5 Blogging Pet Peeves

1. Scrabbled layout: When I arrive at your blog there are several items I look for to get started – Your post section, blog roll and social sharing buttons. When these are scattered all over and up and down the page among awards, ads, animated links and widgets – I get distracted and often click on by. Please don’t hide the comment link. I prefer it at the bottom of the post so I can click on it after I read.
2. Random comment log-ins: Use at least one of the proven log-ins for leaving comments or give me the option to enter my info. Please don’t require me to use one and only one means of logging in, because if you do I probably won’t.
3. Floating ads or banners: I don’t like having something chasing me around on the page while I’m trying to read.
4. Music: Don’t do it. It takes longer for the page to load and if I want to surf the web while listening to music – I prefer to choose my own.
5. Heavy pages: in addition to music, having hundreds of animations, gifs. Widgets, social feeds and uncompressed picture photos make loading your site slow and aggravating. Don’t just add the latest greatest widget without deleting some old stuff. The only thing worse than a cluttered blog is one that is cluttered and loads slowly – I won’t linger.

I’m done whining now…

Tweeting for Mother's Day Because of My Mom

Today I sent some tweets about my Mother's wisdom. Part of the series is captured below. Find more via your twitter account by searching the #WhatMomDid hashtag.

7:38pm, May 09 from HootSuite

#WhatMomDid - a series of Mother's day tweets about my mother's lessons 2010

williamskim
7:29pm, May 09 from HootSuite

Sometimes you have to hike up you courage and take a chance.#WhatMomDid

desertlioness
5:22pm, May 09 from TweetDeck

RT @WilliamsKim: My mother taught me that laughter is always good for you and most of time acceptable. #WhatMomDid

williamskim
2:38pm, May 09 from HootSuite

If something is bothering you it's best to talk about it - #WhatMomDid

williamskim
2:36pm, May 09 from HootSuite

Taught me that God always has your back and mom always has your heart. #WhatMomDid

Poetic_line
11:40am, May 09 from Twitterrific

RT @williamskim: Mother taught me that forgiveness hurts less than hate. #WhatMomDid

williamskim
10:53am, May 09 from Twitterrific

#WhatMomDid - a series of tweets about a mother's lessons for Mothers' Day 2010.

williamskim
10:47am, May 09 from Twitterrific

Makes me laugh! #WhatMomDid often at myself

williamskim
10:46am, May 09 from Twitterrific

When you hurt so bad you want to quit life, surviving is the first step to thriving. #WhatMomDid

williamskim
10:44am, May 09 from Twitterrific

Mom showed me that life will often give you much more and less than you expect, and acceptance makes both work for you #WhatMomDid

williamskim
10:41am, May 09 from Twitterrific

From mom I learned that children should only do some of what parents do. #WhatMomDid

williamskim
10:39am, May 09 from Twitterrific

My mother taught me that laughter is always good for you and most of time acceptable. #WhatMomDid

williamskim
10:38am, May 09 from Twitterrific

From mom, I learned that my best and my worst - aren't.#WhatMomDid

andibob
10:35am, May 09 from Twitterrific

RT @williamskim: #WhatMomDid My mother gave me a love for poetry

williamskim
10:35am, May 09 from Twitterrific

Mother taught me that forgiveness hurts less than hate.#WhatMomDid

williamskim
10:34am, May 09 from Twitterrific

#WhatMomDid My mother gave me a love for poetry

williamskim
10:32am, May 09 from Twitterrific

Because of my mother I see more of nature's beauty. #whatmomdid

Friday Flash 55 - Myth Defined

I'm not sure the protocol for playing, and am open to direction. But, I discovered Friday Flash 55 over at Jingle. Here is my Flash Friday 55 Poem. (Write a poem that is fiction in 55 words)



Myths are made of misfortune
Reasoned out by those who failed
and Survived
then Thrived

Myths are tall tales of adventure
Carried on by those misled
and Corrected
then wised

Myths are truer than facts
Recorded by scholars who suceed
and die
then forget

Myths are larger than reality
Confounded by dreams remembered
for eternity

A Man's Poem - I Need

I need

I know I am able to stand alone
I know I can work hours and days
To build our home

When feelings rise that would weaken me
I know I will stride through them
Fearlessly

But tonight my love I need your hand
I need your touch
A heart to understand

I need to be weak and broken through
I need your passion
I need you

I know how to be decisively stern
I know I can remain
Standing firm

Lose or win I speak honestly
Clasped on to the task
I will believe

But tonight my love I need your hand
I need your touch
Your heart to understand

I need to be weak, helpless and lost
I need your passion
No matter the cost

I need to be weak and broken through
I need your passion
I need you

Oprah's No Phone Zone - Expanded

So, Oprah has proclaimed a "No Phone Zone" for texting, talking and such while driving to work.

This is good. However, I've been thinking lately about having a "No Phone Zone" in my personal space - i.e. what if we all said, if you are talking to me don't check your phone, write/read text messages, or email. Take the few minutes or hour of our conversation as a No Phone Zone. Let's remember how to focus, listen and be with each other.

I may just start by observing it myself. What say you?

Top Things I Need to Do But Haven't - Yet.

1. Back up my iTunes library - I know. I should. I just can't stand the idea of burning it to all of those CDs. Why doesn't Apple allow me to save it to an external drive?

2. Get a physical - Another thing I should do, but every time I think about it I keep remembering one particular aspect of the exam. Hey, it's only been two years.

3. Clean out my top dresser drawer - Don't even pretend yours is neat.

4. Finish my Novel - it's only 10 years in the making.

5. Decide what I want to be when I grow up - I keep changing my mind.

Yes.

Yes. I'm back from my weekend at the historic Grove Park Inn.

Yes. I saw President Obama as we walked down the hallway.

Yes. I delivered a devotional message to a few hundred Rotarians at the Grove Park Inn.

Yes. I enjoyed the vistas and expanse of the NC mountains.

Yes. I am tired and looking forward to returning to 'normal' starting now.

Fun Coincidence - Opportunity?

I've been debating this post, and decided (obviously) to write it.

Last year I spoke at the Interfaith Service for the Rotary District 7690 annual conference at Myrtle Beach, SC. My message was received very well and I was asked immediately by the incoming District Governor if I would commit to speaking again this year. I accepted.

As it happens, we are convening this weekend at The Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC. I'll be speaking Sunday at the Interfaith Service. Last week it was announced that President Obama and his family would be vacationing this week in NC and staying at - you guessed it - The Grove Park Inn.

Currently, I'm plotting on how I can maximize this coincidence to make me famous, or at least create a superb memory. I mean there will no doubt be only a wall or two between me and The President of The United States. That has to be an opportunity - I just haven't figured out exactly how...YET!

Top 5 Places NOT to Tweet

As much as I love twitter and as often as I feel compelled to share real time thoughts, data, experiences and feelings with my Tweeple - there are just some places and times NOT to Tweet.

I only mention this because I have either wanted to or know someone who has...


1. A Funeral - Can you imagine the grave-side tweet? "The casket is almost in the ground. Off to Star Bucks in 15"

2. Church - "This sermon is powerful and long! " - Please! Leave the smart phone at the door. It is WAY too distracting and downright rude to have a phone interrupt a sacred moment and there are times when we should unplug from technology to be with one another and the Divine.

3. Cinema - "OMG! Taylor Lautner just took his shirt off!" Really? Can't your commentary on New Moon wait until after you've watched the entire movie and I don't have to be blinded by your phone screen?

4. Theatre - True confession. I did tweet during the intermission of a play I attended recently, and I SO wanted to share some of the laughter from the musical comedy as it happened - but really, should I?

5. During Sex - I promise you - someone has, or at least tweeted as such. I don't even want to know how or WHY!?

So, what would you add? Has your tweeting gone too far? Gotten you in "twouble?"

Blogger Inspiration 101

Sometimes I run across a post floating around in blog land that just hits me the right way and I feel compelled to write in respond. Recently this happened while I was over at Monica's Place. I began a comment and it turned into a poem. Thought I would share it here.


Monica Unwrapped

layers and layers folded upon you
thin, airy fabrics of almost unnoticeable existence
one is nothing, an inconvenience

another layer merely a moment of discomfort
laced together slowly, one by one
wrapping themselves around you

one day the weight is unbearable
one day the discomfort binds you
one day you feel cocooned

time
time passes
time passes slowly
time passes slowly and you grow

too big for the encasement
too substantial for the drapes of bondage
too complete for holding back

...

emerge in your time
some of us already see your beauty
and believe

believe in yourself, delicate butterfly
believe, feel the sun
flutter on the breeze and fly…