Replay
It’s the end of another week. Finally! We’ve got a packed weekend ahead of us and then we might be going on vacation at some point next week. So very much needed. Without further ado, I present to you some of my favorite posts from the week. And check the end, because I pose an important question to you that just might determine the direction this blog will take!
Names! What’s in a name? Everything, you say? Well, as you know, Sweets and I are in a very secretive process of picking out names for Grasshopper. And while we are keeping that process a secret, I direct you to Erin’s blog. The post itself is interesting, but the comments are fascinating. Learn all about people’s names and whether they love them or hate them! For the record, I love my name – when people hear the name, Nilsa, they usually think of me (for better or worse), so it’s a sort of badge of honor to be the definition of a name. {source: the state that i am in}
Finalist! If you haven’t read Crissy’s blog, hide from your kids and your bosses and go read her stuff. She’s honest and funny and often NSFW. She recently found out she’s a finalist for a BlogHer award. Only, she doesn’t even participate in BlogHer activities. And they told her if she wants to accept her award (assuming she’s a winner), she has to buy a ticket (already sold out) or volunteer. Seems to me that the priorities are skewed. Shouldn’t winners be, I don’t know, honored? Just saying. {source: Crissy}
Etiquette! I may have a pretty smart phone with talking, texting and interneting capabilities. But, when it comes to cell phone etiquette, I fall squarely in the old school camp. I find it rude when people talk loudly, break out phones in restaurants, keep their heads buried in their phones and walk into other people on the street. We’ve become so engrossed in our phones, we forget there is this big, interesting world around us. On some level, Jess agrees. She made some astute cell phone observations and might even be considering a change in her own behavior! {source: Everyday Adventures (of me in the city)}
Question! As I mentioned above, we’re going on a little vacation. And each time I leave this little blog behind, I wonder whether I should (a) schedule a bunch of posts ahead of time, (b) ask people to guest blog or (c) let the blog go dark while I’m gone. I’m always hesitant to post my own posts, because I know I won’t respond to comments and feel that’s letting all of you down. I’m also hesitant to ask people to guest post, because I know people put a lot of thought and effort into guest posts and they aren’t always well received (i.e., if I wanted to read someone else’s thoughts, why wouldn’t I go straight to their blog instead – guest posts don’t always garner a lot of comments)!? So, I throw this question out to you – would you prefer that I schedule some guest posters while I’m gone or would you prefer that I allow the blog to go quiet for the week?
That’s all from here. Have a great weekend and I’ll see y’all on the flip side!
July 23rd, 2010 at 8:46 am
Such fantastic replays this week. I read Erins blog about names but not the comments. I really should do that. And I’m the same way with my old school non-internet capabilities cell, put the damn thing away and just enjoy where you are.
I would miss your posts should you choose to not preschedule your posts, but as a blogger who sometimes lets her blog go dark when life gets too big, sometimes its nice to just enjoy life without worrying about your blog. Its very freeing and lately, I’m in favor of that.
Have a wonderful weekend!
July 23rd, 2010 at 8:57 am
Well, I’m selfish and I like your writing and if I know that you’re traveling, I don’t expect you to respond to comments. So i vote pre-scheduled posts. Would totally understand if you let it go dark though!
Also lucky you for a possible vacation next week!!!
Love the posts you linked to this week; I’ve actually read several of them already and they rock :)
July 23rd, 2010 at 9:08 am
I prefer pre-scheduled posts, but dark for a week is 110% okay with me too :)
July 23rd, 2010 at 9:37 am
Guest posters are fun from time to time but I’ve stopped having them on my blog because I’ve noticed that generally speaking, I like to read the blogger whose blog it is and not their friends, so I often skim guest posts. I say maybe do a mix? Schedule one or two of your own, maybe toss in a guest post, and let the blog stay silent a few days too.
July 23rd, 2010 at 9:48 am
I would either pre-schedule posts or let the blog go dark. :-)
July 23rd, 2010 at 10:24 am
Even though I just guest posted on a friend’s site, I prefer either quiet or pre-scheduled posts from the blog author. I tend to not read guest posts since I have so many blogs to read in general. Is that bitchy? It’s hypocritical but is it bitchy? ;-)
July 23rd, 2010 at 10:53 am
im just excited to SEE YOU in a week! i think you should put the blog on summer vacation. then you don’t need to worry about it at all!
July 23rd, 2010 at 10:56 am
I wanted to let you know that whenever I read about “grasshopper” I end up wanting something chocolate mint flavored…:)
July 23rd, 2010 at 11:09 am
I say take a nice blogging break during vacation and don’t even worry about us. We’ll still be here, ready to read, when you get back!
July 23rd, 2010 at 11:29 am
Was wondering what you thought about Crissy’s deal. I think BlogHer is weird? I know you went to the conference last year, but I still think it’s weird. Just not at all how I think. I most certainly don’t fit in with that crowd. I say take a break. Once I figured out how to read in a reader? I realized I didn’t have to clickity click on people all the time to see if they’d updated.
July 23rd, 2010 at 12:07 pm
I vote for a! I enjoy your writing -- it doesn’t bother me that you’re not responding to comments when you’re away. I’m not a huge fan of guest posts.
July 23rd, 2010 at 1:20 pm
I tend to prefer pre-scheduled posts(maybe with a reminder note that you’re not actually around) or letting the blog go dark. I rarely read guest posts myself.
July 23rd, 2010 at 1:54 pm
To be honest I don’t really “get” guest posts. I’m in the “I subscribe to your feed because I’m interested in what *you* write” camp, and thus tend to tune-out guest posts.
I say let your blog go dark for a couple of weeks. Do people really unsubscribe from feeds that quickly? I’m sure we’ll all be here when you get back. Won’t we? I know I will.
July 23rd, 2010 at 2:38 pm
I don’t think NOT responding to comments is a big deal! We know you’re traveling and won’t expect them anyways! I always think it’s SO sweet you do that, I don’t think I’d find the time!! So nothing wrong with not replying for a week. I love your blog so would love some pre-scheduled posts. But if you let the blog go quiet for a week I won’t hate you :)
July 23rd, 2010 at 4:19 pm
I totally say go-dark for a week. I rarely read guest posts because I don’t have the time (like Sizzle said) and pre-writing a ton of stuff, then reading all the comments when you get back will just stress you out!
July 23rd, 2010 at 4:20 pm
Great replays!
As for the question at the end…I think we’d all miss seeing your blog pop up in our readers while you’re gone, but I do understand the thing about guest posts not being well received. One thing I’ve noticed is that sometimes, a person offers to guest post for someone (or is asked) but then doesn’t have an idea for what to write, so their post is fluffy or generic or just not that interesting. But when someone puts thought into a guest post, it seems to be less likely for people to skip right over it. The only other thing, at least for me personally, is that if I see a guest post that is super duper long, I often skip it because I’m not really invested in that person and I don’t really want to spend that much time reading their stuff until/unless I DO become invested…if that makes sense, and isn’t terribly rude-sounding. :-P
Basically, have guest posts if you want, but my two guidelines would be: keep it relatively short, and make sure your guest poster has something worthwhile to share. Otherwise, leave it dark and then come back with a REALLY awesome post…or else. :-P
July 23rd, 2010 at 11:59 pm
Great replays, Nilsa.
I did read Erin’s blog post about the baby names and I put my two cents in as well.
I think you should preschedule posts, if you have any on backup… it doesn’t need to be every day, so you can space them out a bit.
I am totally ok with having your blog go dark as well (makes people appreciate you more when you get back *haha*), because the blog should really be no “pressure”-thing. If you’re on vacation, you’re on vacation… and the blog is too :)
July 26th, 2010 at 10:58 am
I have been loving the name conversation on my blog. So interesting to see what people think of their own names.
As far as your vacation…truthfully, I hardly ever read guest posts. They get pushed to the end of my reader because I just have too many blogs to keep up with. I think going dark for vacation is fine, or pre-schedule some posts of your own. I always feel bad when I don’t get around to responding to comments, but I’ve found that people are really understanding about it.
July 27th, 2010 at 11:32 am
I’m good with either pre-scheduled posts or just be dark for a week. Pre-scheduled does show that things are still active here. Maybe some best of posts. For all of your great writing out here, you’ve got some great content to pull from.
July 27th, 2010 at 12:07 pm
Awe, I just saw Meg’s message. How fun you guys are seeing each other in a week! Lucky! I would just go dark. I’m sure your guest bloggers would be nice, but I’d rather just read you. :)