesses, animals, classic art. You can also download templates for free from the Orb Factory web site. Of course, you can break free of the templates and create your own pictures. It is incredibly easy and simple to do — and quite relaxing as well. It is a great activity for kids to do together or for a parent and child to share. I also love that is helps reinforce numbers and colors and helps improve fine motor skills. For about $20 or so, these kits have great replay value and are a really different gift for any child about 4 years or older.
Hi–I finally got over today to check out this post. I am an adict too, but you’ve gone a little more hard core–I don’t have a counter or a live-feed, or a book. My husband hasn’t set rules, but I usually go to bed at a reasonable hour–and he knows if he so much as mentions housework, it’ll be off with his head
Dawn: What is your blog!? Did I visit it via BPOTW? I tried to find it but can’t see your profile. All these blogs I’m reading get mixed up in my head but I want to see your blog again based on your comment!!!
I’m here from BPOTW. I follow your book blog, but haven’t visited this one before. Looks like some great stuff! Thankfully my husband hasn’t made any blogging rules, I’m actually kind of surprised he hasn’t. I’m guilty of staying up late and getting up early to blog – I love it!
Now I can hear us all saying, “Hi Jenners!”
Is it my turn? Hello my name is Daja, and I have a blogging problem. I now carry my digital camera everywhere to take pictures of random signs, weird people, traffic, and any manner of strange things to enhance my problem. What’s worse is now I’m a blog pusher. I’ve recruited my mother, sister, brother, friends, and students to start blogs.
Very cute!! I love your toy suggestions, too. I want to come play at your house!
Jenners – I popped over from BPOTW (we’ve met before, too!)… great post, thanks for sharing! I read your husband’s rules aloud to my husband; he agreed.
I so identify with your “about me” section. I’m in my early 40s, and home with 4 kids (ages 4-12). Like you, I love being home, but was starting to feel “stagnant” as far a really using my brain. This is a fun challenge and solution.
My blog is mostly about books, and I really enjoy writing about what I’ve read (forming an intelligent opinion), interviewing authors (real people want to talk to me!), and meeting other bloggers (there are kindred spirits out there!
Great post, my husband has been getting on me about blogging more than working on my store. I can’t help it its fueling the inner writer the one that hasn’t been able to write a single line of a new script since the day her DD was born. So this is how i get it out. Love the post. I’m glad i bumped into your blog.
Here’s a little “hit” for you! Great post…very funny, and I can totally see myself!
this is totally me.
And I want to ask, why the 3 blog rolls? what does it mean? And can I get on the #1 roll? j/k but really what does that mean?
Funny how our blogging stories sound eerily similar. Lucky I don’t have a little one to care for (just a rotten job) and so my hubby lets me stay up later. I’d be in trouble with an 11:00 curfew. I’d be sneaking out of bed at night and tiptoeing down the hall lol. It is addictive though. And I LOVE it too!
I really enjoyed this post. It was well written and funny. I found you from Meili_lo. And now I will follow you!
You ~bought a book about blogging~? For some reason, that seems like the strange part.
Thanks for all your positive comments!!! You’re feeding my addiction even more! And I hope to continue feeding yours. Blogging is sooooooo fun. My husband just doesn’t get it: “Why do you want to read what random people wrote?” Well, I know you all understand!
And Motherhood for the Weak — You must fess up about your previous 100,000 hit media coverage blog?!!!! Inquiring minds want to know!
Brenda Susan: You flatter me and make me blush. Thank you so much for the kind compliment! I’m blushing!
Jenners, Can I tell you this? You are writing better & better as you continue to blog! You are so talented you make me want to stop, oops…. that is you inspire me to do more & get more intentional about it! Ha!
We must support one another in this insidious habit! Blog away my friend!
This post was great… especially the part about your husband laying down the law. Maybe you should be thinking about creating a 12-step program to help with the blogging addiction. It would be a public service…
Really… love your blog.
Hi there! Visiting from BPOTW. Love your blog; you’re quite the Scribbler! Listen, I’m up for a Pretty Neat blogging award, and I made the final cut. Yup, I’m campaigning for votes…please come by and check it out if you have a chance!
This is your brain on blogging…
I don’t see the problem! ;D
Love that toy! I will have to remember it when I allow magnets back in my house! (once the little one won’t eat them!!)
This is great! And how I can relate…
That was hilarious! I’m glad you have a blogging problem! Just say yes.
Been there done that. The blog addiction is a phase. It may last several years, but eventually you’ll be able to only post every few days without developing a nervous tic.
I’m on the other side of the addiction and it’s nice. No pressure. No worries about comments. Sometimes I think about the good old days when I once had 100,000 hits or when some media sites picked up some of my content as associated news links. But I don’t have time for that anymore! And you know, I don’t really miss them. Blogging is about me. For a while it was about getting hits and comments and links, but now I’m back to where I started talking about me for me. Public narcissism at its best.
M
I, for one, am very happy you have a problem. I hope it never gets better!
Boy can I relate!!
Hello, welcome to Bloggers Anonymous. My name is Denise and I’m addicted to blogging too. My oldest son says I can’t complain about him on his internet video games anymore. I think he might have a point.
Dropping by from SITS.
Im not quite there yet, but I am well on my way to being a blogaholic. yikes! thank goodness the Boyfriend finds it amusing and not weird.
I totally get it!
I have to set limits for myself too. I don’t always adhere to them though.
Oh boy. I think you just wrote about me. Seriously! I had to set limitations for myself. I used to blog every day and I would stress if I didn’t comment back to everyone that had commented to me. Now I try not to stress about anything blog related and only post 3 or 4 times a week. I LOVED this post. Thanks for the toy recommendations, too!
ha ha – said like a blogging pro – I feel the same way! What happens when it is no longer exciting? What will we SAHMs do next??
This post made me laugh. I have gotten the same way since starting my own blog. My hubby and I have had a joint blog for awhile, but I never posted because he is just a better writer. Now that I have my own blog I can’t shut up! It’s so much fun and I love reading about what is going on in other people’s worlds.
I can relate to this post just a little too well. Hee hee. Although my husband has yet to sit me down for an intervention. Any day, now…I’m so glad you got into blogging – I just love your blog to pieces!
I always love reading how people got started blogging and why they continue.
Comments do make it addicting. 
Glad you’re here. 
You blog-a-holic you!!
They say the first step is admitting you have a problem. Kudos to you for taking that first step!
Crikey, I’m one to talk!
Hahahaha. I LOVED this. You are too funny. I haven’t gotten quite so addicted, but it does tend to draw me in when I should be doing other, more productive things. (Like work.)
Anyway, personally, I’m GLAD your a blog addict. Because that means I’m never lacking for interesting things to read or sweet comments to encourage me to keep up the blogging!!
So, basically, you’re the female version of me… thanks for visiting my blog, btw- I’m sorry if that adds to your addiction!
It’s back
Then you get all up with the idea of buying your domain and loose your blogroll
Plus now my comments aren’t being emailed to me…serious problems here