Just a few thoughts in reply. In some ways, yes, a year is short but in others, especially as things come and go online, it’s quite long. I am no stranger to blogging. This is one of perhaps 6 I own. Ironically enough, its stats have surpasses any of my other blogs quite quickly (sex sells, no?) Others have been around for the same time or even less and seem to have a disproportionate amount of success and it’s hard not to compare.

The problem is that “just fine” is never enough. I can’t do just fine. Just fine is failure. I don’t know how to not be hard on myself. That is what I do. Unfortunately, it’s what I do even more when I have time on my hands (as I have for most of this year). I am as critical of myself as I am of those products I review. In fact, being critical is a very significant part of my personality and I would say that being me in that way is not what the people want. Yet, what I write and how I write it is exactly what I want to read. you can say people like personal posts, and I see the “advantage” in them but I also many posts that seem to garner more comments but are very similar to mine, too. It’s hard not to wonder if my blog would be more popular, in general, if I threw around bad photography of myself naked. In truth, the critical and sometimes overly objective demeanor is one I carry always. On the other hand, I have just not had occasion to be/feel/do anything otherwise while my husband has been gone. In some ways, life has literally stopped.

Of course, there’s more than a fair share of babbling in those sort-of related thoughts there.

Hell, I’ve been blogging for almost five and I still get very few comments in comparison to the number of visitors.

I think you’re doing just fine. 🙂 I don’t know that any of us really feel we’re getting much recognition. I *do* know that people tend to respond most to personal posts like this one, posts that show a lot of the real you. It’s easier to identify with a real person than an alter ego, even if the real person is anonymously real. (I mean, you don’t need to post your real name and address for folks to feel like you’re a real person)

I think I”m babbling.

What I’m trying to say is even if you don’t feel like it, you’re doing a good job and I, for one, really enjoy reading you. Don’t be so hard on yourself!

But anyway.. I wasn’t sure if this came off as a goodbye. I wasn’t really sure if I wanted it to be but – for now ,at least – it’s not.

I can understand that. That part bothers me too.