Thursday 20 September 2007

The Blog Family Tree

I am sitting here feeling very damp after a couple of hours at an un-air-conditioned gym. I smell not too fragrant, and I should get a shower. But the washing machine is on, and in my house you can either shower or wash clothes, but not at the same time.

So I thought I'd catch up on some blogs. I find it interesting that this blogging world is so large, yet so small also. When I met Pixie for lunch, we talked about blogs we read, of course. She and I both read Darth Sardonicus, but we found him in different ways. She found him doing a random search of blogs. I found him through Lady Macleod. I found Lady Macleod (or did she find me? can't remember) through Wife in the North. I read about Wife in the North in the Times. Lady M. was the first person to comment on my blog, though I don't know if she visits that regularly anymore. She is a busy woman, though, and much in demand.

So I found Pixie through Darth. I found Queen Vixen and Vi through Pixie. I found Snuffleupagus through Lady Macleod, I think. And Debio as well. I think I found Stayathomedad and Omega Mum through Wife in the North or Lady Macleod. Mind the gap found me, but I found Enidd through her. I don't remember how I found Jenny, but I think I found Bossy either through her or Darth. I never comment on Bossy's blog but love to read it anyway. I don't remember how I found Crystal Jigsaw or Kelly. I found Queeny through Snuffleupagus. I found Snickollet and Rev. Mom through a random search. I think J. found me. Marymaryquitecontrary seems to have retired her blog for now.

I may have found DJ through Pixie. I don't remember how I found Laurie, but I found Kaycie and the rotten correspondent through her, I think. After a while, I forget because a lot of us comment on the same blogs.

What started me thinking about this was a comment Laurie left saying she commented frequently on Enidd's blog, which I knew. And I wondered how she found enidd. Sometimes I visit a blog and have the best of intentions in keeping up and following it, but forget the link or how I found it. If I don't add it to my blogroll immediately, it can be lost forever. And most of those I've added are people who have commented on my blog at one time or another. Some seem to visit for a while and then move on. Others have become firm friends.

And that must be the beauty of blogging. There's no obligation of friendship, necessarily, though it's great if that happens. And I like to think of all of you as friends, some closer and some further away, but friends nonetheless.

32 comments:

Vi said...

Yeah it's mad how you find each other. The best way I keep up with my fave blogs is through www.bloglines.com It notifies you when that person has posted. Saves clicking on your blogs to see if they have posted!

She's like the wind said...

How did I find you, I have no idea! I have seen your comments on a few blogs. Just read Crazy Jill part 1, 2 & 3 and left a comment!

wakeupandsmellthecoffee said...

Thanks for the tip, Vi.

Welcome, self-employed mum. I just read your comment. Yikes! And from a relative too! Very scary. I hope you're coming to the end of it. Does BIL know or is he the stick-his-head-in-the-sand type?

Kim said...

I think it's interesting to visit the links on the blogrolls of people you like. Sometimes I like every one I visit, but there are other times when I wonder what attracts someone I love to read to a blog I have no interest in at all.

I do remember I found you when you left a lovely comment on my blog. I'm glad you keep coming back.

J said...

I found you through a comment on revdrmom, whom I found through snickollet, whom I found through pantheist mom, who is an old friend (our boys have the same birthday and are the same age).

I'll have to look into bloglines.

the rotten correspondent said...

It's really interesting that you've written about this, because I've been thinking about the same thing lately. How you've met people, how you've found each other, and so on.

Sometimes when I'm bored I'll go to one of my "buddy blogs" and click on one of their links. I'll read that and then click on one of their links. And so on. If I'm so inclined, I'll comment. You find some very interesting stuff this way.

Not exactly sure how you and I found each other, but laurie sounds right. However it happened, I'm glad it did!

DJ Kirkby said...

I def think of you as a friend!

wakeupandsmellthecoffee said...

kaycie: I'm glad we've kept it up as well.

j.: Right, the Snickollet, Revdrmom connection. I don't comment on theirs so much anymore but still read them.

RC: Yep, finding these blogs is like finding an oasis in a desert (I almost spelled it dessert. that could be nice too).

DJ: Back atcha!

Fire Byrd said...

It's like a spiders web, with little pockets of friendship like dewdrops in the morning. Some sparkle like diamonds and stay around to unite with and others fall to the ground, never to be seen again.
I only know who the first person was to post on my blog, can't remember how the others came about, just know now they are all really important to me
pxx

wakeupandsmellthecoffee said...

As you are to us, Pixie.

jenny said...

How lovely the train of connections are. I can't remember how I found you either.. but I am glad I did. Or did you find me first? In any case, you are quite right, there are times when I comment on every single post and other times when I just stop by to read. Friends come and go and this is a less painful way, I suppose. :o)

Queen Vixen said...

Hello Wake up, just checking in to say hi. As explained on Vi's blog - I am so knackered I am not reading a thing - will do after weekend but still wanted to let you know I visited. Is this blog guilt I wonder? lol I think its just maintaining contact - thats a good thing!

laurie said...

interesting post and not just because you mention ME several times. i can't remember if i found you, or you found me...i remember i started reading you about the same time i started reading swearing mother. but where did i first meet you? was it through beccy, who seems to know everyone?

maybe we should do a "six degrees of separation"--i bet we'd find that all of us are six degrees away from beccy.

and i think you're right, that "friend" is not too strong a word for the relationships that we have built with a lot of these bloggers.

i think of a lot of you as friends.

DJ Kirkby said...

You are a winner on this week's wordless Wednesday. If you email me I can send you the HTML for your button as your comment box won't accept the img!

She's like the wind said...

Have a read for yourself:

www.selfemployedmum.blogspot.com/2007/09/complete-outrage.html

Apparently we found out later their car had been scrapped, she blamed us, she said we stopped cheques for the kids, BIL's golf memebership was cancelled, she blamed us. So BIL believes her, he now thinks we went to the police blaming her, because we have something against her and after we did such terrible things to his family! This is not the first time she has fallen out with friends, neighbours, she is an absolute nutter. He now no longer speaks to us and he avoids all family celebrations because apparently he is fightened of his big brother, he is spineless, has threatened suicide and has had a nervous breakdown, his mother feels sorry for him???? I have to remind her - we did not cause this his wife did, but as there will be no charge brought against her it's our word against hers.

How do people like Jill and my SIL get though life, it has to be a mental health issue to cause normal people like you me and our families should stress and anxiety. Glad your getting over yours I'm still struggling with mine x

Anonymous said...

What a great blog. You are of course quite right, I can't remember where I found some of my blog buddies but I am very glad I have.

Crystal xx

wakeupandsmellthecoffee said...

Jenny: I may have found you via Lady M. And what's happened to Lady M? I don't think she visits me anymore.

wakeupandsmellthecoffee said...

QV: You're a busy woman, I know. Thank you for visiting and keeping contact.

wakeupandsmellthecoffee said...

Laurie: I don't know beccy. Should I know beccy? I think I'll be visiting beccy because I don't want to be the odd one out.

wakeupandsmellthecoffee said...

DJ: I'm a winner? Hurrah!!! I'll be emailing you.

wakeupandsmellthecoffee said...

Wow, SEM, I am so sorry to hear what you're going through. I can understand your MIL feeling sorry for BIL a bit, but she shouldn't be taking sides. One day he'll have to face up to reality.

wakeupandsmellthecoffee said...

CJ: It's the Circle of Life (my favourite song from the Lion King). Does Amy like The Lion King, by the way?

Flowerpot said...

I've found you through you finding me, but you didn't say how you'd found me! Good to be here.

wakeupandsmellthecoffee said...

Welcome, flowerpot. I think you'll see some familiar names on my blogroll.

laurie said...

coffee, well, i guess we didn't meet through beccy, then....

you can find beccy here:

peppermint tea

lady macleod said...

Very interesting. I shall have to do that some time. Lady Macleod STILL visits you regularly my sweet. I find your views insightful and your ability to cut to the chase both amusing and truthful.

wakeupandsmellthecoffee said...

Laurie: Thanks. I'll be visiting beccy soon.

Lady M.: It's always a pleasure when you visit. BTW, my husband was thinking of taking me to Marrakesh, but a colleague put him off, saying it was dirty and not very nice. What do you think? I'm sure something different.

Mean Mom said...

I was interested to read your blog today, as I am new to blogging, and have, so far, only found good blogs through other peoples links and comments. I started with Wife in the North, after seeing an article in Prima magazine. I've found lots of good material, but can't help feeling that I must be missing out on a lot more.

I can often remember peoples names, but not where I found them. I often find myself looking for the 'search' facility on blogspot, and then remembering that there isn't one. Some sort of index would be useful, too.

I've tried Google's blogsearch, but haven't found anything good through that. Must have a look at that bloglines.com.

Enjoying your site!

the rotten correspondent said...

you have an award over at my place...

debio said...

I am so impressed that you remember how you reached other blogs.

I simply have no idea how I found my favourites but friends I consider them one and all.

wakeupandsmellthecoffee said...

mean mom: Welcome. Wife in the North is responsible for a lot of blogging, I think. Yes, a better search facility would be helpful. When I was new to blogging, I would do random searches, and found an awful lot of porn exists, which I'm not interested in.

RC: I'll be straight over.

Debio: I can trace some of my blog friends, but not all. And it doesn't really matter in the end, does it?

Keeping It Real said...

I'm the same way. I have intentions of visiting bloggers I see commenting on others' sites, but if I don't do it right away, I'll forget where to go. Then, too, I get caught up trying to visit my "regulars," and that can take a while. Glad you added me to your roll though.