Do You Do It In the Morning, Afternoon, Night, Or All of These?

I can do it on the train in the morning, in the afternoon on my days off of work, or late at night when the DH and the dog are sleeping. Sometimes I do it on a TV tray, while I'm watching television, but not often, because it's harder to concentrate that way.

I'm talking about writing, in case you're wondering.

What about you? When does inspiration strike you?

Are you a morning person, or does it take you a while to wake up and get started?

Or maybe you're a Night Owl?

Please tell us. When do you do it?

Do Bloggers Visit Websites?

At the end of August, I jumped headfirst into the blogosphere and began blogging here daily. Before then, I'd just dabbled with blogging, posting Wednesday blogs at my group blogspot, http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com/.

A chance mention of the listserv, blogbooktours, in a blog by Echelon publisher, Karen Syed, led me into the blogging labyrinth where I've since become willingly entangled.

As I honed my blog, I began visiting other blogs and leaving comments. In the process I've made countless cyber friends. Each friend leads me to another. When I read a blog, I usually leave a comment. This courtesy is reciprocated at my blogspot, even by bloggers I've never visited before.

Now that I'm a full-fledged blogger, I spend about 95 per cent of my time at blogspots and not websites. Blogspots seem more current, more personal, are faster to get in and out of, plus they afford the option of leaving my opinion on the topic of the day.

Because of my tendency, which I presume is shared by others, it's all the more important that my blogspot be as much as it can be, with catchy post titles, hot topics, excerpts from my books, buy links, a website link just in case a blogger should wish to wander over, plus a blogroll, a followers section, bookmark option, and other features.



I've done what I can to lure bloggers here, but a question still lurks in my mind. Since I've become guilty about ignoring websites, do other bloggers do the same thing?

Do you visit websites? If so, how often?

Please share.

What is the Best Time to Post?

I've been wondering. Is it better to post a blog way at the beginning of the day or wait until afternoon? How many people have time to read a blog bright and early?

On weekdays, many are rushing to get ready for work in the morning. On weekends, they're probably catching up on sleep.

On the other hand, some people do have time and make it a habit to access the Internet before work, or while commuting by using a laptop computer or other device. Some are lucky enough to receive full Internet access at work with no restrictions.

Other workers wait until evening when they can sit in front of their computers and read email and blogs at their leisure.

Retirees, stay-at-home-moms or Mr. Moms, the work-from-homers, when do they like to read blogs and email? Does it change from day-to-day or do they have certain down times from their duties when they go online?

What is your preferred time for reading blogs, or does it vary? Please share.

Trials by Wind, Cold, Snow, Water

A new river - the backyard!

First we had the trial by wind, coupled with that of cold, when the wind chills dipped to 25-30 degrees below zero. Then came the trial by snow, when we were blessed with 12 inches of the white stuff. The latest is the trial by water, which began Friday night. All day Saturday it rained, alternating between light and heavy. Do you believe it? A tornado watch in parts of Illinois and Indiana in December. Fortunately, that's been lifted and we're spared that trial.

The good news is so far the ceiling in the kitchen is not dripping. We did have ice shoring up beneath the shingles from our prior trials. I was kind of worried about water dripping down the kitchen ceiling, since that had happened a few days before Christmas. We managed to control it with a few towels and a bowl then, but I didn't know what heavy rains would do so soon afterwards.

The bad news is seepage in the basement started very early Saturday morning and is still going on. This only happens in extreme circumstances, which is certainly the case this time. I know from experience to keep valuables on higher ground, such as on tables, or chairs or counters down there, just in case, so I didn't have to worry about rescuing items. So far, not sewer backup so at least it's not the germy stuff, relatively speaking anyway.

Normally, we can handle a day or so of rains, but not after the recent snowstorm which dumped 12 inches of snow on us. When the snow melted, it had to go somewhere. Some of it poured into the window wells, some under the window wells. Some gathered alongside the patio, making the river effect in my photo. Lots went into the storm sewers on the street outside.

When I watch TV and see the damage wreaked on other homes in the area and see the travelers stranded at the airport, I consider myself lucky. I was able to get to the show and use up my free pass before its expiration at year's end.

At home, the DH, I and Rascal still have electricity, heat and food. My computer and TV are in working order. What more do I need?

What about you? Have you had any weather related problems lately? Did it play havoc with your Christmas or the days after? Please share.