Thinking out loud about my year of blogging

One year ago today I started blogging in earnest. This is my 347th post.

I’m particularly grateful to Pat Denino, who’s been blogging at Wandering Wonderings for several years. Without her encouragement, I never would have started.

In November 2004, Pat (I didn't know her) responded to my request to provide housing in Columbus, Ohio for recount observers and attorneys who were willing to travel to Ohio to challenge Bush’s election. Now I visit Pat at least once a year and was welcome even during her cancer treatments. Pat's hair has now grown back.

I’m also grateful to Janie Sheppard, in the photo below with her partner Bill Radtkey and their best friends, Heidi and Gerry. On July 2nd, I posted What do skateboarding and blogging have in common? I decided I ought to give up blogging as I did skateboarding a few years ago. Janie encouraged me to continue. Without her support, I wouldn’t have made it this long.

Janie sends my posts to her political allies and has been my guest blogger at least four times, here, here, here and here. She spearheaded a local to impeach Cheney, culminating in a hearing before the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors last August 14th.

Additionally, Janie, Bill, Heidi and Jerry welcome me to their home on weekends. Each time I visit, Bill prepares hot cereal made with steel cut oats and serves it with yogurt, fruit, and nuts. At their home, I get to think out loud, which is why I’m so comfortable with them.

Thanks to all of you who have posted a comment, e-mailed me about something I posted, or simply told me that you appreciate my blog.

How I spent my day

I confess, taking care of babies beats blogging. I spent the day with my two youngest grandchildren, ten month old twins. I'll be back on board tomorrow.

Do Babies and Blogging mix?

I look back at my blogging and find it "uneven." Perhaps a contributing factor is that I have fallen in love with my youngest grandchildren, Sophia (left) and Rody (right), now five months old. I spend a couple of days with them each week, including a night or two, and sometimes come back home pretty worn out.

I don't think anyone who reads my blog questions my priorities. I don't, but thought it might help explain why some posts appear to be hastily written. For instance, a couple of days ago, I posted about Ted Sorenson's ideal speech for the winning Democratic Presidential candidate. I suggested leaving out Sorenson's rejection of holding our current leaders to account with investigations, indictments and impeachments, but neglected to suggest a sentence or two in support of such actions.

A request: Perhaps you can come up a sentence or two to insert in Sorenson's speech that will show a commitment on the part of the Democratic Presidential winner to expose and punish the scoundrels currently in office for the incredible harm they have done to all of us.

What do skateboarding and blogging have in common?

I love skateboarding and blogging.

Skateboarding: In my thirties, I bought a custom skateboard and blissfully skateboarded most every day for the next twenty years. However, in my fifties as I started to run marathons and participate in triathlons, I decided the price of falling on the concrete and possibly breaking some bones was too high, so I retired my skateboard.

Blogging: In January of this year, I started blogging daily, convinced that people check only if something new and worth reading is posted every day. One of my favorite bloggers, Juan Cole at Informed Comment, confirmed this in his post yesterday, IC Global Affairs, and is launching a group blog to reduce the pressure of daily posting.

For me, the costs of daily blogging is outweighing the benefits. It’s affecting my health, and I haven’t even been swimming yet this summer.

Unlike skateboarding, I don’t have to give up blogging entirely. I plan to post occasionally and will send you an alert each time I post something if you e-mail me at gejonas@sonic.net.

Thanks to all of you who have told me you have appreciated my efforts.

(photo: sjsu.edu)