I am a Blogger.

Any other bloggers reading this will be scratching their heads thinking, "Well, DUH."

But apparently there seems to be some confusion about my blogging activities in among those who know me in real life.

I guess it's mostly my in-laws.  Mark was talking to them (dad & step-mom) on Christmas and telling them about my blogging and the great prizes I won in December.  They were all like, in the dark, I guess.  This both does and doesn't surprise me.  I mean, I'm not theirs, Mark is, so they're mostly concerned with what he does and how he is. Pretty sure they think all I do is take care of him and our kids.

On the other hand, I have not been even the slightest bit secretive about my blogging.  Nearly EVERYONE I know is on Facebook.  I set up a Facebook page for my blog and I share 99% of the things I post on there with my personal Facebook friends.  So I just kind of thought, in some way, even if completely round-about, knowledge of this blog would reach everyone who knows me.

I really didn't think I needed to shout it from the rooftops.  Should I have sent out formal announcements. like "The Birth of a Blog"?

I've talked about my blogging with my MIL and I had thought she had come and checked it out.  I told her how it is therapeutic for me; she's a retired Psychiatric Social Worker and seemed intrigued.  But when Mark spoke with her on Christmas, she asked him how to get here.  Mark's dad and step-mom asked pretty much the same thing.  But they seemed to catch on quick, because the next question was an inquiry about doing a giveaway for his step-mom's home-based business.

I'm confused as to how this can be, since I'm so very open about almost every aspect of my life, even with my in-laws.  I just don't know any other way to be.  But then again, they haven't asked about what my interests are in I don't know how long, and like I already said, I didn't specifically tell them.  Still....

source

So, in the interest of starting the new year with a clean slate, I feel the need to state for the record....

I am a Blogger.

Anyone who wants to really know me, should probably know this. 

I gave myself a registered URL for Christmas.  It is http://www.justjenniferblog.com.

I'm on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/JustJenniferBlog.

I'm on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/JenAnnHall.

I do some stumbling at http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/JenAnnHall.

And I have a LinkedIn profile at http://www.linkedin.com/in/justjenniferhall.

This blogging "thing" has become a huge part of who I am.  It takes up a large chunk of my time, such as a part-time job.  And I love it.

I take from nearly every aspect of my life as fodder to write about.  Mark's health (or lack thereof), my eyes, our kids, my friends, family, my cat, knitting....my heart.  I can express anger, joy, sadness, pride and my sense of humor here.  I am open to making a little money doing this, but it certainly didn't start out that way and everything I post is sincere.  I take pride in this.  I enjoy getting to know the people I come in contact with online, supporting them, getting support from them and letting them get to know me.

One of my hopes for this endeavor is that I might touch people who struggle with health problems, or, like me, love someone who struggles.  I hope my honesty, humor and (mostly) positive attitude are things people can relate to and glean something from.

In a reacent post, Ms. Eden at Edenland wrote:

"I'd blog for free every day for the rest of my life. I don't do it for stats or business or money, I do it for something much more valuable than that ... something indefinable. One day I might even work out what that is."

and

"I created it .. or it created me. Jury's out having a smoke and watching porn on that one."

She is so good at summing up, clearly, yet not, yet totally understandably.  That's it, in a nutshell.  Thank you, Eden!

By the way, I am also a knitter, and a new crocheter.  If you get a gift from me that is knitted or crocheted, I made it.  There is some confusion about that as well.

Thank you, and Happy New Year!

~ Jennifer A. Hall, the Owner, Writer, Editor, Administrator, Person behind this blog