Note that this picture has absolutely nothing to do with this post, but I can't have a post without a picture.

Mary Beth tagged me! This is not actually the meme for which I was tagged, but she did this blogging one awhile ago and I'm taking it upon myself to do this one instead.

1. Why did you start your blog?
For over two years I held Emma for all her naps, which meant a LOT of time sitting at the computer. After awhile I grew bored of hanging out on forums all the time, so when Emma was nine months old I started this blog to give me something else to do while she slept. And, as I said in my very first post, "I'd love to have a diary of sorts to chronicle these wonderful days in my life."

2. How did you come up with your blog name?
See No. 1. I came up with it pretty instantly, and I wish I'd put more thought into it because I don't really like it much. I've thought about changing it to something else, but now that I've been using it for so long that seems sort of silly.

3. Do your friends and family know about your blog, and what do they think?
Everyone in my immediate family (my parents and brothers - not Steve) reads my blog and some people in my extended family as well. My brother David was the first person I told about my blog and for a long time he was my only commenter. I also have friends who read it. Sometimes I am surprised when I meet someone for the first time (usually through a friend or through my local AP group) and she tells me she reads my blog. There have also been times when I've been told by completely random people (strangers at my brothers wedding, or people at my high school reunion whom I haven't seen in years) that they read it.

4. How do you write posts?
These days, very slowly! I come in and write when I get a chance, but it often takes me several days to write a single post because of all the interruptions.

5. Have you ever had a troll or had to delete unkind comments?
There have been a couple times when someone with nothing better to do but go around and be randomly mean has left a comment that I've deleted. Something like "u r stupid and ur kid is ugly" Whatever.

6. Do you check your stats or care how many people read your blog? If you care, how do you increase traffic?
I used to check the stats all the time, but I don't much anymore. My readers have dropped quite a bit in the past few months, but that's okay with me. I'm sure it is mostly to do with my not posting as often, and I know there were people who came here looking for crafty stuff who probably gave up reading once they realized my crafting became (sadly) pretty much non-existent. At one point I was up to something like 70 hits a day, whereas now I get about 40. It's still amazing to me that 40 people every day think the stuff I write is interesting enough to come here and read it.