Have you heard of keyword-search poetry? Well my counter program doesn't track keyword searches (oh how I wish it did!!) but it does have a button called "who's on?" which is how I saw that someone in Kanata, Ontario is looking at my blog RIGHT NOW! So hi Canada! It also tells me that someone always enters my blog via the "Who is your Unibrow Baby" page, which I think is funny.
On with the randomness!
It has been brought to my attention that I talk like an old lady. Born of my life as a Youth Minister/Role Model, I don't swear much (unless I feel like it's absolutely frickin' necessary) so I say things like "gosh" "darn" and "heck." Once, I was leading prayers with teenagers, and said "can you all move a little closer so that I don't have to hollar?" and a girl near me giggled and said "my Grandmother says 'hollar'." I sound a little bit like this guy:
So?
It's a real old fashioned Winter here, and I am out of love with it. My winter spirit lasted way longer than usual, what with the pretty snow everywhere and all that, but now I am sick of wearing coats and my mittens are falling apart and just the thought of that crunching sound the snow makes when I walk on it makes my teeth hurt. My hair is like hay and that spot of dry skin on my elbow is bugging me and I have just had it. What is this, January? Crap.
Half of my friends on Facebook are complaining about the weather and the other half are complaining about people who complain about the weather. "HellOOOOo, this is New ENGland, it SNOWs here, get OVER it!!" I am staying out of the fray, but you know the truth, dear reader.
My mother and my cat are both experiencing the beginning stages of dementia. I don't see Mom much but I think of her every time my cat hisses at her daughter, for no good reason. I guess that's enough said about that.
G-dangit.
Showing posts with label blog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blog. Show all posts
Monday, January 24, 2011
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Friend Your Parish!
I got asked again the other day about Facebook in ministry- it's something I get asked about a surprising amount. I am sort of the Social Media Minister at our parish, updating our parish Facebook page, Twitter account, and blog. People want to know if we've had any problems with it, if we feel comfortable and safe using technology, with all its risks. They want to know how we keep our privacy protected.
When I started my Facebook account, I never dreamed that it would become a place where I would interact with my friends. I opened it as a means of contacting kids, who nowadays never read email, never answer phone calls, and don't seem to be even aware that there is such a thing as mail. It seems that if you want to contact kids, you'd better have access to Facebook. In fact, I recommend to parents that once their kids are in college, Facebook will be the best way to reach their kids, because they check it and update it constantly.
Since then, I've found friends from my 4th grade class on Facebook, and a lot of my peers and friends now are on it. I know Youth Ministers who have two Facebook identities, one that is open to their kids/parishes, and one that is for their personal friends. I can certainly understand that. As for me, having my parish members accessing my page keeps me honest- and keeps me from saying anything too outrageous on my status updates. I don't particularly want pictures of me on the internet if they're inappropriate for a kid to see, anyway.
I love the way Facebook helps me connect with people, love how soon I know about important news in the parish, how easy it is to reach out to people in important moments. When a teenager in our parish had a car accident, we knew right away. When kids' Grandparents die, we can send condolences. When someone has a birthday, we can send blessings. Ironically, our community is more inter-engaged with facebook than we ever were before.
I do see the danger in this, the grey-able boundaries. But I also know that interactions between people on Facebook are traceable, recordable. There's actually a layer of safety there that is missing in phone conversations.
And now the Pope recommends that priests start blogging and looking at social media as a means for spreading the Gospel. I agree with the Pope. How about that!!
I know that new technologies arouse suspicion in every generation. I keep thinking about Katie the housekeeper in Meet Me In St. Louis, who mistrusted the telephone. Her line "Personally, I wouldn't marry a man who proposed to me over an invention" is an echo of people's current concerns about Facebook, I think. So friend your parish, follow its Twitter Feed, and check its blog often! Be connected!
When I started my Facebook account, I never dreamed that it would become a place where I would interact with my friends. I opened it as a means of contacting kids, who nowadays never read email, never answer phone calls, and don't seem to be even aware that there is such a thing as mail. It seems that if you want to contact kids, you'd better have access to Facebook. In fact, I recommend to parents that once their kids are in college, Facebook will be the best way to reach their kids, because they check it and update it constantly.
Since then, I've found friends from my 4th grade class on Facebook, and a lot of my peers and friends now are on it. I know Youth Ministers who have two Facebook identities, one that is open to their kids/parishes, and one that is for their personal friends. I can certainly understand that. As for me, having my parish members accessing my page keeps me honest- and keeps me from saying anything too outrageous on my status updates. I don't particularly want pictures of me on the internet if they're inappropriate for a kid to see, anyway.
I love the way Facebook helps me connect with people, love how soon I know about important news in the parish, how easy it is to reach out to people in important moments. When a teenager in our parish had a car accident, we knew right away. When kids' Grandparents die, we can send condolences. When someone has a birthday, we can send blessings. Ironically, our community is more inter-engaged with facebook than we ever were before.
I do see the danger in this, the grey-able boundaries. But I also know that interactions between people on Facebook are traceable, recordable. There's actually a layer of safety there that is missing in phone conversations.
And now the Pope recommends that priests start blogging and looking at social media as a means for spreading the Gospel. I agree with the Pope. How about that!!
I know that new technologies arouse suspicion in every generation. I keep thinking about Katie the housekeeper in Meet Me In St. Louis, who mistrusted the telephone. Her line "Personally, I wouldn't marry a man who proposed to me over an invention" is an echo of people's current concerns about Facebook, I think. So friend your parish, follow its Twitter Feed, and check its blog often! Be connected!
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Tag!
I spent the day (while lounging around watching old movies) tagging many of my blog entries. Not because I think you (dear reader) will ever want to go looking for any mind-blowing entries in the throes of nostalgia for my reading, but because nowadays, when I go to write about something, I often feel like I've written it before. With tags, I can see if I've already written a scathing comment on the Archdiocese of Boston's Office of Youth Ministry and Etc. or falling down my front steps and crying or my high school boyfriend. So, not much really has changed here for you (DR), but you can hereby assume that anything you read here is first-run.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
You looking for something?
My counter, wayyyy at the bottom of the page, tells me about the people who look at my blog. It tells me where the lookers live, and how they found my page, and the coolest thing about that is what google searches led people to my pages. Here are the last 9 google references:
(go ahead, click on the picture, fool)
9. TDBI (that's the Too Dangerously Beautiful Idea)
8. Elfed Myself (seriously? With all the people who've elfed themselves, mine is what you come up with at google?)
7. Cat actress (I have no idea)
6. Cat pheromones (remember that failed attempt at reconciling my fighting cats?)
5. Do U hang the American flag when it’s raining (no.)
4. Is it safe to take a shower when it’s raining (yes.)
3. Happy Cat Pheremones (sic)
2. Milestone ministries (hey a ministry one! cool!)
1. Describing rainy day (huh. Must be a poet looking for inspiration. Hope they found it at my site!)
Funny, huh, what you can know about the world these days?
(go ahead, click on the picture, fool)
9. TDBI (that's the Too Dangerously Beautiful Idea)
8. Elfed Myself (seriously? With all the people who've elfed themselves, mine is what you come up with at google?)
7. Cat actress (I have no idea)
6. Cat pheromones (remember that failed attempt at reconciling my fighting cats?)
5. Do U hang the American flag when it’s raining (no.)
4. Is it safe to take a shower when it’s raining (yes.)
3. Happy Cat Pheremones (sic)
2. Milestone ministries (hey a ministry one! cool!)
1. Describing rainy day (huh. Must be a poet looking for inspiration. Hope they found it at my site!)
Funny, huh, what you can know about the world these days?
Saturday, February 16, 2008
OUTED
A couple of months ago, whilst sitting with some of the Kansas girls, I hear another of the Kansas girls talking with my pastor across the room. It was a loud room, with the football game roaring, and the fans roaring, and general restaurant cacophony. But I heard it clearly... my pastor saying, incredulously, "Margo has a blog?"
Oh Lordy. Well that wasn't really such a big deal, as he was off on a long vacation the next day and I'm sure his head would be filled more with balmy weather and bright colored vacation shirts than the fact that I had a blog. He hasn't mentioned it and I reckon he's forgotten all about that moment.
But last night, out on the town with some of our dearest friends (all top-ten-ers) when all of a sudden it seemed that half the table was using the words "Margo's blog"! The friends on the other half of the table turned to me and said "wait... you have a BLOG?"
Which led to a quick review of my archives at home... and fortunately, I found that (as I had hoped) there was nothing to worry about. It was kind of a nice journey down memory lane for me, but it was also and opportunity to look at the whole blog through the lens of "what will these people learn about me be reading this?"
It made me wonder why I've never told people at work about my blog- I guess it's because it's not really a work blog. (Like D. Scott Miller's, or Austin Fleming's) I don't think I have anything to hide, especially now that I work in a place that I love, but still... it just feels like the crashing together of two worlds. A little.
So anyway, welcome two new readers, and world.
I am Margo. I are legion. I do forgive, I do not forget. Expect me.
Oh Lordy. Well that wasn't really such a big deal, as he was off on a long vacation the next day and I'm sure his head would be filled more with balmy weather and bright colored vacation shirts than the fact that I had a blog. He hasn't mentioned it and I reckon he's forgotten all about that moment.
But last night, out on the town with some of our dearest friends (all top-ten-ers) when all of a sudden it seemed that half the table was using the words "Margo's blog"! The friends on the other half of the table turned to me and said "wait... you have a BLOG?"
Which led to a quick review of my archives at home... and fortunately, I found that (as I had hoped) there was nothing to worry about. It was kind of a nice journey down memory lane for me, but it was also and opportunity to look at the whole blog through the lens of "what will these people learn about me be reading this?"
It made me wonder why I've never told people at work about my blog- I guess it's because it's not really a work blog. (Like D. Scott Miller's, or Austin Fleming's) I don't think I have anything to hide, especially now that I work in a place that I love, but still... it just feels like the crashing together of two worlds. A little.
So anyway, welcome two new readers, and world.
I am Margo. I are legion. I do forgive, I do not forget. Expect me.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
FAME! I'm gonna live forever!!!
Last night I checked D. Scott Miller's blog sort of out-of-the-blue (I usually do blog reading in the AM) and was a bit stunned to see my very own blog quoted there! Now THAT'S a weird feeling. The entry he featured was "How to NOT be a Youth Minister", and he quoted it without comment, so I'm not exactly sure why he chose it. It coulda been because he thought I was idiotic- or brilliant, I guess, or maybe it was just my turn and he randomly picked that entry.
I think I have some much snappier youth ministry-themed entries, like "creeped out", "the part-time myth", and "blasphemy", for example. But hey, when fame comes knocking at one's IP Address, one doesn't get to choose how it goes, I guess. Anyway, thanks for the nod D. Scott... (unless you think I'm idiotic.)
I think I have some much snappier youth ministry-themed entries, like "creeped out", "the part-time myth", and "blasphemy", for example. But hey, when fame comes knocking at one's IP Address, one doesn't get to choose how it goes, I guess. Anyway, thanks for the nod D. Scott... (unless you think I'm idiotic.)
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
It's.... (play Monty Python theme music here)
...the 123 page book Meme. I love memes and almost never get tagged to do them, so I take it upon myself instead, stealing them from other blogs. This one's been on several blogs that I read regularly, which I think entitles me to it.
Here are the rules:
1. Pick up the nearest book ( of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people.
Technically the closest book to me is a Bible, but that just seems too show-off-y. So instead, the second closest book: Prayer for Parish Groups.
Page 123, 6th-9th sentences:
What work will we give our hands this day? And how will that work share in partnership with the work of Christ? For the gift of our hands and the power of their touch we bless you God, our creator.
I know it's churchy, that's probably because I'm at work. I know for sure the closest book to my laptop at home is "Last Days of Dead Celebrities" and that would probably have been a far more interesting entry. Oh well, that's what I get for blogging at work.
I tag:
Her Majesty
Don B.
Sue Brash (on her livejournal! It counts!)
Paula (what the heck, maybe she'll actually blog!)
Kate D (get back on the blogging horse missy!)
Here are the rules:
1. Pick up the nearest book ( of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people.
Technically the closest book to me is a Bible, but that just seems too show-off-y. So instead, the second closest book: Prayer for Parish Groups.
Page 123, 6th-9th sentences:
What work will we give our hands this day? And how will that work share in partnership with the work of Christ? For the gift of our hands and the power of their touch we bless you God, our creator.
I know it's churchy, that's probably because I'm at work. I know for sure the closest book to my laptop at home is "Last Days of Dead Celebrities" and that would probably have been a far more interesting entry. Oh well, that's what I get for blogging at work.
I tag:
Her Majesty
Don B.
Sue Brash (on her livejournal! It counts!)
Paula (what the heck, maybe she'll actually blog!)
Kate D (get back on the blogging horse missy!)
Friday, October 12, 2007
it's another meme! (link-intensive!)
Here's a fun quiz made up especially for bloggers. The rules are easy. Just post the quiz on your blog and answer the questions, then pass it on to five other bloggers, and link to them in your post.
1. Do you attend the Traditional Latin Mass or the Novus Ordo?
Oh goodness, the NO- I did go to Mass in french once, at St. Anne De Beupre in Canada, and I went to a Rosary service in... I think it was probably Spanish. I don't even know where I'd go to find a Latin Mass.
2. If you attend the TLM, how far do you drive to get there?
3. If you had to apply a Catholic label to yourself, what would it be?
I'm yer basic bleeding heart Liberal.
4. Are you a comment junkie?
No, I do comment here and there, but I wouldn't call myself a junkie. I LOVE getting comments on my blog though!
5. Do you go back to read the comments on the blogs you’ve commented on?
Yes, sometimes I do!
6. Have you ever left an anonymous comment on another blog?
I have. Being a Catholic in Boston means you're in danger of witch-hunting, to a certain degree, so I have kept anon. at times.
7. Which blogroll would you most like to be on?
I don't know. I read a lot of Catholic blogs but I don't think I blog enough to keep up with the pressure of being linked to by anyone significant... I like the blogrolls I'm already on, like Sue's!
8. Which blog is the first one you check?
Here's the order of my bookmark tab- I check them in order every day:
Qwantz (not a blog, just a wicked funny comic)
Shorpy, the 100 year old photo blog
Facebook
Dot's Diary I have been loving this one, it's a son posting his mother's diary from 1945. SO cool.
A Hole in the Head This is no Catholic blog, it's a gay man's collection of ephemera and other hy-sterical stuff. I love it.
RTHM Sue B's blog- and from here I check Don's and Paula's.
TCYML I won't even link to this one, she's a Steubie YM, and it's really a case of checking in to see what ridiculous thing she's saying today.
Scrutinies This was Anonymous Teacher Person until she was found out by her students- (no one stays anonymous forever on a blog) I just like reading about her teaching, she is a high school rel. teacher.
Whispers in the Loggia Serious Catholic Presbyterate Gossip.
Charlotte was Both Amy Welborne's new blog. She's interesting and keeps up on Catholic stuff, but her commenters are generally wacky.
Larry This is a new one I found from Real Live Preacher's blog. He works in a detox program and writes some good, honest stuff.
Oh and now, Knitting Journey!
I have a whole different set of blog links on my work computer, including Ashleigh's now!
9. Have you met any other bloggers in person?
Oh sure! I've met Sue, and Don, and Cathy, and Paula, and Ashleigh, and scads of other bloggers! I've even met Dom B, whose blog I think is a silly mess.
10. What are you reading?
I'm half-way through this bunch of books- too much blog reading to get to my books these days!
Last Days of Dead Celebrities
Spook
Three Men in a Boat (to say nothing of the dog)
I Love You Beth Cooper
I pass this quiz on to :
Sue, Paula, Don, Ashleigh, and Cathy!
1. Do you attend the Traditional Latin Mass or the Novus Ordo?
Oh goodness, the NO- I did go to Mass in french once, at St. Anne De Beupre in Canada, and I went to a Rosary service in... I think it was probably Spanish. I don't even know where I'd go to find a Latin Mass.
2. If you attend the TLM, how far do you drive to get there?
3. If you had to apply a Catholic label to yourself, what would it be?
I'm yer basic bleeding heart Liberal.
4. Are you a comment junkie?
No, I do comment here and there, but I wouldn't call myself a junkie. I LOVE getting comments on my blog though!
5. Do you go back to read the comments on the blogs you’ve commented on?
Yes, sometimes I do!
6. Have you ever left an anonymous comment on another blog?
I have. Being a Catholic in Boston means you're in danger of witch-hunting, to a certain degree, so I have kept anon. at times.
7. Which blogroll would you most like to be on?
I don't know. I read a lot of Catholic blogs but I don't think I blog enough to keep up with the pressure of being linked to by anyone significant... I like the blogrolls I'm already on, like Sue's!
8. Which blog is the first one you check?
Here's the order of my bookmark tab- I check them in order every day:
Qwantz (not a blog, just a wicked funny comic)
Shorpy, the 100 year old photo blog
Dot's Diary I have been loving this one, it's a son posting his mother's diary from 1945. SO cool.
A Hole in the Head This is no Catholic blog, it's a gay man's collection of ephemera and other hy-sterical stuff. I love it.
RTHM Sue B's blog- and from here I check Don's and Paula's.
TCYML I won't even link to this one, she's a Steubie YM, and it's really a case of checking in to see what ridiculous thing she's saying today.
Scrutinies This was Anonymous Teacher Person until she was found out by her students- (no one stays anonymous forever on a blog) I just like reading about her teaching, she is a high school rel. teacher.
Whispers in the Loggia Serious Catholic Presbyterate Gossip.
Charlotte was Both Amy Welborne's new blog. She's interesting and keeps up on Catholic stuff, but her commenters are generally wacky.
Larry This is a new one I found from Real Live Preacher's blog. He works in a detox program and writes some good, honest stuff.
Oh and now, Knitting Journey!
I have a whole different set of blog links on my work computer, including Ashleigh's now!
9. Have you met any other bloggers in person?
Oh sure! I've met Sue, and Don, and Cathy, and Paula, and Ashleigh, and scads of other bloggers! I've even met Dom B, whose blog I think is a silly mess.
10. What are you reading?
I'm half-way through this bunch of books- too much blog reading to get to my books these days!
Last Days of Dead Celebrities
Spook
Three Men in a Boat (to say nothing of the dog)
I Love You Beth Cooper
I pass this quiz on to :
Sue, Paula, Don, Ashleigh, and Cathy!
Sunday, September 30, 2007
I know, it comes in spurts.
Maybe you'll want to space out yer reading, take an entry a day or every other- then it won't feel like I'm going so long between posts. Yeah, that's the ticket.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Hello McLean Virginia!
So, with the counter that I have installed on this page, I can see the locations of people who are reading my page. It's VERY cool! I get hits from local places (like Billerica, North Reading, Saco (hi Saco!) plus we have our usuals, like Wasilla Alaska (hey Sandi!) and Kansas City, Kansas (our ILFF friends!) and then there are some real stunners, like "Trk, Burdur" (Turkey!) and Taoyan, Taiwan, and once, one from Iraq! But I was stumped to see numerous hits from McLean, Virginia.
I mean, NUMEROUS. Every time I posted, there was a corresponding hit from McLean, Virginia.
Well it turns out I AM MCLEAN VIRGINIA. I don't know why my computer shows up that way, but there you go. Mystery solved, I AM my own biggest fan!
I mean, NUMEROUS. Every time I posted, there was a corresponding hit from McLean, Virginia.
Well it turns out I AM MCLEAN VIRGINIA. I don't know why my computer shows up that way, but there you go. Mystery solved, I AM my own biggest fan!
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