Friday, July 10, 2009

links and connections


i love the blogosphere. i've said it before. i'll no doubt say it again. but today, the thing i'm loving about it is that whole connection thing. and how connections happen and you can actually see them--in the comments, in links, on people's blogrolls, in the form of blog crushes, in sidebars...connections are visible all around us.

back in late april, when my blog became Blog of Note, a hilarious blogger who calls herself extranjera found me. i was so taken with her blog, that i used the small window of opportunity blogger had open at that time to nominate blogs for blog of note to nominate hers. for a couple of months, nothing happened, but then a week ago, what will i ever do with my life? was named blog of note. a very deserved honor. and i have found myself just as delighted watching her followers numbers rise (and even surpass my own!) as i was watching my own rise in those heady early days of BoN. yay extranjera and yay blogger!! it's stuff like this that makes me feel like the fairyblogmother™. 

while we were waiting for it to happen, a whole lot of other connections happened. and other blogs were created - collaborations in cyberspace - trans-atlantic learning adventures, hermit book club, siamese sisters, the idea of blog camp was born (thank you husband!) and the first one happened and several others have been planned, members were added to the balderdash collaboration and this week the ARWP project was launched (for all of us who battle against Real World People and would like to join a sorority support group cult). because this is what it's really all about, this blogging thing (it took me awhile to get that - for along time i thought it was about my sanity)--it's about connections.


the very best connections for me are resulting in real-life, in-person friendships--of the kind that blog camp represents. meeting B, extranjera, kristina, polly and seaside girl in person was such a great experience that i find it difficult to adequately describe it. that we're all (minus extranjera, who will be galavanting off to the US) going to get together next month near london at Bee's house and also meet spudballoo at BC 1.5 is something i'm so excited about. and it's all made possible through the wonder of the interweb. and although all of these people seem to be just ephemeral links here on my blog, those links enable them to be connected to all of you who are reading this. they're just a click away. and when i think of the multiplicity of connections that represents, it boggles my mind.

and i started thinking about all of this because dutchbaby told me this morning that she and tangobaby, who both live in SF, are getting together with other blog friends, who i also know and love--relyn and robin--and having a blog camp of sorts in SF. blog camp 1.1, we're calling it, in case there ends up being others before 1.5 near london, then we save a few numbers for those. how marvelous is that? i really wish i was there to join in the fun (and the photo walks)! i hope you fabulous women have a great time!

these connections just make me so happy. thank odin for hyperlinks! you never know what new adventures they'll take you on.

and speaking of connections, be watching this space for an announcement of a new project--one joining denmark and sweden as they haven't been joined in several hundred years...coming soon, right here on blogger.

16 comments:

Extranjera said...

And the Fairyblogmother™ you are indeed.
Love you babe!

McGillicutty said...

:o( i feel so ignored!!!!
but so happy to be a part if only a little bit.... like a lurker.
besos... Ali.

Char said...

we need a blog camp south

Amanda said...

Great thoughts about the connections, and the links in the chain are really a great fisual for all that does happen out there.

Sadly, connections are also lost or dropped...

Optimistic Pessimist said...

Yes it's all about the connections. The most surprising connection I've found is that I'm 45 minutes away from The Fragrant Muse. I found her through Extranjera, who is thousands of miles away from me. Amazing.

Cyndy said...

I was right when I picked out that special rock from you (OK, I have given up on trying to spell its name ~ it is now just simply the Fairyblogmother Rock), the one which shows many hands reaching towards the center with one figure larger than the rest, which is you...

Your stories continue to inspire me and your blog reading list should be trademarked, too. I have only got through a small percentage of them because I start to follow them and only have so many hours in the day for more.

And one last thing: if your mind is boggled while blogging, doesn't that mean you are bloggled?

wv: eshipern: the art of posting images from a ship to signify double meanings. Julochka uses eshipern often to illustrate her stories ~ and we love them!

Sarah said...

As I say all the time, you are the queen of the blogosphere, the Fairyblogmother and all things wonderful about blogging.

rxBambi said...

I think it's amazing that you can take what I've (we've??) been feeling and put it in words. I've also been feeling the bloggy connections, just sad I haven't been able to meet anyone first hand. I love the group of (mainly) women I've found over the last few months and can't wait to attend a blog camp for myself.
I also think of you as the fairyblogmother and goddessoftheblogosphere because I think I also found you thru BoN (so thanks BoN!). Then I think OP found me and on and on it goes.
Amazing is right...

spudballoo said...

Yes indeed! The circle of life and the tangled web is no better evidenced by the blogosphere. I see it a 'bit' on flickr, but in a tiny way. Here we are all one big, growing, connected family - it's fabulous. Seriously, blogging is the BEST thing I've done in a long long time. And it's all inspired by you, and I thank you for welcoming me and letting your crash your gang so warmly. xxx

Liz Fulcher, The Fragrant Muse said...

It's called the "web" for a reason...we really are all connected.

Joanna Jenkins said...

I'm new to blogging and your blog but the connections are the best part for me. I love reading about people from all over the world.
Have a great weekend!

Just Jules said...

Dearest and I were just talking about that this morning. About how there are circles in blogging like there are in real life. What is fun is expanding out into other circles and seeing how that effects others blogs and therefor their lives. Seeing the people from my blog join in on other blogs and bring their friends with... it is like the most beautiful braided rope ever and making it into a circle makes it the most fabulous rug...

ok - maybe a little too much Windsor last night ;)

Dutchbaby said...

I am honored that our San Francisco adventure is baptized Blog Camp 1.1. We will do our best to live up to its name!

Beautiful photos and great discussion on blog connections!

Bee said...

I told my friend Elizabeth in NYC about Blog Camp and she said that they have held some Blogstocks. LOVE THAT!!

Unknown said...

My comment disappeared! Where did it go? I said something very meaningful and interesting about blog camp and connections, and the meaning of life!
In a nutshell, the community side of blogging is without a doubt, the best thing about it and it's so touching how we are there for each other when someone needs it.

Sammi said...

I love the connections we make, I love clicking to comment and seeing people's names pop up who read my blog and I read theirs too, it's like a little circle, and a beautiful one, A great way to find people for sure.