UPCOMING AOL JOURNAL GALA EVENTS

AOL journals turns 1 year old and several sites are planning big Anniversary celebrations.  Now the common person would scoff at such an idea, after all the journals are just a daily weblog program, not some elaborate multimillion dollar corporation or something of the kind.  Its just a collection of daily journals from average people about their lives, their dreams, goals, their families and jobs, their fantasies, right?

WRONG!  This is our world!  This is our lives, our inner most self, this is US!  And you can darn well bet we're going to celebrate the creation of something so special that brought us all together!  Blog on my friends, blog on!

(oooops, gotta go, here comes the husband again!  Dang, why can't he just go to bed and leave me to blog in peace!)

I AM A BLOGGING ADDICT

(this is a reprint of an entry from the Dust Bunny Club which I felt would be more at home here)

Hello, my name is Dorn, and I am a Blogging Addict.  Its hard to admit it, I didn't even realize it at first.  But the symptoms are obvious.  I go straight to the computer in the morning after I start the coffee pot.  I open my mailbox for any new Comment Alerts, then go  to my journal and check the counter to compare the number from what it was before I logged off last night.  Pleased that there have been 20 hits overnight, I go to my favorite journals and read their latest entries.  I try to leave a comment of my own because I know how much I appreciate when they leave me comments.  I wait until the last minute to log off, just incase I get a Comment Alert.... I like to read them as soon as they pop up.

During the day I refer to other journalers as 'friends', even though I don't know them personally and in fact only know them by their screen name.  They are real enough to me and I believe every thing they write because nobody would ever lie or exaderate on a journal.

After work I rush back home and straight down to the computer room and turn on AOL.  My mailbox is full lately and I am happy because most of the comments are favorable.  I have so many friends now and I feel so special.

But when my husband comes in I guiltily shut down the computer.  He gives me long brooding looks.  I think he suspects that I might be having some kind of online affair, but he never says anything.  Its hard, but I wait until he goes to bed before logging on again.  More journal alerts... so I quickly pull them up and read them before checking the counter and logging off.

Now that I am over the denial stage of this addiction I must deal with it.  I didn't sleep well last night trying to come up with a solution.  With the sunrise came the answer.  I will just have to make a committment and take responsibility for my sickness.  I will have to go cold turkey.  It will be hard in the beginning, but changes must be made in order to save my sanity.

I will quit my job and devote myself to blogging full time! 

And I will start a help group for other addicts so that they may come to terms with their sickness.  I will call it 'Bloggers Anonymous'.  Blogging is not a crime, it isa disease.  Don't hate me because I blog.  Bloggers are people too.  Just because we 'LOL' instead of laughing out loud doesn't make us bad.  We are just misunderstood.   And bloggers are beautiful people.  I am proud to be a blogger! 

(oops, here comes the husband, gotta go!)

HAL

How many of you have named their computer.  The first computer I ever saw was Hal, or HAL 9000 from the Space Odessey.  Hal was enough to intimidate anyone.

I don't think my first computer even had a brand.  It had a 475 MB harddrive (yes, I said MB, not GB).  I had all kinds of names for that stupid thing, but they can't be repeated here in a public forum.  My next computer was a Packard Bell, or the Packasaurus Rex as was more fitting.  That was followed by My Baby, the eMachine.  My current computer, My Precious (say this with a hissssss) is a Dell.  And finally, there is the Frankenputer upstairs.... its possessed by past users, past mainframes, old motherboards, I don't know for sure, but its haunted!

BLOG AND RUN!

Another habit of bloggers is to randomly write about absolutely nothing.  They just log on to their journal and submit 2 paragraphs about how they have nothing to say or report for the day.  They are in fact just satisfying their need to add an entry to their journal.  Many do it out of a sence of duty, they feel their loyal readers expect a new entry each and every day and so they type up meaningless drivel so as not to let their readers down.  Truth be known they NEED to add an entry for their own satisfaction.  They log on to their journal to check the counter, then panic if they see that its been more than 24 hours since their last entry.  They don't want their readers to get bored and find another blog to frequent.  And so they write.  Sometimes it will be works of art, complete brilliance.  Other times it will be a stammering jumble of words just to drop back the 'entry-ticker'.  And sometimes it will be a senceless paragraph about how other journaler feel the need to write senceless paragraphs just to get a 'blog-fix'

Blog on my friends.

What is a 'blog'?

I was asked a while back this question, and I apologize for not responding sooner, but the truth of the matter is that I had no idea what a blog was.  It baffled me why something as special as a personal journal would be named something that sounds like it should come from a nasal passage.  So I did my homework, and this is what I came up with.

BLOG:  A frequent, chronological publication of personal thoughts and Web links.

The word 'blog' comes from 'web log'.  It is used to represent an almost infinite variety of journals by and equally almost infinite number of writers.  And what is the attraction?  The blog is the soul creation of the author.  Nobody can tell them that it is wrong.  Well, they can, but it wouldn't matter, because the blog belongs to the author to do with as he or she sees fit.  Writing a blog can be very satisfying and therapeutic.  Reading others can be educational and enjoyable.

For me, having a blog, or several as it is, has been my saving grace.  I no longer vent on the family.  I just sit down at the computer and have a cyber-pity party for a little while, then get up, brush off my hands and carry on with life, refreshed and ready to tackle anything.  The most important aspect of blogging for me is my small following of loyal readers who offer advice, share laughs and lend a shoulder when needed without judging.  I do not have to fit a stereotype or pattern, I can just be myself.  I think that is a major attraction for many bloggers.  Blog on my friends, blog on!

WHERE DO YOU BLOG?

I've been noticing that there are a lot of different names for the World of Blogging.  I myself use several different names when referring to it.  These are some that I know of, and I'm sure that there are many more.

Bloggersville,   Blogsville,  Journal-land,  J-Land,  Bloggerstown,  Journaltown,  Blogsylvania,  New Blogston, 

Can you think of (or make up) any more?

A BLOGGER'S MORNING

Its 6am.  I've been awake for almost an hour but waited until my husband left for work before getting up and turning on the computer.  I make a pot of coffee while the computer is powering up.  My first stop.... my mailbox!  Most of the new mail consists of Journal Comment Alerts.  I delete any spam so I can just breeze through the alerts without interruption.  My next stop is my journals.  I scroll down to check the counter and compare it with the number from last night before I logged off at bedtime.  10 hits or more overnight is a decent night.  20 or more is great.  I will then read the new comments... again.  I refresh my memory by reading my original entry.  I am comforted by bloggers who leave comments like "ITA" (I totally agree).  I don't get much ITA offline. The more common response offline is "AYC"  (Are You Crazy?).  Next its the news.  No, I don't mean AOL news, or CNN or FoxNewsOnline.  I mean news in Bloggersville.  Blogs have taken over my Favorites and I just go down the line catching up on some of my new friends.  I laugh at some of them, cry over others.  And some I sit there with a look of wonder and amazement wishing I had thought of that first.

And so starts my average day.  I'll leave the computer on while I get ready for work, just in case some new comments pop up.  I used to hate logging off and shutting down, but have since come up with a new way of thinking.  Do you know how much a counter can climb and the comments alerts can pile up during the course of a workday?  Its absolutely awesome to come home after a rough day at work to log on and see your mailbox overflowing with laughs and messages of encouragement, and to see that the counter has once again shot through the roof. 

Soooo, reluctantly I must step away from the keyboard and begin preparations for earning my minimum wage.  I shall be back as soon as possible to this very seat catching up on the very latest in Bloggersville.  Until then, Blog on my friends.

ADD-A-VERSE

ODE TO THE BLOGGERS

(Oh my gosh folks, we need help!  Hahahahahaha!)

I resent the insinuation

That I haven't got a life

I only blog three times a day,

Morning, noon and night!  

I'm tired of ppl complaining  (z7snowflake)

That I'm tying up the phone

All I want to say to them is

Leave me the heck alone

I'm promise i'm not addicted   (phscecee821 )
WELL.. maaaybe a little bit
but truthfully honestly
i'm tired of hearing your shit...

So just leave me alone
I just want to have some fun.
leave your mean comments in my journal
and I might reply to one

So if you're just a lurker,  (emfeasel)
And you never leave a word,
Come on outta the shadows...
You know you're a blogger nerd.

Don't worry 'bout people seeing
What you really wanna say.
I just like to get comments,
Every single day.

My only rule is this,
Listen carefully to what I say.
Don't leave me something nasty...
(Oh, you don't want my full attention)
Come on...make my day!

I've seen the husband off to work   (Jennifer)
I've brushed and fed the dog
My duties are accomplished now
It's time to tend my blog

I open up my journal    (Cathy0o0)

And hit the entry key,

And there i type my thoughts

For all the world to see.

Sometimes they are silly,

And sometimes they are sad,

And sometimes i just type

What kind of day i had.

A blogaholic i have become,

Yes to it i am obsessed,

But thank god for journals like dornbrau's

A place to come confess

(please feel free to add a verse)

TESTIMONIALS

Oh My God at 14 years old I think I have and addiction to blogging i havent lived long enough I dont know what to do... I spend longer typing and picking out pictures everyday than watching TV.. HELP... Cecile

my story is somewhat similar-- only been blogging a little over 2 months, hard to believe. Don't have braodband so my phoneline is scarily busy a lot. oops. Have you ever looked at the blogs of people (on other blog sites) who have been doing it since 2002 or so... we are late to the party!  --Albert

My son said i had become a puter nerd...lol I told him i can have more fun for 23.90 a month that he could with a 1000.00 a month. And thats the truth. :) Cathy

HI MY NAME IS LORI AND I AM A BLOGAHOLIC! Thank you for telling your story. I have been  hooked on blogs since I started mine back in July of 03 as a way to deal with the greif of my grandmothers impending death. She died in August 03 and my jland friends have been what has gotten me thru. Lori

I am on dial up and my phone is busy for hours and hours and hours.  Oh, well, who needs "real" people in their lives when we have bloggers in ours.  lol Kathy

Hi, I am Glopsblink and I'm a bloggaholic. It all started back in February when I was snooping into people's profiles and journals were so interesting. And so it started. I found the main page for journaling. I was hesatent, but made a journal. Then I made more journals. Now, I am perminently grown onto my blogging chair, LoL-ing for hours on end because a journal's coloring looks funny.::sigh::. .::sob::. It's all over, I know it....waaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!

I finally admitted my problem when, during a phone conversation with my 6-year-old grandson, I asked him to repeat the same line 4 times (claiming that I couldn't understand him) because I was trying to write down his words for a blog entry.  The minute he started talking I knew I had a blog entry, and I just wanted to get the words to his question exactly as he had said them.  That's just sick.
And I don't have verbal conversations anymore.  People say "how are you?"  I say "read my blog."
I have admitted the problem, and I am seeking help.  Jennifer

EMERGENCY KITS

BLOGGER'S ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE KIT:

* Notepad to write down random thoughts when away from the computer.

* 12 pack of #2 pencils with eraser and sharpener. (pens tend to dry out)

* Printout of earlier entries that you can re-read while sitting in traffic.

* Cell phone with number for AOL by Phone for audio journal entries.

* Old keyboard to carry on your lap

* Map of all Internet Cafes and hotels with Internet access along your route.

PC HOME REPAIR KIT:

* Size 12 steel-toed mens' work boot for quick re-boots.

* 3 lb. ball hammer for when re-boot fails.

* A roll of duct tape for repairs after using the first two methods.

I started blogging on March 18, 2004.  I had just gotten broadband installed and was experimenting with my new version of AOL on my new computer.  It was awesome, the connection was super-sonic fast, and I could leave the internet on all day long without tying up the phone line.  This was the start of a new passion!

With my new capabilities I began to investigate the AOL toolbar, which was off limits with my old computer.  Journals... never heard of them before but I clicked on the keyword and poof, there it was... the AOL Journals Welcome screen.  It listed the Editor's Picks, and I clicked on them.  That week's journals were kind of foofy, all financial, technical hoo-haa but the idea of a journal was tittilating.  My next stop... message boards.  I clicked on computer help, where I had posted eons ago.... and found a link for a journal message board.  I clicked on it and found a bunch of messages fussing about the Editor's Picks.  I also found a bunch of messages that started with... 'Read my journal',   I clicked on the provided links and was transported into another world.  It was like satellite tv, there were millions of them out there, and everyone was different.  I was like a kid in a candy store!  So many stories, funny ones, sad ones, happy ones about families, angry ones about ex's and politicians.  It didn't take me too long to decided... I wanted one too!

So I clicked on the link to start one of my own and started typing.  At the time I had no idea what I wanted my story to be about, I just wanted to write, so I wrote.  http://journals.aol.com/dornbrau/DUSTBUNNYCLUBOFNORTHAMERICA/entries/95Then I went to the message board and quietly pleaded for complete strangers to read my journal.  I started reading other journals from links left on the message board, but didn't start getting readers until I learned to link my journal to my signature which was left every time I left a message on the message board. 

3 months later I am totally hooked.  I currently have 4 journals, two of which I add entries almost daily.  I no longer have time to read books, I read journals instead.  I listen to the news, then log on so I can get real opinions on my favorite journals and message boards.  My husband barely glanced on my feature photo on the Welcome screen, and scrolled quickly down the first page of my journal without comment, but thats okay because I have many other appreciative readers who even take time out to leave a comment.  Actually, come to think of it, it probably would not have been a good thing for him to read all of my journal, he might not have appreciated my portrayal of himself.  Oh well, if he has problems with it he can either leave a comment, or get his own journal!  This is my story and I'm sticking to it!

Tip of the Day

Today's tip comes from Xzasporated Jennifer.

Keep a blogging notepad with you, or for you long winded bloggers, a notebook.  This way you can jot down thoughts and ideas throughout the day while you are away from the computer.  This is especially useful when you are to be away from your computer for an extended period of time....(4 hours or longer).  A quick fix is to carry an old keyboard with your luggage so you can phantom blog infront of a TV until you return home.  The keyboard can also be used during long car rides, airplane trips and camp-outs.

Another tip... this one comes from me... keep a pen in your toothbrush holder.  That way you always have a writing implement handy when an idea suddenly pops into your head while sitting upon the most thought producing piece of furniture in the house... the Porcelain Throne!  2 or 3 ply toilet tissue makes nice stationery and can be recycled after your notes have been transfered on to the computer.

Well, to all my wonderful fellow journalers, Blog On!  And a special thanks to Xzasporated Jennifer for todays tips.

YOU'VE GOT MAIL

I was trying to wean myself off of the computer the other night so I turned on the TV set, I still have to look at a monitor, it soothes me.  So any how, guess what comes on?  You've got it, 'You've Got Mail', starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.  And I sat there just 'ROFLOL' (quietly and behind my hand of course cos everyone in the house would have thought me totally bonkers), as the movie started out with our two main characters waiting for their significant others to leave their respective abodes so that they could turn on the computer.  I have actually peered out from behind the curtain myself to watch my husband drive away before running to my computer.... and then doing a speed shut-down when he returns.  Lately I've just turned off the monitor, it makes logging back on so much faster.  I didn't watch the entire movie.  I lasted as long as the midway point before going back to my own computer. Sorry, can't do it cold turkey.

GOT ZITS?

A common problem that bloggers have to deal with are zits.  No, thats not a skin problem, and its not an acronym, it is just what I call harrassing posters who leave rude and many times off-topic comments on other peoples' journals. 

It is not expected that every reader will agree with the journaler and some may leave a disagreeable but respectful comment.  That is fine.  It is the rude commenter who does a 'read-by' and leaves a harassing comment with the sole intention of angering or embarassing the author.  That is in my opinion rude, cowardly and immature.  But these zits don't care what other people think about them, just just want others to know what they, the zit, thinks about them, the journaler.

To the journals who have an occasional problem with zits, ignore them and they will fade away.  If you pick at them they will only become bigger problems and spread, often times leaving scars (see why I call them zits?).  To the zits, I have this advice.  Get your own journal so you don't have to scab off of other peoples' lives to get your thrills.  Journaling is really fun once you get into it.  Try it, you may find that its even more fun than harassing strangers and people may actually start taking you seriously.  (unless you are like me, then alas, nobody will ever take you seriously)

COMMON SIDE EFFECTS:

A couple of the more serious medical side effects of Blogaholism are:

 'Authorwritus', mistakenly diagnosed as arthritus until the early part of the millineum.

'Journalitis' , also known as tendonitis; a painful condition in the hands, wrists and lower arms due to repetitive motions as in typing and blogging.

'Blogger-ti-tas' , a condition that occurs when pressure is put on your buttock for an extended period of time without relief, leaving large muscle numb or tingly.  This commonly occurs after long sessions of writing and reading blogs.

If you suffer from any of these ailments, get used to it, cos it ain't gonna get better so long as you blog!  Get some asprin, get some Bengay, and a nice soft cushion to sit on.  And you may also consider investing in some Depends for those unexpected ROFLOL sessions.

WELCOME FELLOW BLOGAHOLICS

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I introduce our Charter Membership.  Welcome one and all.  And now, a word from E-Bear, our Honorary Chairblogger:

"How can this many good people be wrong?  Blog On!"  

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Kathy told me about this blog!  Great!!  It's funny because I just mentioned in my entry today that I was concerned about my addiction. I guess I just am admitting that I'm powerless over it!  --Albert

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * That's a great and accurate list. Add me to the list of Blogaholics. :)
Shelly

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * It's all so very very true, I'm so addicted, and I hope there is no cure.  It's too much fun!  ~lila~

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * OH man did you hit the nail on the head for me LOL Lori

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Aye me! I admit it, I'm an addict, but its nice to know I'm not the only one, lol.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ::hangs head::  I also am a blogaholic.  Will be back.  I will watch your counter with you.

Kathy

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Himy name is Sara and I'm a Blogaholic.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ROFLMAO  I said "Yep! That's ME!" Through a lot of that LOL :)

Maria
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Thats cute...I'm jsut gonna borrow that...
::runs::
Renee

SYMPTOMS OF A BLOGGING ADDICTION

* You check your journal more than 10 times a day, or even 10 times an hour

* You have more Journal Comment Alerts in your mailbox than spam

*  Your best friends have screen names and URLs instead of real names and street addresses.

*  You log down the number on your hit counter before you sign off at night and check it first thing in the morning.  You record these numbers for future reference.

*  You have actually been late for work because you were reading your favorite journals.

*  You family has to leave a comment on your journal to get your attention.

*  You turn the volume up when you walk away from the computer so you can hear when the alert alarm sounds.

*  You beg strangers to read yours if you'll read theirs!

*  Being the #1 Editor's Pick is more important to you then winning a Pulitzer Prize.

These are just a few of the many symptoms of Blogaholism.  It is an incurable disease and can only be treated by steady doses of blogging.  So Blog on my friends!