Blog Mortality

Lately, I have been seriously thinking. Thinking of what to do, when it comes to the blogging world.

There are two blogs that I write. This one, which is my main posting area. Then, I also have a "sideline" blog for the topic of the Paranormal, aptly named ParanorMel.

For the most part as of late, I write, and I write, and I write. Yes, primarily for myself. Just to get out what I want to or that I need to. As for ParanorMel, it is for those wishing to know that they are not alone, can relate to others and feel free to share their stories without societal persecution.

But the more I think about it, the more I see and compare, I think that my blogging days are coming to a standstill.

I'm wondering what the use is, anymore. Is it the fact that I don't blog on practically a daily basis? Is it because I don't hop on to every single Blogging Carnival out there? Is it because I don't comment on EVERY page I read?

I don't do cliques of any kind. I will have a buddy's back in their hour of need. And I will stand up for the underdog. But I don't care to always do or have the 'in' thing, be in the 'in' crowd. I love doing my own thing. And that also comes in to play within the writing world.

My great-grandmother was a famous Chicago Christian-based playwright. I have Mae Questel in my lineage, whom provided the original voice of Betty Boop. I've also got Jean Harlow and President Theodore Roosevelt within my bloodlines. So what? I am certainly happy and proud of my heritage. But they do NOT make me who I am.

If blogging means keeping up with the Jones' in regards to Blog Carnivals and mass commenting to "get noticed" or read, then the TRUE meaning and art of blogging has gone to the wayside.

It should never be about who has the better blog posts, the better blog layout, and all the other hullabaloo I have witnessed in my time around here, since about November of last year.

I've seen where some say that they don't run in cliques and don't do 'one-sided' things when it comes to blogging. But I'm sorry to say, I noticed. And yes they are in these 'cliques', though I don't think their eyes are open enough to really see. But I and others do.

As for fighting between to 'adults' in the blogging world? I stay the hell away. I have my own problems. In the real world mind you. So what good does it do for me and my blood pressure to jump in the middle of a cat fight? Not any good at all. For all parties involved. I say let them two have at it, remain neutral and state that you REFUSE to get pulled in.

Now, seeing as I am pretty sure that this post to will get brushed under the rug (as in not even read), let alone even validated by another's words (I'm NOT talking about Angel or Alexes y'all), I'm coming to a point of where to go from here.

Is The (Not Always) Happy Homemaker Diary and ParanorMel going to survive and move on to the next post? Or should I cut my losses, and realize the fact that I put too much time and energy in to these two blogs, that they should just be killed off?

I'm more active at the school now, then before. My kids and my home take priority. As does my husband. Plus we have a trip and the holidays coming up.

Is it all really worth it anymore? This will be a hard decision, being that I *really* do enjoy writing. But at what cost?

Blog Carnivals, Being Me and Followers.

What I am about to say will most likely piss MANY of you readers off. And I'm sorry for that, but I will not sugar-coat, nor will I sit here silent. And I sure as hell won't fake being happy, when in reality, I am not.

If this means I lose any followers/readers, then so be it. I would rather have followers that REALLY DO read my postings, and even leave an occasional comment. Rather than having someone "following" me only to have my blog serve the purpose of placing another "I'm Following" blog under the belt loop as to make YOU look good.

There are many, upon many blogging carnivals. So many, it really is hard to keep up and even remember all of their names.

Pretty much all of my life, I have never been one to be in a clique or an "in" crowd. And I don't see myself doing so now at my age (almost 34).

There are a few carnivals that I DO participate in. But it's a sporadic involvement. Those would be Weekend Warriors, Post-It-Note Tuesday, and What I Meant To Say Wednesdays, as well as one or two others.

When I write, I do it from the heart. What you read/see, is what you get. The REAL me. I have NEVER, EVER claimed to be anything more or less than what you see me type.

As of late, with all the drama BS I have seen, read, and heard about lately, especially pertaining to certain carnivals, I am more happy now than EVER that I don't really participate in them.

Most of the carnivals only (in my mind and eyes) seem to instigate cliques, fights and anonymous postings by those that don't have the brass balls to put their name to their shame.

My mama taught me (before her death) that I am somebody. Me. And that is all I will need to be, for those that will want to, to like me. For who I AM. Not for who I am POSING to be.

So, while I may take part in carnivals from time to time, they are the type that let me be ME. Let me feel in control of my writing. I refuse to play the "you follow me, I'll follow you" bit. Either you follow, or you don't.

And if we follow one another, then it would be LOVELY to see you comment on *MY* page once in a while. Instead of seeing me making all the moves and commenting on *YOUR* posts. Where's the love? Not on my page, I can say that.

That's one of the main reasons as well that I do NOT partake in carnivals. Because I know for a fact, with everything going on around in my daily REAL life, that I would NEVER be able to go and comment back to those that I participated with. At least not *ALL* of them, anyways.

So, now that you know that I refuse to play childish games, be it here on the blogs or in the head and heart, you, my fine readers have a choice to make.

Either respect my thoughts and feelings, and see where I am coming from...Or click the back button and remove me as one of the blogs you follow.

True, I do NOT follow every one of my followers. Because I don't have ALL day long to commit to reading every single entry that those that I read, makes. But I do TRY and at least READ the entries to the blogs that I DO follow. Because they interest me for whatever reason, and I feel like I can BE ME and say what I need to or want to, without persecution.

But also know, that I won't do carnival after carnival to "fit in" or just to gain more readers.

Either you like my work, or you don't.

I'm Me...Don't Expect More, You Won't Get But What I Can Give To The (Blogging) World.

After reading a friend's blog over at http://singedwingangel.blogspot.com/ by it's Author, Angel, I felt like I need to "explain" myself.

I have never been one, even as a little kid (but with rare exception, of course) to want what everyone else has, or to do what everyone else is doing. It's just not in my nature.

I'm the type that I "do my own thing" and I don't care what you think, either. Don't like it? Don't read it/watch it/be around it, I say. I'm not here to honestly please anyone (except my husband, my kids and ultimately, myself).

Have you noticed, I don't have "Bloggy Buttons", I don't do "Carnivals", I don't go out of my way to gain readers, I don't cater to people (unless I ask for topic ideas, which I have, and view as different from 'catering').

My readers come to me. Either by reading a post via Facebook, where it auto-posts my blog entries, by Networked Blogs application over at Facebook, by "word of mouth" via my readers I already have, or by my "Fan Page" I have for this blog page.

I'm not writing really to gain readers or popularity. I write to express myself, my views, my opinions, to share about my life as a mom/wife/Christian/parenting a Special Needs Child. Sometimes, I'm funny as all get out. Sometimes, I'm very serious. And at times, I can be both.

This blog is for ME. It's my outlet. My way of expression. My blog is not for a Popularity Contest, to see how many readers I can get to 'follow' me. Not to gain sympathy or a slew of comments. I like to educate others who may not know what it's like to parent a child with Mental Illness/Disorders/Disabilities. And to educate the populous in regards to Organ/Eye/Tissue Donation (I myself am a Donor, as well as a Corneal Transplant Recipient).

So, while my blog page may look "boring", being I don't have bunch of buttons, links to other bloggers, fancy page decorations and a "Nation's Populations in it's self" number of readers (that most don't even comment anyways), it's who I am...

Simple, comfortable, unpopular (nothing new there lol), and most of all...TRUE TO MYSELF and REAL (what you see on my page, posts and in between is who/what I REALLY am like in the REAL world).

If you want someone to "keep up with the Joneses" in bloggy circles and cliques, please do us both a favor, find another girl (or guy). Because this Blog Writer has too much else to do than keep up with the Joneses. I have a hard enough time keeping up with three kids, three cats, a husband, a two-story home (full basement) and life in general.