Life used to be so simple. I just wrote my blog content in a word document, copied the word document, came here, logged on, clicked on “new post,” pasted it, and added some “tags” to help draw attention to it. Then the Word Press system began to offer more and fancier options, very helpful new things, I’m sure. The first thing I noticed was that one was to enter stuff in “blocks.” But I didn’t take time to play with it — just continued in my old fashioned ways by choosing “classic editor.” And people sometimes responded (not as many as I would have liked, of course), and I would hit “reply” and we’d have the start of a conversation.
But then things changed. In order to respond to your comments I had to give my name and email every time. Obviously that’s not conducive to easy conversation. And I responded to the idea of “blocks” as if encountering a rattlesnake in my living room.
In the meantime I’m trying to carve out time to work on my next (I hope) book — tentative title On My Way Out, so I kept postponing getting smart about how to use my blog. The result — panic — as the new blog methods felt like monsters casting a shadow over my computer and I began to feel more and more like a fat little kid with buck teeth, glasses, and old fashioned Scandinavian braids.
So now I’m asking you to help — or at least to cheer me on — as I try to get more productive with communicating with you this way. Basically all I want you to do right now is to let me know you’re here with me.
monagustafsonaffinito 
I’m here with you, Mona! I have resisted commenting in the past because I would have to sign in, or give my name and email, or something else that seemed to cumbersome. I understand your reticence! Please keep writing and I will get better at commenting.
Thanks. And did you have to go through all that to respond this time?
Yes. I just had to create a WordPress account. But you’re worth it!
Thanks! but now I’ve got to find a way that folks don’t have to do that. I’ll bet there’s a way I can change it in my settings. I hope the “support” people will help me with that. But let me tell you, your comment feels good to me. (Hmm. I wonder if there’s a way to enter little smiley faces?)
Let me know if there’s a way around this. Although now I’m signed up so I might as well keep commenting. We can always use the old-school smiley faces: 🙂
Jean, you are the greatest! I think I’ve hit the right button so we’ll be able to connect directly and easily in the future.
🙂
Every time a site does an upgrade I’m annoyed! The 20 or 30 some things, I am assuming, think they are making improvements. I’m always wondering why they don’t leave well enough alone.
Mona, don’t feel alone, we’re all sitting with you in the corner with our braids! Lucy
PS. Hahaha! I see where I have to offer email address etc!!
Thanks for your supportive comment. I feel a little less isolated because of it. I think I may have cured the problem about my replying to you. At least I pushed a button that looked like it. But this is the test. I’ll see if I can just send it.
Every time a site does an upgrade I’m annoyed! The 20 or 30 some things, I am assuming, think they are making improvements. I’m always wondering why they don’t leave well enough alone.
Mona, don’t feel alone, we’re all sitting with you in the corner with our braids! Lucy
PS. Hahaha! I see where I have to offer email address etc!!
I love this! The rattlesnake in the living room….the kid with buck teeth… love it!!!! Great piece!!!
Thanks, Lyn. I hope I. have pushed the right button to free up the ability for each of us to respond easily
well, You made it, and I bow to you 🙂
Jeeze I had to log into Facebook to answer you!
Thank you so much, Nina, for reading my blog entry and responding to it. I hope I have hit the right buttons to make it easier for both of us. By the way, I think if you click “follow” the next time you read my blog you won’t have to go through Facebook but will get to my via email in the future.