Is it wrong? Is it intrusive?

How many blogs do you read? I have 14 listed in my favorites. Of those 14 I personally know 9 of the people. What draws you to other blogs? Is it a comment? Is it the picture that's next to the comment? For me it is usually a combination of both. I'm a very visual person. I'm more likely to click on someones blog if they have a picture with their comment. If there is no picture, that might be enough to make me go looking for one. I like to feel like I know who I'm talking to.

The last two days I've been wondering on to other people's sites though the comments of fellow bloggers. It's interesting how many familiar faces I see commenting on those sites too. Most of the people that comment on my site are from South Dakota, however, I have people that visit my site from all over the globe (although I'm not sure why).

Is it wrong to go other people's sites? Sometimes I feel as though I'm equivalent to a window peeper. There are other sites that I'm locked into and would be very sad if for some reason I couldn't go there to check in. Actually, I was telling my boss about one of the sites that I go to every day. She asked why I would want to read about someone that I didn't even know. I explained to her that to me it was the same as reading a book that never ends. She said that she bets in the near future there will be many books as results of blogs. I agree.

As far as my blog goes, at this time I don't care who comes and reads. It doesn't bother me that there are way more readers than people that comment. Actually, I find it interesting. Don't get me wrong, comments are fun and I welcome anyone to comment if they so choose. However, for some people it seems like it's a contest to see how many comments they can get. For me it's not a means of validation. I would blog if nobody commented. Blogging isn't about that for me. It used to drive me crazy not knowing who you were and why you were here, but you come back every day and you are welcome here. Please don't ever feel like a window peeper - I don't view you as such.

When I make the rounds each day reading every ones blogs, I often wonder who it is they are blogging for. I started my blog for my extended family when I was pregnant with Jack. I had my mother and mother-in-law in mind with many of my early posts. Both of them live 2+ hours away from me and I wanted them to feel as though they lived across the street. I didn't want them to miss their grandchildren growing up and this was the easiest way to get that done, through stories, pictures and video's. I used to e-mail a baby update after each doctor visit. I did this with all of the kids. I would get confused and forget to add people to the list and would always end up leaving someone out. I thought if I did it this way, nobody could blame me for leaving them out. I never thought my blog would be read by a complete stranger. Maybe that was naive on my part.

When I started my blog the only people I personally knew with blogs were my cousin Nicole and my friend Jennie. I admit, I thought it was a bit silly when I started it. For some reason I felt embarrassed to have a blog. Just saying or typing the word blog was like fingernails on a chalkboard. Thankfully I've gotten over that.

As for now, I still blog for my family, but I also find it quite therapeutic. Not long ago Justin said to me in amazement "You don't have a sensor button, do you?" I guess not. I don't think I ever have - my guess is that I never will. (It had nothing to do with my blog. I just thought it was funny...and true.)

So take it or leave it. It's always your choice to Experience Life ~ Kerrie Meyer style. ;)