Fun Monday, Caught in a Web(site)


Ann, For The Long Run, is today's FUN MONDAY HOST. What she asked:

I want to hear about a web site and not just about any old web site. I want to hear about a web site that's changed your life. A web site that you can't live without. A web site whose inventor you'd like to see win a McArthur Genius Grant.

Maybe you want to sing the praises of a dating web site for helping you meet your spouse. Maybe the only thing getting you through the dark days of winter is an Internet comic. No story is too big, no story is too small - I want to hear it all on Monday.

* * * *

This was NOT an easy Fun Monday assignment. There are so many ways one could take this subject. I'll try not to become garrulous.

A web site that has changed my life?

This has to be my own blog. It demands my time and energy. Writing and taking photographs made me more observant and caused me to look deeper into the world around me. That includes probing my own responses and feelings about things.

Nope - can't live without my blog. At least, as of this writing, I feel that way. (My eldest daughter, Karmyn( Dreaming What If's...) can be blamed for introducing me to this addiction.

Because of it, I have many new friends. I still cling to my very first blogging acquaintances.
Peek at the list on the right side bar (My First Dustmites and Dust Reads.) I read and enjoy many others, but, I haven't updated my blogroll. Many of those people started their blogs about the same time I did. I believe that beginner blogging buddies (say that three times) find each other and swarm like bees. Eventually some resign their blogs and I can't bring myself to delete their abandoned link.

As for Who should win a McArthur Genius Grant? I would have nominated them all. Really! However, one blogger who has truly mastered the craft is Pioneer Woman. When we met (in cyberspace over at Once Upon a Blog, who has morphed into A Dingo), she was just feeling her way like the rest of us.

She has since won a coveted blogging award and turned her blog into a career. On days she has a photo naming contest she receives thousands of comments.

A Dating web site? I don't think so. Contrary to what my grandchildren think, I did go through that phase in my life. There were no computers, there were no cellphones, and if you wanted to listen to music - well there were LP's and Stereo's that took up the whole side of the room.

We wrote letters on paper with pens and had phones attached to the wall! (Does anybody remember Party Lines?)

I appreciate reading the news at my convenience. The weather web sites are great (but their forecasts still undependable) . Some of them are even Out of This Word!!

Who can't be enticed by web sites such as You Tube. The extent to which intimacies and experiences are shared around the globe aren't all positive. But, this and many other entertaining sites get you through the dark days of winter.

I have been reluctant to add the more recent gadgets to my life (Facebook as an example). The world is moving too fast.

Be sure to Click here to catch up with the other F/M participants.

Comments

Anonymous said…
I enjoy your website too! Good choice.
Sandy said…
That is a good choice! I'm always still amazed how one comment leads to another blog read to another comment, etc...
Alison said…
I agree with you 100%...great post. I think my first blog was Pioneer Woman also!!
Susie said…
I know we read many of the same sites as I see your comment when I'm visiting others. Blogging really has opened up a whole new world for many of us.
(and of course I remember party lines!)
xo
Peter said…
Mirror , Mirror on the wall,
Who peeked at my list... Y'all.
Gattina said…
I see you feel the same as me about blogging. I am still in contact with my very first blogfriends except one, she didn't like my "religious" opinions, that means I have none, lol ! She is so holy that she probably wears a gloriol ! I can't stand when people only write about how much they pray and all this stuff, here in Europe it is not at all the use to talk about your believes or ask somebody to pray ! Even cats are purraying here in blogworld, lol !
Since I really have nothing to do the whole day besides a very little cooking (mostly I have to warm up in the microwave) and I have a cleaning women once a week I have more then enough time for blogging and now at least I move ! I go to expositions or on a flee market just to have something to write about and that makes me happy !
Joy T. said…
Ummm I remember party lines. But I lived out in the country so we were always the last to get the latest greatest things. I've been reading Pioneer Woman for a little while now and I'm amazed at her success in such a short time. All great sites you gave here, especially your own! :o) And Facebook? LOVE Facebook.
Emma in Canada said…
Great choices, but you really should at least give facebook a try. It's fun.

The first time I had ever heard of party lines was reading a Judy Blume book. I think it was Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself. I was quite shocked at the idea of sharing your phone line. That Judy Blume taught me a lot.
my4kids said…
I like your choices. I think a lot of people are agreeing that their blogs and the friends they have met through them are among their favorites.
BlondeBlogger said…
Good choices, Pamela. It would be hard for me to pick one favorite, or one that had the most impact.

I guess my blogging friend who passed away this past year...that definitely had an impact on me. Huge. She was a young mom who'd been by my side during one of the most difficult times in my life, and she was going through the same thing in her life.

I feel so guilty sometimes because my situtation got resolved and hers didn't. And she did everything she could to give her children such an awesome life. Only to be struck down by cancer.

I will never, ever, forget that or get over it, I think.
Jeanette said…
Hi Pamela just popped in to say hi!, we all learn a lot from reading peoples blogs.
hahaha I had to come here to read about an81 year Aussie nabbed for selling drugs..Well I must say she get no sympathy from me. selling her dope to young kids.
Anonymous said…
Yeah, my own was in my short list of three, which is pretty "good" for me.

But yours? Yeah, I still cling to it :). Funny how those we "met" early on are the ones we can't let go. I know there are some GREAT blogs I'm subscribe to, yet I'm not always able to read them; my oldies? well, it might not be daily, but I always go back, read in Bloglines, catch up, even if I don't comment to every post. (Maybe I should've added Bloglines as a fourth....).

And, yeah, I remember Party Lines...I wondered what happened when we couldn't "do" it anymore (I was young).
kitten said…
Great post! I enjoy reading your blog as well. I started blogging late in 2006 and now I'm so addicted its not even funny!
Hootin Anni said…
Yes, this is just so true Pamela. Blog sites and our own in particular has some life changing qualities to be sure.

Your Fun Monday is tops as always. Good one.
laurie said…
thousands of entries! how does she keep up?

i thought of my own blog as life-changing, too, because it really did open up the internet and the world for me.

but then i figured the very first website that got me beyond just doing email (irish peat) was more accurate. even though everyone continues to vote for my dog!
Unknown said…
I wanted to list my blog for the reasons you did.

I remember party lines, my grandma had one for years. I think hers was one of the last ones to go. As a little kid I sometimes listened in. shhhhh. :)

PS - I wrote my little camera thing for you and I'm so happy it seems you recognized it.
DesLily said…
well I'm certainly old enough to remember party lines! *groan* and I still refuse to have a cell phone! I'm sorry, I just think phone calls should be private and not public..and... and... no matter how efficient they are, there are times your mind should be on something other than who you are talking to on the other end of the phone! (i'm not totally against them.. they are wonderful for emergencies!)
Anonymous said…
I didn't even know what a blog was until my son-in-law showed me Ree's. I was hooked. The burps and Ethel Merman and the kiddos had me hooked.
Then I met you. One of the most caring, sensitive bloggers I've "met."
Kim said…
That's very cool, your own blog changing your life. I know what you mean. I do love blogging and don't think I could give it up now.
Anonymous said…
YouTube is the bestest!
Helene said…
I would have to have said my own website as well... Its wonderful to have something all your own and have people comment... make connections based on your thoughts and words...

Dating was very different for me as well! I cant imagine doing it again at my age, but if I were a kid... I would think all the technology is super!! A great way to get to know someone! PLUS it makes the world that much smaller... the proverbial sea of fish got a lot larger with the internet!!
thefoodsnob said…
All great choices, and You Tube is great for a winter 'break!'


Lisa
Anonymous said…
Party lines. Yeah. I remember them. I mean, I remember them being in that movie, Pillow Talk with Doris Day and Rock Hudson.
I love that movie.
Anonymous said…
I throughly enjoy reading your blog, and Karmyn's. I've visited Pioneer Woman several times, but as I'm blog hopping I found OMSH, just what I was looking for to learn more on web design.

Have a great Monday, Pamela!
Anonymous said…
I'd have to say that I agree with you. PW really has mastered the art of blogging/posting.

I think my web site I can't live without is my bank web site for online banking LOL I check it everyday.
Jill said…
isn't blogging fun. i would hesitate to say that my own blog would be my favorite.. but i'm glad you said yours was!
Kim said…
I meant to say earlier that I remember party lines! When I was a little girl, my grandparents had one. If you picked up the phone at their house, you could listen to someone else's conversation. Being the nosy little brat that I was, I did it often!
Anonymous said…
I signed up with Facebook and was initially addicted to it. There's so much you can do there. It did become time consuming, though, and I haven't kept up as much as I should
Beccy said…
I signed up for facebook but wasn't smitten...so much so that I have now forgotten my password.

I love the way we blog almost in a community with many of us reading the same blogs. I get as much pleasure and laughs from reading comments as I do from posts.
-Ann said…
Great post - thanks for participating and sharing your sites, even if you were a little skeptical. :)
Michelle said…
Great post! I love the Pioneer Woman. I made her pot roast yesterday! :)
Tiggerlane said…
I agree with you on all, even tho I DO have a Facebook account. I have no idea why, tho. DON'T do it - you aren't missing a thing!
ChrisB said…
I always enjoy your posts and who could fail to like Ree and Willowtree. I actually agree with what beccy says about our own blogging community and enjoying the comments.

Also I'm like you about facebook. I'm quite happy with the blogs I visit so another type of account would be wasted as I don't have the time.
Faye said…
Couldn't agree with you more Pamela. Our own blogs introduce us to circle of people that we can appreciate--there's always shared interests and experiences shared through our blogs.
C... said…
I am so on your Dust Reads blog roll! I am honored! I have been really unreliable as a blogger lately but life just keeps getting more interesting. Stay tuned!
Tammy said…
Yes, I can agree that my own blog has changed my life in so many ways, too! Amazing to think about, isn't it?

Have a good week, Pamela!
Kaytabug said…
I agree with you too on my own blog being a life changing site for me, for the same reasons you listed.
Are Ree and Peter(WT) the gateway drugs for bloggers?
Great choices!
Anonymous said…
Like you, my blog is so much more than just a website. Keep on Bloggin'

I guess I am carbon dating myself but we used to have party lines. It was the late 70's or very early 80's when they finally changed our phones to individual lines. And now I use a VoIP line. How things have changed.
Anonymous said…
Ok, I'll cook. But, on one condition.....you let me dust, too! I'd *love* to get a wet cloth and wipe your header! LOL
Anonymous said…
In all honesty, I don't think I would live without my blog...well wait...yes I would - I have CROCHET!!
Sauntering Soul said…
My blog has also changed my life in ways I would never have imagined. I've met wonderful people all over the U.S. and around the world and would never have met them in any other way than through blogging.

I really enjoy reading yours even though I don't comment very often.
Walker said…
And it's a great blog, too!!!
You chose right grasshopper when you chose your own blog. I enjoy it along with the others who have made comments. How do you manage to find the time to answer everyone or let them know you are there? I liked your "wierd news" too. It is obvious that you are a special person or you wouldn't have the following you have. Have a nice day.
Hayden said…
great choice!

do I remember party lines? Not only do I remember them, but we still had them in my town when I got work as a telephone installer, and I had to learn all the wiring schematics to make them work! Hated that.
Anonymous said…
Oh my, more fun links to click around on! It's taken me two days to visit all the Fun Monday-er, and I'm still not done! This is really great though, thank you for sharing.
Great post for a great topic. It IS amazing how blogging will make you take more notice of life....and (in my case) let go of the little stuff, if it isnt worth blogging it isnt worth stressing over. Thanks for the comment.
Anonymous said…
I have retired once and had hoped i could start my outside "fun" interests. My cousin introduced us to the blogging world after we spent a weekend "fixing" her computers. Unfortunately, though I would prefer blogging as a full time rec, I started a second career, becoz, bills don't but this is a great way to met and make friends. I enjoy your site and your comments - and your daughter's as well. Keep it up, it is a good outlet. NLM
bichonpawz said…
Pamela! What a terrific idea....I never even thought of my own blog! I was just thinking how difficult an assignment this was as there have been so many different sites that have changed my life in many different ways. But yes, I quite agree, that blogging is a way of life now. I love it and have come to rely on it for relaxation...certainly more entertaining than television...wouldn't you say?? GREAT post!
BarnGoddess said…
good answer!

I like your website too.

When I started blogging, I never dreamed of the people I would be so lucky to meet...especially the ones hundred of miles away.

It was also a great suprise when I realized, these people are not only interesting but I like hearing what they've got to say.
Carla said…
Blogs certainly do have a way of morphing and taking over and are life changing. I've met the most interesting people through blogging.
Wendster said…
You are no slouch yourself, Ma'am! 50 comments today alone! I LOVE love love your blog. You are such a talented writer, and such a kind friend. I just wanted to let you know that I have "bag tagged" you. Oh... and you are the second person to tell me about Pioneer Woman. Ellen mentioned her as well. WOW. I've got to go and check her out.
Anonymous said…
Think you made a good choice, im loving your blog
Anonymous said…
I didn't sign up for fun Monday last week, with not having much to say, and not much time to visit. You did a wonderful post here about websites.

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