Dear Bloggity,
We’ve been together for a month now, so it’s probably time we had that chat about where we’re headed with this. When we first got together, I didn’t really know you at all. I thought you would be a bit more topical and political – that we might say things of consequence. Instead, I find that we sit around and make bad jokes and random observations together. It’s a fine life all the same.
I see more of you than I intended to. I thought it might be a casual thing but as it turns out, I have a lot I want to say to you. Sometimes it’s difficult because you don’t believe in moderation, but hey, I’m always wondering where my next hit is coming from – so we both have our problems. While we’re at the awkward part, I might as well say, you’re a lot bigger than you were when we first got together and it’s nice that you’re comfortable around me and all – but take a little pride in your appearance, eh?
Since we’re being honest and all – I know I said you were the first, but actually, there was another blog, once. It didn’t really mean anything. LJ and I just used to talk about personal stuff and nobody really knew about it – so it doesn’t really matter at all, but if we’re going to be together for a while, I thought you should know.
I’m trying to be cool with the fact that you like porn, so here’s some statporn, as Mr Mulley would say. I’ll sign off with that, and some other random thoughts,
Shin
Page views:
2,858
Individual Commenters:
39
Top Ten Posts:
Starbucks Endorse Obama
The Truth About STI Clinics
Quizzes on d’Telly
Buona Sera, Milano
Take A Chance On Me
Everyone Should Deal with the Religion Question at Some Point
Is the School Around the Corner Just the Same?
Nerd Huff
Former Tanaiste’s Shocking Liveline Revelations
I Can See the ‘Fee-na Fail’ Placards Already. Sigh.
Popular and Random Search Engine Terms:
Variations on ‘Milano Baggot Street’ and ‘Milano Haddington Road’ bring in the most traffic, as Inkheart
is thus far the only review on the net.
A lot of people search ‘Sinéad Keogh’. When they search just the name, I like to imagine they mean a different one. When they include ‘Inkheart’ or ‘WordPress’ or ‘blog’ I feel a little warm and fuzzy but also a little weird. It’s mostly warm and fuzzy…thank you looking me up. If there another reason in the world to have a blog other than that they are immense fun in and of themselves, it is that the search engine stats will show you when you’re being Googled. Pretty legend.
A lot of people happen by in search of the lyrics for ‘Take A Chance on Me’ – so sorry if I wrecked the song for you and all.
“Mary Harney HPV” has come up a few times. I wonder if people are looking for information on the policy or trying to find out if she has it.
It seems Teresa Lowe is still popular. That tag sends some traffic my way.
“STI in the eye” and variations on the term come through now and again. I hope it gets better real soon! 
Having said all of that, I hope people enjoy reading Inkheart as much as I enjoy writing it. It makes one see the merits that will come of digital journalism because of the potential for the writer to interact…though nothing will ever compare to lying in bed with the print editions of the Times and the Trib. Just you try folding your laptop of falling asleep with your LCD screen on your nose and see if I’m wrong. Besides, I should miss the inky fingertips.
One of the best parts of blogging is finding other blogs that you enjoy, and I’ve had many not-bloggers-but-readers say to me that they like my blog…but obviously they wouldn’t read any random blogs. Yes, some blogs are weird. Some of them are kind of deadly too though. If you wish to expand your blog reading horizons, let me point you in the direction of the ten blog posts from around the web that have stayed in my mind this past month. Damien Mulley, who is the sort of High King of Irish blogging (I didn’t want to call him the Blogger King because it sounds too much like Burger King), keeps an eminently popular blog here.
Each day, he posts ‘Fluffy Links’ to encourage clickage and give publicity to things you might not otherwise find on your web travels. It’s a fantastic idea. Damien’s links are fluffy because with his traffic he could fluff up your stats good style. My traffic not being so much, I’m going to call these Scruffy Links, cos they might only send you a few stray hairs rather than the full beard. They are a present, for reading. (Yeah I know, like getting extra work in school because you finished early.)
In no particular order:
Lee Side Story talked about Countdown Memories.
Gweilo in Dublin on Morals and Mountain Climbing.
Slightly Foxed travels Italy and Suspects Marco.
Keeper of the Keys took this photograph.
Damien Mulley discovered something to make Irish politicians crap their pants.
Darragh Doyle visited Failte Towers.
Eoghan at Casa Casey Courtney has had enough of this abuse of statistics. He’s got your number.
Notes With No Commas takes the train.
Gav at Every Day is Election Day is a different kind of Olympian.
and last but by no means least…
The Film Cricket throws up my favourite review of The Dark Knight.
Also, here’s my favourite YouTube video:
aw thank you Sinead.
I’m delighted to have made your first ever scruffy links.
Emer
Interview Request
Hello Dear and Respected,
I hope you are fine and carrying on the great work you have been doing for the Internet surfers. I am Ghazala Khan from The Pakistani Spectator (TPS), We at TPS throw a candid look on everything happening in and for Pakistan in the world. We are trying to contribute our humble share in the webosphere. Our aim is to foster peace, progress and harmony with passion.
We at TPS are carrying out a new series of interviews with the notable passionate bloggers, writers, and webmasters. In that regard, we would like to interview you, if you don’t mind. Please send us your approval for your interview at my email address “ghazala.khi at gmail.com”, so that I could send you the Interview questions. We would be extremely grateful.
regards.
Ghazala Khan
The Pakistani Spectator
http://www.pakspectator.com
Ah Sinead, your niceness increases constantly! Tanks… By the way, the STI in the eye is me. And it just keeps growing.
Many thanks for the plug in scruffy links!!! I hope the thesis is going well. I’ve been subbing forever, it would seem, but need to start thinking about what I’m going to write for mine. Also, I hate myself for saying this but I’m a complete nerd: Occasion only has one S!
Thanks again for the plug, it’s much appreciated.
@Emer sure it’s nothing, love the blog!
@Ghazala thanks for the offer!
@John I’m not sure if I’m comforted or sad that my imagination can’t work out how one would get an STI in the eye.
@Lauren Not at all, I loved the post! The thesis is a bad word around here at the moment, let’s not talk about it! Good catch on occasion, duly fixed. The sub’s eye never leaves!
At least you’ve got past the first month – which is always the most likely period for a blog to fail.
Well done
Thank you! Are there blog success / failure / other stats around? Sounds like interesting reading.
Hello and congrats! Sorry for the belatedness – I step away from Google Reader for just a few days and suddenly 1000+ posts are sitting there, waiting to be devoured.
I truly, truly love your blog. You have a really wonderful way with words and it’s a rare post that doesn’t bring a smile to my face, or an admiring re-read of a particularly well-written sentence (yes, I admire nice sentences. Much the way one admires pretty shoes or nice dresses in fancy windows).
Keep it up!
X
Shin, are you deliberately missing the obvious joke John’s attempting to make?
Go you on the month-y-ness.
Tea?
@Nathalie Thanks so much for the lovely words, I might never have blogged without the likes of yourself and Gav and Ciara leading by example!
@Una Indeed tea. 26th September? It may actually be the next time that I’m free.