Google Reader is not my friend. We used to be friends, particularly after it introduced me to its BFF Google Share, but I'm about to have to issue a friendship divorce. Why? Because it is screwing up my blog reading. I swear, it is intimidating me away from reading your blogs.
Google Reader is a bully.
I used to visit all of your sites individually, taking great pleasure in your blog design, pictures, side bar bling, and linky love fests. Then I decided that I wanted to use the Google Share feature to help make up for the fact that I don't leave enough comments on posts that I enjoy, so I started using Google Reader, my very first reader period.
Then I stopped visiting your actual sites. And my commenting went down to next to nothing, which is really bad for somebody whose comment-leaving habits were abhorrent to begin with, let me tell you.
Then there's the whole intimidation factor of the "All Items" tally indicating the new posts waiting to be read. I mean, ya'll post like three gabillion times a day, so it takes me forever to get the "100+" tally to go away at the top of my reader, indicating that I'll never make it through all of the new posts any time this year. When I was just happily linking through my blogroll, I never knew what was waiting for me. Granted, I also lost all track of time and three hours would go by without my realizing it, but whatever. At least I was participating.
So now I miss all the good stuff. I miss your new blog banners going up, I miss your new side bar bling, and I probably miss any fresh content, because I'm still trying to catch up on old stuff from last week. And just forget about comments.
Which brings me to a bit of good stuff that I didn't miss, but also didn't comment on when it came up: The Blogging Community Involvement Award. Or, as I keep thinking of it, the Power of Schmooze Award. According to Jennie at An Experimental Mommy Life, I "NEED" this award. Well, thank you, Jennie, but I have to admit that you have me a little confused.
Do you mean that I need this award because I've got blogging community involvement skills (read: leaves comments, in which case I would have to say that you must have me confused with someone else...?) or that I need this award because I suck so hard and am generally a blog jerk when it comes to staying involved? This award would therefore be your form of positive reinforcement? Eh?
Either way, I'll take it! Thank you! And you are right.
For the most part, I decided that my self-centered no-comment-leaving butt would accept this award because it would give me the opportunity to thank some of my more generous comment-leavers, not to mention thanking Jennie for her always thoughtful comments. Something I should do more often, by say, either responding to my own comments or leaving comments on their blogs. Imagine that.
Remember, though, I've been trying to prioritize lately. Priorities, priorities. I'll keep telling myself this so that I don't feel so guilty for not commenting more.
So now, about those awesomely involved bloggers out there, my role models:
Sorta Crunchy - I always look forward to Megan's comments because I dig her perspective. She's a sorta crunchy mom and with her new approach to her blog as of late, methinks she's sharing more of the crunchiness than she used to, which I love. Not because I'm crunchy, but because I like to think that some of her whole-someness will rub off on me. I'm vicariously crunchy.
Is There A Doctor In the House? - Carrie leaves some of the most genuine comments and never fails to make me feel good. She left two "yay you're back" comments in one month and didn't even complain that she had to write the same thing twice, which was basically a very nice, "When, exactly, do you plan on blogging ever again? Huh?" My question is, "How on earth do you even fit blogging into your schedule?" She's a PhD candidate and a TA. I'm tired just writing it.
Temporary? Insanity - She said she wants to read the books I read. That's all you actually have to say for me to love you. Then Kimberly went so far as to permanently link to my Strength To Take post in her sidebar. How crazy nice is that?
Fenicle - I've written about her before, but she's still one of the coolest and I am thrilled every time she takes the time to leave me a comment. So easy to relate to, so much fun to read.
The Mommy Chronicles - I need to read this blog more often. Period. My problem is, again, the damn Google Reader. See, the author goes by the name CakeHead, which is what I think of her as. But when I see her blog title, I always think it's someone else. Damn it. Then I go to her site, after reading some of her fabulous comments on here, and I think, "What is wrong with me? Why do I keep missing this stuff?" And, uh, then I don't comment. Man, I hate me. But I lurve me some CakeHead, and you should, too!
Let's get down to it, I love my blogging community, my wonderful little circle, and I adore all of your comments. Seriously, I read each one like it's the last comment I'm ever going to get. And then I turn off the computer and go play with my kids. So, you see, it's nothing personal, other than my personal personality flaws. Ya'll keep up the fabulous Blogging Community Involvement because you are the best role models! The power of schmooze, indeed!