Okay, I will confess; I check my statcounter daily. Sometimes, in fact, I check it numerous times each day. I guess it gives me reassurance that my words are reaching someone — anyone.
Within a few clicks I can visually see that I have readers from all over the world. It’s awesome and somewhat frightening all the same. Who are you-who-never-leaves-a-comment? I wish you would.
I watch the numbers go up and down. This week, they are way down. And last week, they were basically down except for one reader who seemed to be reading back through the posts I’d written around the time of my husband’s death. I clicked over to see what they were reading and fell into my world nearly 3 years ago. Compared to now, I was A LOT more lost and sad back then.
Anyway, when you take out the clicks of this one reader, the statcounter tallies reader-draught and leaves me wondering why. Perhaps it’s simply that I am hardly running and therefore not writing about running. I have to wonder if the Daily Photo project takes away from this blog and if it belong in a blog all it’s own?
I’d like your feedback. I’d say stand up and be counted but you are being counted already. I just may not know you via comments. To those willing, please let me know your honest thoughts on the Daily Photo project, my writing of late, or any other feedback you may have.
I used to be obsessive about my digits too. Not so much anymore…
*Sheepishly raising hand in the air…* I’m one of the many non-commenting readers. I stumbled upon your blog awhile back when looking for a marathon training schedule & have been reading ever since. You’re a great writer & I find blogs almost like a good novel – you can’t wait to see what’s next in the story. I’m also a runner & always enjoy reading what other runners are up to. I like your Daily Photo project. Sometimes it’s difficult to focus on only one subject (running) even if that was your intention when you started the blog; life happens & that will show up in a blog entry. I’ve tried to focus my blog on certain subjects but wind up going all over the place! Thanks for letting others see a piece of your world. :)
Your writing is great and I always enjoy reading your posts. The photos are just a different expression of who you are. They probably invite a different sort of interaction. It’s all good. [And I also compulsively monitor google analytics for my music website.]
I’m also one of those non-commenting readers because I don’t have a blog to share I’ve never felt entitled to comment. I’m friends with waddler and have been reading your blog for some time. I enjoy it on every level and love hearing whatever subject you write on. I feel silly right now for hanging in the weeds but I wanted to reassure you, I would miss it if you didn’t write.
Everyone’s comments add value. It is the interaction that helps me to develop my writing. It’s so much easier to write TO someone and it helps me to know who I am writing to. So thanks and keep them coming PLEASE!
I will stand up and be counted – finally. I have read you for a long time. Love your writing, no matter what you are writing about, and just happen to have a lot in common with you. I enjoy running, am a nurse, work in clinical research, about the same age. I have often wanted to ask you if I could have access to your password protected post’s, but did not feel like I should because I never commented. Anyway, I love to keep up with your story. Thanks for sharing.
I did it. It was me, clicking through the history. You linked to an entry right when Tom first got sick, and I think that was about the time I found you from Jon, and I was drawn into your entries from that time. And you have come a long way since then, and certainly are a different person than you were, right or wrong, by choice or not. I think you’re stronger and fiercer. I like it! :)
I check mine too, but not so often. I’m always fascinated with who visits. :)
Sometimes I’m just quickly checking through blogs and don’t always have time to comment. :)
ditto to what everyone said
I’m one of those going through your blog too, a couple of different times. I am a marathoner but I also have experienced the loss of our 23 yr old son on august 1 from a drowning accident. That was what interested me in your blog. I like to learn how other people work thru this devastation. I know I will see Chris again since we are both Christians but I miss him so very much as I’m sure you can understand. Your blog is full of genuine expressions of sadness, frustration and the joy of accomplishment and pride in your children. Fortunately, we have a 19 year old daughter. You’ve a big help to me. BTW, I have stayed in the awesome LB property, don’t you love that tub and shower!?! The soaps and lotions and the spa are amazing. I had the best stretching class there. I hope to do 3 marathons this spring. Maybe sometime you can do the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon, it is so inspiring. I plan to also do Little Rock, AR and Fort Collins, CO. We are in the midst of a huge snow storm here.
Photo project is very good, writing continues to be great. There is still a book and a movie in there somewhere!
I’m also someone who never leaves a comment, but I have been reading your blog for many years now. I know someone else has put that they were checking your blogs from around your husbands death, but so did I! I vaguely remember you having a break from your blog for a while. Was that right? Then by chance I saw a link to your blog from someone elses blog and started reading yours again. If you could I would love your password to some of your encrypted blogs if thats possible.
Now you know I’m reading your blog and comment every now and then. A lot of the times I just don’t know what to say. You know I love you like a best friend as well as my big sister. You’ve always been the writer, (remember i used to find your torn-up love letter in the trash and tape them together?) so it’s fitting that Tom was a writer. But not everyone has the words at the right moment. Love you!
Juls, does Google Reader effect the count? I catch all your posts via Reader and just pop over when I have a comment. :) I read your blog, love your writing and appreciate your perspective on life. :)
For those of you who have commented in the past, I have tried to label your IP address in my statcounter. In this way, I can see when you stop by even if you don’t comment. It’s reassuring in an odd way. It is the clicks from those who’ve never commented that sometimes make me nervous as I have a lot out there including photos of the kids. I *know*; it’s the INTERNET.
As for feeds like google reader and bloglines, you are only getting half the post (less if it’s long) because my settings are such that only a snippet shows. It should give you enough to know if you want more or if you can skip the rest because it isn’t what you are looking for — which is exactly the point of this post. What are YOU looking for? What brings you back? What turns you away?
so I guess you know what I’ve been up to!
I never look at my stat counter anymore and I have about 10 readers – once in a while. I guess me and blogging are kind of breaking up.
Pretty sure I’ve commented here before. You have an interesting and insightful viewpoint, so I occasionally check in and read what’s on your mind.
Plus a lot of blogs I got introduced to years ago don’t even talk about running anymore (not the least of which is my own), so it’s nice to see someone who mentions running once in a blue moon.
Daily photos are a wonderful idea, something I should probably try to do myself.
Oh wow. Judging by your last comment I’d say “Big Brother” has a sister. ;)