DAY 2

Sometimes I get annoyed at how much time and energy work takes away from more fun things than can be productive as well. I did write for NaNo during 'ER,' though am a little disturbed that they want to have Abby fall off the wagon. I understand that as a high pressured job, an 'ER' doc who is a mom would be challenged and that something like this would not be completely out of the ordinary, but I feel that I want to for once see a woman doctor on that show who is not a damsel in distress. Someone not perfect but managing, like every other mother does.

It's been a long, long time.

May 2007. That was my last post. I know many of the reasons why I hadn't posted anything-work and other responsibilities have reared their UGLY HEADS. I could use the same excuses for why I have not done any serious writing that was not business communications.

I am hoping that this will change in the coming month.

November is both National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) (http://nanowrimo.org) and National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo) (http://nablopomo.ning.com).

I've participated in the novel writing-this will be my first year blog posting every day. I plan to document my progress on both fronts in this blog and my blog over at the NaBloPoMo site. I almost can't wait to see what I will come up with at the end of a month.

The Demise of "One More Blog"

Below are posts from a blog that I had and had not really had the chance to develop called 'One More Blog.' It was hosted at eponym.com, which met with the same sort of demise that most startups and small shrimps do.


Tuesday, August 1
Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance
by Kitlat on Tue 01 Aug 2006 01:57 PM EDT
"Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance." Someone posted that on a listserv.

It reminded me of John Wooden who said, "Failing to Prepare is Preparing to Fail."

It also reminded me of the professor I had at BU, Stephen Geller, who said that planning will bring you more success at anything than talent.


Thursday, March 9
hi
by Kitlat on Thu 09 Mar 2006 09:40 PM EST
Hi. This is my first post.
Leave Comment Permanent Link Cosmos

Eponym: Make a Self for Your Name Get a free blog! Browse the Eponym Blog Directory
View another Eponym Blog
Blog Search:
http://onemoreblog.eponym.com/blog

Our President-Live Blogging today's news conference

Right now I am listening to WBUR's broadcast of the president's news conference concerning North Korea and Iraq.
I try to listen objectively to his addresses to the nation but it is hard. I am always left with the image of a comedian who is just not very good but insists on trying to keep the audience's attention. I don't know that this is better than the typical image I have of him, which is as the teenage son who tries really hard to do adult things but ultimately needs his dad, usually in the form of Mike Brady, to bail him out.

Apparently we are working really hard in Iraq and while the news broadcasts are terrible, we have to stay the course. As to North Korea, while we are not pleased with what they have done, [nuclear testing] we will work with them diplomatically to resolve the issue.

Now we have come to the portion of the news conference that is always good for a chuckle-
the Q & A. Random reporter asks wreally hahd question and the president fumbles for an answer and falls back on stuttering and hyperbole to answer it. He often sounds like a naughty boy caught in a lie.

This reporter just asked a very specific question about whether or not we should acknolwedge as former Secretary of State James Baker has, that we need to change tactics.
From the president, we get:
-we are constanting changing tactics
-the goal is to create a stable country
-the stakes are high
-apparently the Clinton administration dropped the ball
-we are constanting changing tactics
-we cannot leave before the job is done
-the stakes are high
-this is the way it is in the 21st century
-we are constanting changing tactics
-we want to solve this diplomatically
-the stakes are high


A lot of his answers to the subsquent questions are answered generally along those lines and all of the complements on the reporters' suits simply will not abate their tough questions.

On that note, back to Classical music on 89.7FM...

This was my first attempt at live blogging a press conference. I imagine that I will get better with time and perhaps with another president.

Another...Huh?

Today's "huh?"comes from actress Kimberly McCullough's blog at her website: http://www.kimberlymccullough.com

(kimberlymccullough.net is the fansite that has been around since...forever)

I have loved her ever since she was a tot on General Hospital and have pretty much followed her througout her career. I am still there even though I hate the direction that her character, Dr. Robin Scorpio, takes on "General Hospital" at times.


While rooting around in her website, I came across this quote:

I can’t wait to come back here and take more photos of this quaint, charming town. In the mean time, I will leave you with a little bit of goodness...baby goodness. Nothing cheers me up like a good dose of wonderfully smelling baby feet.

I suppose I will have top take her word on that.

Robin Scorpio and the AIDS Walk on Octber 15th

It looks like General Hospital is continuing to show that it is serious about supporting AIDS causes. While General Hospital is not the first daytime drama to feature a character with HIV or with AIDS, it is definitely the first one to make HIV/AIDS a regular part of its storyline in a way that brings awareness rather than melodrama.

Dr. Robin Scorpio, GH's poster child for this issue, will be participating in the AIDS Walk taking place on Oct0ber 15th in Los Angeles. She blogs about it at her blog.

It will now scare everyone to know that Robin and her "boyfriend" Dr. Drake (why can't a boulder fall on him?) actually have a team for the walk called "General Hospital, Team Scrubs"and they are accepting money. (Of course actress Kimberly McCullough and the other actors that portray the characters of Team Scrubs are accepting the donations on their behalf.)

Though completely disappointed by the direction that Robin and Patrick's relationship, I am glad that hey, both are doing one good thing this month.

Looking at the page for "Team Scrubs," it looks like "Robin" is raking it in. Her fundraising goal is $1000.00. She has currently raised $2,020.00.

A poor person named Nichole Goluskin has $0.00 so far. I may donate to her instead of Kimberly to give her something. Sadly, I don't know which one she is on the show.

About Blogging

I currently host the The Boston Weblogger Meetup Group. I was originally a member and took over after the group had been hanging out there for sometime with no one seeking to take over payments that Meetup.com requires. (Admittedly $19.00 per month can be a bit much. It used to be free but no more...) It has been an interesting endeavour since I basically have started from zero. I also took over during a period of massive change for me-new job and now new living situation, so I have struggled with building it up the way I have liked. Of the two meetups I have met some people with some great insight into not just blogging but on how I should evolve the group. Hopefully once October hits, I will be able to implement these things.

At any rate, I joined the Boston Organizer Meetup and someone emailed about how to get started in blogging. Below is her email to me and my admittedly lengthy response to her.

---

Her Email:

Hi,
I am an organizer with Meet Up for an Italian Speakers group in
NH.
I am interested in blogging, and have a couple of topics I want
to start off with, but, I'm embarassed to say this, I don't
have a clue HOW to blog, or where to start. I'm afraid of
going to dangerous sites, and getting viruses.
Can you point me in the right direction?
Thanks,
Karen
------------------------------

-----------------------------------

My Reply:

Hi Karen,

I hope that you are doing well.

In terms of how and what to blog:
The best blogs are ones that are focused on a particular topic.
I did look at your profile and you are have many interests.
For example, you organize a meetup for Italian speakers.
You could blog about that and how people use Italian in
their daily lives or provide some knowledge about Italian language and
culture to the number of us who think that the only Italian we ever
need are the words, "pizza," "spaghetti" and "mafia."

I myself and working on focusing my own blog. I do blog about random
topics that interest me. I try to have monthly topics such as
"Websites that I visit." I don't always blog about myself but when I
do I definitely have a point instead just saying, "the cat died today
and I hate my mother."

One person from my meetup mentioned that he noticed that he had more
readers when started blogging about his dating life rather than all of
the events in his life and has so far focused his blog only on that.
I have a friend who blogs about knitting since this is her passion.
So chose a topic that you are knowledgeable about and passionate about
and blog about it.

Another good way to learn about blogging besides doing it of course,
is to read other blogs.

I recommend the following (my comments in parenthesis):

-Universal Hub
http://www.universalhub.com/
(This website contains feeds and links to blogs about or by people
from Boston and eastern Massachusetts. People share information on
local news and also vent at times about different things that are
unique to Boston and eastern Massachusetts. It gets a lot of traffic
and the range of topics are astounding)

-The Darth Side: Memoirs of a Monster
Journal of Darth Vader, Lord of the Sith and Servant to His Supreme
Excellency the Emperor Palpatine.
http://darthside.blogspot.com/
(This one is well written and hilarious. Of course it is about a
fictional character but still worth a read)

-PolargGrrlPurls
http://polargrrlpurls.typepad.com/polargrrlpurls/
(My knitting friend's blog-note the use of photos to illustrate some
of her entries)

-Brand Autopsy
http://brandautopsy.typepad.com/
(This is a marketing blog that is written by a former Starbucks
employee. It's language is accessible to those who are not in
marketing.)

-BlogHer
http://www.blogher.org/
(It was created to promote women in blogging at every level.
Some of the posts are great . Everything here is from geek girls to home girls)

-Said and Done
THE LIFE & TIMES IN ANGELA'S REALM
http://acartwrightstudio.blogspot.com/
(Yes, Penny from Lost In Space has a blog and she is worth the visit.
It is definitely a blog that reflects the essence of who she is-it is
artistic, personable and personal.)

-The Bronte Blog
http://bronteblog.blogspot.com/
(This blog has definitely evolved in its design and its content. At
first it merely reported all events Bronte taking place in Great
Britain. I have seen more reviews and comments. I also like that the
design has been updated as well.)

-McChronicles
http://mcchronicles.blogspot.com/
(Blogging about the good and the bad of McDonalds)

-How I Am Becoming An Astronaut
http://damarisbsarria.blogspot.com/
(Definitely a great example of blogging about something that you know
and are passionate about. She has been great about giving her readers
insight into how engineers prepare the shuttles for their various
missions. She has also has been chronicling her training as an astronaut)

-From Jerusalem With Love
http://mattlebovic.blogs.friendster.com/from_jerusalem/
(Another friend who actually studied journalism and public relations.
I and several others who have read his blog have encouraged him to
turn this into a book, which he will)

-Brontëana
http://bronteana.blogspot.com
(Another Bronte blog from someone located in Canada.
Note the use of design to give it a 19th century Victorian feel.)

-What' Your Brand' Mantra
http://brand.blogs.com/mantra/
(Another marketing blog written by a woman who hits it out of the park
every time with her observation on what works and what could work
better when it comes to marketing. The design and content of her blog
was initially very businesslike and conservation. She decided to
relax a bit, which is be reflected in her photo.)

-DISGRUNTLED BOOKSELLER
A blog about: Being a Disgruntled Bookseller • Books • Bookselling •
Bookstores • Customers (and why I sometimes hate them) • Cow-workers •
Other stuff
http://disgruntledbookseller.blogspot.com/
(An interesting rant about work.)

-On the other hand
An experiment in independence
http://www.joshourisman.com/
(One of the blogger meetup member's blog)

-More Explore
http://www.moreexplore.blogspot.com/
(My effort)


In terms of what type of blog tool (software) to use:
It depends on what you are seeking to do. All websites are open to being hacked
into at one time or another. If your computer has a good antivirus
program, you should be fine. I will admit that I am not deeply
knowledgeable when it comes to blogging software, so I would defer to
one of my friends who has this knowledge. I can definitely post your
question about this to the meetup and have them contact you. You can
also pose your question to the members at BlogHer. As I said before,
it is frequented by women of all levels of expertise in blogging so
there are tons of geek girls who can tell you more about the finer
points of software.

I can tell you that as a person just starting out, blogger.com is a
good site to use for a blog. It is free and easy to use. You do not
have to worry about embedded ads, especially ones you do not want. It
has some nice templates.

Livejournal (which is owned by the same company as Typepad.com) is
also another good one and for the same reasons.

Typepad and WordPress are the tools of choice it seems for those who
have professional blogs because they provide more options for
templates and adding things. Both though are not free are also not
free.

Microsoft and Yahoo offer blog space though I have not been as
motivated to use them since blogger.com (owned by Google by the way)
suits me just fine.

The social networking sites such as MySpace, Friendster and TagWorld
offer free blogs. However with Friendster you have to deal with
embedded ads that you may not like, unless you upgrade your free
membership to premium and pay for the privilege of not having ads.

Also, the type of tool you use is influenced by what the focus of your
blog is. If you are just blogging about something personal that
interests you and you are not very concerned with attracting a
following, then you should use something simple like blogger or
LiveJournal. If you are going to use lots of images and have lots of
links and blogrolls and need more flexibility in how you use the blog
template, it might be worth it to pay for something like Typepad.

I hope this was helpful to you. Feel free to contact me if you have
any other questions and I will try my best to get an answer to you.


--
"When we started skating, we had no role models in Poland to follow,
we just had a wish."
-- Zagorska and Siudek, 1999 World Bronze medalist-figure skating pair
from Poland
Always remember Ferengi Rule of Acquisition Number 76: Every once in a
while, declare peace. It confuses the hell out of your enemies."
- Quark (Deep Space Nine)
"I had forgotten that men could not see unicorns. Just because they
cannot see them does not mean they do not exist."
- The Unicorn (The Last Unicorn)
"Sometimes I think the universe just waits for me to get cocky."
- Egon (The Real Ghostbusters cartoon)
"A man is as happy as he makes up his mind to be."
- Abraham Lincoln
"Please try to understand before one of us dies..."
- John Cleese as Basil Fawlty
"Killing you is on our to do list. Please be polite and wait your turn. "
- The Game Operation Division
"I'm not going there to die. I just need to know if I was ever really alive."
- Spike (Cowboy Bebop)

Reply to a post

AAEA or African American Environmentalist Association I first found out about them at their MSN Group. They also have a blog that I read regulary. I know that for some and "African American Environmentalist Association" seems like an oxymoron. Well there are many that care about and are active in environmental issues. I came across this post at their blog:
http://aaenvironment.blogspot.com/2005/12/environment-of-many-black-women.html

and feel compelled to make plain my views on this topic.



Uhhh...as a Black woman who is approaching the age bracket I would say that I would say while it is good to have companionship-a lover-it is not the end all and be all. The situation is what it is. Instead of directing anger at Black men who for whatever reason is not into you, be thankful that you have a life and choices and the ability to give and to receive love.I am tired of hearing complaints about what a sin it is for a Black man to be gay or underemployed or into [insert the name of any race except Black] women. What I don't hear enough of are the Black women who are successful and who have carved out lives for themselves and careers that they are happy with. I drives me nuts that the message to the next generation of girls is that no matter how successful you are and how productive a citizen you are, it means nothing unless you have a man in your life. then you are complete.I also do note that apparently this except speaks to the "plight" of heterosexual Black women who are not gay or bisexual or who are facing a serious illness or that may choose to accept the love and respect of a man who is not Black. A plight that I am sure is real but in many cases is not seeing the forest for the trees.Adoption is an option in regards to children. Last I checked there is an overflowing list of children who seek a loving parent to adopt. Artificial insemenation (ai) is another option for those who want children but who do not wish to adopt.You can also mentor or become a foster parent. By the way, no one "turns" to lesbianism. Your sexuality is just a part of who you are. Just like no one "turns" to heterosexualism. Such a statement is demonstrates misinformation about lesbians and bisexuals. At the end of the day, whether you have the perfect ideal nuclear family with that perfect Black man or not, you die ALONE. You have one shot at life. You can spend it caterwauling about things that you either cannot or should not control and how things should be or you can be thankful for what you have, let go of what didn't work and learn from it and be the author of your own story with you as a hero that is fulfilled by what you accomplished during your time as person.