After an election process that has been too long, too costly, and too damn goofy, the election has tested our spirits and patience. While some are upset, others gloat. While some cautiously watch, some don’t worry – even though they are leery.
My Thanksgiving wish for 2016 is that everyone enjoy the gathering. Don’t talk politics, but enjoy the company. Don’t talk politics, but enjoy the food and beverages. Don’t talk politics, but enjoy laughter. Don’t talk politics, but enjoy the little things. Don’t talk politics, but be thankful for all the good people in the world. Don’t talk politics, so smile and be kind – after all, you probably have a lot to be thankful for.
Safe travels for those who will spend time on the road. To those who don’t have family gatherings, peace to you. Happy Thanksgiving … and I’m thankful for all the good people I’ve encountered on my little corner of the world.
There’s got to be a song for you below. Which did you pick? …. and you can have more than one. 🙂
Although simple and real, many of us can relate to that quote. Seasoned blogger know the importance of community and the effect it has had on them. Yes – selfish bloggers exist – but for many, the interaction with a global audience is one factor that keeps them going.
The original post (On the Blogging Blues – April 27, 2015) focused on breaks, but the suggestions in the comments covered a wide range of blogging topics. This is Part 3 of the series that uses reader comments around a topic – this time it’s Community.
Thanks to everyone who contributed comments that led to this collection.
Topic: Community
Post for readers, not yourself.
Interacting with others beats counting stats.
I still struggle with the many posts that hit my reader every day – let alone replying to comments. Blogging simply takes an incredible amount of time and energy.
If quality and community are important, bloggers needs to reciprocate..
Blogging is posting, commenting, and visiting others.
The best thing about blogging is the friends you make.
The way one interacts elsewhere is an important trademark, thus causing others to want to visit.
Then again, blogging is like a collective that feeds upon one another … and I am fortunate to be in the midst of a wonderful community.
A person starts blogging because of the writing, and then they learn the power of the community.
The best blogging relationships as similar to the best in-person relationships – that is, they work both ways.
Not only reply to all comments, interact with your guests, and definitely write more than “Thanks for commenting” or “Thanks for visiting” – and then visit them. After all, don’t you want them return?
Humans are social creatures who enjoy meaningful social contact with others.
Everyone wants higher numbers, but community is more important than stats.
A blogging community is like a collective that feeds on each other – and resistance is futile.
I’ve said it many times and also written it here – I truly believe in the good of the majority of humanity … and to me, bloggers have reinforced that believe. Here’s a jazz great to end this post in a fitting way.
Note: Opening Night for Meals: The Musical is Wednesday, 9:30 pm (Eastern US) with songs with any of the following in the title: Meal(s), Breakfast, Lunch, Lunchtime, Brunch, Dinner, Dinnertime, Supper, Snack, Snacktime, or Food(s).
April, spring in the Northern hemisphere, but autumn in the Southern hemisphere, therefore
April and October are seasonal equivalents.
April, the second rainiest month of the year (after July)
April, starting the same day of the week as July in all years, and January in leap years
April, ending on the same day of the week as December every year
April, called Aprilis by the Romans
April, fittingly for the blooming action of the season, its traditional etymology from the verb aperire – to open
April, the second of the earliest Roman calendar
April, sacred to Venus, the Roman goddess
April, the fourth month of the current calendar year, but it originally had 29 days as Julius Caesar added its 30th day
April, called Oster-monath or Eostur-monath by the Anglo-Saxons
April, huhtikuu in Finnish, which refers to burning the vegetation to clear farmland
April, mail traven in Slovene, meaning when plants start growing
April Symbols
Zodiac Signs: Aries (The Ram) Apr. 19, then Taurus (The Bull) Apr. 20 – May 20
Birthstone: Diamond, White Sapphire / Meaning: Innocence
Birth Flower: The Daisy or the Sweet Pea symbolizes curiosity, playfulness and tenaciousness
April, whose moon is called Slash-and-Burn Moon, Egg Moon, Grass Moon, Hare Moon
April, with a Full Moon on April 4th 12:05 UTC, and a New Moon on April 18th 18:56 UTC
April in movie titles include April in Paris (1953), The April Fools (1969), April Fool’s Day (1986, 2008), April Morning (1987), Enchanted April (1992), Pieces of April (2003), Sometimes in April (2005), April Love, April Showers (2011), April Snow (2012), April Morning (2012)
Songs titles (other than the videos) include Sometimes It Snows in April (Prince), April (Deep Purple), A Rose in April (Ann Gray-Raven-Seanachie), April Is In My Mistress’ Face (John Rutter), April Rain (Al Jolson), I’ll Remember April (Charlie Parker), January April and Me (Roy Clark), Little April Shower (Disney, from Bambi), Pieces Of April (Three Dog Night), and The April Fools (Dionne Warwick)
April, the first name of many pornstars – but not everyone named April is a pornstar
April, the time of a series of 1834 insurrections in France against the government of Louis Philippe that led to violent oppression – thus the name, The Days of April
April, a series of Mackey Chandler books
April promotes adopting a greyhound, ASPCA, astronomy, car care, Confederate history, defeating diabetes, fair housing, financial literacy, child nutrition, home improvement, informed women, Twit Awards, African-American women’s fitness, decorating, pest management, safe digging, physical wellness, preventing Lyme Disease in dogs, women’s eye health & safety, community service, and tackling your clutter
April aims to increase awareness in alcohol, autism, cancer control, bereaved spouses, Cesareans, distracted driving, emotional overreacting, genocide & human rights, habitats, Irritable Bowels Syndrome, DNA-Genomics-Stem Cell Education, facial protection, heartworms, multiple births, health of minorities, Parkinson’s, sarcoidosis, STDs, youth sports safety, pet first aid, Rosacea, testicular cancer, workplace conflict, anxiety, and stress
April embraces Atlanta food & wine, Arab-American heritage, child abuse prevention, community spirit, customer loyalty, jazz appreciation, libraries, young children, military children, card & letter writing, grilled cheese sandwiches, humor, kites, landscape architecture, pecans, straw hats, woodworking, math education, recycling, smiles, and pets are wonderful
Do you have any special occasions in April? Which songs did you enjoy?
Act 10
Act 10 is about compound time featuring song titles that include compound words in which one is time – such as nighttime, bedtime, springtime, etc.
Production Note
It has come to my attention that past acts have crashed browsers. Please 1) include the song title and artist in your text, and 2) paste the URL as part of your last line (not a new line). The latter will provide a link, thus not embed the actual video … but I don’t mind unembedding, so apologies are not necessary.
PS: I have schedule Act 11 for next week, but the conclusion will be in January.
Announcement
Ladies and gentlemen, two legends collaborate to kickoff Act 10. A grand AFA welcome to Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald with Summertime.
