- September 30, 2008
- 18 Comments
- Bloggy Bloggy
Looking for input… who's got an opinion?
My first question has to do with my Confidence Apron. By the way, she has a name now… I am sure you are not surprised since I border-on-obsessive when it comes to naming my possessions (i.e. Lollipop & Nosie…). Thanks to the help of these friends, my Confidence Apron will now be called “Roxi”! Yeah, together we ROCK the kitchen!
My question for you is this… Do you remove your apron when you use the restroom? I got to thinking. I know, “thinking” is not my forte’, but… When I cook without an apron, I don’t remove the clothes I am cooking in if I need to *ahem* use the little girl’s room, so why is it I feel compelled to remove my apron? The ties are not long, so there is no danger of an accidental “dip”. Tell me, what do you do… or what do YOU think? Noble Pig? Evil Chef Mom?? Anybody??? Everybody????
**********
My second inquiry is a bit more complex. I am thinking about teaching a class at my local parks and recreation department on beginning blogging. I am not a super-star blogger… Who am I to do something like this except that – no one else is doing it! I am well-aware of the fact that I am no “pro”… but I know a thing or two. Despite my non-supa-star-blogger status, I am compelled to pursue this. So compelled I picked up a little “class proposal” from the parks & rec department today. *gasp*
I have found that a number of local folks have asked me questions about blogging. Questions that have been in my capacity to answer. I am just feeling a bit unsure since I don’t have the high stats, comment numbers… I haven’t written for another blog or an online magazine ‘r somethin’. I’m just Jenny. However… I have been blogging 4.5 years and have learned a few things. I could know more… but I’d have until next Spring, even next Summer to pull it all together…
So. My question for you is not necessarily whether I SHOULD do it (but if you have an opinion on that, I’m wide open!)… My question is – if you were (or if your currently ARE) just starting or thinking about starting a blog – what would your questions be? What information would have been helpful when you first began blogging? Regrets? Your own tips? I have LOTS of ideas, tons of notes, and a great number of links… but much of my acquired information is based on MY questions and experience. If I do this, I want to give a good foundation to build on, and as much as I pretend that everything is all about me – I know it is not… but it is… I digress.
So – lay it on me peeps… please? Pretty please? I don’t actually know if this will fly, but I think I really want to give this a shot. Or at least TRY to give it a shot. Who knows if anyone will even sign up. I think I’d rather try and flop than not try at all.
**********
Folks. My friend Lisa – of The Blozulfog just posted prolly the Best. Post. Ever! Of course it’s about me…Oh, and her, but also ME… So… yeah… But seriously, it’s wicked funny. She’s got mad bloggin’ SkillZ – that’s right – Skills with a “Z”! You gotta check it out.
Love ya Lisa….MWAH!
********************
Keep up-to-date on the insane, the insightful, and the whatever…
18 Responses to “Looking for input… who's got an opinion?”
Use the Form Below to Leave a Reply
1) I have found even short ties tend to dip. Having said that, this is a case of do as I say, not as I do – remove the apron prior to using the potty.
2) Considering you are great at making one ponder thoughts they never would have come to terms with on their own, you are a teacher by nature. Go for it, girl! You would be great at teaching the fine art of blogging. Way to carve out a new niche. You are also marked by wit and ingenuity.
1)Take off the apron before you potty. I don’t know why, just do.
2)Teach the class!
3)*wink* at Roxi
Good question on the apron … I don’t wear one but I’d probably take it off if I did (plus, you wouldn’t want to offend Roxi now that you’ve named her!).
Yes, yes, yes … teach the class
You will have so much fun! By the time you develop the class, you will have the confidence to say to them that you are an expert in this area … of course you can’t tell them that you aren’t a super star … you are! I’ll help you with curriculum design if you need any help.
Loved, loved, loved the pix on Lisa’s blog – sooooo funnny!
You should teach the class. You know plenty. As a newbie to this blog-o-sphere, the following issues were confusing:
- RSS
- How to find a good host for the blog
- How to promote a blog
- What makes a good blog/post? Should it be along a theme? Should it be planned or improved or something in between?
- What the heck is a ping? A trackback? A widget? A twitter?
- Where and how to find other like-minded blogs.
I hope that helps, and I really wish I could take that class.
On a more important and serious note, I’m wondering if your apron question is contingent on sex. I wear an apron when I bake, and the “drip” concern takes on an urgency when you aim your pee right for the apron.
And coming from a guy who recently named his cast-iron pans, “Roxie” is a great name!
I have been reading your blog now for awhile so I figured it was about time I introduce myself, although I did meet you briefly about 3 years ago at Paul and Kerri’s wedding. I’m Jill from New Jerzee. We seem to have a lot in common, beside the fact that I am also a mother of 3. I love to dance and I love Oreos, especially double stuffed ones with Trader Joe’s peanut butter spread on top. I am salivating just thinking about them. Anyway I just wanted to say I love your blog. Peace. Jill
I would take off the apron – wouldn’t want to risk any splashback, even imperceptible specks of it. It’s probably a mental thing. I wouldn’t take the spoon I was using into the bath room either, for the same reason.
I would take that class. I would want to know about RSS and all the stuff mentioned by Geoff above. Also include how not to beat yourself up for having no followers and no comments for several months. Srsly.
Well, as a guy… I used to work inthe restaurant industry. There was not a rule, but it was considered good form to remove one’s apron before using the facilities, but not neccesarily before entering the restroom. I learned quite a bit in my ServeSafe class for Food Safety.
First off, I think starting up that class is awesome – good for you!! You think you could teach that thing via web-ex, so I could join in on the fun from AR and maybe learn a thing or two myself?! =)
I am new to the whole blogging thing (love it, but new) and I don’t get half of what Geoff said up there, so yeah, all that stuff he mentioned would be good to teach!!
Here are a few of my ideas/possible topics to teach:
1. How do you do that strike through thing?
word, and that long dash? What are some other cool HTML codes that are easy and spice up your posts?2. How do make your own background, header, signatures, etc? Just that whole personalization piece would be good – a section on what all is out there to choose from. You’ve got lots of cool stuff on yours that I have no idea how to create! (Calendar, search feature, header/links across the top, etc.)
3. How do you motivate your friends to get on board with blogging?! Most of my non-blogger friends are afraid of the internet and posting images or topics that could fall into the wrong hands. A topic on how to enjoy blogging and still stay safe doing it would be great.
1) Take the apron off before using the potty. The strings could become contaminated. EW!
2) Teach the class. Take advantage of the chance to be a big fish in the small blogging pond that is Poulsbo.
Oh Please Oh Please Oh Please teach the class! Except come down here to the big city and teach in Seattle. Then I could come too!
I love your blog and would love to learn from someone with such a great name. My dad still calls me Jenny
As for the apron dilemma, I could never get used to wearing those darn things in the first place! But I am so loving your confidence apron that I may have to reconsider.
As far as the Apron thing goes, I hear ya about the dilema. As an apron wearer, I have to say, I do not take it off for the very simple reason that it just aint to easy tying that thing up in the back. I work at tying just the right tension as to accentuate my non-waist. One must always look good in ones apron – so to have to keep doing that, oy-vey – dinner would not get done! Of course, I drink a ton (water) and have to use the potty too much!
Okay and the class, I see only one HUGE GLARING problem with it – your way out on the West Coast, and here I am, way in the middle of the country. I can’t possibly road trip out there. But for all those lucky guys and gals who could – you must!! You have a talent my friend, don’t hide that under a bushel!! No!!
Yeah, I can’t help you out with any of your questions, I’m sorry. For the record, I’d probably take the apron off too. And I’m not sure why. But, it doesn’t apply to me because I’m never in the kitchen long enough to even put one on. Also, teach the class. You’ll have fun doing it! I know you didn’t want our approval, just our input, but you got my approval instead of input.
That post you linked is great!!! That song is Bubba’s Sis’ ringtone when she calls me. Right now, she’s doing a brilliant job of recapping our mad-cap adventures on the Amazing Race. I’m supplying the photos. She’s so funny!
Please, please teach the class! I’m new to blogging and have all kinds of questions that are usually because I see something and I want to know how to do it too. Would appreciate tips that didn’t require months of studying html…makes my head hurt just hearing the word “code”. I wanna know things like fun formatting (strikethrough,etc) and custom headers…that can be done on freebie sites.
I live here in Poulsbo and would take it.
ps. we go to church together but I’ve never met you except via your blog…sad, huh?
um… i do not remove my apron but do make sure my strings are tucked away so i don’t have any (cough cough) accidents… because i always seem to need to go right in the middle of cooking and don’t have much time.
about the class, things i wish people told me…
feeds, some coding, custom templates and headers, custom domain names, photo editing sites, widgets, hosting sites and the difference between them.
and a two big ones… have a test blog so you can fiddle with layout, widgets, ect. before using them on your real blog and if your serious about blogging maybe get some calling cards or business cards made.
things i wish i could tell other and future bloggers that these things are important…
spelling, grammar, topic, good pictures, good layout vs bad layout, and a good title for your blog. there’s one blog i love but avoid it just because the title is such a downer.
I don’t wear an apron to cook … although if I did, I’d imagine I’d feel like it should be removed. I’m with you on that – haha. I wonder why we feel the apron should be removed and not the clothes. Good question.
I think you should totally teach the class. I think it’d be fun and really – if someone is taking a beginning blogging class, their questions will be very simple.
I think I’d work on blog etiquette, how to boost readers (still learning on that over at WMDA), how to choose good clean templates, I’d love someone to explain RSS feeds and most important …
… to tell them that they should prepare to lose 2 – 3 hours of their days to the blogosphere – it’s more dangerous than the Bermuda triangle I tell ya
Hey Girl
You rock in Roxi!
Apron answer is not so simple. Being a glorified Food Service Worker my whole life, you should remove it before entering the room of expulsions. Your apron is the barrier between what you have been wearing all day and the food, food prep area and cooking areas. However as a non-glorified mom who also wears an apron, there are times when it just ain’t possible to remove it in a timely manner before the call wether it be from your own body or a body that came from your body. It’s a judgement and even though you claim to be a non-thinker, you will know when it is not kosher to continue wearing Roxi after a potty break.
As for the class, girl this is not the first time you’ve talked about it. It is a heart issue for ya
Go for it! Do it soon, your public awaits. Plus you are a blog diva and I don’t mean that in the current definition of the word as in ‘oh what a B to the itch’. Rather in the sense that you are the best blogger and we ‘L to the OVE Ya’! You have the skillz! You are a bloggy bloggerson to the extreme. Your knowledge would only benefit to passed on. Not as in ‘I’ll pass’ but as in ‘share the knowledge’. My question for your class is since I have no time to for my own blog but I am now no longer a ‘lurker’, (sorry Lizalfog, someday I’ll reply, till then guess I”m your lurker now), but a replier can I be a blogplyer instead?
Teach the class. And post your class agenda and notes on your blog so that we (over here in California) can learn too. : ) I agree with all the other peeps’ questions about blogging ‘cept I would definitely take a class survey on the first night cuz not everyone will want to know everything. You may want to offer Blogging 100 then Blogging 101, Blogging 102 – you know?
Also – my marathon stuff – not on my blog yet. Thanks for checking though. I’m sort of afraid that I’ll fail and then EVERYONE who reads my blog will know that I suck. I’ll come out of the closet soon though.
ok … teach the class. does it really take an “expert” in blogging to know what to tell newbies? and can I sign up? I could use a few pointers myself.
and leave the apron – no reason to take it off.