Sunday, May 8, 2011

But The Hours, The Time, The Work....Oy Vey





We've all thought it, read about it, posted about it, tweeted about it: the WORK.

The WORK that blogging is.

You work on your own posts, you guest post, you visit, you comment, you read, you engage, you interact, you SPEND HOURS.

WHY WHY WHY.

We're not getting paid. We're not getting book deals. We're not getting any more buff or richer from the hours sitting behind this computer.
People ask us, "So...you do, this, this... airquotes blogging for free?"

Yup. I do.

Because there are some things that are worth it all. All of the time, hours, preparation.

Today, I received over 50 emails wishing me well with the May 8  Listen To Your Mother Show that I am honored to be a part of.

And I received these......

So, do I do this airquotes blogging for free?

The answer depends on what you hold dear.

Thank you, to all of you, for your wonderful, amazing tweets, emails, and well wishes.

I do believe I am the luckiest blogger in the world.

I love you all!
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
---------------------------------
*Thank you, Kpugs, I don't know what to say...you've left me deeply touched. Thank you for your love.

48 comments:

  1. Thank you for airquotes blogging for free Empress, because without people like you, people like me would have given up blogging within a week. So thank YOU. Happy Mother's Day!

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  2. Happy Mother's Day!
    Your Friend, m.

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  3. Happy Mother's Day, Empress!

    The engaging part is the best, isn't it?

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  4. Happy Mother's day to you!!

    I'm so glad you are here sharing you words for free. It is a blessing to all of us.

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  5. Oh, beautiful flowers for a beautiful blogger. A beautiful PERSON. Well done, mi'lady.

    xox

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  6. smiles. and i am glad that you do...happy mothers day empress...to one of my fav online moms!

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  7. Goosebumps because this is so, so true. We do this because of WHAT we "hold dear." Love you along with the rest of the blogging world.

    Happy Mother's Day!

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  8. Happy Mother's Day my darling friend. Good luck today. I know you'll be spectacular.

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  9. Knock 'em dead Empress and have a fabulous Mother's Day!

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  10. Go get 'em, lady. So very excited for you!

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  11. Happy Mothers Day! I know you will be wonderful and have an incredible day!

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  12. Happy Mother's Day to you! You'll do great!

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  13. Happy Mother's Day!
    It will be wonderful. I know it.

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  14. Happy Mother's Day. Wow, you know you're a blogger star when you've received that many emails and beautiful flowers. You rock!

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  15. Wow. You're lucky. Must be nice....

    Enjoy today. Happy Mother's Day.

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  16. Happy Mother's Day, Friend!!! :)

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  17. You are very loved! :)

    Happy Mother's Day!

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  18. Why do we blog for free?

    Hell, there are a million reasons....because it is our chance to touch our friends in Blogville, share laughs and tears over our morning coffee, give love and feel love from wonderful people whom we may not have met but whom we know better than some of our friends in the real world.

    And besides all that, except for the time when I had to get up in front of the class and debate some foolishness about Railroads, it is the only time in my long life when a bunch of folks really listen to what I have to say.

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  19. Happy mothers day to the empress of engagement.

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  20. Happy Mother's Day! I cannot wait to hear how it goes today. I know you will be beyond spectacular! xo

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  21. Can't wait to listen to the podcast, like, when my family isn't glaring at my hunched-over-the computer back, psychically shouting "It's mothers day! come out of that damn office already!!"

    As new to this whole blogging thing as I am, I am still trying to articulate for myself why it has become such a huge focus in my life, why it means so much to me, why it makes me so... (gasp) happy... and more sane (though not quite sane enough to render me boring...I hope!).

    People like you, your royal highness, are an enormous part of why I find myself so in love with this process and the people who give their blood, sweat and (sometimes too...) intimate personal stories to help shed light on lives that might otherwise feel lonely and alienated.

    They say it takes a village to raise a child. But really, I think it takes a village to live one's life fully. We humans are really pack animals, rather than lone wolves. But sadly, villages are hard to come by, these days. So we've made them online, where we can chat briefly or at length, and truly communicate.

    It is amazing how much support can be shown with a few well-placed keystrokes, and how much understanding and compassion can be felt emanating from the words on a screen.

    I know you will kick ass today, and continue to inspire. Glad I wandered into your empire! I will forever remain your loyal subject :) Happy Moms Day.

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  22. Happy Mother's Day my wonderful friend :) <3

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  23. Happy Mother's Day! Can't wait to hear how the show went.

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  24. Happy mother's day to royalty :)

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  25. I prayed for you, dear A. Cannot wait to hear how it went. Love you, wonderful soul!

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  26. I cannot tell you how proud I am of you for getting up on that stage and going for it! You took that leap, to reach for something you wanted and grabbed it with both hands!

    You are truly a blessing in this land of Blogs...and I am honored to know you!

    I know you are knocking everyone's socks off...can't wait to listen to the podcast! :)

    XOXO

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  27. Happy Mother's Day.

    You are truly one of the most amazing people I've had the chance to meet FOR FREE through blogging and I'm better for it.

    [PS I know you kicked ass at LTYM.]

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  28. Happy Mother's Day! Some returns can't be measured by money. Certainly not things that are loved. And clearly, you are loved. Wishing you all the best, today and every day. Muah!
    Tina @ Three In The Bed

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  29. Happy Mother's Day!!! You deserve all the love and appreciation in the world. Here's to You (me, raising a glass...)

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  30. I hope today was everything you'd hoped it would be.

    So happy for you.

    Much love, Mama.

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  31. The flowers are beautiful and I read the post that you read for the show. It was wonderful and a special tribute to your grandmother.

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  32. I truly cannot wait for a recording of the show. I'm all about the effort we put into blogging because we get to "meet" some interesting people that, otherwise, we wouldn't. I read other people, I want to write more, I want to make them better writers, and I want to write better, myself. It's a great cycle, and, of course, bloggers are a notoriously supportive cast.

    Congrats on the show, and please let us know when we might be able to hear your words (I have my own voice for you in my head - it ought to be interesting to see how close I am).

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  33. you deserve all the LOVE, seriously the women I have met in cyberspace are my CONNECTION to my sanity, you give me my happy place a lot.

    so proud of you and so HUMBLED to know you.
    Happy Mother's Day!

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  34. the lady looks just like you!

    Candace

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  35. Happy mother's day, pretty! :)

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  36. What gorgeous flowers! I'm off to read your LTYM speech.

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  37. I'm thankful for this post.

    It does take hours, sometimes I'm not sure why I keep doing it. I don't get roses or emails.

    But it is something I hold dear.

    And that, is enough.

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  38. Alexandra, I tried to post just before and it disappeared, so a shorter version.

    I wish I had been there to hear you tell your beautiful story and honor your grandmother.

    I am honored -- so much -- you published it on the Tiki Tiki. So grateful. I love hosting you there. Love how you honor our culture.

    And finally, I hope you had an amazing and beautiful Mother's Day!

    Carrie

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  39. Yes, "free" really is relative, isn't it?

    I'll bet you knocked 'em dead!
    Much love,
    Chalupa

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  40. You are awesome. I can't wait to see the video!

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  41. Oh, the perks of this "job" we have? Go way beyond money. The high-fives, the virtual shoulders to cry on, the special people we've all met and connected with.

    This is what I hold dear.

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  42. I missed it, I totally missed it!! But I know you did great and I am so happy you are surrounded by such love. Happy belated Mother's Day!

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  43. I agree with you. The rewards of blogging can be so great especially the friendships you make. Hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day, you deserve it :)

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  44. I love you, too! What beautiful flowers and hope you had a wonderful mother's day! You are one of the most amazing bloggers I know. What you get back from this community I'm sure is worth it's weight in gold.

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  45. Beautiful Empress!! I'm so sorry I've been completely out of the looop. Your story at Tiki Tiki was incredible. Just reposted it to FB. Is that the Listen to Your Mother? Want to make sure I didn't miss anything. You are an incredible person and I am so very very lucky to know you.

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  46. Oh, crap. I've been AWOL and missed the whole shebang. I'm going to catch up and then shower you with praise, I'm sure. So, so sorry to have missed your big day. Just resurfacing today to read a few posts. I bet you were spectacular.

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  47. I found you via Dan Perez. And I'm so glad I did.

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