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Times & Seasons has been my favorite LDS blog for a long time. It's open to comments from all over the spectrum, but is basically a faithful, academic blog with some silliness thrown in and the kind of camaraderie that comes from long-time discussion (and needling) of each other. I read it regularly (which for me, means about weekly) and comment either when I really like something or when a post puts a torch under my office chair.
Last January, however, I was taken aback when I got an email inviting me to be a guest blogger. Huh? Me? My first reaction was to recall a saying my dad told me years ago:
I'd never want to join a club that would have me as a member.
I mean, if the esteemed T&S permabloggers actually let me blog over there even for a short stint it can't really be as cool as I thought.
Because I had corporate taxes looming, I asked to wait until March, when I could think clearly in non-numeric terms. (Or, at least as clearly as I ever can.) But I feel more than a bit of trepidation and hope I don't do too much damage. Still, I hope you all will join me there. Maybe you can even make me look good. Or at least pull back up the coolness factor.
Alison Moore Smith is a 61-year-old entrepreneur who graduated from BYU in 1987. She has been (very happily) married to Samuel M. Smith for 40 years. They are parents of six incredible children and grandparents to two astounding grandsons. She is the author of The 7 Success Habits of Homeschoolers.
Fwiw, I enjoyed my stint. I didn’t write with the intent to spark comments, but I’m glad I wrote.
I used to check out T & S occasionally, and then I just figured I only really have time to do one thing, and MM is where my heart is. So, this is the only mormon site I check out. I’ll definitely check you out on T & S now though! Congrats on your new assignment!
That’s great. They should have asked you a long time ago. I will look for your posts.
Cool. Keep us posted. (hehe)
Heretofore, I was not aware of T&S…but it looks to be enjoyable…I will continue to visit & look forward to your posts…
i usually think ts people are a little full of themselves. kind of we are so educated and have so many degrees. but whatever. have fun mingling.
Wah! Well, to each his own. Eh, oregonian? (Or could you just think they are arrogant because they use capitalization and punctuation when posting?)
My first article is up. Hope you’ll read and comment. You don’t have to register over there.
I loved it! I didn’t comment there (NOT going to get into that habit, lol!) but I LOVED and LAUGHED at the pet stuff! I know it seems petty, but that’s my biggest thing with VT right now. I’m not an animal person myself, and ALL of the people I visit are. It is really a hard thing for me to have animals all over me, “snififng my nether regions” (as you said), slobbering, licking, lovin’ on my leg, snagging my clothes, etc. I still go, but everytime I get home I feel like I need another shower. Some of the dogs in question are REALLY big dogs. It’s not that I’m afraid of them necessarily, but I’m also not comfortable with them enough to enjoy it!
Um, well, as long as oregonian already said it, I have to admit I agree. I’m not a huge fan of t&s for the same reason. But, I did love your first post and might have to check out the site a little more often now.
Angie, you need to post that. At least the “lovin’ on my leg” part. Come on. It’ll take you 30 seconds and contains no nicotine!
Thats a great article. Glad to see ou over there. I have never posted there though. Maybe we should all post there to give support for this site too.
Just a personal note: Please don’t. This site has an atmosphere that is different than T&S, and I like each of them for what they are.
Congrats on the guest posting, Alison. And great job on your first article. It was funny, concise, and oh so true!
Thanks, all.
Ray, that’s a totally weird comment…unless you were elected bloggernacle segregation director without my knowledge.
I know, Alison, that it was weird. I almost deleted it after typing it – seriously. I fought back and forth for a couple of minutes, but I will try to make it a little less weird with a clarification / explanation. If I fail miserably, so be it.
I really love the informal, regular conversation flow of the threads here – how they are emotional and practical and flow back and forth and are so “real life”. That is very different than T&S, which I also like. T&S is much more academic and formal and . . . biting quite often. I would love to have more people here, and I didn’t mean in any way that I don’t want this group to grow – not in any way. I just don’t want the overall tone and atmosphere and “family feel” to change through an influx of typical T&S content and “edginess”, if you will. That’s what I thought of when I read “support for this site”.
That’s not my call. That’s yours, Alison. I know that. I just really like the overall feeling here, and I like the overall feeling there, and I’d hate to lose what is so unique and special about this place. It’s a personal reaction, which I tried to say but did badly. I certainly didn’t mean it to be a directive; it was more of an emotional, personal request. I knew it was a little inappropriate when I wrote it, which is why I went back and forth before submitting it – but it was a sincere expression of my love for this group, for what that’s worth.
Also, fwiw, I figured you’d respond like you did. That probably makes it worse that I submitted it, but, again, it was a clumsy attempt to say how much I love what happens here.
Oh, when I read “support for this site” I thought she meant something like “go leave a comment for Alison since she created this site” not “go put in your two cents for MM over there.” She’ll have to clarify.
FWIW, I think it would be really nice to get support on my article (because the formality and academia DO intimidate me–which is why I decided to start out with a fluff piece (keeping more in my element!)), but not really good form to promote one blog at someone else’s. So, please comment as you have been but please don’t tell people to flock to this site. 🙂
And, hey, Ray, predictable as I am in my response, I want you to post what you think. I thought it was FUNNY, not offensive.
My impression of T&S is that they wouldn’t have asked you to guest post if they didn’t respect and admire you and your writing. Hope you aren’t too intimidated over there!
Thanks, Michelle. So, does Ray = Curtis???
Yes. Curtis Ray. Which name he goes by depends on who is talking…
Curious: does he go by Curtis Ray when you’re mad at him? :bigsmile:
LOL, Serena! Nope. I have rarely been the type of mom to use full names when I’m mad. But that doesn’t mean I don’t get mad plenty of times at my family!
He is Curtis Ray with the maternal side of his family – he has an Uncle Ray (since passed away) and his dad is Curtis, so it is easier for them to distinguish him by his full name.
It’s fun to hear stuff like that. Thanks for sharing.
Fwiw, I blog under only two names: Ray (everywhere but my personal blog) and Papa D (on my personal blog – and wherever I use a Google account to access and comment).
If you see a comment anywhere from “curtis” it’s not me. However, my guest blogger account when I wrote for T&S was entered by the admins under “Curtis DeGraw”. Go figure.
Alison, you can more than stand on your own over there. I didn’t try to compete academically and intellectually with anyone; it’s just not my style. Just be yourself; that’s more than adequate.
Ray, I just saw this. Thanks, that’s very kind of you.
FWIW, here’s another post over there: The Gospel of Gluttony and Sloth.
This old post just popped up in the sidebar. Thought I’d update to say that I’ve been a permablogger at T&S for about a year and a half now.