Category: blogging

my relationship with my blog

It’s Community Time

the enforcer

My friend at Life is a Bowl of Kibble nominated me for the Versatile Blogger Award this week. I’m honored and I’m game.

As a newly crowned VB, I have four primary responsibilities to fulfill.

I. Thank the person who nominated you:

Thank you, Life is a Bowl of Kibble. LiaBoK and her Litter Mates leave me cackling with posts like A Sticky Situation. Check it out or I’ll sick my terrier on you. All 16.4 pounds of her.

II. Share seven random facts about yourself:

  1. Part of my skull is missing due to an injury sustained in a car accident when I was 15. I literally have a hole in my head.
  2. My word for pizza crusts is shells, effectively grouping them with pasta. It’s a family thing.
  3. I quickly memorize song lyrics, a characteristic my son also exhibits. Makes my husband’s head spin. His revenge is that he can actually sing.
  4. When as a child I got a bike instead of a horse, I named it Cindy. Of course you already knew that.
  5. I don’t drink coffee, but I like the way it smells.
  6. The Collapse Free app is my obsession. Ridiculous, I know. Currently, I occupy five of the 10 spots on the high scores list.
  7. I take my grits with a touch of sugar, she admits as all the good Southerners groan.
at the Ryman

III. Pass this award on to five (or six) new blogging friends:

The operative word here is new. I chose to interpret this as folks I didn’t about know before blogging, haven’t linked to previously, and haven’t yet added to my blogroll (aka the social network, see right sidebar). No hurt feelings, I hope. New or old, one is silver, the other gold.

  1. Nothing to Read Here is a writer’s blog about writing. The author, taureanw, endeared me with posts questioning what it’s like to write, what he fears, and what success is.
  2. Southern Belle View is a composite blog written by four belles who also happen to be published authors. I found it when Corey of I Like My Bike fame introduced me via Facebook to one of the belles, Beth Webb Hart. SBV feels like home and is a pleasure to read.
  3. And Cuisine for All is a cooking blog. The finest ingredient is the author Chef Nusy. Following the bloodless revolution, she immigrated from Hungary and now proudly lives, cooks, dreams, and blogs in America.
  4. Stuff Christians Like by Jon Acuff is a must-read if you are of the Christian persuasion. From sitting in the pew beside people with nice singing voices to composing posts in his head during the sermon to imagining worship eagles that gently pluck crying children out of the service, JA tells it like it is.
  5. A Peaceful Heart is a photography blog I discovered when it was Freshly Pressed. Miki the photographer is from the U.K. and her pictures are simply to die for. Elegant, crisp, exquisite, visual joy.
  6. My Parents Are Crazier Than Yours is my guilty pleasure. Myra and I are the same age. That would appear to be all we have in common on the outside. But oh, how I find myself relating to her. She taps humor and emotion and writes it well. Very well.

IV. Contact and congratulate the awarded bloggers: Check.

Hope you get some kicks from these new clicks and enjoy them as much as I do.

It wouldn’t be an everyday epistle ending without a verse and a song. Didn’t think I’d forget, did you?

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. Proverbs 27:17 NLT

Bonus random fact: I missed my calling to be in a band. If I were in a band, I would very much like my band’s name to be as cool as Dragonette, here with Martin Solveig singing Hello (not the Lionel Richie version).

join or die
join or die
Posted on by Aimee 20

Exponential Gratitude

It’s Sunday, and I’m taking the Sabbath off with the fam. Normally wouldn’t post, but figured a note of gratitude would be in keeping with the Spirit of the day.

autumn clematis in the alley

Thank you, Chicago Public Library, for reposting Confessions of a Bibliophile on your Facebook and Twitter feeds this past week. The traffic generated boosted this post into the top 12 for this site (see the list in the right sidebar).

Likewise, when folks shared The Tale of Two Heifers last week, or empathetic parents shared Club MOB, or fed-up citizens shared How the Government Can Save $3.14 Million This Year, those posts secured spots in the top 12.

And who could forget when the agricultural community embraced Milk Wars? It was number one until WordPress featured I Like My Bike on Freshly Pressed.

In fact, every post on the top 12 list has one thing in common: each was shared with others by readers who liked what they read here.

This will come as no surprise to the social media savvy. But to those of us who are still learning the ropes, the exponential power of social media is astounding. The term viral is apt.

Like something you see? Share it with others who might like it too. That’s how the community grows.

Speaking of community, heartfelt thanks goes out to Southern Guilford, spread now from coast to coast. Your response to Indian Summer makes me doubly homesick. I’m grateful to have grown up where I did when I did.

So thank you, readers, whoever and wherever you are for reading, commenting and sharing. I hope you enjoy your time here as much as I do.

And most importantly, thank you, God, for Your many blessings to us all, in spite of our failings, each and every day.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend. See you back here soon.

Praise the LORD, my soul,
and forget not all His benefits—
Who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
Who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:2-5 NIV

Thank You, Boyz II Men. Man, these guys can sing.

Posted on by Aimee 2

Linky Dos

evening on the farm, September 4, 2011

Good evening, night owls.

It’s late and tomorrow’s post is all queued up for the morning. Simply had to take a moment to share how much I’m enjoying these Linky Party things on blogs.

Linked up for the first time a couple weeks ago with Somewhere in Pennsylvania for Wordless Wednesday on friend Katie Pinke’s Pinke Post.

Then tonight I linked up with Sweet Slice to Family Friday on Zweber Family Farm News, a blog run by a super cool organic dairywoman, and I linked up with The Tale of Two Heifers to Farm Friend Friday on Verde Farm, one of the absolute sweetest farm blogs I’ve seen.

Two requests:

  1. If you are having one of these parties on your blog and I know about it, I am so there. This is a terrific way to read material from far and wide and share your stuff too.
  2. Once I figure out how to do this on WordPress, I’m throwing a party and you’re invited. So get your blog on and get ready to get down. (If you already happen to know how to do this on WordPress or if you have any Linky Party advice, the floor is yours in the comments.)

Tonight I also left a comment on an editorial post I liked on World Magazine. How cool is that? And to think, you can do it too. Anyone can. It’s like free-range media—a dream come true—and I’m lovin’ it!

Wise men and women are always learning,
always listening for fresh insights. Proverbs 18:15 The Message

Get Down with Audio Adrenaline because my Linky Party’s on the way and because I like this song. Buona notte!

Posted on by Aimee 4

We’ve Been Freshly Pressed!

Hello, subscribers, RSS feed readers, FB friends, and others who are scrolling through. A quick and happy note to share some exciting news.

big red super star

WordPress, my blogging platform, picked up last Friday’s post I Like My Bike for their Freshly Pressed lineup today. Click Freshly Pressed to see for yourself.

I Like My Bike won’t be on the front page for long. If it’s gone when you get there, scroll down and hit the Earlier button. Look for the shiny, purple bike.

Thank you for your readership, comments and encouragement. You’re the best!

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17 NIV

What better song than one of my favorites If I Stand by the brilliant Rich Mullins.

Posted on by Aimee 10

Dream Sequence

Remember earlier this month we got a new Mac to replace our dying Dell?

Over the weekend, took the Mac back to the techies at the store for the data transfer. The wait was five days when we bought it. Now it’s only 48 hours. Gulp.

True, it’s been a bit of a circus hopping between two machines. Will be nice to have everything on one computer again. But I was becoming proficient.

Felt like I was commanding the bridge of the Starship Enterprise. “Uhara, pull up the photos on the Dell. Spock, hit Publish on the Mac. Beam me up, Scotty!”

Maybe it’s the anxiety of being laptop-less for a couple days that got to me. Whatever it was, last night I had the strangest dream.

I dreamed I traveled to a writing seminar where there were no computers. It was old school, the way we used to do things. Back in the 80s.

In the course of my stay, I ran out of paper. So I wrote poetry on the bed sheets in my room, folded them, and turned them in as my project. My thesis. My magnum opus. And I passed with highest honors.

Read into it what you will. It was sweet and it was mine.

Now give me back my laptop, Mac guys, before I start writing on your sheets too.

And they replied, “We both had dreams last night, but no one can tell us what they mean.”

“Interpreting dreams is God’s business,” Joseph replied. “Go ahead and tell me your dreams.” Genesis 40:8 NLT

Last night I had the strangest dream… Oh, I already said that. Enjoy Blue Lagoon’s fun 2004 cover of Matthew Wilder’s Break My Stride.

as seen at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

Dreams by Langston Hughes (1926)

Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird

That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is
a barren field
Frozen with snow.

Posted on by Aimee 2

Welcome to the Wild West

image used with permission from Dan Dreyfus, dreyfusphoto.com

Life on the blog is life on the wild frontier. Bring your bravado. There’s no established etiquette, no paved roads, and often no rules.

How many posts per week? One, two, seven? How long should they be? There are no rules.

Should every post be announced on Facebook or is that annoying to your friends? What about your friends who only know about a post if you announce it? Should you ask them to subscribe? There are no rules.

What about RSS feeds? You can’t see them. How do you know you can trust them?

What about a Facebook page for your blog? Rihanna’s page has more than 42 million likes. What’s the harm in suggesting your kemosabes like yours? What good is it if you never reach 42 million? There are no rules.

Should you tweet? What qualifies me, a lone ranger, to have a Twitter account? What qualifies me to have a blog? There are no rules.

Speaking of lone ranger, should you join a blogging network? Seems helpful to form alliances with fellow cowpokes, but this desperado is right fond of her freedom. Will a network support or hinder it? There are no rules.

image used with permission from Winsdown Farms, winsdown.com

What if someone knowingly borrows your ideas or words without a link back, credit or notification? Should you challenge the outlaw to a shootout at sundown? Hope they ride off into the sunset never to copycat again? There are no rules.

What about photos? WordPress suggests using your own pictures or grabbing photos off the net and crediting sources. Copyright, anyone?

What about excerpts or ideas from other writers like Hope Edelman, Hara Estroff Marano, Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel, or Erica Jong? Is it okay if you credit and notify them? These authors didn’t seem to mind when I did it. They sent me kind emails, not cease and desist orders.

What about YouTube, that roving band of gunslingers wearing 36 black hats at least? Should you wait for the lawyers to draw lines in the sand?

And what comes of all this? Is blogging really a job if you don’t get paid? Is the next step to write a book? A screenplay? Secure a sponsor? Wrangle a doggie? Settle down in some quiet little town and forget about everything?

We drive on into the unknown for love of the great wide open. For breathtaking sunsets on the edge of civilization. There’s a lot to learn. Some of it we make up as we go. Have to because the landscape itself is in a state of flux.

image used with permission from Dan Dreyfus, dreyfusphoto.com

So sidle up to the saloon and raise a toast. To the west, young woman, as far as this horse will take you.

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. Hebrews 11:8 NIV

Happy trails, pardners. Before you go, check out Don’t Fence Me In by David Byrne of Talking Heads. You may find yourself humming it all weekend long.

Special thanks to my friend Kari for use of the photos of her beautiful horses.

Posted on by Aimee 2

Crows and Eagles

public domain image

Yesterday I posted a suggestion for how the government could save money by stopping those Social Security mailings fictitiously describing how much we will receive in retirement. I conservatively estimated we’d save about $3.14 million a year. Well, I was more than a little off.

Within less than two hours, my friend Amy read the post and informed me the SSA decided a few months ago to suspend the mailings for a savings of $70 million. I repeat: $70 MILLION. That should make you laugh and cry at the same time.

I love social media. Not only was I pleasantly corrected by a friend, but we all gained some information we didn’t have a mere day ago. Apparently, the government doesn’t have to notify us that they will no longer notify us. Or something like that.

Another friend who works for the government explained in a comment on FB that common sense doesn’t necessarily dictate. There are many easy ways to save money, but the government “likes to make things as complicated as possible.” Hmm.

Lessons learned? You betcha.

1. Dig deeper.

For me, that means to do so preferably before posting. Here’s the link to the SSA page about the mailings: http://www.ssa.gov/mystatement/

2. Share the love.

Thanks to Amy for speaking up. Follow her lead. If you know something, say something so the rest of us will know too.

3. Reach out.

I’m delighted to eat a little crow on this to the tune of $70 million. But the patriotic eagle in my heart is rising. I wonder. What are the other easy ways we could save money?

We’re in a budget crisis as a nation. Many of us are in one at home too. I know some of you watch your family budgets like hawks and sniff out ways to save like bloodhounds. Some of you work in government agencies or have ties to them. You have a ringside seat to witness where we could cut back.

All of us intersect with the government in one way or another. What are you seeing in your experience and expertise that could be simplified or cut with a cost savings for our country? What ideas do you, the People, have?

Would love to know your thoughts, so do share. You can always comment anonymously. If we get a few good ideas going, perhaps we’ll send them to our folks in Congress or the White House.

It’s our country after all. And it’s worth saving.

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to act. Proverbs 3:27 NIV

Get those patriotic juices flowing with School House Rock’s Preamble.

Posted on by Aimee 8

Privacy Schmivacy

private property

“I have bad news for you,” said my pastor one Sunday morning from the pulpit. “In a hundred years, no one will remember us.”

I love this guy.

He’s also said things like the opposite of longing is not contentment, but apathy. And if your life feels unbalanced, identify the busy peripheral activity, shoot it in the leg, and allow it to go off and die by itself in the corner. I’m paraphrasing, but you get the idea.

As you’ve read here before, I only joined Facebook six months ago. This is hard for you to believe given how technologically savvy I am. Not.

Now that I’m participating, I’m quite taken by social media. Why then was I such a late adopter? One word: privacy.

What if someone from my past friends me? Or rejects me? What if they make fun of my pictures? What if they email me?

What if a serial killer selects me out of the billions of people on earth because of a Facebook comment about how much I miss Ronald Reagan? It could happen. That’s not an invitation, by the way.

violators will be prosecuted

Furthermore people do not need to be in my bidness, the trash talk pronunciation of business. They don’t need to be in that either.

As you’ve also read here before, I’m not sure how much longer I will live. Neither are you. I know. It’s sad. On the bright side, mortality adds perspective.

Privacy is a luxury. Think I’m wrong? Give birth or be hospitalized. Apply for life insurance. Be a victim of crime or get caught commiting one. Run for public office. Face financial ruin. Get divorced. Zip! There goes privacy right out the window with modesty, dignity and safety.

A Bible teacher of mine once told a story about President Theodore Roosevelt. The President took guests to one of his estates, let’s say Sagamore Hill on Long Island, New York. At night, they would walk with him under the dark, vast sky near the bay, silently taking in thousands of bright stars.

Then Roosevelt would say to them and to himself, “Feel insignificant yet?”

If you’re a private person, that’s fine. Continue to be private. It’s okay with me if it’s okay with you.

But if you’ve got something to say, somewhere to go, something to do, there’s no time like the present. Mind you, don’t hurt yourself or anyone else intentionally. Do live fearlessly now. What do you have to lose?

no trespassing

Think I share too much? Think you know everything that goes on in my mind and in my household? This is the tip of the iceberg. There are stories I’ll never tell.

Besides, one hundred years from now none of us will be here to remember and no one who is here will care.

I hope to be in a better place with no more death or mourning or crying or pain. So for the here and now, I’ll live the bravest life I can.

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:13 NIV

So long status quo. I think I just let go. You make me want to be Brave…

Posted on by Aimee 4

Nice is the New Mean

Be Nice of Leave pillow from Alexandra Ferguson
image with permission from alexandraferguson.com

My writing makes some people uncomfortable.

I imagine them thinking: There she goes again, writing about bitter pants. Why can’t she write something nice? Just show us some innocuous pictures of your sweet husband, your cute child, and your little dog too, my pretty!

My husband is sweet. My child is cute. My dog is little. There are days I am pretty. I’ll throw in a few pictures, but in case you missed it, I turned 40 this year.

With the fourth decade comes several startling revelations. Among them this: Nice is the new mean.

Clarification: Nice is nice when it’s kind. Nice is mean when it’s superficial.

There are no scientific studies I know of to back this up, but here’s an anecdotal theory. It seems as women age they lose their edit function. No more worrying about what the nice thing to say would be. Not enough time for that nonsense.

In the words of my cousin’s beautiful wife Sue, the can of worms is already open. Might as well let ’em fly.

Some of the flying worms are nice, some are not. The un-nice worms aren’t rude. But they’re not sugar-coated in shallow diplomacy, political correctness or Christianese either. They are direct little boogers because remember, we’re not getting any younger.

I’m not advocating bad manners or speaking the truth without love or sniping at folks with petty, evil comments. However, I spent years going out of my way to keep my opinions and the truth to myself so no one would be offended.

And I wasted a lot of energy in self-reproach because, another fourth decade gem, I can’t please everyone. Neither can you. Surprise!

nice picture of my pretty and her little dog too
nice picture of my pretty and her little dog too

With these conclusions, a sad observation. Some people would very much like me to be someone else. It would make them more comfortable.

You may know them too. They sound like this: Keep your emotions to yourself. You need to do God’s work. What’s with you and the truth? Just be content. Write something nice.

Is this the example I want to set for my child? It’s best to go along and get along? We should be nice at all costs even if the greatest cost is to one’s integrity?

No way, José. My life is imperfect, a work in progress. But I hope what’s important to me shines through now and then.

Be honest. Be kind. Address what’s wrong.

Be who God created you to be even if it is different than the people around you. Even if it makes some of them uncomfortable.

And by the way, when you belong to God, it’s all His work.

Godspeed, son. Let ’em fly.

An honest answer is like a kiss of friendship. Proverbs 24:26 NLT

King of Anything by Sara Bareilles makes a fitting song. Perhaps we’re related.

Yes I Can pillow from Alexandra Ferguson
image with permission from alexandraferguson.com

Alexandra Ferguson

Alexandra Ferguson started a “sassy little pillow company” on Etsy in 2009. Her pillows, featured in this post, are “American-made manufacturing from recycled materials that any side of the aisle can be excited about.” Check out more of her fun and gutsy designs at www.alexandraferguson.com, like this one with a super hero’s silhouette. Love it!

Disclaimer: I’m not being compensated to promote Alexandra Ferguson.

Posted on by Aimee 23

I Know I’m in Love When I Buy Whole Milk

thank yous unwritten

Except for when we have a showing, my house is upside down these days.

My kindergartner had to remind me to roll down my window when we pulled up to the drive thru at our new Chick-Fil-A.

I’m late delivering copy I promised weeks ago. Even later writing thank you notes from spring break. (If I saw you during spring break, thank you for your hospitality. A proper note will be forthcoming someday.)

I forgot to pay a few bills. Wore the same outfit three times in one week.

Cut my recreational shopping so severely, it no longer qualifies as recreational. It’s now combat. In. Out. Mission accomplished.

Took snapshots of H&M’s naked mannequin and Cabela’s taxidermied bears.

Bought body wash for my son when my shopping list specifically read shampoo. Twice. We have enough to keep him sparkling through third grade.

And I carried whole milk home from the grocery store. Shopping with my eyes closed that time.

This from the woman who made a crusade of cutting calories and fat from our family diet. Who painstakingly racheted us down from whole to two percent and finally to one percent over the course of several months.

the red milk

What a surprise one morning at breakfast when my son said, “Mom, you bought the red milk.” Whole milk is labeled red at our grocery store.

“No, I didn’t,” I said.

“Yes, it’s red.”

“What? Oh, my. It is the red milk!”

We drank the red milk. Then I paid more attention and bought the purple milk on my next mission.

What can I say? I’m in love.

Something has captured my attention. Occupies my mind. Changes the way I see things. Gets me up in the middle of the night.

hearts in a row

It’s a jealous lover. Expects all my time. Truth be told I would really like to let the world go and just swim in it.

And why not? My husband tells me it’s all right to want to spend my time with this. To want to be alive. To enjoy my work again.

Where will this affair will lead?

Right now it doesn’t matter. I’m reveling in the obsession. Hope you are too.

Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. Ecclesiastes 5:18 NLT

Diamond Rio, you put it so well in What a Beautiful Mess. Hey, wait a minute. That’s my car…

Posted on by Aimee 15

Paging Facebook

be social

Attended a fun reception at AdFarm yesterday in their beautiful new St. Louis digs. Only the creative minds of an ad agency could figure out how to make Lucas Park Grille the company kitchen. Divine.

At the party, guru Jay Baer discussed social media with the crowd. I also met the striking Katie Pinke, a fifth generation farm girl who doubles as marketing strategist and blogger extraordinaire. Katie generously offered to help me on an upcoming post I’m writing about farming and food.

“I’ve read your blog,” she said with a smile.

“Oh, really?” I said. “Thank you so much. I haven’t been at this long.”

“Yes,” she said. “I’m a fan on Facebook.”

“Oh,” I said, puzzled for a moment. What was she talking…

“You know?” she said. “On your page.”

Jeff Whetstine, Jay Baer and Carrie Doza

Oh, yes. On my page. That’s right, my blog has a page on Facebook.

Thank you for reminding me, Katie. I went home straight away and updated the everydayepistle.com FB page with all my posts since March 4, 2011, when the page started.

But you already knew that didn’t you, Katie? Seeing as you’re my one and only FB fan. Yikes.

Okay, dear Readers, I  know you’re out there. Here’s your chance to join Katie as a fan on FB. Search everydayepistle.com on FB and like the page.

I announce new posts to personal friends on FB. So if you’re one of those and you don’t want to receive duplicate announcements from the page, no worries.

Just become a fan, then simply block the posts from the everydayepistle.com page. Same way you do your Bon Jovi concert updates. (Come on, admit it. You know they’re touring this year.)

If I don’t know you from Adam and you’re reading my blog anyway, first of all, I’m honored.

Second, you too can get FB announcements of new blog posts by becoming a fan of the everydayepistle.com page. Or you can become a fan to show your support and then block the page posts. See instructions above RE: Bon Jovi.

Thanks for reading, everyone. May this be a comfortable place for you to visit, comment, like, share, and send friends.

Ah, community. That’s what the blogosphere is all about. Right, Katie?

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NLT

Hilary Winn, me, Angie Skochdopole, Jeff, and Dan Kirkpatrick

Ode to Jon Bon Jovi

O Jon, I will forever love you and your hair.
Looks like we’re both Livin’ on a Prayer.
Though your 80s tresses resemble a parrot,
The memory is sweet and worth the link to share it.

Posted on by Aimee 8

Everyday Q&A

Two weeks and 10 states later, we’re home from spring break. Wonderful trip. Never enough time to see everyone or do everything. Returned with more material than I can write.

My crazy blog experiment came up in conversations along the way. Based on the questions I got, it’s time to make good on my vow from Dangerous Liaisons that we’ll conquer the blog together. Scroll down to find your favorite Q&A.

blog hog

Q: What pray tell is a blog?

A: Blog is short for web log. It’s a type of website.

Anyone can blog. Platforms like WordPress and Blogger let you create blogs for free. Heartfelt thanks to my friend Nicole for showing me the ropes.

There are blogs for all manner of subjects and products. Blogs run the gamut from personal and private to public and highly marketed.

This one is open to the public 24-7 and covers lots of topics.

Q: No offense but why would anyone read this?

A: Beats me. To empathize, normalize, relate? To be entertained or inspired?

I like to think someone would read my posts for the same intangible reasons people read the greats like Erma Bombeck, Peggy Noonan and Anna Quindlen.

I can dream, can’t I?

Community is another reason. Bloggers and readers connect in the blogosphere.

Q: Is it always snowing in St. Louis?

snow route

A: No, though my posts may lead you to believe otherwise.

I started blogging in February 2011 (Maiden Flight) during a winter of heavy snowfall. Hence the ubiquitous ice and snow in my posts (Ice Ice Baby, Life on the Slippery Slope and Bad Boys).

St. Louis summers are as hot and humid as any city south of the Mason Dixon.

Q: You wrote about Scrabble and your Ford F-150? How did I miss this?

A: The best way to guarantee you will not miss a post is to subscribe.

Subscribing is free. Look for the menu labeled Subscribe near the top of the right column. Go. Do it now.

For those of you who like a challenge, one bonus to subscribing is that you receive the original version with the elusive typo or misspell. There’s at least one in every post. Subscribe to catch it before I do.

Q: What about Facebook?

A: I announce new posts to friends on Facebook. But if it’s an active day on your News Feed, I may be buried in the traffic. Another reason to subscribe.

read, respond, recycle

Q: RSS feeds?

A: If you want to subscribe via RSS feed, use the large button in the right column. RSS feed readers fly below the radar, unidentified to me and unreported in stats.

Q: Twitter?

A: No, I’m not tweeting yet. But you can call my posts tweets if you’ll read them. (Update: I starting tweeting for the blog’s first birthday. Connect with me @everydayepistle.)

Q: Can I comment on your posts or share them with others?

A: Yes, please do as often as you like. Look for the menus at the end of each post.

Q: Do you post every day?

A: No, twice a week, sometimes more.

The word everyday is used here to mean commonness rather than frequency. Like the lyrics in Arrested Development’s People Everyday, not Elvis Costello’s Everyday I Write the Book.

Q: Why do you include links to songs and Bible verses?

sit up get God

A: The songs are for fun. To borrow a concept from my friend Sue, if this were a movie these songs would make up the soundtrack.

The Bible verses are for life. Do not mistake them as a flippant means to stamp God on my blog. Each verse applies to the story in its post.

Q: How do you work with your photographer?

A: My photographer, the uber-talented Kristin Scully, is responsible for the headshots of yours truly. I take the snapshots featured in the posts myself.

Q: Are you being paid?

A: I wish. Are you offering?

No, I am not being paid to do this. And I hesitate to open up to ads. I have a few ideas up my sleeve for other ventures. Stay tuned.

Q: Why don’t you get a real job?

A: Good question. This is a real job requiring concentration, effort, time and ability. It’s non-paid work, but that’s nothing new.

I’ve been a non-paid, full-time mother of a busy little boy since he was born, not to mention several non-paid volunteer stints. Real jobs, no moolah.

I’m learning social media from the ground up by building and managing my site. I’m sharpening marketable skills like organization, creativity, communication, problem-solving. Should count for something.

keep calm and carry on

Q: How long do you plan to blog?

A: Until it’s not fun anymore.

A year seems like a good first step. My friend Shannon blogged every day for five years while raising four children. She’s a superstar.

She’s slowed down the frequency of her posts, but retains a loyal following. That kind of audience takes time and talent to build, so we’ll see.

Q: Seriously why are you doing this?

A: To make friends and influence people, to exercise some gifts before they atrophy beyond use, to say what I need to say before I die, and because I’m having the time of my life.

Q: Julie or Julia?

A: Both Julie and Julia. I am Julie, but oh, to be more Julia. Bon appétit!

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24 NIV

Posted on by Aimee 5