Sunday Stealing ~ The Meme About Blogging

Judd Corizan brings us another interesting meme from a syndicated feature this week called "The Meme About Blogging." Don't we all have something to say about that? Ummm....to play this straight or silly....let's see what spills out of the pen. Thanks Judd!

1. How long have you been blogging?

Ohh....about four hours now. I think it's time for a snack. I feel the sillies. Nope. Let's answer this straight up. I actually posted 2 blog posts in August 2005 and took a break. Mimi Writes was blog born May 26, 2006. My first blog was actually called Mimi On Mars (with a whopping 2 posts) and then I started Dating Profiles of The Day on June 20, 2006 with this post called "Bachelor #1: Body Parts Still Work" (yes, it's true. It was a real dating profile on a real dating site. Whatever happened to that site anyway?) Sad. I know. Then I told Mr. Body Parts......

and that was the end of our cyber romance.
My first real post on Mimi Writes was dated June 26, 2006 titled Dating: Not For The Fainthearted.
You can say that again.

2. Any advice to beginners?

I could write a book. Here are the highlights.
A. Never EVER EVER EVER give out your real name or location.'
B. Never EVER EVER EVER tell your family you have a blog if you pretend to be a Queen.
C. Never EVER EVER EVER blog about your work place.
D. Take your camera EVERYWHERE.
E. Use your common sense and blog smarts. Remember that whatever you post here is FOREVER here. Think ahead. (and no, deleting doesn't clear the cache in the blogsophere)

3. What are the good things blogging has brought to your life?

A. A sense of direction and continuity for my writing
B. Friendships from all over the world. I've met several of my blogging friends in person. I am thankful for each.
C. One special romance full of New England snow and the George Washington Bridge fiasco that morphed into an incredible friendship for awhile.
D. Peace Globes - I am thankful for all. Isn't this beautiful?

4. What would you consider the pitfalls?
It can definitely be addictive. I put off things that I should be doing in order to blog. I'll admit it. Working on that....

5. Tell us about your blog name. Ever think of changing it? If so, to what? Why?

Which one? I have so many.

There's Mimi Pencil Skirt (for Lois Lane-like reporting you see) There's Mimi Queen of Memes.....Mimi Lenox..... Click here to hear an interview I did on that very subject for the Mo Show on BlogTalk Radio last summer. Mo was a great host and it was so much fun!
My friend Duchess Linda of Norwich Upon the Thames called in during one the interviews on his show and asked if I had a dungeon in the castle for meme dodgers? I didn't at the time but it was a funny question and a great idea. Hence, the dungeon was born. (All you poor souls in the dungeon can thank Linda!) Have a listen.


6. Knowing what you know now, was starting a blog a good thing for you? Why or why not?

I can't imagine my life without it now. Blogging has helped me express who I am and opened up a world of people and friendships. Instant critique and validation for your writing and your place in the world is a gift. That's what blogging brings to my life. I love comments and interacting with others on their blogs. Discovering new blogs is a real joy. I learn so much about the world. Global thinking has multiplied for me 1,000 times.7. How do you think blogging, bloggers, or the blogosphere has changed since you started?
The blogosphere has become it's own universe since I started blogging.
The technology of blogging has grown by leaps and bounds. I barely knew how to link people 2 years ago. It is growing exponentially.

And the "anonymous" aspect has changed. NO ONE is invisible. If you think people can't find you, just ask Google. They'll gladly help you out with that - a consideration I never thought of when I first started blogging.
Sad. But true.

8. Ultimately, what would you like your blog to accomplish for you or others?

I hope people find a laugh, a smile, the occasional inspiration.. Sometimes I write very seriously and other times silly. If I'm to be honest, I would also like to find a publisher for my writing, my stories, and the amazing journey of the peace globes. The blog itself has begun to dictate the direction of my writing. What is happening with BlogBlast For Peace is so much bigger than me or my blog. Last year there was a NY Times reporter interested in the story, we currently battle a Wikipedia entry discussion (The movement was accepted into the Dona nobis pacem section and then deemed spam. Spam?? Oh please. We wage on with this, right Vinny? Perhaps a different category.....?) Mostly, having a voice in the world is important to us all. I like making new connections with people, forming relationships, potentially finding prince charming (did I say that?) and making new friends.

Have some cake. Here's to blogging!

Happy Sunday and thanks to Judd Corizan for a set of terrific questions this week.
See you tomorrow for Monday Mimisms.