Archive for the ‘blogging’ Category
Fun with Statistics 101
Well if that title didn’t hook you, you’re my kind of person. I’m not fond of statistics myself–as the saying goes, anywhere from 1 to 100% of them are made up anyway.
But not those on my Google Analytics account! They tell me who’s visiting my blog, where they’re from, how long they stayed–and there are graphs and lines and bars, oh my!
What I find most interesting, though, is how my visitors find me.
Most searches are looking for information on malocchio, Italian superstitions, Italian language (yes, you can use “ciao” for hello and goodbye; “ciao bella” is “hello, beautiful”), life as an expat in Italy, Calabrian food, dialect, traditions, holidays, etc., recipes (banana cake, spaghetti aglio olio peperoncino, zeppole, rabbit), dog menstruation (a few searches looked specifically for “Luna Balloona“–is she *that* famous?), grandmothers, the JFK assassination, and seeing an old crush.
I couldn’t have done a better job of summing up my life than that right there.
What’s that? You want a gratuitous Luna photo? Twist my arm! OK, OK.
Moving on.
Once before I tried to answer some questions that came up in my stats, and I think it’s time again. Oh, and for the people (that’s plural) who continue to wonder about smoking basil, please go here as it’s been, in legal terms, asked and answered.
(1) Do snails bleed?
I believe Shakespeare already covered this general premise in “The Merchant of Venice,” but if I have to spell it out: yes.
(2) Why do anchovy [sic] appear to be yawning?
Because they’re light sleepers and have disrupted REM sleep, which leads to inadequate rest. Accordingly, they appear to be yawning because they are. They swim around all day trying to accomplish anchovy goals (including but not limited to staying out of fishing nets), and they get run down just like the rest of us. Cut them some slack, would you?
(3) Why do Italians go to Nana’s every day?
Because they love her, dammit!
Aside from questions, sometimes a kindred spirit finds me: “I hate Telecom.” Sing it my brother/sister!
Other times I just get a prompt for a short story: “Nutella and her hot friend waiting for you.”
And, when I’m extra lucky, I even get unsolicited advice (this from two different locations): “Never try to teach a cat algebra, it frustrates you and annoys the cat.”
Duly noted.
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[tags]google analytics, dogs[/tags]
if you like my bloggie, and you think i’m funny
Well you don’t actually have to think I’m funny to get involved, but I couldn’t resist a Rod Stewart reference (a belated birthday gift for my “Handbags and Gladrags” lovin’ Mommy).
In fact, you can’t even vote, so all I’m really saying is to get over to This Eclectic Life’s This Blog “Blows Up My Dress” Contest and check out the entries.
Funny, funny stuff, people.
If you want to enter, just head on over to the contest and enter three of your funniest posts by May 3rd.
Yes, there are prizes (winners announced May 8th), but we’re all winners when we have a good chuckle reading a new (to us) blog.
FYI, I found this contest at Ally Bean’s Crazy Dust in My Coffee, so if you’re looking for a place to head first for funny, may I suggest a dose of la Bean?
you make me think, i give you a rose
And an award! Don’t forget about the award!
In my absence from the Internet, I was named by the lovely Bella at Public Musings of a Mama as a Thinking Blogger.
Grazie! Grazie! Thank you! Thank you!
Now what’s this all about you ask?
There are 3 rules:
1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think,
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme,
3. Optional: Proudly display the “Thinking Blogger Award” with a link to the post that you wrote.
So here are five bloggers that make me think, and that I highly suggest you visit as well:
1. Sara at Moving Right Along. Sara writes beautifully and honestly about tough and light-hearted subjects alike, all while keeping a fantastic sense of humor.
2. Corey at Tongue in Cheek. Corey shows us France, California, and wherever else she lands through gorgeous photos and words.
3. Judith at Think on It! Whether it’s about food, fashion, culture, or anything really, Judith truly does make me think on it.
4. Ninotchka at cease cows, life is short! Ninotchka always has an awesome photo and story to share about her life, husband, children, and Charlie the Chocolate Lab.
5. goodthomas at, well, goodthomas. Beautiful writing mixed with unique, thoughtful observations–can’t ask for more in a thinking blog.
Honestly, it was difficult to narrow this list down to five; I could’ve given out many, many more of these awards. In fact, if you see them in my sidebar, they make me think. So take some time and visit those folks as well, would you?
Ah, I promised flowers! Here are 5 shots for the winners to share, and also for all of you to enjoy–we’re all winners today!
My roses as seen this morning.
Have a lovely weekend, and keep thinking!
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[tags] blogging awards, thinking blogger, roses, flowers[/tags]
wanting to kiss the telecom man is wrong
But that didn’t stop the desire.
I’m baaaack!
The rest of the village had service repaired about a week ago, but there was an additional, mysterious problem with my line. Yes, I made a nuisance of myself at Telecom headquarters (I had a phone operator in an uproar *with* me yesterday!), and it apparently worked because a repairman called this morning and asked for specific directions to my house; I told him if he made it up the mountain, I’d meet him in the piazza (with coffee/wine/beer, I wanted to say, but I didn’t want to freak him out).
He showed up fifteen minutes later just as he said he would, and within a half hour, I was checking up on PerezHilton.com.
I have priorities, you know.
Anyway, today is Liberation Day in Italy, or the day we celebrate the Allied troops’ freeing Italy from the wrath of Germany during World War II. It’s a “red” day here, which means the number of the day is literally in red on the calendar signifying that it’s a national holiday, so everything is closed–making it even more surprising that Telecom delivered on April 25th.
And the poetic justice of my being liberated to communicate with the outside world on this of all days is not lost on me.
Back to blogging business, I see on my Bloglines account that I have approximately 1300 posts of others to catch up on. Um, we’ll see how that goes. First I have a lot of work to do, sending things off and whatnot, and then, slowly but surely, I’ll be making my rounds. I’ll be responding to emails in due time as well, so please be patient. And again, thanks so much for all the concerned comments and messages; what a wonderful feeling to be missed!
Also, I realize today should be a What’s Cooking Wednesday, but you’ll forgive me if we get back to the recipes next week, won’t you? I’m just too giddy to cook (sorry P).
But here’s a photo of our first fig of the season, though, just because.
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[tags]telecom italia, figs, liberation day, giorno della liberazione, bloglines[/tags]
Michelle Kaminsky is an American attorney-turned-freelance writer who lived in her family's ancestral village in Calabria, Italy for 15 years. This blog is now archived.
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