Dontcha hate gatherings where you know so few people in the room, you have to stick a tag on your shirt that says, My name is...?
Yeah, me too.
But this is different. This is an opportunity to learn a little something about other bloggers from the safety and comfort of your own home, and you don't have to wear a name tag, or sip a cup of icky-sweet punch or nibble on a handful of salted peanuts. Well, of course, you can do all those things if you want to, but it's totally optional. Enough babbling; let me toss a quick thank you to our hosts for coming up with this getting to know you kinda blogfest, and then get on with it. (Thanks, Stephen, Mark, Elise, and Carolyn!)
Speaking of which, how about listening to a little Getting to Know You music while you read the rest of this post? You know, to put you in the mood? It's SHORT... just like the rest of this post will be.
Okeydoke. My name is Susan, and I'm a creative nerd, guitar-playing, oil-painting amateur radio operator, information junkie, incredibly soft touch volunteer, and word addict with a warped sense of humor and predilection for bad puns. This blog started with the notion of establishing a platform for my writing aspirations, but it's become so much more than that. Like amateur radio, it's yet another window on the world, and another avenue to make friends. It's about community and connections. Bill Husted, a journalist and amateur radio operator, once wrote in his column, In the amateur radio fraternity, there are no strangers. That's very true. And more and more, that's how I feel about blogging, too.
It's very nice to meetcha. Care for some punch and peanuts?
Until next time, take care of yourselves. And each other.
>> . . . "What! You too? I thought I was the only one." [C.S. Lewis]
ReplyDeleteHA! That's not exactly a word-for-word quote, but it's close enough that I recognized it.
It comes from the Preface of his book 'SURPRISED BY JOY', which I've read and still have in one of my bookcases. In fact, I once wrote and posted on my now defunct blog 'STUFFS' a very long and spiritually-inspired installment that included that quote as a central part of the blog bit's theme.
Very cool quote to begin a blog bit with, SUSAN. (I know, 'cause I done it too.)
Glad to meetcha.
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
I'm glad you recognized the quote. I think it's a very cool one, too.
DeleteGlad to meetcha, too, Dogg.
That's neat that you can play the guitar and paint too. Having multiple ways to express yourself artistically must be pretty nice.
ReplyDeleteAnybody can paint or play an instrument, as long as we do it for the sheer pleasure of it, and don't expect ourselves to paint like Rembrandt or play like Segovia. Thanks for stopping by, Cynthia.
DeleteYou crack me up, but it's the reason I like to blog as well. I can be opinionated, gushy, observant, poignant or just plain crack-pot silly.
ReplyDeleteLovin it too! Glad to know more about you. How long you been playing that guitar?
Lana
Hey, Lana. How long have I been playing that guitar? Hmmm, a little more than fifty years now. (Not continuously!)
DeleteAmateur radio! Fascinating! I'd love to try that and I can see how it's like blogging and all this 'getting to know you' stuff. :-)
ReplyDeleteAmateur radio is an incredible way to make friends around the world, and a valuable tool when other means of communications fail. There are a LOT of amateur radio operators in England, and I'm sure any one of them would be happy to help you if you're truly interested in getting your license.
DeleteI already liked you before I got to know you but now I like you even better.
ReplyDeleteThanks! What a sweet thing to say!
DeleteHa! I'm an amateur radio operator. At least I have my license. I haven't really used it in years.
ReplyDeleteNice to get to know you better.
I'm really psyched that you're a ham. If you were active in any GA ham clubs or visited any hamfests, there's a good chance we may have met. For almost a decade, I was the GA section manager for the ARRL, and visited a LOT of club meetings around the state, and gave a LOT of presentations.
DeleteGood morning! How fun to introduce ourselves to someone across the way. I love the creative way you introduced yourself. Check us out at http://citymusecountrymuse2012.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteAna a good morning to you, too, Juliet. Thank you so much for stopping by.
DeleteIt sounds like a fun blog fest. Hoping my Internet cooperates today so that I can visit the link list!
ReplyDeleteIt's a LONG link list, so I doubt that I'll cover it all, even WITH a stable connection. All we can do is try. Good luck!
DeleteI am so glad that I have gotten to know you in the past year and a half. You are a good hearted, funny, talented lady whose posts I always look forward to reading. Now I know you a guitar picking painter (although, I guess, not at the same time). Your talents are limitless.
ReplyDeleteI'm really glad I've gotten to know you, too. I sure wish we lived in the same neck of the woods, though. As for my talents? Oh, they're definitely limited. But luckily, my capacity for enjoying all kinds of things isn't.
DeleteIts amazing just how multi-talented bloggers are. I have yet to try out a ham radio. Sounds like a good idea if our world ever goes kaput.
ReplyDeleteWith your range of interests, I think you'd really enjoy amateur radio. Both for now, and for the preparation for the just-in-case kaput part.
DeleteHow do you do. It's totally my pleasure. I'm an A blood type and we do like peanuts. Mighty tasty.
ReplyDeleteNo, 'tis MY pleasure, dear lady. I know it's silly, but with my Pollyanna outlook on life, it kinda cracks me up that my blood type is "B negative".
DeleteCan write, is witty as hell, intelligent, can play guitar, paint and is a amateur radio operator. I tell ya Susan, If I din't think you rocked, I'd hate ya.
ReplyDeleteOn a serious note, I'm so glad you followed me so that I could check out your blog. You are fantastic! :)
HA! You totally crack me up. And I'm really glad we got to "meet" through the blogosphere, kiddo.
DeleteHey there's no such thing as a bad pun :)
ReplyDeleteOne would think... but then, you haven't heard some of my jokes...
DeleteJulie Andrews AND peanuts and punch! Count me in, Susan!
ReplyDeleteWoo HOO! Par-TEE!!!
DeleteSusan, That is so true! There are no strangers in the blogging community!
ReplyDeleteYep, and ain't it grand???
DeleteWow, sounds like you are a busy lady. I love the song. I'm definitely one for adding songs to my posts, too. Amateur radio is fascinating. I'm a big apocalypse novel fan and the radio operators always save the day in those books :)
ReplyDeleteNah, I'm not all that busy. Being an old... wait, no!... make that "mature" lady makes it a lot easier. Except for having to feed my husband three times a day, (he's very funny that way) my time is mostly my own. Unless the kids and grandkids are around, of course. Yep, an apocalypse and amateur radio kinda go hand in hand. Hmmm, that sounds weird...
DeleteNice to meetcha!
He there. Nice to re-meet you. :)
ReplyDeleteWhere he? There?
DeleteHi to you, too. Can't tell ya how glad I am that we met.
Howdy. Just stopping by to say hi from Ireland.
ReplyDeleteAnd a big howdy to you, too. Thanks for stopping by. Put the kettle on, because I'm on my way over to your place now.
DeleteNice to meetcha too. I think I'm gonna like ya!
ReplyDeleteHi-ya, Regina. Cool! I think I'm gonna like you, too. Thanks for popping by and signing on as a new follower. Welcome aboard!
DeleteNice to re-meet you! :) I love the community of the blogging world too.
ReplyDelete<3
Hi-ya, Mia. It seems the more people we know around the world, the smaller the world becomes. Thank you so much for stopping by. I'll return the favor asap.
DeleteExactly right, I feel that way about blogging too! And now I'll be singing Getting to Know You for the rest of the day. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, I can think of a lot worse songs to be singing for the rest of the day. At least, it's a feel-good upbeat one.
DeleteNice to meet you! I'll take some punch, but do you have almonds? :D
ReplyDeleteLove this description of blogging..."Like amateur radio, it's yet another window on the world, and another avenue to make friends."
Yeah, I even have almonds coated with dark chocolate! (Cashews, too... I'm a real nutty kinda gal.)
DeleteThanks for stopping by and for signing on as a new follower. Welcome aboard!
Oh, punch and peanuts are nice! You're definitely a person with a lot of aspects. Glad to have met you, and am looking forward to more :)
ReplyDeleteNice to meet you, too, and welcome aboard!
DeleteCan't believe how many "new to me" bloggers I'm meeting! Nice to meet you.
ReplyDeleteYeah, me, too! Nice to meetcha, Wendy.
DeleteI never like that punch stuff either. Peanuts are okay. Nice to meet you.
ReplyDeleteHi, Susan. Nice to re-meet ya.
DeleteIn the amateur radio fraternity, there are no strangers. That's very true. And more and more, that's how I feel about blogging, too.
ReplyDeleteI'll say! You should see some of the emails I get after a political blogpost.
You're braver than I am. I'd rather keep the posts apolitical.
DeleteHow lovely to re-meet you! This is a great blogfest idea that I missed! I'm having fun reading though! Love the quote!
ReplyDeleteHi, Liza. Sorry you missed out on getting into this bloghop, but at least you can still visit a bunch of new blogs and meet a bunch of new people. (Or, um "old" people like me.)
DeleteHow lovely to re-meet you! This is a great blogfest idea that I missed! I'm having fun reading though! Love the quote!
ReplyDeleteWow! Deja vu all over again!
DeleteIt's wonderful to meet you too! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks. Ditto. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteThis "getting to know you" thing worked - I had no idea you played guitar and painted. All this on top of being a funny and creative writer...it's nice to know you!
ReplyDeleteYeah, but notice I didn't say I did either one of those things WELL!
DeleteYou're so right, Susan, this is much easier than roaming around a room packed w/people and punch. Plus, we can wear our pajamas! It doesn't get anymore awesome than this! My daughter would love you because she's a creative bug, who loves to oil paint and is anxious to learn to play the violin that she requested for Christmas. :)
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that your daughter wants to play the violin. I took lessons when I was in fifth grade, (you know, back in the dark ages) and had a lot of fun with it. I'm sorry I didn't stick with it. Welcome aboard!
DeleteWow, I didn't know you did oil paintings. Have you ever posted any on here?
ReplyDeleteYeah, I did, but only once.
DeleteI've only rarely worked with oil, I guess 'cause I find it a bit too much work - cleaning up after yourself is a pain. I have no turps! hehe. I don't even really paint that much for similar reasons, and I don't have a 'set up space' I can go and just pick up a brush. I hope that changes in future!
ReplyDeleteI love the smell of the paints and turpentine. (I know. Weird, right?) You're right about the clean-up being a bit of a pain, but I still prefer working with oils. It's much more forgiving than acrylics, and allows for better blending and feathering on the canvas. But watercolors is fun, too.
Deletep.s. Yay for guitar players! :)
ReplyDeleteI'll drink to that! (Now, where did I leave my cup of tea...?)
DeleteYes, we do seem to have a lot in common, Susan!
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to learn to draw/sketch and also have a desire to learn mosaics... there's this house I pass everyday that advertises private mosaic lessons, so one of these days I'm gonna stop and check it out!
Nice to re-meet you!
You should definitely stop and check out those lessons! (Doesn't cost a penny to ASK.) Creating mosaics would be fun, but I think I'd enjoy working with stained glass even more. (Kinda the same, but different...) Thanks so much for stopping by.
DeleteHI, Susan,
ReplyDeleteSO nice to meet you. What a fun place to visit. I like you quirkiness. And yes, I hate the whole name tag thing too. NEVER drink sweetened punch or eat salted peanuts... SO, NOT GOOD for you. It's the sugar and salt. LOL.
I love the fact that you have other talents besides writing. I do as well, draw, paint, design, craft, etc. LOVE music and plan to learn to play piano in my next reinvention.
Looking forward to more of your special anecdotes....
Hi-ya, Michael. Right back atcha. And I have to plead guilty on being quirky. (Much better than admitting to being weird.)
DeleteI play piano, too, but not very well. I'm self-taught, but haven't done much playing since my husband retired eleven years ago. (My method of playing and re-playing and re-playing the same piece until my fingers know it by heart would drive him batty!) But if you want to learn, don't put it off.
Welcome aboard!
Nice to re-metcha, Susan. Your sense of humor is a treasure. And a big thank you to the radio operators. When I taught on Okinawa, that's how I'd call home. Some really, really nice people helped us teachers by-pass the horrendous cost of overseas telephone calls. An elderly gentleman in Arizona handled some calls. I hope all worked out well for him in life as he deserved every blessing.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kittie. Some of my friends probably think my "treasure" would be better off buried.
DeleteDuring my hubby's yearlong tour in Vietnam, we were able to talk once via amateur radio and a phone patch. Nowadays, there are many communication options available to soldiers, missionaries, teachers, doctors, and whatnot living around the world, but at one time, ham radio was just about it. Since you spoke via an AZ ham, did you know that Barry Goldwater was a ham, and handled a bazillion (maybe a slight exaggeration) phone patches?
Oh, my gosh, I love your blog, Susan! I am your newest follower. I wanted to let you know that I did a report on The Oregon Vortex last Feb. Here is the link, but you will have to probably copy and paste into the browser. It features old pics of the place. http://oregongiftsofcomfortandjoy.blogspot.com/2012/02/oregon-vortex-and-house-of-mystery.html
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by to visit and for following me.
Kathy M.
Thanks, Kathy! Welcome aboard. I'll be sure to check out your old post about the vortex.
DeleteSue
ReplyDeleteThat's why I didn't add to the vomit blog entry
Thought it would sum me up better than any formal introductions xxxx
Too funny! It's a good way to cull the weak of stomach, anyway.
DeleteGreat to meet you, Susan! I started a blog for the same reasons as you and just like you said, it's become so much more than that. My father paints with oils and I've always admired people who can paint. I wish I had inherited his talent... but alas, it's stick people for me! :D
ReplyDeleteI find more and more people are discovering there's a lot more to blogging than they ever expected. And hey! What's wrong with stick people? You could always turn them into cartoons... or call them high fashion models.
DeleteWelcome aboard!
Nice to meet you Susan! Thanks for the peanuts. ; ]
ReplyDeleteDitto. You're sure to find something nutty here whenever you visit.
DeleteWelcome aboard!
So nice to meet you, Susan. You are so right - there are no strangers in the blogosphere. :)
ReplyDeleteWarped sense of humor are my favorite kinds. New follower!
Right back atcha. If you're looking for a warped sense of humor, you've come to the right place. Welcome aboard, Sus.
DeleteLOL... I'm glad I wasn't the only who had the verbal "runs" :)
ReplyDeleteGreat winter sunset pic by the way :)
Hey! Whatchootalkinabout? I thought this post was SHORT!
DeleteThis is like a great party where you actually meet interesting people who "listen" and have good eye contact (via their pics).
ReplyDeleteA cyber glass of wine or beer is good too.
Yes, indeed! Where are my manners? I'll have to remember the wine and chicken wings next time.
DeleteWhere am I? Who are you? Sorry, hi Susan and getting to know you that little more. I've got to set me up a blogfest. No, what am I saying...
ReplyDeleteI raise a huge cup of water in your honour and would love some peanuts but could do without the "punch"! :)
Right then, I'm outta' here....
Gary
Oh dear, if you're thinking about hosting a blogfest, I may need to look for the smelling salts. Or a big glass of water. No punch. Maybe a wee pat on the back, but no punch.
DeleteHi, Susan,
ReplyDeleteGuitar playing? Oil painting? I'm impressed.
Thanks, but no reason to be impressed. I just have fun with it.
DeleteWhoa...amateur radio and you play guitar? Cool! I had NO idea. Nice to get to know you.
ReplyDeleteHey, Jay. Nice to re-meetcha.
DeleteI know I've seen you around, but don't know why I hadn't discovered your blog. I agree--this platform endeavor has opened up a world in such a cool way.
ReplyDeleteHi-ya, PK. Nice to meetcha. Thanks for stopping by and signing on as a new follower. Welcome aboard! I'll be happy to return the favor.
DeleteHow did you get into amateur radio? I liked how you compared it to blogging - I don't know much about amateur radio and that helped to explain it.
ReplyDeleteNice to meet you!
I got into amateur radio the same way you can. I studied, took and passed multiple tests, and earned my various licenses. There are a LOT of hams in Canada, and if you're interested, you shouldn't have any trouble finding a ham club in your area or learning exactly what tests you need to take to get your license. Go for it!
DeleteNice to meet you, too!
Nice to meet you! That's really cool about radio--sounds interesting! Love to quote, too :)
ReplyDeleteNice to meet you, too. And amateur radio really IS cool and interesting.
ReplyDeleteI remember being fascinated by amateur radio when I was younger, but it kind of slipped off my radar. Your post has re-kindled that interest--thanks for that.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the writing!
Great! I'm glad I re-kindled your interest in amateur radio. If you ever have a mess of time to kill (yeah, riiiiight) you might take a peek at some of my A-Z posts from last April. They're all about amateur radio. Might get that fire burning even hotter.
DeleteNice to meetcha! Welcome aboard.
A "window on the world" is an excellent description of your blog! Also didn't know that amateur radio hasn't gone the way of the DoDo! :)
ReplyDeleteNice to re-meet you again! :)
Nope, amateur radio isn't even close to following the dodo. Matter of fact, most astronauts are hams, and there's even a ham radio set-up on the international space station.
Delete