TP4WW House Cleaning and a Birthday
First and foremost I want to thank all of you that take the time to comment on this blog. I’ve always felt that this is really your blog. The comments tend to be so much better than the posts and it takes on a life of it’s own. It’s a wonderful experience. As you know I try to respond to every comment left on this blog. That in itself is a big task but I really enjoy it. Besides that I have blogs in my Google Reader that I comment on. I have to get posts ready. I have a job. I have a personal life outside the blog. As you can see it adds up. We all go through this basically so I’m really not saying anything you don’t already now. Hence I’m doing some polls to find out what you really want and it will give me a clear way to proceed with this blog. But before I go on about the polls I’ve come to a decision about my blog.
Starting with this post I will only be commenting on the blogs from people that leave a comment on my blog. I will read your posts most likely but it’s the old saying “You Scratch My Back, I’ll Scratch Yours”. You comment here, I comment on yours. Now I’m not trying to sound like I’m getting to big for my britches or that I don’t care about your blogs, but I have to do something. I’m spending so much time with this that something needs to change. One thing that I have noticed when I started this blog is that there are many many people out there that you leave a comment on their blog and your are lucky to get a comment on your blog and/or you might get one comment a week if that. That really irritates me but I guess it’s my fault by commenting on everything that other bloggers post in hopes that they comment on all my posts. Now this might piss off some people and I might lose some of my commentors but I can’t help that. As I say, I need to do something. You can look at the comments every month and since July I’ve been going over 1000 comments. I’m very proud of that fact and again can’t thank you all enough for making that a reality.
As you also all know I am big into meme’s…pffft…yeah right. Another decision I have come to is that some of these post the day before they are due. Even if it posted after I went to work, when I got home I would rush to get it done to get it posted. That’s going to stop as well. If the meme doesn’t post in time for me to complete the meme before I go to work I wont be doing it that week. It’s not that I don’t like the meme again it all comes down to my time.
The polls. The first poll that I put up asked: On days with multiple meme’s would you like to see one long post or continue with individual posts for all meme’s?. The results are in and majority rules. The vote came out 19 for individual posts and 8 for one long post.
So it looks like I will continue with the individual posts. Mahalo to all of you that took the time to vote.
Now my next question is this: Monday through Friday I post a quiz. Do you want these quizzes to continue? This poll will be open until Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 6 am. I will post the results later that day and again Majority rules. In case of a tie, I will make the final decision. So again I ask you to please go to the side bar and vote. Mahalo.
One last thing. I’ve been reading a lot about Spam recently on blogs. One of the best things about WordPress that I’m most impressed with is how it deals and handles spam. I can honestly say that I think I have only had 1 maybe two comments that were spam that have been posted on my blog. All the rest of them get put in my spam folder. I don’t have to use any type of word verification or do anything special. This is accomplished by using a plug in called Akismet. Now I could go on and on about this but I’m just going to post two pictures of my dashboard that will speak for themselves. The one thing that I do have to watch is sometimes it puts legitimate comments in the folder, but I check my spam folder every day to see if I need to move something or not. It’s the best I think. I urge you to check it out. And before you ask direct from their site:
Absolutely. The Akismet API can be adapted for almost any application with submitted content, including forums, wikis, and contact forms. If you want to adapt it for a different system, please join our development community.
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Happy Birthday Cake Pictures – Pictures
Hope at The Road Less Traveled celebrated her birthday yesterday. Happy Birthday my friend. I hope that it was a great day and I wish you many many more. 
Hey, it’s only my opinion.
A Hui Hou
Hey Thom, you got to do what is best for you. This is why I’ve slowed down with my blog, I just ran out of time for everything. I’ll still be coming for visits, I may not leave a comment every time , but I’ll be by.
Thank you Bill. Much appreciated. Yeah it’s all about time management. I don’t think much will change.
A few weeks back I got up to get supper on for the crew, and realised OMG I spent the entire day just *blogging*. WTF, I have a family to care for and a novel to write, what am I doing? So I’ve cut back too, except for my Inner Circle LOL. I love lots of comments on my blog, but it’s not worth giving my life up for it. Maybe I need to stop working on a novel and start working on a time machine that I can blog in, where time stands still… right?
Oh, and by the way –
HAPPY BIRTHDAY YOU PECAN PICKIN’ CAROLINA GIRL!! WOOOOOT!!!
When you develop the time machine lemme know LOL. If we all only had one of those it would be so helpful. I love the Inner Circle LOL. Yeah it’s funny how we have more than our blogs to do
Thom, I really admire you with your time management. Every time I check my google reader, you have already 10 posts! I can only blog before and after work. And occasionally during my lunch break, if I bring my laptop to work.
I really appreciate comments….you are one of my best….
Mahalo my friend. Yeah time management is key to everything it seems to me. If only time could stand still when we want it to
Oh, I have akismet too!
It’s the best
Hey Thom – do what’s best for you. It’s your blog, it’s your time.
I appreciate you coming around to my blog and leaving a comment. it really is appreciated. I know we all love comments and one way to get comments is by commenting on other’s blogs but we all have responsibilities, bills to pay, kids to feed etc, etc, so do what’s right for you.
Good luck with your time management.
Thank you my friend. Yeah it’s funny what we all have to do
Happy birthday to Hope! What a lovely name!
It is hard sometimes to balance blogging and the rest of life.
I think one good policy is not necessarily to comment just in order to receive comments back, but to comment when you have something genuine to say. I try to comment on most of the blogs I read, but sometimes there are just too many posts to comment on, or sometimes I just read the post and can’t come up with anything interesting to say in response.
I like the idea of several different posts instead of one long one because that helps the reader pick and choose what posts they might be interested in. But I do think the multiple posts might get you less comments overall because people come to your blog or see your posts pop up on Google Reader and see there are 4 or 5, a lot of people might only read 1 or 2 because of time factors. You know how long it takes to get around and comment on the blogs you read — just imagine if each one had 3-5 posts a day.
I’d suggest only doing those memes you are interested in. Some of the regular memes I do, I don’t do every week. If the question or prompts aren’t interesting to me or I don’t have time that week, I don’t participate that week. I like to support the meme originator, but that comes secondary to other considerations. I’ve noticed some of your meme answers consist in not answering the questions and commenting on how stupid they are, and I’ve wondered, why do them then?
The quizzes I can take or leave. They are interesting but I am not really into doing them every day. I’ll click on those I have time for or interest in but I don’t feel compelled to try every one you post mainly because of time considerations.
There are a few blogs I read that I used to comment on, but never received a comment or visit back in return. If I like to read them, I keep them in Google Reader but rarely if ever comment any more.
I have one more thought, but I think I’ll email you that one.
Whoa!! Sorry to write such a long comment!!!
I love it my friend. You make some very valid points. The one that sticks out that I have always thought about is the multiple posts. I’ve always wondered what would happen to the comment count if I did just one. But then if I do that it would be so long and I know how I get when I come into a long post on a blog. It can get boring and tedious. So it’s just a judgement call really.
As far as the questions and what you have noticed on how I answer, yes I do do that. When I do say that the question was stupid it’s because I feel it is. I try and answer the questions with a fun/idiotic/stupid response usually just to make it entertaining not only to me but to anyone that reads it. Being the way I am is hard to change and I really don’t think I want to change at this point in my life.
Thank you for your comment on the quizzes. i hope that I do get feedback on that. I guess a blog is always a work in progress and you can’t please everyone all the time so you just do what the majority of people do want
Not only what the majority want, but what you want –what you find interesting and want to spend your time on.
I like when you put a funny twist on the meme answers, but I was just saying if all of the meme questions of one particular meme one week seemed stupid to you, you don’t have to do it that week.
That’s true and the quizzes make no never mind to me so I don’t really care if we continue them or not. That’s why I’m hoping people do the poll or tell me as you have in the comment.
I get ya now. You are right and that’s one thing I’m going to adjust as well. If it’s something I don’t like and all the questions are like that it won’t be done. Just a waste of time
THANK YOU! You are so sweet! [Susan, we have to cut him some slack...I've got family members who didn't acknowledge my birthday]
I understand what you mean. 24 hours isn’t enough to do everything and I kinda like the hubby.
But if I comment on a blog and the “owner” doesn’t seem interested enough to reply, it tends to cool my interest in their little world.
So today, recognizing you as the good man you are, I’m linking your blog to mine. Have a wonderful weekend! I’m still trying to straighten up my new kitchen and I haven’t even GOTTEN to 55s yet.
pffft…cut me some slack…that wont be any fun ROFLMAO! You are most welcome my friend and I do hope that you had a wonderful birthday. You are linked to my blog as well. You can see it on the sidebar.
I’m just like you about losing interest. That’s what I tend to do.
Have a great Saturday
First of all, a very Happy Birthday to Hope and many more! Secondly, Thom, I don’t know how you do all that you do! I have all the time in the world and it still isn’t enough and I only have one blog!! I have tried to keep the number of memes that I participate in to a minimum and I still spend all day sitting at my desk! I suddenly realized this morning that I have nothing in the fridge to eat, so I guess I have to make a trip to the store — can’t remember when I went last???? I always enjoy my visits here, you make me laugh and smile and have fun and some days that is just what’s needed! Hope you have a great weekend!
Sylvia
LOL…it’s called my iPhone and very little sleep my friend. Yeah I am going to watch that meme thing closely. It just becomes a time management thing and that gets difficult to do sometimes. Speaking of no food in the fridge…I gotta get going to the store as well. Have a wonderful day.
Until they pay us the big bucks to blog, we do what we got to do!
I so agree. If I could just find out how to make big big bucks I’d do it all the time…crap I do it all the time now as it is
LOL
It’s hard to find a blogging balance, and you are free to do whatever you want. I would still read & comment on your blog even if you never read/commented on mine because you are just soooo funny and besides…I only “know” a handful of Hawaii bloggers and I love supporting the Hawaii peeps.
Keep up the great work!
Well thank you my friend. I’m glad you feel that way. Now that Quilly is gone you are the only one, besides Capsun and he doesn’t blog all that often that I know. Gigi I know is here but she doesn’t follow me and I don’t follow her
It’s about time! Sheesh! I’ve never known HOW you do it! I voted your last poll and I voted this poll – but what I want really does matter at all! What makes YOU happy and what YOU are able to handle — THAT’s what counts! Your friends are going to visit you no matter what you post! If you post pictures of someone picking there nose, some of your readers are going to laugh and comment … others are going to turn around and come back to your next post! But I absolutely DO agree with not commenting to people who don’t comment to you! EVEN when I’M the one who doesn’t get over here to visit! MANY days I don’t get around to all the people on my reader. And I’ve actually removed SOME from my reader! I just found that they weren’t holding my interest enough to get me to them more than once a … not even a week – sometimes once a month! That’s silly. That’s not friends. That’s barely acquaintences! I visit my FRIENDS at least every other day – and I TRY to visit them everyday… I fully admit that when I’m crushed for time and you have 4 posts up, I tend to go crosseyed and say… maybe tomorrow! But most of the time I try to hit at least ONE of your posts every day!
And I do enjoy your meme’s! But I enjoy various things that you post… I DO think you must drive yourself CRAZY trying to come up with new quizzes everyday! That is like Dr. John trying to come up with a relevant quote every day! NOTHING has to be every day! Do it when you WANT to do it! Okay…
my opinion has been LONG enough! LOL!
(this should count for 5 or 6 visits!)
Well I guess the whole point of this post was basically about the commenting. i just get real tired of always commeting on every post that everyone does and then get lucky to get one a week. That’s the main thing. And the more I think about it the more I think that things aren’t going to really be different at all. I’m just not made that way. If I get tired or lose interest in a blog I drop it as well. I’m sure plenty have done that with me. It’s just a time balancing act.
Oh yea! And what Barbara said! ROFLMBO! But… I’m not going to email you more!
LOL I loved her comment as well
Thom, I totally agree with the time management issues. I can say I almost always read your blog, but I don’t comment as often as I read it. Sometimes you have so many comments that I get down to about the 4th and realize everything I wanted to say has been said, so I just press on thinking that you’ll have received as much feedback as you can stand!
As for the quizzes, I rarely indulge in them because they’re yet another time sink — but I would never say “yes” or “no” to you putting them on. If you like doing them, great! If you don’t, it won’t bother me if they’re gone. How’s that for non-committal.
As for the multiple meme question, I really didn’t have an opinion one way or the other, so I didn’t comment.
One thing I’ve learned in life (often the hard way) is that not every statement by someone else requires an answer or statement or comment from me…so I don’t always do so (even if I’m secretly thinking I have an answer).
I will tell you that I ‘follow’ only a few blogs, I have bookmarked only a few, and I don’t use an RSS. So….if I follow you, it’s because I almost always find something here worth reading that usually makes me smile or challenges me to think. Still, I don’t always comment, so if you want to drop me from your inner circle, I certainly understand. It’s all about time management!
Finally, I participate in only a couple of memes (Quilly’s, Susan’s, sometimes Haiku Wed, and 2nd Cup). I used to do Ruby Tuesday but the number of people on there was daunting. I just couldn’t visit them all or even a small fraction. 2nd Cup is getting that way now too, so I just pick a number in my head, and I visit all the ones that have that number (like if it is 3, I visit 3, 13, 23, 30, 31, 32, 33, etc.) I USUALLY comment at each…so that might be a strategy for you to try to cut back on blogging time too.
XXOO, Aloha!
Yours is one blog I will not miss
This is a wonderful response and I just might try your way of doing things. That seems like a good way. We shall just have to wait and see. You know it’s funny about the quizzes. I was so hoping that everyone would do the poll. It doesn’t matter if I do them or not it’s what the readers want. And so far no one has done it boo!!!! LOL
whoa, there is a life outside blogging??? who would have thunk!
but really, my friend, you should do what pleases you. if something becomes tedious, leave it out, nobody sensible would hold a grudge. need a few days’ break, take it (i’ll miss you but…)
btw, the poll doesn’t work for me – although i see the results, i can’t tick an answer
LOL…no it’s not that I need a break, it’s just that people are just use to how I do things and I’m going to try a new approach. We shall see. And to vote in the poll you have to register for it. I found that out from the last poll. Quilly told me that one LOL.
i am registered, remember?
anyways, for some reason it doesn’t work for me so i may as well say it here: these quizzes are silly and i often bitch about them (which, in fact, is most of the fun) but they are a welcome break from the daily toil so my vote would be yes
LOL…well after our emails I know now it works
Glad it does and I know that the quizzes will continue 
I am so with you here. I new you’d crash and burn. I’ve gone through my comment all the time phase. Not I just go where I want and always comment on those blogs that comment on mine. I get less comments, but I don’t do it like a job anymore…
LOL…it’s not crashing and burning really. It’s just commenting on other blogs that never comment on mine, or just every once in a while comment. That’s what basically is the whole point of this post. We shall see. I noticed today I’m still doing the same thing. Old habits are hard to break LOL
It looks like you made some good decisions. Blogging can be consuming if we let it, so sometimes we just have to take control and proceed purposefully, which is what it sounds like you are doing.
I kind of like the quizzes, even if I don’t do them everyday. I get around to commenting on other blogs as time allows and depending on how busy my life is. I just do what I can. . .
Thank for your input my friend. It’s much appreciated and I’m glad whenever you leave a comment
Have a wonderful weekend 
I try to comment on o0ne of your entries every day. When you break them up I end up commenting on the latest one.
Yes I’ve noticed that my friend. And they are always wonderful comments
Hi. Just going through some old comments and thought I’d stop by to say howdy. Hope to see you again.
Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate it
Well, you know I like the quizzes. (And yes, I voted. lol) I missed them during your December hiatus. And I agree that if a particular meme doesn’t float your boat a particular week, don’t worry about it. I don’t think that blogging should feel like a job (unless it is, and you’re getting paid for it). On the other hand, you are who you are. You like to follow lots of blogs and comment on them, so I think that you’ll continue doing that, even if you cut down.
As long as you’re having fun, your readers will have fun reading you.
Rock on. Mwah! xxoo
Out of everyone that has commented on this you have hit the nail on the head. I know there isn’t going to be the changes I envision. It’s just not me. Don’t I wish we could all get paid to blog. WOOT!!! But it is fun and the friendships are just wonderful. I’m sure also that the quizzes are going to continue on
MWAH!!!
I have always been amazed at how much time you must spend on your blog and blogging! I must say I do look forward to reading yours – although especially this time of year, I sometimes go a couple days only scanning my e-mail and then closing the laptop again.
I was one of the votes for one long post because I get the last post prompt and sometimes I don’t realize there were others. Sorry.
I agree with you on meme’s. I only did Thursday Thunks regularly, I’m now adding Wednesday’s Haikus. Others I may dabble in- but I do note that posting a meme later than lunch, rarely gets a response except for my closest cyber friends, so I often won’t bother.
Oh- I almost forgot – HAPPY BIRTHDAY HOPE!!
Thanks for the input I really appreciate it. The thing I worry about one post is, for myself, I have a hard time winding my way through it. I’m afraid people get bored to easy. And you are right about the postings. I post most of mine after work and I usually have them all scheduled. It’s like right now, everything is done through next Sunday except Thursday Thunks and the Dating Profiles Meme. I’m so hoping they change their posting times.
Have a wonderful Sunday.
Hey Thom you have to do what is best for you. It can get overwhelming at times and one can easily fall behind. It’s not fun when it takes over your life. It’s meant to be fun.
I so agree with you. And all of you that have kids I just don’t see how you all do it. Just amazing to me
Have a great weekend 
Happy birthday to Hope.
I voted. It came out again in Thai, and I didn’t know what to click after that but I cast my vote, sure of that.
I’m like you, Thom. I comment but if they don’t comment back, my first comment would be the last thing they hear about me.
Blogging has been a wonderful experience to me too, but yes, we have a life outside the computer or iPod. I got a PhD to get cracking on and I can’t seem to rip myself away from blogging, lol
It’s always fun hanging out in your blog, Thom. When I finally start torturing myself again in gradschool, I will still be around to come a’neighboring
You better missy or your goose is going to be cooked. Crap you are going to be so smart then. Well you already are. I’m turning a new leaf and gonna be like you are. Adios amigo and don’t let the door hit ya in the ass LOL.
Glad you took the test 
Akismet rocks!
And I have3 been seriously considering only commenting on the blogs of folks who visit me. I just dropped a couple of people from my feed reader because they don’t come by often enough for me to
Argh! Have I mentioned how frustrating is laptop can be?
ANYWAY — some people don’t visit me often enough to warrant my spending every single day visiting their blog. Whenever they pop in to see me, I’ll go over and visit them, other wise, they’ll have to do without me.
Say it again Sam ROFLMAO!!! You know I wish I would have saved that Akismet for it’s own post. I wanted it to be the focal point. Maybe I should have started off with it. I just hope everyone at least read about it to find out what a bomb it really is.
I agree Q some just come around once if that and I’m done with those kind of folks. But as my darlin’ said it’s about friendships and we both have some wonderful friends and for that I’m most grateful
Thom, I don’t think anything you said was mean or negative at all. Blogging is hugely time consuming and it makes sense that you would only comment on people who comment on you (does it count if I comment on almost every post but sometimes do multiples days at a time???) I mean with real life friendships…you don’t keep calling people who never call you back!!!
I’m glad almost everyone voted to keep the quizzes…I like reading your results and I like taking them (even if they call me a blockhead)
Thanks for the wonderful comment my friend. Any comment you make counts.
Yeah I knew the quizzes will most likely stay. They are fun to bitch about and fun to do as well 