Bloggerish Meme

Kelly tagged me for this last week. Go read her blog. Go back to the beginning and catch up. She writes from her heart and is less afraid than I am to say things.

How long have you been blogging?

August, 2005 was my first post. Then, I waited a couple months to post again. Just didn't get inspired, I guess.

What inspired you to start your blog, and who are your mentors?

I started a blog so I'd have a journal. I've tried several times to have a diary or journal, and within a few days, usually give it up. It's just too... I don't know. Too something. Can't seem to manage it. Since my typing is much faster than handwriting, blogging seems to be the thing for me.

I don't know that I have a mentor. I find support from people who don't even know I'm reading their blogs, their magazine articles, their thoughts. I love the idea of a sharing of minds, and knowing that it doesn't matter if you're green, black, purple, gay, straight, male, female, other... there's a purity in the free exchange of ideas. No one knows what you're wearing... or not wearing. It's just thoughts. I like that.

Are you trying to make money online, or are you doing it just for fun?

I'm blogging for a couple reasons. I am slowly going over my old posts and uploading the pictures I used to Snapfish. I will order three copies of each one. Then, I'll print out all my posts, punch 'em for a 3 ring binder, and eventually give a copy to each of my children. (I get to keep one, too). I thought if I started a blog, I'd write more. And I do.
:)
Although this reason wasn't there originally,I'm also doing it because I've developed a sense of obligation to those of you who read and comment here. It's not a huge blog, but the 50 or so hits I get every day are something that makes me feel as if people are listening. I enjoy the perspectives and differences of those people whose blogs I read. If you've commented here and left a link, I have read your blog.

What 3 things do you love about being online?

I love the connection I feel to like-minded individuals. I also enjoy the ideas of people who don't think the way I do. I am pretty firmly oriented in my own beliefs and ideas, but when someone presents their point of view calmly and in a straightforward manner, I find it doesn't matter that I disagree. I can respect the way other people think without trying to change them or feeling an obligation to change myself.

I love being able to learn things I never knew. As a child, I used to read the encyclopedia. (Yeah, I know. Hush.)
I found connections from one idea to another, and found myself wandering from book to book, fascinated. Being online is like that, only better. Not limited to a 26 volume set of books. Instead, the whole world is right here. It's exciting. Incidentally, the idea that all ideas are connected to all other ideas is something both my kids learned early. A grasp of the larger picture, if you will. I love that.
My great grandfather wrote a book for his descendants. In it, he commented that he'd gone from the days of horse and buggy to man on the moon in his lifetime, and wondered what was next. I wonder the same. In the past 20 years, we've gone from the infancy of the PC to the world in our hands. Exciting stuff.

Chat and IM. I am not addicted, I quit every night. But during the day, and especially in the evenings, I am chatting with new and old friends. If you're on AIM or yahoo messenger, drop me an email with your AIM or Messenger screen name at AmiMental@gmail.com and I'll add you to my list. We can chat live, which I never seem to get tired of. I also host two weekly chats at A to Z Home's Cool, which, if you didn't know, is THE definitive homeschooling website. It's been around a long time, and is a terrific resource, whether you're homeschooling or not. Lots of educational links and great ideas for fun stuff to do with your kids. If you'd like to visit the A to Z chat, email me for the link.

I tag Regular Mom, Robin, Kitten ,Jan ,Jason, Sirdar and Lil Mouse.
Anyone else wanna play? Please do, then let me know and I'll link you here.