Search Engine Optimization - KEYWORDS

Lola
I'm familiar with all of those except SEO. I for one would appreciate if you can pull together information on SEO.

So - even though I am in no way an expert on SEO (Search Engine Optimization) let's see what I can do. It's a big topic so I'm splitting it up a bit - in this first article, I'll talk about choosing good keywords, then we'll move on to how to build traffic by using them.

Focus on keywords

If you don't know what keywords to associate with your site, it is going to be impossible to optimize your site for search engines - basically, key words are all search engines 'care' about.

So your first step is to figure out what your keywords should be.

This is easier said than done because there is a balance to be found. You want keywords that people will actually search for - but not ones that are so ubiquitous that there is no way that you're ever going to make it to the top of a search engine.

SEO - for example, is a hot term that lots of people search for - unless you are going to REALLY focus on SEO and take on a whole lot of people and businesses who are already well established in that niche, your site is going to languish on page way-too-far-down-to-matter in the search engines.

Writing is another term that gets a lot of searches - but again, way too much competition to be really useful.

Google Adwords tool gives you a great way to figure out what keywords are likely to work for your site. I used it, for example, with mature students. And found out that mature students is a weak search term - you Americans don't use it, you use nontraditional students.

Which is why I moved away from mature and try to use nontraditional in my Nontraditional Students R Us blog.

With the Google Adwords tool, you type in your ideas for potential keywords, and it comes back with numbers - how many advertisers are paying for ads that use that keyword, and the local and global monthly search volume for not only the word you submitted but also for related terms.

Anything that says "Not enough data" is not an appropriate choice for your blog because not enough people are searching that term for it to bring you enough traffic to matter.

Any word that is so general that it gets millions of searches is also not your best choice, as we've already discussed.

So you are looking for terms that are somewhere in the middle - words or phrases that fit with what you have to offer (because you are going to be using them a lot and if they don't fit you are going to hate that) and that generate a decent amount of traffic.

There are other ways to come up with keywords, also. One is to pay attention to what YOU search for on the Internet. And another is to pay attention to what works on your site even when you weren't necessarily trying to use good SEO techniques.

Most site hosts provide statistics about your visitors. On blogspot, most of us use Google Analytics, I think ... it gives very useful information about your blog's traffic, albeit a day later.

Once you have signed up for Google Analytics, copied and pasted the snippet of code into your site template (you do that by going to Layout, Edit Html in blogspot) and waited for it to start sending you data (usually a day or two), you can log into Google Analytics and see how much traffic your site is getting and - more importantly - what keywords people have used to find you.

On the left of the basic report, there are links to other more specific reports - the one you want is "Traffic Sources" ... it includes a list of the keywords people have already used to arrive at your site, and may well give you some words or phrases that you can use to improve your ranking and draw more traffic.

As I said before, I am not an expert in SEO - there are a lot of people who are though. For more information, I would suggest starting with THE experts. The Official Google Webmaster Blog, for example, or you can download the Google Search Engine Optimization Guide.

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Generating Blog Traffic

Another question from Shakespeare - this one was about ways of generating blog traffic. I know, you asked Steph, not me... but I offered to tackle it for her and she took me up on it.

I am assuming, Shakespeare, from what I know about you as a blogger, that you are interested more in real traffic, rather than just numbers/making money - so that is the sort of traffic I am going to focus on.... and I do know that you already do some of the things that I suggest - in that case, just keep doing 'em :)

So - ways to generate sticky blog traffic:

Content

Most people already know - or have read, at least - that "content is king". And this is absolutely true... if you don't have content people want to read, they won't read, won't stay and won't bother bookmarking. So keeping your focus on content should always be the first priority.

Unfortunately, even with the best of content, if few people find you, few will ever know how wonderful your content is. Which is why the following things are also valuable:

Comment

Real comments - not empty/self-promoting ones, of course - but real, thoughtful comments, are an important way to generate traffic. Comments potentially bring traffic from the person whose blog you comment on, and also from other commenters. Plus there is something to be said for name recognition - the more you comment the more often people will see your name/link ... so even if they don't follow you the first time, it's well worth doing.

Of course, you'll want to make sure that your address is in your comments!

If, like me, you have more than one blog, it's good to change links to the most relevant link as you go.

Links

Blogging is all about connections - that means links. To build page rank, links to your blogs are especially helpful. You can't, of course, run around demanding that other bloggers link to you (and use the keywords you want to them to use while they do it) ... but you can, whenever possible, be generous with the links you use in your blog.

If people see traffic coming from your blog, they might just follow them to see what you've written, and be more likely to return the favour. And even if not, if people see that you ARE generous with links, they may be more inclined to comment.

Links that include searchable keywords are always preferable. So if we wanted to link to your site for example:

• Visit Creative Arts Anonymous here (pretty near useless; no-one searches for "here")
• Visit Creative Arts Anonymous (better - but still limited as not many are likely to search for "Creative Arts Anonymous")
• See what Creative Arts Anoymous has to say about talent and God (even better)
• Shakespeare blogs about writing, piano-playing, drama, talent & family life (best)
  

Participate

Most online forums allow you to put a links/links to your sites in your signature (look for User CP/signature) - once you've done that, participating in forums related to your blog topic(s) can generate a fair bit of traffic - and best of all, its traffic that is more likely to be interested enough to stay/comment/bookmark.

Twitter is another possibility - you don't have to spend hours on it, but if you build up a following, and then tweet each new blog post, you're likely to generate some traffic that way. You will want to add a link to your Twitter account to your blog, as well, to make it easy for other twitterers to follow you (she says as she realizes she hasn't done it since she moved)

Submit to directories

At the very least, you should, if you haven't already, submit your blog to Blog Catalog. There are others out there as well, but Blog Catalog is the one that I see the most hits from.

Make it easy for users to pass it on

Digg, StumbleUpon, Reddit and a whole bunch of other social networking sites offer widgets that you can attach to your posts to make it easier for bloggers to recommend your posts to those sites. This is something I really haven't explored with blogspot - will try to do that tomorrow - seems to me there should be a widget that can do that for us.

Consider Entrecard and/or BlogExplosion

While both Entrecard and BlogExplosion require some time investment - its not enough to just sign up for them - you also have to spend some time dropping (on Entrecard) or blog-surfing (on BlogExplosion) - both sites are very good at kick-starting some traffic on your blogs.

And of course, you're not committed to remaining with either .... when you stop using them, your numbers will drop, at least initially.... but the GOOD traffic, the connections and quality blog visitors will stick (because of your excellent content, of course!)

There are all kinds of great resources out there about SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and about all aspects of blogging .... and if you want to get that far into it, I'd be happy to pull together some resources... but hopefully for now, this, and any additional input from Steph's many brilliant readers - come on, what did I miss? .... will help.

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Canada/US - the biggest differences, eh?

Shakespeare wrote:

I do actually have a question just for you, flit. Since I know you are Canadian... What would you say are the biggest differences between Canadians and Americans? I'm very interested in knowing what you think.

Yay! A question for the Canadian edition of Ask Anything. Thanks Shakespeare.

So ... the biggest differences:

Health Care

The first one that comes to mind is one which conflicts with some of the rhetoric I've heard for as long as I can remember. Common wisdom seems to be that Canadians are sheep - we are polite, tolerant, and all sorts of positive-but-wussy stuff. In contrast, Americans tend to be portrayed as louder and more demanding. That interests me because it is so totally contradictory to my perception when it comes to health care.

Canadians expect quality health care to be available when we need it - and when there are issues we squack about it. Loudly. Many Americans, on the other hand, seem to think it perfectly reasonable that people suffer for no good reason while insurance companies decide who lives and who dies and whose pockets their hard earned money ends up in. Even people who HAVE coverage are at constant risk of a huge financial hit, it seems to me. And yet nothing is done about it. That boggles my mind. Seriously.

I get that many people buy the hype about socialized medicine having all kinds of problems - and there are problems... but we have health care. I never once - even when I was an unemployed single mom, a student, whatever.. had to choose between taking my kids to a doctor and feeding them. And never once had to stay in a lousy job because my family needed the health insurance either.

I just don't understand why every American doesn't apply to emigrate to Canada - preferably all on the same day - that would make the point that health care matters, wouldn't it?

How can anyone look at life expectancy rates for people in the US and not realize that there is a problem?

There are other differences that I also find contradictory - no maternity leave? What's up with that? When I had my kids, the mandatory mat leave was 6 months - now it's a year.

Maybe it's true that Americans are more loud and demanding than Canadians - but if so, WHY do you keep putting up with so much less than pretty much every other developed country? I honestly don't ~get~ it.

Litigiousness

My perception is that Americans need lawyers a whole lot more than we Canucks do. When I have talked to people or posted online about issues with doctors, or businesses, or schools, or just about anything ...almost invariably someone will suggest that I call a lawyer..file a lawsuit... take it to court.

We do have lawyers here - but very few malpractice or personal injury claims or that sort of thing; it is just not done. Most issues can be resolved using services already in place such as ombudsmen or mediation - without a lawyer.


Guns

Guns are no where near as easy to get or to use here as they are in Canada. Once upon a time, I wondered if that was just more media hype ...but the more people I've talked to/read online, the more clear it is that it isn't.

Not that nobody has guns here - criminals traffic them in from the US, and hunters have them .... and there are collectors (I know of one) ... but they just are nowhere NEAR as common here as there. I have never held a gun more dangerous than a water pistol - and have no desire to either, thanks.

We pay more for less

Last year when the Canadian dollar was at or near par with the US it became extremely obvious to me that we Canadians are paying WAY TOO MUCH for way too many things - even things that are made in Canada! Even before we pay taxes, which in many parts of Canada are considerably higher than you pay in the US, at least on a day-to-day basis, the prices were stinking stOOpid.

Even when the dollar was at par, our prices were still 20% or more higher than similar items in the US. What really irks me is when we get hit for things that we have plenty of here in Canada - beef, oil, lumber, water - that's just gouging, and it truly aggravates me.

We are a ~little~ slow sometimes

Canadians tend to be a bit slow in some areas that I wish we would show more initiative in. Space exporation; environmental technologies, entertainment... I'm sure there are others.

Not that we don't take the lead in any areas - we've done pretty well in medical research and RIM, the company that made my Blackberry is an industry leader - but in my opinion we could do better, quit behaving like the US' little brother and think for ourselves more often.

I'm sure as I think about it, I'll come up with more differences - or, if you have an opinion about any of these, or any things that I missed, jump in!

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Ask Me .... Uh.... Almost Anything - the Canadian Edition

I am a bad substitute blogger. I did fully intend to write this post earlier.... just as soon as I finished the last of my essays ...

but then I had dinner ...

and no sooner had a finished eating than the left side of my face blew up.

I somehow developed a HUGE uncomfortable swelling that has taken over pretty much the whole side of my jaw. So instead of being a good substitute blogger - and celebrating the completion of my essays, I got to spend the several hours in our local emergency room. ~Fun~ times!

Anyway, I'm fine, if a ~leetle~ stoned on painkillers .... and while Steph is away I shall do my best to cover this blog for her.

So if you have any questions .... about whatever, but keep in mind that I am most assuredly NOT a rocket scientist... I will do my best.

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Meme from Books and Movies

I saw this meme on Books and Movies and decided to try it myself. I don't do a book blog, but I do love to read.

1. To mark your page you: use a bookmark, bend the page corner, leave the book open face down? Librarians would hate me, but I often dogear the cover. However, if I have something handy I can use as a book mark, I'll use that. I don't leave the book open face down unless I'm only leaving for a minute.

2. Do you lend your books? I used to lend them all the time (with some unfortunate results). I still loan books, but I'm pickier about whom I lend them to. Also, nothing gives me the yen to reread a favorite like loaning it to someone.

3. You find an interesting passage: you write in your book or NO WRITING IN BOOKS! I might write in a book that I was using for reference (or highlight). However, I don't write in books or fiction, pretty much ever. I might note the page (I love that my Sony eReader allows me to book mark favorite passages).

4. Dust jackets - leave it on or take it off? I like dustjackets but my children (1 and 5) are assiduous in hating them and take them off for me or tear them.

5. Hard cover, paperback, skip it and get the audio book?
I'll read or listen to a book in almost any form. I went to the trouble to find Georgette Heyer in hardback because I wore the books out. Books worn out, I'll try to find them in hardback.

6. Do you shelve your books by subject, author, or size and color of the book spines? Originally, I shelve in groups, usually by author, but over time it becomes a mess.

7. Buy it or borrow it from the library later?
I do both.

8. Do you put your name on your books - scribble your name in the cover, fancy bookplate, or stamp?
I only put my name on books I intend to loan out, scribbled on the title page, usually.

9. Most of the books you own are rare and out of print books or recent publications?
My tastes are eclectic, though I have few "expensive" books.

10. Page edges - deckled or straight?
I've never thought about it.

11. How many books do you read at one time?
Usually four or five.

12. Be honest, ever tear a page from a book?
Not that I can recall.

By the way, I'm going to be out of pocket for a week so flit is going to take over my Ask Me Anything duties. Some time the next couple of days, she'll tell you more about herself - for those of you who don't know her.

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For atorturedsoul: How Far Is the Horizon?

For atorturedsoul: When you are looking out at the ocean and you can see the horizon, exactly how far away is the horizon?

Well, I'll be honest, I had no idea, but Wikipedia had the answer, of course. There are formulas, in general, for someone standing on the shore looking into the distance: in SI, it's Distance(km)=square root[13*height of the eye above sea level(m)]

Check the link for a similar formula for "standard" units (Yes, I'm pro-SI).

But there's an exact formula for finding the distance to a horizon that applies, even to satellites:

D=SQRT(2Rh+h^2) where R is the radius of the planet and h is the distance above the surface of the earth (same units)

Cool question, atorturedsoul. I love learning something I didn't know.

UPDATE: for those for whom math causes seizures or brain damage, for someone 1.7 m tall (~5'7"), the horizon would be ~4.7 km away.

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Woohoo, I got another award (for Rocket Scientist)

This time, the talented Bookish Gal gave me an award. True, it was for Rocket Scientist, my other blog, but, hey, it's all me and I needed a topic for Ask Me Anything today (hint, hint, could use some more questions).

This is a really great award, too, the Premio Dardos Award, which is described as:

This award acknowledges the values that every blogger shows in his or her effort to transmit cultural, ethical, literary, and personal values every day. The rules to follow are: 1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link. 2) Pass the award to up to 15 other blogs that are worthy of this acknowledgment. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Wow, what a compliment. I mean what could be better than transmitting "culturing, ethical, literary and personal values" every day. I'm floored and thrilled. Thank you, Bookish! You were a marvelous choice for a recipient.

So, who to pass it on to? Again, so many choices...

I wanted to get someone who makes an effort to get out there every day or at least several times a week.

• Flitting Through Canadian Fiction
• The How and Why of Self-Reliance
• Thirty Something and Searching
• All About Bipolar
• Nonfiction Book Review
• Habitation Intention
• The Virtual Dime Museum
• The Modern Historian
• Black Holes and Astrostuff
• First Door on the Left

No obligation to any of the recipients, of course. Just wanted to know I appreciate the opportunities to learn from all of you.

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For Flit: Why Are So Many Torqued at Today.com

flit asked: why are so many people so perturbed with today.com?

Why indeed. You might want to sit down for this.

Today.com is a blogging site that touts itself as a place where you can be paid to blog. I'm going to tell you my side of my story and then you are welcome to add your own bits or more questions or whatever. Many of us are putting stories on a blog called today.com exiles.

Let me start by saying: don't quit your day job. My sister was a member there and I pointed it out to flit and then flit convinced me to join (and, if I can figure out how to put flit into the conversation one more time, I can link her fourth blog). Anyway, I started out at the brilliant pay of $1/blog (up to one a day), minimum 150 words. Well, I wasn't in it for the money, which is a good thing. If you write a post that takes any effort, any time at all, you're drastically underpaid. But it's better than nothing. We are also paid for our traffic at what was described as $2/1000 hits. Every month they pay you and review your posts for "quality" and popularity wherein you can be bumped to a lower (or, in theory, higher) pay grade. You can't have ads because they are running ads on your blog.

Seemed fine to me. I was out in the blogoverse and, truly, I was enjoying myself. There were a number of high caliber today.com blogs, and a diverse world of other worthy blogs out there as well that I had never known. I started to have fun. Wasn't getting paid, really, but I was enjoying myself.

Then they started to change things. First, they made us all use the same template, presumably for their own comfort. Not that the template was terrible or couldn't be worked with, but many were disturbed by the uniform look of today.com and the loss of individuality. Then came the pressure to hawk products in our blogs and they'd give back a portion of the kickback on that (how much? Who knows? I don't. I refused to do so. If I'm going to take to writing advertisements, I'll damn sure be paid better than $1/post).

Still, even those that were disappointed mostly trudged on. After all, today.com was paying us. Then some people started noticing posts missing, money missing, discrepancies between the actual traffic and the traffic being paid for, etc. Unbeknown to most of us, they'd query on a private today.com forum and then be quietly kicked out, often without any prior notice.

Grumbling brought out belligerence from powers that be (and whiny stories about hardship from the leader of today.com) that we could suck it up or leave. Then Entrecard's new policy meant today.com was kicking us off EC. With many of us having limited methods to garner traffic, it was a blow. Then we were told we could keep it but would be given nothing for EC traffic. Then we found out that much of the traffic was paid at a different (and lower rate) than we'd been told. New blogs were no longer being paid per post but were just paid for traffic (using their calculations and their foggy and undefined but lower than advertised rates).

Well, I was losing interest in today.com, though I was still getting paid when a friend of mine let me know she'd been locked out for writing a blog that said she was sad to be losing EC. She was sent an email - your account is closed. Bye. If she hadn't been logged in at that time, she would have lost everything. She was able to clean things up and leave a "find me here note" - though they deleted it next day.

Well, that decided me to make my transition. I moved this blog, Ask Me Anything, but I wasn't changing anything yet, just getting set up. I moved my old EC widget here. A blog pal noticed I was being duplicated and let me know I was being ripped off, so I put up my, "I'm moving my blog here" post for "Ask Me Anything".

Bam, within hours I was locked out. Well, OK, I took my award-winning (Today.com's editor's choice for December!) Rocket Scientist label and moved it to a new blog I built on the fly. Then I notified my pals where to find me. I was irked but not livid. I wasn't moving the material in Rocket Science - just the label and myself, though I liked to think of myself as a boon. For some reason, they unlocked it the next day, so I took out my custom banners and all of my family photos from there. But I wasn't posting any more.

Then I heard about a few more like my friend that had been kicked. Flit and I discussed amongst ourselves. What with the drastic rate cutting and the constant hounding to build traffic and hawk stuff (and, folks, exactly how many people travel to blog to read advertisements - sheesh - that's kinda counterintuitive, isn't it?), we didn't think they'd be around long. Sure enough, on payday, dozens if not most of the today.com bloggers were no longer being paid per post, just on traffic. And being pressured to buy today.com ads (I did before I left - couldn't change it to my new site and 300 views/0 clicks last I saw. I won't be recommending it). Complain on a forum or your own blog - you were locked out with an email like this.

Can I just pause a moment to express my disgust with an organization so STUPID as to take bloggers (many of them exceptionally good) and toss them out in the world for speaking out in private. What did they think, they'd go "Damn, without ANY OUTLET in the entire world to express myself, I'll never be able to complain about today.com again." Folks, this is the internet. You'll be getting way more ugliness than if you'd been honest or respectful or polite or patient. The idiocy of their current policy blows my mind.

Many of the exiles started to get together and compare stories and the stories weren't pretty. You can find links to a number of them here. Today.com started getting all sanctimonious about the enforced exodus and harsh to any and all dissenters (even if the dissension was somewhere other than today.com). Then Today.com announced (in their private forum) that they were not only keeping the content of anyone who left (and NOT paying anyone who left a "find me here" blog - which they would erase - or saying anything derogatory in the private forums), but they'd give the established blog to someone else.

AS IF! Good luck finding another rocket scientist at the jolly sum of $5/month for traffic only.

So, if you find a fresh blog out there where they writer is just a wee bit angsty, don't be surprised if they're a today.com exile.

Oh, and today.com? If you were thinking of starting a blog there, seriously, think again.

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Someone Loves Me

Woohoo, another award. Man, I'm hot.

Although, living in Houston, that's not unusual.

In this case, a charming blog called Got Quads? about a mother and her adventures with her darling little quadruplets passed the "Let's Be Friends" award on to me. Really, I'm desperately flattered.

[UPDATE: I'm also a ditz - squared. Quadmama's blog is Got Quads (and I'd forgotten the link) and she was right - Oldwestmom of Forever Family also gave me this award on March 18. Ack! I'm so sorry I didn't acknowledge it in the midst of my move! Sorry, oldwestmom and quadmama!]

These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to those bloggers who then may choose at least 5 more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.

Of course, the hard part about awards like this is picking just five superlative blogs to pinpoint. Really, it's all but impossible. After more than six months in the blogosphere I've been inundated with clever, charming, funny and/or remarkable blogs. How to pick just five?

*Sigh*

So, I'm going to go this time by pointing out five blogs I've found rather recently that nearly always induce me to comment because I find them charming (albeit sometimes in off-nominal ways). Sometimes they make me think. Sometimes they make me laugh. Always, I'm enticed to read. These five are NOT the extent of the charming blogs I know, by any stretch, but they are a worthwhile read. And I'd be honored if they'd be friends with me.

Observations of a Nerd
Clarity 2009
Predator Press (I know it's been around a while, but I've just really gotten involved)
Occult View
Blanca DeBree Blog (so I find excessive sarcasm charming. Sue me.)

Now I'll notify all the lucky recipients so that they can laugh at me for my presumption. Have a good one. And believe me, if you're in my blog catalog favorites or my blog list, I'm a fan. Seriously.

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For Kathy: A Rainbow of Explanations

Kathy said: Yesterday a friend and I were admiring some beautiful clouds on a perfectly sunny and lovely day. We noticed that one very large, oblong cloud was surrounded by not one, but two rainbows. It hadn't rained a drop all day. How is this phenomenon possible without rain?

Such a good question and so many cool things to say and show you. Most people know that rainbows are the refraction of light through water droplets (like rain) in the sky with the water droplet acting like a prism. The full spectrum being seen is a result of seeing light reflected in many water droplets as an individual watching could only see the light refracted at a particular wavelength through a particular droplet. Wikipedia (damn, I love that site) has an excellent write-up of the physics/optics of it as well as some slick pictures.

Here's a key factor: droplets don't have to be falling on you for them to be seen. In fact, if you're standing in the sun and looking on rain in the distance, you stand a much better chance of seeing one. Rainbows can be caused by seaspray (or other water spray), dew, and other mists, basically any water droplets in the atmosphere. Some other cool things about rainbows I gleaned looking into it was that the light below the primary rainbow is lighter than just above it. Look at the picture below and you'll see what I'm talking about.

By Eric Rolph taken at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska

You can see the lovely arc of the primary and, above it, the dim vision of the secondary. Notice it's not raining. The Wikipedia link shows rainbows on seaspray and in the spray of a geyser

However, there are other cool types of rainbows even than these like moonbows, rainbows from the light of the moon. How cool is that. Here's a picture.

Photo of a Lunar Rainbow taken from the Zambia side of Victoria Falls. The constellation Orion is visible behind the top of the moonbow. Taken by Calvin Bradshaw.

And there are more cool phenomena, including apparent rainbows in the ice crystals of cirrus clouds like this little lovely. It's called a circumhorizontal arch and there are some cool pictures here, too. And a real stunner taken over Idaho here.

Circumhorizontal arc, photographed in Idaho, June 3, 2006, by Gavin Anderson

So, hope that helped. It's cool stuff.

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For Aron: Forgoing Children Part Two

Aron said and asked: For full disclosure, I support the childfree movement. Also, i'm only speaking from my experiences in my high school, this might not be a national trend. What do you think?

I think that's a far more complex question than it looks like, for one thing. Bear in mind, also, this is all my opinion and not a condemnation or advocation of any personal choice. There's kind of two aspects of it:

• What's going on in the world
• What one wants to do individually

In part one, I opined that, though I thought the childfree movement, i.e. educated individuals forgoing children, would have a negligible effect on world population, I thought the education that accompanied that movement, tied with efforts to increase/retain natural resources and enhance conservation would be a good thing.

But now I'm addressing the second part which I define as "What do you think about me forgoing children personally?" Short answer: I think everyone is entitled to forgo children guilt-free. And, although I have three children of my own and I wouldn't change being a parent for anything, I'd encourage anyone anxious to have children to think about it long and hard.

Why? For the good of the world?

No. Because you shouldn't gamble with children.

Children are work. They are frustrating, heart-breaking, tiring, financially and mentally draining. Having children cramps your style, trashes your schedule, completely rearranges your priorities.

So, why does anyone have them? Because being a parent, a good parent, is the most rewarding, fulfilling, wonderful job in the world. Everything I said before is true, too. It's as frustrating and challenging as I said. It's just worth it. If you don't have children, that likely doesn't make any sense. If you do have children, I didn't need to explain it.

But being a parent isn't for everyone and, unlike many jobs, if you screw it up, you aren't the only one paying for it. There are dozens of good reasons not to have children: you have a genetic disorder you don't want to pass, you have an all-encompassing career, you genuinely don't like children, you don't want to add to the population on principle. All are fine reasons and there are many more. No one, absolutely no one, should have children if it's not what they want to do, if they aren't completely committed to the idea. Being a parent is not something one should do part time or halfway. You shouldn't have children to carry on your name, to get a tax deduction (believe me they're more expensive than a tax deduction could ever justify), to get more from welfare, to make your mom happy, to make your spouse happy, to convince a boyfriend to marry you, to save your marriage (ha!) because you think children will love and admire you (haha!) or because you think having babies would be fun (it IS fun, but it's also a buttload of hard work).

Being a parent is a lifelong commitment to another person, to love them unconditionally and forever and, if you're not willing to do it 100%, you shouldn't. But, if you do want children, you have educated yourself on the responsibility and you have the heart to give it your all, then I don't see any reason not to have children. I would, for the sake of some lonely, orphaned, misused or neglected children, consider adoption before I considered fertility treatments, but that is a matter of principle.

One more thing. I would say not to decide absolutely today. When you're young, the world can look awfully black and white. Go out there, live a little, find out what makes you happy and what gives you fulfillment. Your thoughts on what you want might change drastically with age and seasoning. And, if it makes you feel better, I would give the same advice to someone your age who wanted a family right away.

Take care. And remember, it's just my opinion.

By the way, what do you think of my new template? Pretty slick, isn't it? Thanks, LadyJava!

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For Aron: Forgoing Children Part One

(Image from ldesign.wordpress.com/2007/03/)

Aron said and asked: For full disclosure, I support the childfree movement. Also, i'm only speaking from my experiences in my high school, this might not be a national trend. What do you think?

I think that's a far more complex question than it looks like, for one thing. Bear in mind, also, this is all my opinion and not a condemnation or advocation of any personal choice. There's kind of two aspects of it:

• What's going on in the world
• What one wants to do individually

For what's going on in the world, overpopulation is a real issue, over all. In one way or the other, we will have to learn to curb our tendencies, left over, I believe, from a world where infant mortality was outrageous. When my grandfather was a child, infant mortality was nearly 50%. Big families were a necessity. When medicine made such strides (as well as our understanding of hygiene), infant mortality dropped drastically, but the notion of big families had not.

But the issue is more complex than just too many people. Too many people, too few resources has more than one solution and, given the size, it needs all of them. If you have more resources than people, you have three options: reduce the number of people, increase the number of resources, or learn how to use the resources you have more effectively. But even that's an oversimplification because it's more than just the total number of people vs. the total amount of resources, it's being able to get the resources to the people who need them, having the right resources of each population. And that's where the childfree movement lags.

Right now, per this growth rate chart, the rate of growth among the first world nations tops out about 1% and most of those countries have a lower growth rate. However, even among nations that are not as successful (but are more technologically adept), growth rates are topping out at 1% or less, including the two most populous nations in the world: China and India. Note that population growth includes immigration as well as children being born.

A key element in all this is education. As you noted, the tendency is for the most educated and career-oriented populations to limit the size of their family (or forgo it altogether). It's likely a key reason why so many technologically adept (or advancing) countries are seeing a decline in the growth rate from the past. The less educated, rural or technologically backward portions of the world will continue to have high birth rates either because there is no accessible method of birth control or because they are not educated to understand the repercussions of unrestrained procreation. [Do note that everyone who has a big family doesn't match that description - the issues are considerably more complex that this broad generalization and there are a thousand explanations and complex factors for individual examples. I'm speaking in terms of populations not individuals here.] For many, religious views are also a factor as they preclude birth control and/or encourage large families. But the educated groups, those that understand the repercussions don't need to consciously limit their family sizes; they will naturally do so, expanding the family only as much as it doesn't affect their own plans and understanding the risks skyrocketing populations.

But that's not where the problem lies.

Further restraining the group that isn't doing the unrestricted procreating makes a negligible dent in the population rate if it makes any at all, because they weren't contributing much already. However, now the uneducated and/or technologically backward parts of the world are getting more populous and the part that understand the problem, the part that can help find solutions, is getting smaller not larger. What I'm saying is that a movement like this is unlikely to be of big benefit, if followed to the letter, and could actually do harm to the next generation.

However, the idea that parenting needs to be responsible and sustainable is a good thing and, if it does nothing more than encourage children to think before become parents, it has served a valuable purpose. If those that think about this take the trouble to take this healthy message to the parts of the populace most in need of it, it serves and even greater purpose as do bringing methods and education about birth control to parts of the world that need it.

But there's more that can be done. Many of the parts of the world that have high growth rates are also not highly populous, but they suffer anyway because of a dearth of resources. With the potential water issues and changes as a result of global climate change, this could become more pronounced. As useful as learning to recycle and grow food in an enclosed environment, like a space colony, are those same lessons can be used for the more backwards parts of the world to help them make use of the environment they have (which, believe it or not, has more potential use for resources than any man-made station) more effectively, providing the resources they need for their populations.

We can also teach not only them but ourselves how to use our resources more effectively. For example, Americans are easily the most wasteful in the world per capita when it comes to energy. Using LESS energy per person would be more effective in curbing our needs than limiting the number of people slightly. And set a good example. Nor are we less wasteful when it comes to food (we probably throw away enough food daily to feed several other nations - but getting that excess to those that are starving is problematic - better to teach them to make their own).

It's a complex issue and, in my opinion, Aron, has a complex answer, not a black and white one.

Tomorrow I'll put up what I think about an individual choice to have children.

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For Patricia: How Do I Get Grandchildren?

Patricia asked: Is there anything a mother can do to get her two adult children (one male age 38 and one female age 25) to even consider getting married and producing grandchildren (preferably in that order) without appearing pushy?

Ah, Patricia, I'm sorry. The short answer is, no.

I'm hoping to be a decade at least from grandchildren myself (my eldest is 14), but I can understand the urge. My baby is already growing up and I'm going to miss her babyness. I can understand wanting to get some more baby time (and not having full responsibility is a plus, too).

But, having a child is a big deal, not a decision to make lightly. They are cute and cuddly, but delicate and challenging. Being a parent (as I'm sure you know) is the most rewarding, frightening, frustrating, miserable, joyful, challenging, painful role in the world. And not a role to take on before one is ready or for any reason other than one's own wants and needs. Your kids would be the ones living with the consequences and responsibility - they would need to be ready for them.

This is just as true for finding a spouse. Pressure just increases the chances of "settling" on the wrong one, and that's not good for anyone. Not your children, not the prospective spouses, not the eventual grandchildren.

I'll bet they know you want grandchildren. Any additional "hinting" is superfluous. Now, I know you're not pushing them, just wistful, so don't think I'm criticizing. And you already know why waiting is necessary, even if it isn't fun.

But, I truly believe that, if that if it's meant to be, it will be. And when you have the grandchildren you'll have when your kids are ready and (hopefully) happily involved with people that make them complete, you'll be as glad they waited as they will be. I hope it works out for you and you get the grandchildren you want, but only at the right time for your children.

In the meantime, you can always get a part time job in a daycare.

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For Aron: What Do You Do When Your Writing's Not So Good

Aron said: I can't write a good blog post! I don't know why, but the last 7 or so posts I wrote have been so bad that I scraped them. I sit down and try to write, but what comes out on "paper" I'm not happy with. Maybe I'm being a perfectionist, but what I write now seems to be at a lower quality then what I wrote before. Help, please. I have 2 hours a day scheduled to blogging, one hour for writing, one hour for community efforts. But, even if I spend two hours on a post, they still reek.

Take a breath, Aron. I don't know anyone who writes regularly who isn't plagued by this kind of thing, myself included. Everyone who writes has had days when an idea that sounded great when you were thinking about it just didn't ring true when put on "paper."

Sometimes, it's because the ideas themselves are lacking. That happens to everyone. Eventually, a good idea or concept will hit you. More often, and this is the most common, you are just too critical and that could be proximity (you're just too close), currently feeling down on yourself or just not feeling in the mood for what you're writing. And, sometimes, and this happens to everyone, one's writing just reeks.

There are two basic ways of dealing with it. One is to back off writing until you start to write things you like again (or get some distance on what you have written so you can read it objectively). You might use the "time off" to get some inspiration, reading something that you aspire to emulate. You might find something different to do with your time, something that relaxes you like indulging in some other creative function (music or art) or losing yourself in mindless entertainment like video games or sports. Maybe it's your mind's way of telling you to take a break. For me, this is what this kind of thing usually means. When I start writing crap (and when I write crap, it's REALLY bad), it's usually a sign for me that I need to regroup.

However, for some, the appropriate response is to continue to write through their craptastic phases. either because they can only beat the blahs by writing through them or because it's not as bad as they think and they won't know until they get some distance or because, by writing forward, they can get past the part they don't like and keep the story (or whatever going). Then, they can go back and fix what's broken once the rest is in place. That's less compelling for blogs, but, for some, writing through the dry patches is how they bring the dry patches to an end.

I'm, personally a proponent for the first for myself, but each writer has to decide what works best for them (and it might involve trying both methods to see what works). My sister works the second method and it's the one for her.

I can't cure it, but I can tell you that most dry patches are not life long. I can also tell you that you are far from alone in struggling with your writing at times.

Good luck. I hope you find your way out of the blahs and back into the world where you like your writing as much as we do.

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For JD: Snippet of What a Feelin'!

OK, it's a capella, my son kept wandering into the room while I was singing (to moan), I'm sitting on my chaise, I never practiced, well you get the picture. If you were hoping I was really Irene Cara, sorry. But here it is.

Here it is.

I hope you aren't TOO disappointed, JD.

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Call for Questions

OK, I know I haven't answered Shakespeare and I haven't sung yet for JD. But I'm writing a post anyway, a short one.

See, Shakespeare's question is a good one and, truth told, I'm not sure what the answer is. By the time I've figured out what methods are most effective for building traffic, assuming I ever figure that out, she'll be bored or putting her kids through college or something. So, if anyone's got some advice I can compile for Shakespeare, that would be great.

(And, Shakespeare, I know I owe your novel chapters a read. For those that missed it, my sister, Shakespeare, novel chapters made it as one of the 500 quarterfinalists for Amazon.com's breakthrough novel contest, so do check it out! Unfortunately, there's only until April 15th, so hurry! I'll do the same!)

Anyway, I'm looking for feedback for Shakespeare, like the hints judemiller got for her question on putting a picture in the middle of a post.

I'm also looking for some more good questions. I've had several humdingers, several thought provoking questions, several that really made me do some research. So, what else do you want to know? Want to know more about the human spaceflight programs? More about what to do in a social situation? Want a tarot reading? It's what I'm here for.

Let me have it.

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Placeholders

OK, I know I owe Shakespeare the second have of her question on getting a blog more visibility (as if we all didn't want that). And I owe JD a rendition of "What a Feeling" from Flashdance. Relax Max said he'd be back with a question, though I don't think he has yet.

judemiller wanted to know how to put a picture in the middle of the post. I have no idea, but that's on my list to find out.

For those who have dropped or contacted via the blogcatalog or any other method, I will return your drops and contacts. I'm just falling behind at the moment. I have an explanation up at Rocket Scientist. With any luck, I can go back to schedule and catch up with my favorite folks and blogs later this weekend.

You know I love you guys!

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For Anonymous: Cyber Cold Shoulder

Anonymous asked: Social networking sites - If a couple is on 1 particular site, what do you think of 1 person in that couple not friending/following the other person in that couple?

Alright, I'm assuming we're talking about a romantic couple.

Well, you asked my opinion, so I'll tell you: I don't know, but I'd advise against assuming the worst unless you have other reasons to do so.

I've written several posts about finding and making time for yourself. It is easy to see this as a variation on this. When I was on Gather, I knew several coupkes who were friends and several who had alters that they at least intended to be secret from spouses or whatever. They're are several potential reasons for this.

One is that it's a circle of friends that might be just your SO's. Some people, especially folks that have limited numbers of "their own" friends, might feel possessive of their on-line community. ZMy husbands has bunches of friends in chat and other forums and, although he's invited me to join, I feel like he needs his own buds.

Secondly, and don't take this the wrong way, your SO may need a place to vent. Many a marriage or relationship has been saved by one or both having a place to bitch and unload. True, there's something to be said for telling your partner what's bothering you, but sometimes talking it over with a friend makes you feel like someone is on your side OR can help you put things in perspective if you're blowing them out of proportion.

Some people, of course, have a private life for nefarious reasons, but, truly, there are plenty of non-nefarious reasons about. If this is bothering you, though, I urge you to talk it over with him or her. Then you won't have to speculate and your partner can understand how you feel about this.

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For Quadmama: How Identical Is Identical?

Quadmama asked: How identical are identical twins? Do they share the same blood type and fingerprints?

I love this question.

“Identical” or monozygotic twins are twins created from a single fertilized egg (as opposed to a multiple eggs fertilized with multiple sperm or fraternal twins).

How alike are they? Very alike. In theory, they a genetically identical. Except for very unusual cases, they are the same gender and have the exact same set chromosomes. But how alike are they practically?

You asked about blood type . Theirs should be identical since that is genetically driven (though, again, there are unusual diseases and operations that can change it, but it's very unlikely that any of those things could happen.

Fingerprints, however, are influenced by environment and apparently created by our skin glands. The are also affected by wear and scars. For those reasons, identical twin would have individual (i.e. different) fingerprints.

Other genetic traits may not be identical. As children grow, different genetic factors can turn off and on, even though the genes are present identically. For that reason, a twins who have a genetic predilection for diabetes does not guarantee that both will get it, or if one does, the other one will. They have the same genes, but they aren't necessarily using those genes the same way. The older the twins, the more pronounced those changes (and, if the environments are different, that also increases those changes).

Personalities, naturally, are not interchangeable and radically different environments (like adopted twin separated young) will show more differences than twins growing up together. However, similarities, even among twins that have never know each other, argue genetics play a part as well.

It's a fun topic, and I'm glad you asked, quadmama.

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For Shakespeare: Making a Blog

Shakespeare asked: How do I start up my blog here, and what do I do with the old one once I've started this one?

This was pretty simple and straightforward.

First, up on the banner at the top of my blog, there should be a part that says, "Create Blog". Click it.

It will prompt you to either set up a profile with Google or, if you already have one, you can click the sign in link and there you go. If you don't, fill out the information and get one. It's easy. I had one because it makes commenting on many blogs so much easier.

Then, put in the name you want for the blog and a proposed name of the blog. Click the "check availability" until it tells you that blog is available. Then fill out the rest.

Click continue. Then pick a template. Most of these have different colors and styles, but I suspect most are customizable. I used "Minima Dark" for Rocket Science and this one. If you don't like the color, you can change it later. Some templates might prompt you for more information.

They have a starting guide.

Getting started on Blogger

If I remember correctly, you get a "congrats" page and your settings page. You can go right to posting or you customize. Places I'd start:

Settings. This is where you describe your blog and make choices, including descptions, settings, word verification, how you want to do comments (there are several options), but it's all pretty self-explanatory.

Layout helps you figure out what you want. I love this one. You can upload a new header (if your template has a customizable header) by clicking "edit" on the header. Ditto with the "About Me", "Blog Archive" or "Followers" widgets (which are standard at least on mine). To add a widget, click either of the "add a widget" and it takes you to google's huge list. Some of the best are on the front page. The Bloglist is fantastic, in my opinion, and you just have to provide URLs. It finds the names, etc. itself.

Then, when you have the elements you want, go to fonts and colors (still in layout) and update to suit yourself.

I suggest playing with it.

As to what to do with the old one? I'd leave a "follow me" blog and tell your friends where to find you.

I'm going to devote another blog to your second question. And I'm hoping others will chime in with their suggestions. That's one of the many cool things about this blog.

I'll also talk to some others about other template ideas in case you want to do something different than the options provided. I hope that helps.

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I'm starting over here

I am moving my Ask Me Anything blog from its former home to blogspot. I will be providing a link for those interested to follow me later today.

Please be patient as I work to put my bloghouse in order. I am, however, still me and still fielding questions. Do provide me one.

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For Davida: Do Something For You

Davida asked: Ok. Danny and I have read your view on my needing time “off” and agree that it better be sooner rather than later. So, now he keeps asking me what I want to do. I haven’t a clue. He’s trying to help me get away and I have no idea what I want to do or where I want to go that won’t be too costly. If $$ were no object, I’d be gone this afternoon. Any suggestions?

I can make suggestions for things to do for a few hours or a day, things I enjoy, like perhaps a spa day or going to a play with friends, but I’m not a vacation person personally. I take my time in small doses. That doesn’t, by the way, mean there’s anything wrong with getting a bigger chunk.

In this, I’m limited to the way my imagination works. I, for instance, might spend a couple of days in Galveston or Corpus Christy. In Galveston, I’d see if there was a bed and breakfast in good repair (per Ike) and I’d go exploring other older buildings and sites in Galveston. At Corpus, of course, it’s all about the beach. Or, for relatively little money (~$250-400, which isn’t much more than a couple of nights in a good motel), I’d see if I could find a quick 2-3 day cruise. A lot of time, they have last minute cancellations so you can get good deals at the last minute. Or you could go to San Antonio for a couple of days, check out the river walk and Sea World. But those are the kind of things that might appeal to me. Or, if I had a family member that lived within long driving distance (or a reasonable flying distance), I might go visit a sister or a cousin, an aunt or a good college friend I don’t often see.

But examples or suggestions are really dependent on who you are and those reflect who I am. I suspect that this time to yourself is about finding Davida again, reaffirming your Davida-ness. I can’t tell you who that is or the best way to find her.

But you can do so by asking yourself a few questions like, what did you used to do to unwind before you got married. I’m not talking about dating, but things you might go do with a good girlfriend or on a long weekend during in college. Maybe there was someone you were close to, in the sort of way you loved who you were when you were with that person, that you could visit. In the end, think about the person you were before you married, or the sort of thing you did before you had children when your husband did his thing and you did yours. That’s where I’d focus my attention.

(Lee, by the way, likes to camp).

I hope that helps.

1. # shakespeareon 05 Apr 2009 at 9:35 am edit this

   It may be, Davida, that you need time alone, too. If you want to go with somebody else, that would save half the expense of a hotel, and you could pack food so that you don’t spend more money on that than normal.

   My favorite “vacation” is a day of writing at a local coffee shop (we have quite a few of those in Seattle!)… so, for the cost of a lunch somewhere and a few coffees, I can write all day, watch people as they come in, write some more, and totally relax.

   It’s really about finding what feeds your own soul. If it’s movies, buy tickets to a film, then to another, then another, and spend the whole day at the theatre. You can splurge on the big popcorn and drink, since you get free refills with them, and otherwise, have a great time for not that much money. Renting movies for a day can also work, if you can get a room to yourself. Some kiosks rent movies for 24 hours for a buck per movie (VERY cheap!).

   Hope you find something. It’s hard to know what you want when it’s been years since you thought of yourself (I know from experience). Then again, that’s an adventure in itself.

2. # Judy Milleron 05 Apr 2009 at 3:06 pm edit this

   I would spend my time at the beach and I wouldn’t do anything hectic like a cruise or driving all day–I would sleep late, walk the beach, wait for high tide and walk the beach some more, or just sit on the beach and listen to the ocean. It always takes away all my stress.

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For Aron: How I Became a Rocket Scientist

Aron said: Hey, you work at NASA, that is really cool. One day you have to write an article on how you landed that job. I dream of leading a space habitation effort with NASA, maybe you could provide a roadmap on how to get that job. If answering this won’t put your job in danger, how much red tape exists in NASA?

OK, there are three part to this: First, how did I come to work for NASA?

Well, that’s rather a long story. First off, unlike you probably are, I never intended to be an engineer. I’d always wanted to be a writer. I also, however, wanted to eat, so I was going to go to college to get a degree to pay the bills. If you’d asked me if I was going to be an engineer my senior year of high school, I would have laughed long and hard. I didn’t even like math–except word problems. Anyway, I needed scholarships and I did a blanketing of scholarship applications.

So, along with an academic scholarhip, I got offered several other scholarships. However, if went into engineering physics, I could take both the scholarship from the engineering college and a scholarship from the physics department. It was a tough major and, once in, I was unwilling to let it beat me so I stuck with it until I graduated. That, and it turns out it ended up suiting me quite well. Who would have guessed

Now, NASA at the time was actively recruiting (as were a number of NASA contractors) so they came to the campus and interviewed prospective students, including me. I was all excited by the opportunity and really wanted NASA to call me, but they were slow and the then Lockheed Engineering and Science Company called me first. By the time NASA called (they work slower, so you know), I’d already been hired. So, no mystery. (My career has been about that planned and more interesting, but you didn’t ask it).

Part 2: Hiring is probably fairly slow at the moment; however, I’ve heard rumors that hiring for “fresh outs” might become pretty hot. There are, additionally, several options to increase your chances. First, you could get involved in a college that has on-going space activities, like University of Colorado or the California Institute of Technology (which co-operates JPL) and try to get involved. If that’s not an option (we can’t all go to a university actively involved with space), you might try one of the programs like internship or volunteer programs that NASA does. If you can’t manage that, there’s always the direct route, like applying at NASAJobs or one of the many space contractors. Some of the commercial space companies might also be worth checking out.

Third part: Is there a lot of red tape at NASA?

Short answer is yes.

The long answer is red tape is part and parcel of any government job. On the one hand, that can be a hassle. On the other, red tape can also be a lifesaver. Many of the safety requirements, for example, call for tests and verifications from parts manufacturers, perhaps inspections, that their processes meet requirements and are consistent. Irksome for a vender, but counterfeit parts or parts that aren’t made from reliable processes have frequently caused problems for launches or hardware in space, like the tin-plated relays that cost the redundant string for four satellites and the whole shebang for four more. So, yes, lots of red tape, but not always a bad thing.

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For Aron: Why So Formal?

Aron asked: Should I go to the prom?

I’m glad you asked that. Wait a minute, you might ask yourself, how could I possibly know whether or not you should go to the prom (other than my phenominal cosmic psychic power)? Well, I wouldn’t.

But I can help you understand what reasons you might have to go to the prom and decide accordingly.

Three main reasons to go come to my mind.

First reason: you have a special someone to take or potentially to support who very much wants to go to the prom. If you have a girlfriend (or a potential girlfriend) for whom the prom really matters or you have a friend who doesn’t want to miss the prom but doesn’t have a date and wants you to go to support them. If that’s the case, you probably should go to the prom, especially if we’re in the date situation.

The second reason: you really want to go. If this is something you’ve always been curious about or always wanted to do, you might as well go and find out for sure. However, the fact that you asked this question at all makes me wonder if you really want to go.

The third reason (and the most common one out there): it’s a traditional rite of passage. If you’re a traditionalist or a completist, if you don’t go, you’ll always wonder if you missed a pivotal evening in your life. However, if you’re not, ask yourself what about the experience you think you would add to your life. If you are close with classmates, this might be an opportunity to interact with them outside of school. On the other hand, if you’re not fond of dancing, if you don’t have a date or a group to support, if spending the evening in a low-light condition with generally outdated music and overdressed teenagers trying to spike the punch doesn’t sound like fun, you’re probably right. And it’s an expensive deal (though that’s probably more true for girls).

Yes, I went to my junior/senior prom when I lived in Las Vegas (which was held at the Plaza Hotel). No drinking but, in hindsight, it actually wasn’t magical or anythingI couldn’t have gone my whole life without doing. However, it wasn’t anything I was interested in.

And that, of course, is the key. If it’s something you feel makes your high school experience complete, if it’s important to someone who’s important to you, if it’s always been something you speculated about, go. You can’t do it later. But, if the experience holds nothing for you, seriously, I don’t think you’ll miss it.

1. # Aron Soraon 04 Apr 2009 at 7:56 pm edit this

   I’m primarily going to support my group of friends. They really wanted me to go and, after some thought, I felt my presence would add to their experience. But, I’m trying to find a reason to be excited for the prom. I took from this post that I have to see supporting my friends as exciting.

   My parents feel as if I will miss something, but the prom is right after the AP tests and I’m sure I’ll want to sleep. I hate how it’s so expansive, $80.

   Thank you for the post!

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From Lola: The Honest Scrap Award

I’d forgone awards on my other blog Rocket Scientist, but actually being awarded involves a response so it fits right in over here. I have to thank Lola of Lola’s Diner (who, I might add, provided my first question on this blog) for this lovely “Honest Scrap” Award.

Lola has a very interactive blog and tells her many readers about the interesting events in her life and her thinking. She often has very pronounced opinions (as I do) and she doesn’t take crap from anyone (which I admire). She’s a remarkable individual.

“This award is bestowed upon a fellow blogger whose blog’s content or design is, in the giver’s opinion, brilliant.”

Talk about flattering, I seriously am. I’m supposed to tell ten honest things about myself. OK, here goes.

1) On May 15, I’ll have been working at NASA for 20 years.

2) I’ve had shingles twice already, once when I was thirteen and once when I was pregnant with my eldest daughter.

3) I have naturally the worst fingernails in the world: brittle, soft, peeling, yuck! I currently have gel nails just to keep my nails from chipping down to the cubicle.

4) I’m way heavy. There’s a number of reasons, none of them particularly good with the exception of a very bad knee.

5) I have been writing stories/poetry/fiction since I was 11 years old.

6) I once had three short stories published in a magazine that no longer exists: Plot

7) I have had three last names, each of them four letters long.

8) My father and my grandfather both died the same week in March (different years). They both had spent most of their careers working for the government and both died of causes related to those jobs. My grandfather died of asbestosis (he as a master planner for the military). My father died of colon cancer after spending 20 years slogging through toxic sludge as a soil specialist from one horrible site to the next.

9) Through no effort on my part, I have found out that I can trace my family back to Alfred the Great.

10) I have had sex with exactly two men. Both of whom I married.

Now, who can I give this to?

How about JD at I Do Things

oldwestmom at Forever Family

shakespeare at Shakespearemom

Roy at Roy’s World

Davida at Glue for Families

flit on Flitting on Fiction

Brilliant blogs, all of them, though I know many more. I’ll do my best to showcase them over time.

1. # JD at I Do Thingson 02 Apr 2009 at 7:04 am edit this

   Aw, thanks, Stephanie. You’re a sweetie. And congratulations on receiving the award from Lola, of whom I am also quite the fan. I enjoyed reading your 10 “Honest” things. If I can think of even FIVE honest things I haven’t already foisted upon my poor readers, I’ll list ‘em. Thanks again. I do appreciate it.

2. # attygnorrison 02 Apr 2009 at 9:08 am edit this

   Thanks for the award, Stephanie!

   I’m sorry about your father and grandfather. March must be a very reflective month for you.

   It’s cool that you can trace your family back to Alfred the Great. I can’t go any further than my great-great-grands.

   I’m impressed with your writing experience… not that you need me to be. Your success speaks for itself.

   I’ve never come close to being that long on any job. Does it count that I’d have at least 20 jobs in my lifetime?

   Let’s just say, I’ve had sex with more than 2 men…

   Davida

3. # stephanieebarron 02 Apr 2009 at 9:44 am edit this

   You know, Davida, it’s interesting that both my father and grandfather were both doing what they thought was best for safety. My grandfather by bolstering defense, having fought in WWII. My father by working tirelessly to document the movement and effects of pollution in soils. I’m part of a proud tradition. Just hope it doesn’t kill me .

   I can take no credit for the tracing. It’s a side effect of growing up in a Mormon household and happening to be descended from Edward I - plugging into almost any royal line in Europe greatly facilitates geneology. I understand that it’s a real struggle for African Americans who must deal with incomplete (or misleading) slave records that can readily dead end with little information in Africa. If it makes you feel better, my grandmother is a black market baby with very little information available about her geneology.

   I’ve actually worked at four different companies during my near 20 years here, but always associated with space and increasingly involved with safety. I suspect it’s my calling.

   I wasn’t trying to criticize anyone’s sexual past. I’m just a hopeless romantic. I wonder if it goes with being a Scorpio?

4. # shakespeareon 02 Apr 2009 at 12:41 pm edit this

   It goes with being a Pisces, too. Thanks for the nomination! Now I have to think of 10 true things about myself… or, at least, ten true things anyone might be vaguely interested in.

   I need to check out some of these other blogs, too. I haven’t done that enough lately.

5. # Musingon 03 Apr 2009 at 5:17 am edit this

   Fun! A few new sites to discover.

6. # Baron von Rochesteron 03 Apr 2009 at 4:50 pm edit this

   I’m not the least bit surprised that you can trace your ancestry back to Alfred the Great. There is something marvellously intrepid and pioneering about you, I think.

7. # attygnorrison 03 Apr 2009 at 8:49 pm edit this

   Just noticed you got some buttons up. I just grabbed them and added them to both of my sites.

   Davida

8. # bookishon 04 Apr 2009 at 7:10 am edit this

   >> Through no effort on my part, I have found out that I can trace my family back to Alfred the Great.

   That’s so great! The only “famous person” I’ve been able to find in my lineage was George Custer — but not the George Custer. This guy was a grandson or great grandson of the youngest brother of that George. Very minor connection. In other family lines, I can’t get back any earlier than the late 1600s, but they’re all still pretty varied and interesting.

   It’s sad about your grandfather and your father. Especially since they were doing government work that had a good purpose. My first thought was, “Uh oh, just don’t ever let Stephanie go up in the shuttle or anything.” Heh.

9. # stephanieebarron 04 Apr 2009 at 7:41 am edit this

   Glad so many have come by!

   Hi, Shakespeare!

   Davida, I need to set up a button field. Definitely.

   Baron, a pleasure to see you here!

   Bookish, on my mother’s side, I go back to the Pilgrims and have a published naturalist, but it’s my paternal grandfather (the one I mention above) that traces back to Edward 1 and that takes me back to Alfred the Great. It is cool to read a book about William the Conqueror or Eleanor of the Aquitaine and realize I’m descended from them. And no worries about the Space Shuttle. Not only am I not remotely qualified, free fall scares me to death.

10. # Aron Soraon 04 Apr 2009 at 9:25 am edit this

    Ok, this question is really lame, but should I go to my prom?

11. # Aron Soraon 04 Apr 2009 at 9:30 am edit this

    Hey, you work at NASA, that is really cool. One day you have to write an article on how you landed that job. I dream of leading a space habitation effort with NASA, maybe you could provide a roadmap on how to get that job. If answering this won’t put your job in danger, how much red tape exists in NASA.

12. # stephanieebarron 04 Apr 2009 at 9:42 am edit this

    Two questions, Aron, bless your heart. I can write them both and TODAY.

    (Remember, folks, I need your questions or I sink down to the pathetic level of talking to myself.)

13. # Aron Soraon 04 Apr 2009 at 1:49 pm edit this

    Your helping me more, I’m a hopeless geek

14. # Kathyon 04 Apr 2009 at 3:14 pm edit this

    So sorry about your father and grandfather. Horrible.

    I echo what everyone else said about your relation to Alfred the Great. Shall we dub you Stephanie the Stupendous?!

    Shingles? After watching my mother suffer through it five years ago, I asked God to break my leg, crack my skull, anything but shingles. It pained me to see her go through that, and I can’t imagine your own pain while being pregnant, no less.

    Oh, and I’m way heavy, too. I’m at a very scary weight and pretty much spent the day crying about it. Misery loves company?

15. # attygnorrison 04 Apr 2009 at 5:26 pm edit this

    Question–

    Ok. Danny and I have read your view on my needing time “off” and agree that it better be sooner rather than later. So, now he keeps asking me what I want to do. I haven’t a clue. He’s trying to help me get away and I have no idea what I want to do or where I want to go that won’t be too costly. If $$ were no object, I’d be gone this afternoon. Any suggestions?

16. # stephanieebarron 04 Apr 2009 at 8:22 pm edit this

    No need to give me a title, Kathy. I’ll settle for having a few good friends.

    Shingles SUCK! What’s more, since the presentation was unusual, my dermatologist did not realize that’s what it was (it was on my hands and feet) when I was pregnant. It had been on my back when I was a teenager. So, my daughter was exposed without my knowing. I only know she was because she never had chicken pox but, at the age of FIVE got shingles, painful and horrible shingles. Fortunately, none of our incarnations lasted long, my daughter’s least of all. But it also means she’ll probably face it again later. *Sigh*

    If knowing others are heavy and struggling with it helps, I’m happy to help. It IS hard to be heavy, nor do heavy people get much sympathy for those struggles. I don’t know that being heavy means anything about WHO someone really is, though. Many love you as you are. One’s size doesn’t make you less of a person. Seriously.

17. # Kathyon 05 Apr 2009 at 11:16 am edit this

    Stephanie, I’m sorry your daughter suffered through shingles as well. God awful thing, isn’t it. And thank you so much for your uplifting words. I’m trying to look on the inside instead of what I see in the mirror.

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