500 today, 1 Million tomorrow

I know that this is not such a big deal for most bloggers, but Google tells me I have now had 500 profile views come and spend a little of their precious time reading the posts on my site. I recognize that some of you receive that many views every hour of every day. But as a newbie, it's a mini-milestone to celebrate with a good bottle of wine. (I was going to do my special wine celebration after the first 1000 views, but I got too thirsty to wait).

There are debates all over the internet discussing whether traffic is important or not. One thing it does do is give you some form of validation about the interest in your brand of content.

I want to thank those people who are reading my posts and are digging it. I love getting comments. The feeling I get when I receive comments is similar to that of having an orgasm (okay, a mini-orgasm...no, more like the second or third orgasm of the night). It's sooooooo good, baby! Prior to starting this blog, I had no idea I would feel this way and enjoy the interactive nature of this business.

And the bloggers I have "met" are really a very amazing, funny group of people. They brighten up my days especially when I am missing my children. Which brings me to a very interesting topic. The number of people around the age of 50 and are empty nesters like myself, are so often, people who have never blogged. I cannot tell you how many people I teach how to make a comment, how to subscribe to one of my pages and how to do Google Searches from my site. It's kind of like the blind leading the blind, but in the end, many friends are now becoming bloggers.

If you're one of these people who are just discovering the underworld of blogging, please let me know here. (Click on the word COMMENT, write a comment in the box, give me your name and a work website address, an email address or be anonymous if that suits your fancy). It's time to come out of the closet. You won't be sorry you did. And remember, practice makes perfect. So your first assignment is to come to my site everyday. Practice, practice, practice! And make this empty nest Mom a very ecstatic person.

Me and My Blackberry Curve

Did you know that when you buy a new phone, that it comes with several discs to assist you in setting the phone services? They still give you the instructions in writing, too.

For the past 12 years or so, I have used my tech-oriented kids to set up everything in my house, including my phones. If I wanted the phone on vibrate, I just hand it to Laura and ask her to take care of it. Jonathan entered all my contacts, set the ring tone and helped me download the pictures. Andy would tell me that "any idiot can set up their phone", so I avoided asking him and expose my level of competency to my oldest child.

So here I sit with my brand new Blackberry Curve phone, 2 discs and a 'tips cheat sheet' provided by the good people at Blackberry and I either have to suck it up and be a big girl or I'll have no cell phone communication, as all the children are no where in site (GD them!).

It's not that I am intimidated by the phone that can do everything except cook dinner for me. I simply don't want to do it. I would rather spend my afternoon reading all the posts from the awesome bloggers out there.

Does anyone in the Phoenix area want to replace the role my children have so graciously filled for their Mommy? Seriously, I'll meet you anytime, anywhere to get this phone set up.

Parents' Weekend is Here

Tomorrow morning, Bill and me head to Oxford, Ohio to see my middle son for parent's weekend at Miami University. The school gets a huge turnout of parents and grandparents and siblings. This is his senior year so it's probably the second to the last time we go to Ohio, maybe in our lifetime. The traditions are strong at this school and I look forward to seeing his friends parents who we have come to know and really enjoy.

More than anything, I just want to hug Jonathan and see in his eyes that he is doing well and is happy. It is really hard to know just how they're doing by phone and emails.

So, until Monday morning, I'll be off enjoying nice, cool Fall weather and relaxing with my son, my husband and his friends. Couldn't ask for anything more!