January 1, 2008
The Mic is On: It’s the Very First Time . . .
ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 7:00 pm
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It’s Like Open Mic Only Different
Here’s how it works.
It’s like any rambling conversation. Don’t try to read it all. Jump in whenever you get here. Just go to the end and start talking. EVERYONE is WELCOME.
The rules are simple — be nice.
There are always first timers and new things to talk about. It’s sort of half “Cheers” part “Friends” and part video game. You don’t know how much fun it is until you try it.
… in 2008
They say the first time is unforgettable.
We might talk about:
- that first blog post, first job,
- the first time we drove a car, rode a horse, or tried out skates
- first prizes
- first big breaks
- first collosal mistakes
- maybe even the first time we tried flamenco dancing.
I wonder who’ll arrive first?
Oh, and bring links about firsts to share!
–ME “Liz” Strauss
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246 Comments to “The Mic is On: It’s the Very First Time . . .”
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Joe (the alter-ego) said
Me first, me first?
Joe (the alter-ego) said
Ok, it’s not the first time I was first to comment here, but it is still fun to be here to open the door on a new night!
Marti said
Hello Liz and Joe!
ME Liz Strauss said
Joe,
You are the first in so many ways, and you are truly unforgettable.
Marti said
Happy new year to you both!
ME Liz Strauss said
Hey Marti!
You’re the first woman of the new year!!
Joe (the alter-ego) said
Hey Marti,
I almost to say Hey to Liz.
Happy New Year!
Marti said
Woot!
Daughter attempted her first OS upgrade. We’re…uh….struggling with it at the moment, but she meant well, bless her heart….
Joe (the alter-ego) said
We can’t be the only one’s at this New Years Party.
Calling all Partyers (I know that’s now how you spell it, but…)
ME Liz Strauss said
So what was the first thing you did this year . . . that you’ll say in public?
Brooke said
Hey Marti, Liz and of course Joe! Happpy New Year!!!!!
Char said
Happy New Year everyone!
ME Liz Strauss said
Hey Marti!
That’s a great way to bring in the New Year . . . cursing and kicking a computer. hee-hee
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Brooke!
Happy New Year!
What’s the first first that comes into your mind when you read this?
Marti said
We’d been running Windows 2000 which was very stable, but we had a copy of XP and she decided she wanted to try to install the upgrade. Things are….strange….LOL Outlook won’t load at all and the modem has to dial about five times before it strikes it lucky. But I am still proud of her for taking the initiative and I’m sure we’ll be able to work out the bugs (she said optimistically - LOL)
Joe (the alter-ego) said
I was trying to write my first WP plugin, but I found someone already beat me to it. And his WORKS.
Oh, well, I wanted to do one for putting the post preview back in WP, but now I don’t have to.
Brooke said
Mmmmm - the first thing that I did in the new year? Mmmmm - ate M&M’s!
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Char!
Happy, Happy New Year! What was the first thing the kids did?
Brooke said
The first thing that comes tto minnd when I read…what?
Joe (the alter-ego) said
Here is the link for the plugin that I wish I wrote. http://robm.me.uk/projects/plugins/wordpress/preview-frame
But it does work well if you want your post preview back.
Char said
We played Wii as a family well into the night and then the kids all slept in this morning. I was up early, enjoying the quiet, reflecting on the newness of the year and writing my manifesto for 2008.
ME Liz Strauss said
Joe!
What a great idea you had. Can you point us to where it is?
Then I have a million other plug-in ideas.
Marti said
Hi Brooke and Char! Happy new year to you both!
The first thing I did was reboot the computer, hoping that magic new year fairies fixed all the problems.
Unfortunately the magic fairies were busy elsewhere
Joe (the alter-ego) said
Comment #20 to find the plugin. easy download, one file to upload, activate, done.
Brooke said
Char - we were playing Wii right up until the ball dropped! In the am the kids got up early and we all went….bowling!!
Marti said
Sorry Joe, I am too frightened to download anything or change anything else at this point - hope you understand…..
ME Liz Strauss said
Brooke,
Sorry it took so long to answer. I was looking for the M&Ms I thought I bought the other day.
Char said
Hello Marti, Joe, and Brooke.
The kids go back to school tomorrow but were hoping for a snow day right off the bat. Looks like all we will get is flurries so tomorrow will be a fabulous and productive day.
Brooke said
Did you all read Char’s manifesto? It was great.
Marti said
Chuckling at comments by “Joe the alter ego”
Joe (the alter-ego) said
Marti, email me & I’ll see if I can help.
)
And NO I’m not going to charge you. (unless it takes hours and hours and hours
Brooke said
LOL Liz! I gotta see if I can find the kids M&M’s…They would go great with hot choclate and klondikes!!
Char said
Bowling on the Wii is so much fun! My 6 year old beats us all, but we’re all getting better.
Thanks for the kind words Brooke (blushes..)
Marti said
Oh Joe what a sweetheart you are! I am a technotard, I wouldn’t even know what to ask.
ME Liz Strauss said
Char,
Leave a link to your Manifesto so that EVERYONE in the world can get a chance to read it.
Brooke said
The kids love bowling on the Wii. They are still little but they are doing better.
Donn”t blush! You deservve kind words - you hhave verry thoughht provoking things to say as well as knoowing…well…everything!
(sorry about the typing - my mmac is touchy!)
Joe said
Sorry, I forgot to change the alter ego thing, but I am keeping the address and email, I think most of us know the new blog by now.
(Yes, I still have WAHI too)
Marti said
I was on Twitter at midnight central time - it was quite nice to see the new year in with people in so many locations
Char said
Liz - I did. It’s in comment #21, but here it is again.
My Personal Manifesto for 2008
ME Liz Strauss said
Sorry Char!
I jumped the . . . um, er, fence.
Marti said
I apologize for not visiting any of you. When I have I always enjoyed your writing, I’ve just been swamped with helping grandma lately…
Angela Maiers said
Happy New Year Everyone!
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Happy new year, everyone!
This year’s first: post my first problogging post http://tinyurl.com/28pxsu
Last year’s last first: my first attempt at video production http://www.doitmyselfblog.com/2007/christmas-montage/
Mike Sansone said
Happy 2008 everyone!
ME Liz Strauss said
PS. Life really does get better after 40.
Char said
Marti - no worries. We love visiting with you on Tuesdays.
Hi Angela. Happy New Year.
Mike Sansone said
Hi Liz…long time no see…I’ve missed you!
Char said
Hi Glenda and Mike!
Liz - I fully expect 40 to be wonderful.
Joe said
My other first for the year is a download of a new and improved WP theme I’ve been using for over a year.
As far as I know, it’s all Ok to do it, and it’s free and GPL and all.
The link is of a live version, not the actual download link.
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Angela!
Welcome back!
Happy New Year!!
Angela Maiers said
Good to talk to you Char. Hello Mike-how are you???
Marti said
Hello Angela, Mike and Glenda! Happy New Year to you
Mike Sansone said
Hey Char, Joe, Angela….how’s the new year starting out?
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Glenda!
Great to see you!
Happy New Year!
Are you ready to dance?
Char said
I have to go put the crew to bed - I’ll be back in a while.
Mike Sansone said
Hey Marti…your banner got me right back into the spirit!
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Mike!
Happy New Year!!
It’s been a while. Hope things are well!
Mike Sansone said
they’re getting better, Liz…hey - we just turned the calendar AND the corner!
Angela Maiers said
Happy New Year Liz-I am glad to be back. i had a wonderful first for the New Year. I did my first post on JJL with Rosa and the gang. It is a huge thrill! I am in learner heaven!
cat said
Happy New Year everyone!
Firsts … hmmmm … I guess this is the first time I couldn’t think of anything to say.
ME Liz Strauss said
Yea Mike! I think everyone is looking forward to better year in 2008!!
Mike Sansone said
gotta run guys…I’ve been thinking and missing you all, thought I’d drop by and say hiya
ME Liz Strauss said
Angela!
JJL — that’s cool! You’re in a very esteemed group there.
Chris Cree said
Hey everyone! Who wants a Klondike Bar? Today I’m buying!
ME Liz Strauss said
Chris Cree!!
Now that’s a happy start to the new year!
Mike Sansone said
:::waving to Chris on the way out, but glad I caught a glimpse:::
Have a great year Chris…hope to be in touch soon. It’s a new year, yeah?
ME Liz Strauss said
Bye Mike!
Lisa Gates said
Liiiiz, I just want to say — first — an advance thank you for every act of kindness, every great word you will write in 2008!
You made my year, and I know you’ll make this one too.
Hi all!
Brooke said
I want one Chris! Hey ccongrats on ventturing out on your own!
Mike Sansone said
Hope to see everyone at SobCon08!
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Liiiiiisa!!
Thank you for being there every minute of 2007.
Angela Maiers said
Nice to meet you Chris, Marti, Cat, Joe, and Brooke! I am new to mic night, so I am just catching up on the conversations and checking out your blogs! Great stuff!
Marti said
Aww, thanks for the nice words on the banner, Mike. I can’t take the credit- Amy at amusing.com does my blog templates for me
Is anyone planning a first for this year? Something you’ve never tried or done before?
Lisa Gates said
Just want to say I wrote about “firsts” today…specifically my first move I can remember, and every other after that. Don’t worry, it’s the truncated version. (We’re almost done moving…)
ME Liz Strauss said
Hey Cat!
Happy New Year!!
I’m so glad you’re here!
Marti said
Hi Chris - didn’t see you come in. Happy New Year! Oh there’s cat and Lisa too - hello!
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Char, forty is great - a milestone I’m glad to have reached.
Liz, I’m always ready to dance! Is there any other way to be?
Brooke said
Thank you Angela - nice to meet you too. I am not an avid bblogger - buut I LOVE to read blogs and commeent! I haven’t had a cchance to delvve into yours - but I will. It looks interesting!!
Chris Cree said
Hey Brooke! Here you go. [tosses over a Klondike]
And thanks. 2008 is already very different for me!
ME Liz Strauss said
Exactly, Glenda.
Once when I asked Jonathan Fields what he did when he wasn’t blogging he said, “Dance around the living room with my daughter.”
Brooke said
Hey Chris — thanks foor the klonddike! I was in Savannah a few years ago - I havve a few friends that live there.
Marti said
Angela, hugs to you as a new person to open mic night! This is a delightful meeting place - I’m so happy to meet you! I hope you have a wonderful evening with us.
ME Liz Strauss said
Brooke,
Your stuttering Mac is such fun to read.
You should give it a name.
Mike said
Happy New Year Everyone!
I’m puppysitting so I won’t have much bandwidth to converse, but I couldn’t completely skip the festivities!
Mike
Lisa Gates said
Liz and all, have a wonderful new year, and I know we’ll cross paths here again. I have to hit Trader Joe’s before they close (early) as it’s a school day tomorrow.
Love to all,
Lisa
Joe said
That’s funny Liz, her keyboard seems to stutter on skype too.
Angela Maiers said
Glenda, I just read your post. You have had a fantastic year! Great work! How long have you been blogging?
ME Liz Strauss said
Mike,
How are you?!!
Happy New Year!!
Lisa Gates said
P.S. Brooke…you are quick on the draw! Thanks for the comment…
Brooke said
Thhbbbpppttt (raspberry…) to Joe and Liz. The MAC DOES stutter , as for thee PC - YOU try typing one hannded!!!
ME Liz Strauss said
See you later, Lisa!
I can’t wait to see what we’ll invent together this year!!
Angela Maiers said
Thanks for the warm welcome Marti! i love your site-it makes me want to grab a cup of hot cocoa and just read!
Brooke said
You arre welcome Lisa! Have a great tiime at Trader Joe’s - I lovve that pplace!!
Marti said
I’m having a terrible time maintaining a connection, darn it! (I hope this gets through)
I send all of you the very best wishes for a fabulous 2008. Also hoping we can get this computer working better soon, because I love these chats and hate to have to leave so soon.
{{Hugs}} to everyone!
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Liz, don’t have a daughter, so I’ve been known to dance with myself!
Finally finished importing my cds onto my ipod and have it on shuffle right now. Its like my own radio station with John Denver, Barry Manilow, Mikey Bolton, Anne Murray, a little Poison, Richard Marx, and, of course, Rod. My soul is dancing!
ME Liz Strauss said
Hey Music Queen Hyatt,
No wonder you’re always dancing. . . . Did you ever see the Ally McBeal episode with Barry Manilow?
Brooke said
Do you all knw the people that visit your blog? I just have the feedbuurner info as well as commenter info.
ME Liz Strauss said
Hey Brooke,
I guess that would be impossible wouldn’t it. Some folks have stuff blocked and only read.
Angela Maiers said
Lisa, I love the video on your site. It is one of my favorites!
Chris Cree said
Whoop. Had to step out for a minute. My brother in law called. I’ve passed him on to Gorgeous.
What did I miss?
cat said
Ok, I’ve had time to think … well, it’s the tea really, the tea is kicking in … so here’s a few firsts from 2007 …
In 2007 I had a go at designing a blog in TypePad. I grumbled at first, but TP is really quite impressive for those who don’t want to fight with how things look in different browsers (TP takes care of that. I hope anyway …)
I bought my first WordPress theme. That’s right. Bought. It has a fantastic CMS and jumps through all sorts of hoops. Hoops I need.
And today is the first time I’ve join in on MicNight on my new MacBook Pro. Yup, if you are going to only get one thing under the tree. This is it.
Did you know it has a CAMERA pointing at me? At all times? And that I can call Liz up from Google and use this very same camera?
(so, I guess that means it’ll be a first for me to be out of jammies while using google …)
Anyway, HUGE HUGS to all of you in Liz land
Karen Putz said
Happy New Year to everyone!
ME Liz Strauss said
Brooke,
It sure would be need if we could know most of who came. I’m not sure I’d want to know every single one.
ME Liz Strauss said
Hey Karen!
Happy New Year!
Do you know everyone?
Joe said
Brooke, I just add comments to the feedburner stats and multiply the statcounter inbound links then subtract the day of the month and add 10, that gives you the approximate age of the person from any country in the western hemisphere (unless they are from Australia or the Far East) and then you just ask them their names and… voilia… you know your readers!!!
Karen Putz said
John Denver–Glenda–no wonder I like you!
ME Liz Strauss said
Joe,
I love your computer math!
Char said
I’m back! Toss me a Klondike please. Hi to all who joined us while I was off reading Amelia Bedelia.
Chris Cree said
No wonder Joe can keep track of how many comments everything takes. He uses that new math!
Karen Putz said
Liz, there’s a few new “faces” that I don’t know here– I’m off to read their blogs…
Angela Maiers said
Sometimes I feel like I am Amelia, Char. How old are your kids? I have a 12 and a 10 year old.
ME Liz Strauss said
Good idea, Karen,
I think you’ll like who you find there!
ME Liz Strauss said
Brooke,
Joe does Bloggetry Math at the Graduate level. He really should be teaching at a university.
Char said
Angela - I have an 11 year old boy, 9 year old girl and my youngest (girl) turned 6 on Sunday. The 6 year old is the Amelia Bedelia fan.
Angela Maiers said
Hi Karen, nice to meet you. I love your wordless Wednesday!
Chris Cree said
Char! Here ya go. [hands off a Klondike]
How’s things in your world?
Char said
Hi Karen! It looks like you all had a great celebration!
ME Liz Strauss said
Hey Chris,
Did you see how Starbucker has filled out the SOBCon08 site? More stuff is there. It’s starting to look like it’s alive!!
Char said
Chris - Good. I’m recovering from a very hectic holiday season, but I am so looking forward to the new year and all its possibilities. On my list of things I want to accomplish is designing a custom WP from scratch. I’ll keep you posted on that one…
Chris Cree said
Wow, Liz. I hadn’t seen that yet. I’ll go over and take a look.
Char, weird question for you. Is your 9 year old into Hannah Montana?
Char said
Both the 9 year old and the 6 year old are. They sing her songs all day long and spent most of the day playing with the 6 year old’s new Hannah Montana dolls and stage. The doll came with a “backstage” pass and my daughter did not take it off all day - she fell asleep with it on last night (we took it off her obviously).
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
[sorry, call from Dad, finally ]
Wow Angela, just checked my first blog-with-training-wheels http://www.webaccessibility.biz/blog, I’ve been blogging since June ‘05! AND really dived into it last year.
Karen Putz said
Hi Angela, nice to meet you as well. Thanks for the compliment! I love doing those Wordless Wednesday posts!
ME Liz Strauss said
Angela and Char,
I think Amelia Bedelia is a most sensible thinker.
She and I would get a long perfectly.
Chris Cree said
Can’t wait to see that theme, Char. Got a feeling it will be fantastic!
ME Liz Strauss said
Char is fabulous Chris.
And the BEST to work with.
Brooke said
Sorry - had to fold laundry. Joe has you all fooled with his ‘new math’. He’s just a smart-a**! Ha!
So how ddo you knoow who youur subscriberrs arre?
Karen Putz said
Char, we did have a nice party last night. I’m still in my PJs!
ME Liz Strauss said
Well, Brooke,
I don’t have any way of knowing who they all are. They subscribe through too many ways. And some have the option of subscribing privately.
Angela Maiers said
Thanks Liz-that makes me feel better coming from you!
Glenda, I have been blogging almost 4 months now, and seeing your results is an absolute inspiration. I am overwhelmed and exhilarated at the same time! I wish some days I did not have a real job, and I could just read and write blogs all day! I love, love, love it!
Chris Cree said
Gorgeous has Legally Blond on TV. Don’t know why we can watch this silly movie over and over. But we can.
Brooke said
What’s the best way to see whoo they migght be?
Char said
Liz - you are too kind and I can totally see you and Amelia Bedelia hanging out together!
Karen - I tried staying in my jammies most of today but decided to put on my jeans and Penguins jersey to watch the Penguins-Sabres hockey game that they played outside. What a great game.
Joe said
Brooke, I’m hurt… You don’t think my math works?
I can prove it. I knew you when you contacted me on skype even though you used a totally different alias from the real you, didn’t I?
Brooke said
true Joe. i am sorry I didn’t believe you.
ME Liz Strauss said
Char,
I thought you might see the resemblance between Amelia and me!
Brooke said
Karen - I have been meaniing to say that I LOVE Signing Time! I have only seen or heard reference to it a few times.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Angela, blogging and the interactions are quite amazing at times, even overwhelming. Never know what will happen next. Stick with it, Angela, and you will turn pro one day. Some people ARE making full-time incomes at it - that was the most motivating tidbit I took away from BlogWorld in November.
ME Liz Strauss said
Joe,
It’s never that we don’t believe you. It’s that your abstract bloggetry is far over our heads.
Chris Cree said
I never heard of Hannah Montana before I saw a trailer before I Am Legend. Now I seem to hear about her from every parent of a pre-teen girl. Weird.
ME Liz Strauss said
Chris,
I’m CLUELESS as to why you think Legally Blonde is silly.
ME Liz Strauss said
Angela!
Amelia is one innovative thinker.
Brooke said
Ha Liz!! Those 2 movies are great!
ME Liz Strauss said
Glenda,
I agree, though I would have to say that blogging is some of the biggest “dues paying” work one can do. It’s labor instensive. It takes tons of heavy fuel.
Brooke said
Joe - Liz said what I was thinking. (she’s the great wordsmith - not me!) So I’lll have to pick your brain to figure this out!!
ME Liz Strauss said
Brooke!
Reese Witherspoon did a fine job of making the character real and still likable. That was harder than she made it look.
Chris Cree said
Liz, She did another flick called “Sweet Home Alabama” that we like too. There she was a little meaner, but still likable.
Joe said
May I say something in reference to HM?
I got really p***** when I heard about the mom that had the daughter write an essay about her dead dad who was killed in Iraq and won a contest for tickets to her concert.
AND it turned out that it was all FAKE!
The father is alive and well and never served in Iraq or any other theatre as far as is known.
THAT is NOT a GOOD MOM as far as I’m concerned!!!
ME Liz Strauss said
Hey Chris,
I didn’t like the other characters in “Sweet Home Alabama” as much.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Hey Liz, responding to #96 - I don’t think so. Only watched Alley when I was really procrastinating on homework! Now Bon Jovi is playing. Really ecceltic tastes. And I know I just murdered that word; hope you know what I mean.
Brooke said
We LOVE Reese! I first saw her in Man In The Moon.
Chris Cree said
I’ll give you that, Liz. I kinda liked the lightning thing, though.
Char said
Joe - I agree with you. What a terrible example she is setting for her kids! We had the opportunity to go to the concert - my best friend got tickets and is taking her daughter - but I won’t let my girls go because the concert is an hour away and on a school night. I’m a mean Mom, but a 9 year old doesn’t need to be out that late on a school night.
Angela Maiers said
Thanks for the words of encouragement, Char.
Chris, my 10 year old wants to BE Hanna Montana.
I guess it is better than Brittney Spears little sister on Zoe101 who is pregnant at 16.
Chris Cree said
Angela, I’m laughing. Disney’s doing a great job marketing her, I guess.
ME Liz Strauss said
Wow! This Hannah Montana thing is really out of control. We’ve made Barbie dols real. . . . in a kidlike way.
Char said
I bet no one would guess that we would be talking about Reese, Amelia Bedelia, and Hannah Montana all in one conversation. Love it.
Chris - is tomorrow your first official day with no commute?
Angela Maiers said
Liz-where is the SOB08 conference? Is it too late to sign up?
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Liz, I totally agree that blogging requires enormous fuel. I’ve been in writer’s anxiety for two weeks, not knowing what I’ll write 1-3x/wk for disaboom and fretting my introductory post. Finally sat down this morning to write and the words just came. It was the “good writing” feeling [vs the constipation writing] and I was reminded why I like writing. And, the comments I’ve received on my own blog today, that is what keeps me going, knowing people are gaining from my writing. That is very touches to me.
ME Liz Strauss said
Angela!
SOBCon08 is in Chicago and we’ve not opened registration yet. But you can start looking at things like the schedule here. SOBCon08
Chris Cree said
Char, Yep. Yesterday was officially my last day as a full time employee. Now it’s sink or swim, baby!
Terrified and excited at the same time.
Char said
Liz - Barbie is real - she lives in our playroom - in a big old mansion, complete with a jet, a car and a whole mess of friends, too. Now she has Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus to hang out with thanks to my daughter’s birthday.
ME Liz Strauss said
So, everyone, what’s the coolest response you’ve gotten so far?
ME Liz Strauss said
Char,
I was deprived as a child . . . I never had a Barbie.
Chris Cree said
OK, kids. Tomorrow promises to be a big day so I gotta head to bed. Here’s to wishing y’all a wonderful new year in 2008!
ME Liz Strauss said
Actually, my mom was pretty smart on that point. I lived in an all boys neighborhood.
Anyway, I thought Barbie looked weird. [Amelia Bedelia]
ME Liz Strauss said
Chris,
I never realized our commuter phone calls are over. . . .
sleep well.
Char said
The SOBCon 08 site looks fantastic! Great work all.
Good night and good luck Chris!
Angela Maiers said
It has been great meeting you all. Liz, thanks again for being a gracious host. Have a great week, and Happy New Year to all!
Joe said
Ok Chris,
Another first for the New Year. This is the Official Invitation for you to Feature your New Business on my Featured Home Business Page.
You already knew this was coming, but since you made it official, so will I.
(Hard to ignore with an invitation like that, huh?)
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Char!
We still have lots to do! Dawud did it befoer the baby and while his back was out too.
ME Liz Strauss said
Happy New Year Angela!
Hope to see you again soon!
Keep it up with that great blog.
I’m a teacher, you know.
ME Liz Strauss said
Joe,
I think Chris mighthave already slipped out the door.
Joe said
It’s Ok Liz, he got the invitation a while ago. When I first heard he was starting his own business.
ME Liz Strauss said
Char, Joe,
Why do you blog?
Brooke said
Have you all heard of Coda?
Char said
Liz - that is a tough question. I started blogging because I had clients asking about it. I figured I had to do it myself in order to advise them with any confidence. Instead, I found that blogging opened so many doors and helped develop relationships I never knew were possible.
I have never considered myself a writer, yet blogging has made me a much stronger communicator in so many ways. Blogging is a great outlet. And, now that I have been blogging for just under 2 years, it is bringing in a steady flow of cash and that in itself is a great reason to keep going.
Joe said
Personally, I like helping people who are going through some of the same things I have gone through to make it easier for them to get where the want to go.
(Does that make sense?)
Karen Putz said
Ah, the night got away from me! I’m off to watch a movie with the rest of the family and dig into some popcorn. May everyone have great friendships, many connections and huge checks for 2008!
Char said
What is Coda?
Brooke said
Coda
ME Liz Strauss said
Yeah, Char,
I think there’s a turning point at about 3-4 months then another at 9 months or so. Then it’s two years and the world changes again.
Brooke said
Char and Joe - good answers.
Coda is way to write code - for the mac.
Char said
Brooke - it looks interesting. I may have to try it out on my Mac - I do most of my development on my PC.
Jason Alba said
hey guys, how’s the SOB scene tonight?
ME Liz Strauss said
Good night, Karen!
Hope you found lots of great stuff to read! Enjoy your family!!
Brooke said
That’s what I am doing. I do most of my coding on the pc but we have get a new computer and are debating between a mac and a pc…hard choice. We have one of each right now.
Ellen Weber said
Happy New Liz,
The whole idea of “firsts” conjurs up two states that tend to jockey for position in my mind. Fear and adventure!
Let me explain how it happened to me when a friend loaned me her stick shift for a retreat where I was to speak. My car died … my friend told me where to get her keys and we parted quick.
Fear pressed in as I realized I’d never driven a 4 on the floor and I was late.
Adventure took over when I realized if I could get to the highway I would only have to shift once till I arrived at the retreat … 40 minutes away.
Fear returned when I had to run red lights in the city to avoid shifting and losing my ability to restart the car in gear.
By the time I arrived at my podium — I was a cross between fear and adventure — and I was so rattled by the mix of chemicals my poor brain produced .. it felt like my first speaking engagement in spite of years of experience.
Thanks, Liz, for the fun memory that still makes me laugh so many years later!
I still get caught betweeb these two crazy forces whenever firsts catch me off guard. Love these firsts! What a great discussion!
ME Liz Strauss said
Hey Jason!
Happy New Year!
Brooke said
It has been a while that I have heard from Joe directly and I think that I REALLY upset him. So to Joe - I am VERY sorry.
Char said
Hi Ellen and Jason! Happy New Year.
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Ellen!
Happy New Year!
“a cross between fear and adventure”
That so totally descibes both the situation and you.
ME Liz Strauss said
Hey Jason!
Have you been over to the SOBCon blog yet?
ME Liz Strauss said
Brooke,
That coda thing looks amazing. Have you played with it yet?!
Brooke said
veeeeeeery little. I wanna delve more into it tomorrow!
ME Liz Strauss said
Hey Brooke,
I’m not sure I fully get what it does. The explanation isn’t too clear.
Joe said
Brooke, was the skype message direct enough? It would take a something really BAD to upset me, just ask Liz.
Brooke said
I know Liz. I gotta play with it more too see what it can do.
ME Liz Strauss said
Brooke,
I WAS about to tell you that Joe is pretty tough. He can handle a lot.
except from me.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Liz, how do you do planning for your blog when the blogosphere is so unpredictable? Today my blog received half as much traffic as it did in all of January 07 mainly because something stumbled last night’s post, which I thought was rather trivial. Go figure!
Joe said
You got that right Liz. You are like my younger bigger little sister. Never mess with a sibling!
Char said
I have to call it a night! That alarm is going to go off bright and early tomorrow.
Thanks for another wonderful Open Comment night!
Brooke said
NOW you tell me! So Joe is tough and my iniitial instincts about him were right!
Nite Char!
Aruni said
Just dropping in. So many firsts so little time. The first time I saw my son after I heard him cry after emerging into the world is perhaps my most memorable first on this planet.
Happy New Year!
ME Liz Strauss said
Good night, Char!
Hopefully, we’ll get to finish something in 2008!!
Brooke said
Liz, were you the one who bblogged about Second Life? Have you signed up? Thoughts? Just a fun thing to do in my spare ttime (of which I have little…)
ME Liz Strauss said
Glenda!
I’m in control because I gave up control entirely. I just write my best and don’t think about which ones are going to be winners anymore.
Brooke said
Hello Aruni! Your blog looks interesting - I will read it morre tomorrow!!
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Aruni!
Thank you for the smile your comment just put all over my face.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Thanks Liz, I do write whatever is on my mind [and printable]. It’s just intriguing to watch the responses [CB's was the most touching today ].
Joe said
For the New Year on OMN
I won’t forget all my friends
That have gone through so much
And promise to try to keep in touch
Throughout the new year and longer
Our friendships can only grow stronger
ME Liz Strauss said
Yeah, it’s like I said one time. I was a writer and then an audience came.
ME Liz Strauss said
Joe . . . ?
Good night, Joe.
Sleepy swell.
Joe said
When the night ends all is said and done
This great community will stay as one
When we meet at SOBCon once more
Old and new friendships will endure
Berma Shave
Nite Liz
Nite All
(sorry, I hit enter in the middle of this)
Brooke said
Thanks Liz ffor hosting! This was very fun tonight!!
I ggot a BIG day tomorrow soo I am turniing in.
Have a great day tomoorrw and a great New Year!!
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Yes Liz, that is the exciting part. And with blogging there is much more interaction with the audience, unlike with a book - tho I’ve received some great fan mail. It just hit me now that blogging is very much like performing live vs recording in a studio.
ME Liz Strauss said
Oh Joe,
What a relief!!
Sleepy swell!
ME Liz Strauss said
Good night Brooke!
Happy New Year!!
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Night Joe. Stay great in 2008!
ME Liz Strauss said
Yeah, Glenda. Writing for print is like having one side of the conversation. Reading is having the other. The two never get together.
On a blog the two happen back and forth.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
and that is where the power lies!
ME Liz Strauss said
Yessiree!!
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Thanks Liz for inspiring me to continue in this fantastic medium. I have a feeling this year will be even better than last year, if that is even possible!
ME Liz Strauss said
Of course it will be Glenda, because you are even better.
Troy Worman said
Happy New Year!
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
((( Hugs Liz )))
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Troy!!
Happy New year!!
Troy Worman said
I hope your 2008 is nothing short of stellar!
ME Liz Strauss said
I hope you’re right and I hope you’re right there with me.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
A thought: are we seeing a second evolution or approach of blogging? It began as an online journal, and now it is a way of building community. Or is blogging growing up; beginning to reach its full potential? My first ponderment of the year.
ME Liz Strauss said
Yea! Glenda!
You’re a full-fledged blogger now, for sure.
Troy Worman said
I hope so, too. The Starmarker willing, eh?
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Thanks Liz. So have I fully earned my SOB designation now? I’ve been thinking about your comment in #224 and you’re so right, of course. I’ve learned so much about blogging last year. I’m curious to see where I and my blog, and the blogosphere in general will be a year from now.
ME Liz Strauss said
We’ll I posted my thoughts on that one today.
Now I really need to go get some sleep before I start a long day tomorrow.
These short weeks are killers.
Happy New Year, Glenda!
I love you.
John Richardson said
Hi Liz,
I can’t stay for a conversation tonight but I just wanted to say Happy New Year from California!
John
BTW… you made my top 5 list again this year… congrats!
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Nite Liz, wishing you all of the best and more this year.
Do It Myself Blog » Rolling the Credits – Part 2 said
[...] out tonight at Liz’s Open Mic Night, talking about blogging, while listening to my cd library now finally on my iPod, a thought struck: [...]
Suzie Cheel said
Happy new year all will try to make next week
ME Liz Strauss said
Glenda!
Are you not an SOB already! Darn it! going to fix that one.
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi John!
Happy New Year! It’s great to know we’re still friends for another one!!!
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Suzie!
Happy New Year!! Can’t wait to talk to you some more!
Marti said
So sorry I had to cut out early last night, just couldn’t get the computer at home to cooperate! Over at grandma’s now, and had to take a second to thank you, Liz and all of your guests for the wonderful conversations that happen here! I hope all of you enjoy a very prosperous 2008! Peace and joy to all!
Leon said
Dang! Late to the party. Happy New Year Liz!
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Marti!
No worries. You’re always a pleasure no matter how many minutes or hours you’re here.
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Leon!
Happy New Year!
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Liz, yes, I am a SOB - thank you . Just meant now I’m moreso of one!