is blogging still blogging?

This weekend I noticed a new trend in blogging.

Giveaways and Link ups.

What happened to good ol' fashion story telling?

I get that I haven't blogged in months. I get that trends happen in social networking. I get that I'm usually the last one to figure out the latest trend.

#callmeold

So, the giveaways and link ups could have been happening for far longer than I know. I'm just over them.

I'm all for a fun on a blog. However, I'd much rather read what is happening in the life of a person and I fear blogging has moved away from that trend. I want read a blog because it has something to add to my life. Humor. Insight. Super cute pictures of kids of people I know in real life. Ya know...all the reasons I started blogging.

The give aways and link ups don't cut it for me. In fact, I end up blowing right past a blog with these items until I find one that has a story. And pictures. Funny random pictures.

I know I don't have to follow blogs that do the giveaways and link ups. I get that. Maybe it is time to search for new blogs...blogs that are written by women more like me and less like the 20/30something range. But I truly like and am entertained by many of those blogs, too...

It just seems like the face of blogging has changed. Has anyone else noticed?

 

Book Review - The Ice Princess by Camilla Lackberg

 After Dad died, I filled my reading need with trashy housewife novels.  I couldn't turn my brain off at night without reading.  The books filled my need.  I can't count the number of times I fell asleep, clutching a book in my hands, escaping from grief-filled emotions.   

 

  Last weekend, I was laying on my couch and realized I was ready for a good book.  A GOOD book.  One that would stimulate my brain.  

 

Ice Princess was suggested by my cousin Per, a Swede who lives in Alaska.  He knows I am an avid book lover and how I enjoy mystery/thrillers.  I admit I was hesitant because the last book I read by a Swedish author was "The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo" series and frankly, I wasn't ready for something so heavy.  Those books took quite a bit of time to get through and since I fall asleep after 4 or 5 pages, I feared I would still be reading it into the new year.

 

I just wanted a mystery that was a good read and right to the point.

 

The Ice Princess is that book.  Now, I'm a person who continuously turns to the back of the book to find out what is going to happen.  If I wasn't this person, I believe the book would have surprised me with the twists and turns.  Duh.  Despite this irritating habit of mine, I was entertained and quickly raced through this book.

 

Is it a higher level thinking book?  I'd say middle of the road. 

However, it was well written and entertained me.

 

And that's all I was looking for.

it's been awhile

This happened.

Christmas with the in-laws

And this.

Get it?

And this.

Sushi.  First time.  Yep.

And, then my laptop was upgraded by the school techie geeks.
And, then it wouldn't hook to our wireless internet at home.
And, it was the worst waiting for it to be fixed because ALL I WANTED TO DO WAS BLOG.

It's nice to be back.

it's a great day to be a coug

I snapped this photo this afternoon.

 

 

Right after, Alexander and I stopped jumping around the living room, singing the fight song at the top of our lungs.

 

Overtime.

 

GOOOOO COOOOOUUUUUGS!!!