One year ago we were looking at a lockdown for who knew how long. I had all these reviews from my years writing at Epinions sitting in spreadsheets I’d downloaded when it shut down in 2014. My buddy Alex had a successful blog that he was forced to abandon, sort of, due to Conservatives and their version of “cancel culture.” All this came together to finally make me commit to starting a blog of my own.
I’d had a few starts over the years but never completely followed through. I’d get tired after a while and just not want to bother. I figured I’d have plenty of material to fill in with when I didn’t want to write. I think, so far, it’s worked out pretty well.
My first post (other than the about me post) had to do with COVID and our situation. It seems like so long ago now, but it wasn’t. I think there are many things that we take for granted that we won’t again for a long time.
In the meantime, I managed to re-work and re-post all of my Star Trek: The Next Generation reviews. Those were some of the first reviews I posted at Epinions and got me attention for my love of science fiction. I had reviews written for about half of the Original Star Trek series and I’ve been trying to finish that up these last few weeks. It’s harder than I thought it would be. Next, I should move on to Star Trek Deep Space Nine but I also have a yearning to review Babylon 5 episode by episode and the two series are so similar I really don’t want to be doing it at the same time, so we will see what happens. There are other shows I’m interested in analyzing episode by episode, such as The West Wing. The nice thing is on my own blog I don’t have to worry about whether or not there is a product listing like I had to at Epinions.
I’ve re-worked and re-posted many old book reviews and plenty of new ones as well. The same with movies. I really wanted to wade through the Marvel Universe and all that’s in it, but haven’t had the time to watch the movies and pay as much attention to it all as I should. Everything I write about I watch at least twice, sometimes three times. It’s hard to dedicate that much time to something when I am also doing work from home and playing taxi driver for my family.
And geocaching. A lot of my original intention with this blog had to do with my geocaching activity. I’ve taken a few trips this past year and written about a few places I hiked with my son and granddaughter. However, for the most part, I didn’t think there was a lot that was interesting in those adventures. The truth is, my media reviews get way more hits, not that I’ve made a lot of money. I write about geocaching when I feel like it. I’m taking a 10-day road trip to Kansas this month, so hopefully, I will have a lot more to write about at some interesting roadside attractions I’ve planned to visit.
My stats as of this morning are 16,782 hits and a total earned of $6.16. Not much to write home about then. I’ve made a few friends here and enjoy reading some of the other blogs. Getting rich here isn’t going to happen.
I stopped writing for the most part after my daughter committed suicide in 2013. It was just too hard. About six months later I suffered my traumatic brain injury and that was it for any creativity for a long time. Even now it can be difficult to concentrate and write. Sometimes it flows easily, sometimes I feel like I’m fighting my own brain to write. There comes a point where my brain just doesn’t want to function that way any more and that’s when I just need to quit. It doesn’t make writing the blog easy at times.
Thanks to everyone who reads and comments. I wouldn’t keep doing it if I didn’t get feedback. Let’s see where the next year takes us!
Share this:
Categories: Personal Stories
What a gorgeous view!!
You have had a busy and productive year!! But you missed out your excellent Sharpe and Hornblower reviews 😉
Happy Easter to you!!! 🙂
Yes, those were a lot of fun too. So many great series I had a chance to revisit this year!
Yes! You have been very productive! 🙂
Spookily enough, I caught one episode of Sharpe on satellite tv yesterday haha. Don’t recall its name but it was the one with the spiked powder and the explosives expert with the mask.
I remember that one, but not the name. It was a fun one for Daragh
Yes! 🙂
First, Patti, I am so glad that you are here! Your work, and your support, are vital to my work, and I appreciate your presence.
Also, please accept my condolences on your daughter’s death. May her memory come to be for a blessing.
And lastly, “…was forced to abandon, sort of…” interesting, I’ll have to go back up and follow the links, and of course, please, yes, do a full Babylon 5 review!! 🙂
Sending you soothing and Safe Air Hugs, if you’d like them,
-Shira
Hugs are always appreciated – thank you so much!
Excellent!
Many Safe Air Hugs (and happy ice skating memories from Nashua, NH) heading your way!!!
Thank YOU, Patti!
Stay safe,
-S.
Congratulations, Patti, on reaching the one-year mark here on WordPress. I’m happy that you, too, decided to bring your talent here. May your blog find new readers and, as they say on Vulcan, live long and prosper.
Also, I’m glad that I’m your buddy!
You and I are on the same wavelength in so many ways. I’m so glad you’re here too.
Patti I’m thrilled to have found another geocacher on WP! I also love SF/Fantasy so I’ve been enjoying your reviews. I’m so sad to hear that writing is difficult for you – I would have never guessed because your posts are always interesting and well written!! I can’t wait to hear about your geotrip to Kansas (and I’m hoping you do post some pictures)
Oh yes, there will be pictures. I wish I could do a post a day, but it would be too much to try to do that plus log my caches, so when I get back.
There was a time at Epinions where I could write 7 reviews in a day. Now writing/rewriting 2 is a bit of a challenge. Thanks for the compliment – it is much appreciated!
Dear Patti
I am so sorry about your daughter – that must have been extremely traumatic and I don’t know that it is possible to recover. However I am sure your writing helps – I hope so. thank you for being so honest. I enjoy your writing though we do not share the same taste in movies or science fiction. however you give me a window on a different world. I find that you, as part of my blogging community, are often the voice of sanity and reason, and I find that very comforting. We all write for different reasons – I do it because I want my children to eventually understand where I am coming from. sort of. partly it’s because I wish my won parents had written more down than they did, and f course I never talked to them enough. ah well.
I am so impressed too with your immense productivity. You seem to have time for everything and everyone in your family too.
Why thank you! Thank you so much. I love reading all of the different bloggers that I have found over the last year and your posts are very enjoyable too,
Congrats on one year. As one who used to read your Dr. Who reviews on Eps, I’m glad you’re still writing.
Than you! I haven’t gotten up to those just yet