I Blog Therefore I Am?

That's a question not a statement. Over the last few months I haven't been blogging much. This is due to several things; I've been busy, it's too hot, nobody cares. Pick one.

The main reason is that I started questioning why I blog. When I started 18 months ago I really had no idea why I wanted to write a blog. I don't have any definitive answer even now. But I know I enjoyed it and still do but I really began to ask Does anyone care? Does anyone really want to know what I think?

Then I began to miss it. And I realized I wasn't writing for anyone but myself. I did/do enjoy the comments people leave but because I don't spend nearly as much time visiting other blogs, my traffic has slowed down and so have the comments. That's okay. I like to hear myself talk.

I do know that some people are paying attention to my blog(s), there are four now. Seriously, I'm not kidding, four blogs. Recently the IT director for our agency, Tom, planned a tech panel for the quarterly company meeting. I was really flattered when Tom asked me to sit on the panel and talk about blogging.

There would be seven agents with certain knowledge of technology speaking about their areas of expertise. Tom actually called me a blogging expert. Whoa! I'm not an expert on anything but I have gathered quite a bit of experience with blogging recently. Despite being a little uncomfortable speaking before large groups, I said yes.

There were seven of us on the panel and the other six all had some really interesting things to offer. I'm sure we all learned some new things. I happened to be the seventh to speak. By then I saw that eyes had begun to glaze over so I cut my comments short.

I told them that Blogger is my format of choice because of its user-friendliness especially because I have no technology background. I talked about commenting and followers and about the difference (for me) between business related blogs (like my real estate blog) and personal blogs. I also spoke about the blogging community and about the blog Words of Wisdom that I was part of developing.

After I was finished Tom told the audience I was being modest about my blogging and that he thinks my designs are terrific. He also said that I have achieved some of the best search engine optimization he has ever seen. A year ago I didn't even know what search engine optimization meant. I'm not even sure I know now. Whatever it is, it was an accident.

A Little of This, A Little of That

Once again I am tempted to yell "Stop! Let me off this merry-go-round!"

Lately the time has just run away with me. You may notice the gap between my last post and today. Or maybe you didn't. Summer is a busy time for most of us, and I notice many seem to spend less time here.

My real estate business has been keeping me very busy. That's a good thing. In my line of work we often work really hard NOW for commissions LATER.

Last week I spent a lot of time preparing for a presentation to a prospective seller. I was one of three Realtors they asked to speak to about listing their house. A really unique and beautiful "estate," I worked very hard on this and held my breath to hear their decision.

Yay! They chose me. I immediately got busy working on the marketing plan for the property. I am pleased to say that I had it in two multiple listing services, a virtual tour filmed and a dedicated website up in only THREE days! I didn't do this alone. I have a fantastic IT group I work with and an equally fantastic virtual tour company. Everyone worked quickly, and it all came together.

I'll tell you more about the property next week. It's a 12-room Colonial built in 1780. Think about that....it was built just four years after the Declaration of Independence was signed. I am very excited about selling this house, a true piece of history. Stayed tuned, I'll have more later.

Sunday, like lots of people, we are having a cookout with family and friends. We haven't had a Fourth of July party in a long time and I'm looking forward to it. The next couple days will be hectic getting everything ready.

Today I am taking a little time for ME and going to have a pedicure. Although I am addicted to my nail tech and my fingernails, I usually do my own toes. But today I'm going to sit for an hour and be a little pampered.

Oh, and I recently bought a Kindle. I haven't rushed out to buy one before this because I wasn't sure I'd use it, and I was hoping the price would come down. I've been borrowing Pam's occasionally (this time it's been a month....sorry, Pam, I'll return it this weekend) and have decided I like it. Plus the price has come down significantly.

Before I forget, let me suggest that you stop by the blog Pam and I put together a couple months ago...Words of Wisdom. In my humble opinion, today's Blogger of Note is one of the most amazing writers we have featured so far. I don't mean to slight any of our other Bloggers of Note, we were happy to share all of them, but something about Matthew's writing at AbodeOneThree really speaks to me.

I hope all of my American friends here and living as expats have a wonderful Fourth of July and the rest of you have a great weekend! Hope to see you next week.