Months ago I started tracking the search parameters that brought people to my blog, curious as to why I’d had so many random hits that barely stayed. Clearly people who are seriously searching ‘do squirrels have heart attacks’ don’t appreciate the speculative writing humor I produced on the topic.
That said, here are some of the best search parameters:
Bird Poop Good Luck:
Any variation on ‘Is Bird Poop Good Luck?’…these came in from
What’s remarkable is just how globally pervasive this superstition is though I’ve yet to find any one origin of it. In fact I’ve found no origin. Simply a lot of people believe it.
As a lay researcher, I think I’ll make it my back, back, back burner life goal to solve this mystery. Hence, I’ve registered the domain name: http://www.birdpoopgoodluck.com/ … It takes you right to my related blog entries.
Squirrels having heart attacks:
This was a total joke, but it’s driven its fair share of people to my blog as well. I think most of them were seriously looking, so I understand that they weren’t pleased to find the associated picture of a squirrel smoking a cigarette.
What? It was a joke!
English 5.1 vs 2.0:
This one was also meant to be funny. I feel sorry for those folk who were trying to find out technical differences in audio quality. I ascribed it to the difference between listening to American and British English, depending on which is your native tongue.
Other things:
~Pink Scares me
~American ladies shoes
~%22baby bump%22 -porn (
~Conye West big faux pau with Taylor Swift (hey, I didn't spell it like that)...Kanye does it to himself
~Best License Plate Frame
Self-referring boomarkers:
I happily surprised to see the number of these going up. True, one is my IP address, but the others aren’t me, I know it. I don’t know that I’ve written enough to warrant the attention I get, but I’m happy that there are a handful of people who seem to find what I write (or how I write rather) amusing enough to return. AND from a bookmark no less!
Ludwig Snarf:
Who is Ludwig Snarf??
After the first comment s/he left on my ‘Knowing’ post, I thought it was a drive-by tag, but s/he showed up again later. Haven’t a clue who you are, but thanks for reading.
My Indian cyber stalker:
This topic doesn’t irk me, but does perplex me. Why is this person STILL checking in on my life?
There’s little doubt in my mind who it is based on the IP address locations (
No, not one of hubby’s family because those who might actually know of my blog or would even look it up regularly don’t live in these areas.
So back to my thoughts on the cyber stalker…seriously, get on with your life. Clearly, I’ve gotten on with mine. And that small sense of self-loathing or feeling pathetic whenever you Google my name, well listen to it. It’s trying to help you live your own existence sans me and my life.
You don’t really need to know what’s going on with me, really, you don’t. I certainly don’t care what’s going on with yours, except now I know you’re still stuck in a decade-plus long rut if you’re still looking me up.
Just sad. Very, very sad.
Pregnancy:
Considering my 2008 year-end post and my life sentiments as 2009 began, this wasn’t something I was expecting to embark upon. Yet here I am, weeks away from giving birth.
I absolutely adore the idea of becoming a mother, but can’t say it’s anything that’s ever driven me. It was 100% free-will choice, 0% biological/social/familial pressure.
I don’t understand how women can do this back to back for years. I miss having my body to myself, but I’m willing to share for now and the foreseeable feeding future.
Writing:
I actually DID make it to the Top 100, but my manuscript still didn't sparkle enough to win.
How many edits does one manuscript need? It's like I'm trying to figure the number of licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie pop!
I’m up to my 7th version of Varuna Kannon. I’m convinced this will be my last pass though. If I can’t make this story and its voice work this time around, then I need a seriously long break.
I did branch out into a bit of flash fiction this year, as well I tried my hand at writing Chick-Lit, both of which I enjoyed a great deal.
I don’t feel confined to YA, but I’m glad to find I’m comfortable with other styles as well. Gives me something to work on when I need that seriously long break.
Oh, and while I love getting and giving writing critique feedback, I’ve definitely reached a saturation point of people’s opinions. When I first embarked on this writing adventure I NEEDED lots of technical help, so I reached far and wide with my manuscript and solicited dozens of people to comment. Seems I now have the technical aspect mostly under control. When I get feedback now, it’s so personal to the reviewer I can hardly glean anything from it that I can use to adjust my work because the next reviewer will say the polar opposite. So who do I listen to?
First off, I need shrink up my beta reader circle and, secondly, I need to be satisfied with listening to myself in the end.
Life:
In the end, it is what it is. Full of joys and disappointments that are usually doled out at times that aren’t convenient for any of the involved parties.
Deal with it the best you can, move on, and live as fully as you’re able for as long as you can.
So that’s my year in review.
Peace,
A Pink American
