Blogger survey

Trish did this survey and I thought it was sort of fun to read about how she got into blogging.  I'd love to read about the rest of you too!

1. How long have you been blogging?
Just over two years.  I started shortly after I moved to New York.

2. Why did you start blogging?
A few reasons.  I'd just started reading blogs and thought they were sort of fun.  I don't have access to facebook or my personal email at work so on slow days I entertained myself by blog stalking.  I thought it was fun to read about others' lives and wondered if I should start a blog myself.  After moving here I'd been sending a lot of emails to family and friends who'd requested pictures of my life in New York.  I finally thought it would just be easier if I had a blog and that way, anyone who wanted could check in on me and see pictures and what I was up to.  Lastly, even though I don't record my deepest thoughts, it's nice to still have somewhat of a journal of my life.

3. What have you found to be the benefits of blogging?
Having a record of my life, keeping in touch with friends all over the world, finding old friends, reconnecting with family members, having a convenient means of getting opinions and idea from others, and sometimes it can be therapeutic.

4. How many times a week do you post an entry?
It depends on the week; sometimes two or three times, other times a week (or two!) goes by without posting at all, and I feel really guilty!

5. How many different blogs do you read on a regular basis?
Oh gosh, my google reader subscribes to over 100, I think.  However, a lot of those blogs aren't updated very frequently, and sometimes I don't have time to read everything posted.

6. Do you comment on other people’s blogs?
I really like to, but don't as much as I'd like.  I do pretty much all my blog reading at work, and I can't comment from there, so if I want to comment I have to remember to do it from home, and with shoddy internet sometimes it doesn't even happen from there.

7. Do you keep track of how many visitors you have?
Not really.  I have a tracking device but I don't use it religiously.

8. Do you ever regret a post that you wrote?
No.  I have gotten myself into trouble before, but no one's ever found out anything from my blog that couldn't have been found out in other ways.....if that makes sense. 

9. Do you think your audience has a true sense of who you are based on your blog?
I hope so. I feel like I just type the words how they come into my head.  Of course everyone's blog makes their life look more glamorous than it is, however I try to be pretty honest (like in my previous post about having a bad day.)  We all have hard times.  When I post about being down or struggling with something I'm not doing it for sympathetic comments (although I always appreciate the comments that are posted!) or for pity.  I'm just posting for the same reason I post on happy days.  I guess I'm just trying to be real/me.  If I do ever come across as rude, arrogant, etc, hopefully I'm not taken too seriously.  Sometimes I catch myself having thoughts about others based on their blogs, but I always try to remind myself that one can only read so much into words on a webpage.  Hopefully others think that way as well.

10. Do you blog under your real name?
Yes.  My nickname, which is a takeoff of my real name.

11. Are there topics that you would never blog about?
I would never blog about something that is personal to someone else.  For the most part, however, when it comes to my own thoughts/life I blog about as openly as I'd speak with a good friend.  I don't spell out the details of the more serious things happening in my life, but I think it's pretty clear when I'm having a rough time.  It's the same thing in my real life.  I wear my heart on my sleeve and can't hide my feelings very well.  My friends, family, and coworkers always know when I'm unhappy.  I've always been told I'm a terrible actor.  Overall I'm a happy person most days, but I'm sure anyone who reads my blog knows when I'm happy and when I'm not.

12. What is the theme/topic of your blog?
Me, my family, and New York City?

13. Do you have more than one blog?
Nope.