Saturday, September 27, 2008

Why I Blog Meme and an Award :)

CJ at My Year of Reading Seriously tagged me for How Blogging Affects Me Meme. The rules:

1. Write about 5 specific ways blogging has affected you, either positively or negatively
2. Link back to the person who tagged you
3. Link back to this parent post
4. Tag a few friends or five, or none at all (and inform them about it)
5. Post these rules— or just have fun breaking them.

I started blogging when I lived in small-town Texas (Coleman) and didn't have much of anything else to do. I had just finished with grad school and really missed having constant book-talk with my friends. I joined a few Yahoo book clubs, but then I stumbled upon blogging--and challenges and I was immediately hooked. So, how has it affected me?

1. I am reading much more than I used to. By mid-October I will hit my 2007 total (58 books). I'm not sure how many I'll complete by December 31st, but it is certainly more than I could have ever imagined!

2. I have met amazing people who share the same passion that I do. You guys rock my world!!

3. My horizons have been broadened by incredible lengths. I am reading non-fiction, history, science fiction, fantasy, graphic novels, world literature, classics, etc etc. I LOVE it. It is a constant learning experience for me.

4. Keeping a blog helps me think about what I am reading in a more critical manner. And besides, it helps me remember the things that I have read and what I loved and disliked about each book.

5. I spend too much time on the blogosphere. And this is a negative that unfortunately is taking its toll of the aspects of my life outside of reading. I've realized recently that in addition to working on my personal development, I also need to work on personal relationships--namely my marriage. My husband doesn't quite understand this whole business. And while he is usually supportive, I've been spending too much time in front of the computer or my books and not enough time exploring/experiencing life with him. So, you may be seeing me less around until I can find the balance that keeps everyone happy. *Sigh*

I'm not tagging anyone this time, but I'd love to hear what you think!

*********************************************************************************


These lovely ladies awarded me with this cute little button this past week. Thank you so much ladies--I love visiting your blogs and reading everything you have to say!!
Chris from Book-a-Rama
Corinne from The Book Nest

I usually am really bad about passing these back out--mostly because I can't award it to everyone otherwise it would be a big huge long list. :) The following are all special to me for different reasons. Some I've known for a short time, some since I started blogging. Some are blogging veterans, some are newer to the bookblogosphere. Go check them out and say hi!

Ramya from Ramya's Bookshelf
CJ from My Year of Reading Seriously
Laura from Reading Reflections
Kim L. From Bold. Blue. Adventure.
Michelle from Michelle's Reading Room
Dar from Peeking Between the Pages


The rules are simple--tag a handful of people whose blog you love!

23 comments:

Darlene said...

Thanks so much for the award Trish-you really made my day! I love your blog too as you well know.

I agree on the blogging and I can understand where hubby is coming from-somehow you need a good balance. I think what I'm going to do is narrow down the blogs I follow to a more manageable level. I find with all the ones I try to read I end up missing out on reading my books which I don't like. It's hard. I hope you'll be able to find what works. On the other hand, like you, I've met so many wonderful people that I know I'll keep in contact with for years-it's great.

Laura said...

I totally agree that it can be challenging to balance everything--work, reading, blogging, exercising, time with friends, family, and quality time with hubby. If you cut back your computer time, you know who you can always go to at work to get some extra book talk in! ;) Of course, there are many others out there who have far more interesting and important things to say than I do, but it's better than nothing, right?

You'll figure it out. If only someone could find a way for humans to NOT require sleeping...

Thank you so much for the award! I love your blog too!

CJ said...

Trish -

Great answers and we are, as usual, in agreement. Yes, you need to find a balance and hubby definitely takes priority! Ya know, you could get him blogging... but then you'd have to fight for computer time.

Thanks so much for the award. It's very sweet and I appreciate it!

cjh

Bonnie said...

Trish,

I can relate to your answers! I have just started blogging and have met such wonderful people through book blogs. I am finding it a time sink and also need to find a way to balance my time. My husband spends a lot of time on the computer working on his projects as well so we need to work in more time together as well. Keep us posted on how it goes finding the balance!

L.L. Barkat said...

Totally amazing on the number of books!

Ana S. said...

Congrats on the award, Trish! You couldn't deserve it more :)

Blogging has affected me in pretty much those very same ways. I particularly like the fact that it makes me think about what I read more critically. If I'm reading a book and nothing in particular jumps at me, instead of shrugging and moving on to my next read I think about it harder, because after all I must find something to say in my post.

Blogging also has made me read more. And buy more books, but let's not get into that :P

And yes, it's time consuming. The way my life is right now it doesn't really matter, but in the future I can see myself struggling to find a balance too. I'm sure you'll be able to do it, though. I suspect that part of the secret is learning not to feel guilty when we don't manage to comment on every post we read, when we have to mark all the posts on our reader as read, when we don't have time to reply to comments, etc.

Corinne said...

Girl, I could've written that post myself : ) And I DO heart your blog!

Anonymous said...

thank you!! thank you!! thank you!!:)
i heart your blog too!:))

Literary Feline said...

Blogging--and reading blogs--definitely is time consuming! I am married to a gamer and so it hasn't had much of an impact on my marriage (other than get me out of his hair), but I do understand how it cuts into other aspects of our lives. And not always in a positive way. I am sure you will find a happy medium.

bethany (dreadlock girl) said...

for sure. time, time, time. I think what takes the most time is actually commenting, and keeping up. I have been horrible at it lately....

Yeah, my husband loves to read and is now back in grad school, so I have time again :)

It is so hard to find that balance though, of how long you should spend, how often to check back and all that.

Anna said...

Congrats on the award!

I understand where you're coming from. My hubby is pretty supportive, but he doesn't totally get it either. So now I restrict my blog reading time to the evenings or at work (shh!!), which is why it's after midnight and I'm the only one up and I'm in front of the computer.

--Anna
http://diaryofaneccentric.blogspot.com

Kim L said...

Aw thanks Trish!

Your answers pretty much describe me as well. I haven't quite found a balance yet. Because when I try to work on other things, my blog suffers, and vice versa.

Bellezza said...

Yeah, my husband doesn't quite get it either. When you have the secret of balancing, fill me in, please. ;)

Lisa said...

If you find the secret to balance let me know, because I can't figure it out! I have so many things I want to do, and my reading is even suffering. I need to unsubscribe to a lot of blogs too, but then I feel guilty.

bethany (dreadlock girl) said...

awe, sweet:)

I just sent you a message through book blogs asking for some help if you are interested :) let me know.

Trish @ Love, Laughter, Insanity said...

*Dar - I've been very careful about how many blogs I keep in my reader but I keep adding more--there are so many good ones out there!!

*Laura - I LOVE our daily book talk...definitely keeps me sane in the midst of PDW. ;) I would love to learn to live without sleep...but I do love it so much.

*CJ - Hubby usually spends time on his computer but that doesn't really solve the problem of us not spending time together. We'll figure it out!!

*Red Lady-Bonnie - Thanks for coming by!! There are so many great blogs out there that it's hard to resist sometimes. :) Based on the comments it sounds like balance is something hard to find.

*LL - Thanks but it's a pretty meager number compared to a lot of other bloggers...there are some already into their 100s and even 200s!! I don't know how they do it.

Trish @ Love, Laughter, Insanity said...

*Nymeth - Oh yes--I forgot to mention the book buying :) I've been pretty good lately, but I think it comes in spurts. And the guilt. I know I know I know...I think I just need to realize that there are only so many hours in each day and that I can only do what I can. The problem right now is that I'm not balancing. I'm spending all of my free time doing this instead of other things. Not that I should stop doing this, just remember to make time for the other things. :) I think I just need some organization!!

*Corinne - Thanks Corinne--I heart your blog, too. :)

*Ramya - You are quite welcome and very deserving.

*Lit Feline - I think I'll eventually find a happy medium as well--maybe just with a little work. I think I used to have better balance so I just need to get back to that.

*Bethany - The commenting is very time consuming but I love doing it!! I think I actually spend more time blogging than reading. :) My husband doesn't read at all which doesn't really help the situation.

Trish @ Love, Laughter, Insanity said...

*Anna - I'm lame--haha! I go to bed around 10 pm. :) I do try to get on in the mornings though before I leave for work.

*Kim - You're welcome! After reading everyone's comments I realize I'm really not alone in my struggle for balance! I can't imagine how the bloggers who have young kids manage to keep up!

*Bellezza - Oh, I was hoping you could enlighten me!! :)

*Lisa - *Sigh* I don't think there is a secret! But when i read your blog I'm amazed at all you manage to do with your kids and your husband and your sewing and reading! Wonderwoman!

heather (errantdreams) said...

While I do allow blogging to take up more of my time than I should, it has definitely done good things for me on the whole. The people I've met are awesome, and I've found so many cool books this way!

Michelle said...

Aww, thanks trish! I am glad to know that I am not the only one that sucks at finding balance. Maybe one day......

Trish @ Love, Laughter, Insanity said...

*Heather - Blogging does take up a lot of time but I do love it... And I agree with what you say about the people and the books!! Definitely a great bonus.

*Michelle - You're welcome--I'm so glad that I found your blogs! And I'm beginning to think that balance doesn't really exist...? My mom is really excited to be seeing you, by the way! Hopefully it works out that you can get together.

Melody said...

Aww...I can't believe I've missed this post!!

You know, I'm still trying to find a balance between blogging, reading and my life... I love reading and writing blog too much so I always make it a point to do them whenever I've got some spare time.

Trish @ Love, Laughter, Insanity said...

*melody - I'm not entirely sure balance exists. :( But, I try to use any spare moments I have for blogging/reading as well!