maintenance bulletin!

Backside of Forty is undergoing a few minor renovations.  When I began this blog, it was nameless, and void of personality.  It was first thought that Jen and I would share it, both posting to it as a family scrapbook.  Hence, the original blog address... "jeffjenny.blogspot.com". 

The nameless blog became "mine", rather than "ours", however, quickly emerging as Backside of Forty and developing a personality as an extension of myself. 

I have wanted to "re-route" the blog to a more fitting address for a while, but it is no small task to successfully re-route it, while maintaining active links, followers and traffic statistics.

But... BoF just turned four years old and I decided it was time for a transition to a new address:

Backside-of-Forty.blogspot.com

To make the transition as smooth as possible, I have created a carbon-copy of the blog to date and archived it so that most old links should still work.  In fact, that is where you are now.  No further posts will be made to this archived copy, but the link above will take you to the active blog (which still includes all past content).  To keep following along, please take a moment to save the link above to your favorites, set it in your readers or blog lists, make sure your "following" link is active on the new site... whatever it is that you do to visit BoF!  I appreciate the readers who, over the past four years, have found anything I have to write interesting enough to read.  I really appreciate those of you who have left comments here on the blog pages... comments are like a drug to bloggers... we can live several days off a good comment!  In fact... the four year anniversary is a great excuse just to leave a quick comment to let me know who actually reads this stuff (anonymous welcome)... with the exception of a few faithful commenters, I really have no idea who really visits my slice of the blogosphere!

Four! More! Years?  Nah... that's too political!  I'd like to last longer than that!

show me where YOU blog

This blog post was prompted by The Father of Five, who occassionally stops by to read "Backside of Forty".  I'm not sure how he found me, but since the majority of the bloggers I follow are female, I enjoy popping in his world every now and then to read a manly blog for a change. 

His recent post, "Show me where YOU blog", sparked some curiosity.  He wrote:

Since “Best Bud Ed” was coming over to my house this morning, I cleaned up the “disaster area” that is USUALLY our computer desk. When I was done, I stepped back, gazed upon my workspace – and began wondering about everyone else’s.

Call it creepy, or a tad bit voyeuristic – but I often wonder what type of setting the creative minds behind many of the blogs I enjoy work in or at.

He posted a picture of his desk and asked other bloggers to post the place from which their blogs originate.

Interesting.  Or, am I also "a tad bit voyeuristic"?

Well, Father of Five, it's not much, but here it is:

I used to have an "office".  Now, I have kids.  Kids need rooms. 

I used to have a desk.  Now, I have a cart... in a corner. 

I tried to clean it, but decided to just post it "as is".  The area is usually cluttered with bills, notes, receipts, school papers/artwork, wife and daughter hair accessories, etc.  This is a corner of our "temporary-while-I-take-over-six-years-to-remodel-the-main-living-room" living room.  It will some day be a den.  We usually like to post outdoor pictures, because all the floors in the yet-to-be-remodeled side of our home are hideously ugly.  Some day I hope to have an office again, but bathrooms, kitchens, bedrooms and living rooms are higher on the priority list.

Incidently, I also have a laptop, but have been too lazy to get my network functioning.  I will someday get "out of the corner" and start blogging from the couch... or wherever.  But, for now, this is it.

So, fellow bloggers, will you show us where YOU blog?

shhhh...it's private!

One of the bloggers I follow, recently wrote a post about a topic that I thought was prudent: Privacy. Her post was reactive, because her privacy had already been breached. Fortunately, my post is proactive, so don't take it personal. It isn't directed at anyone in particular. Consider it an FYI, or a friendly reminder. I fully supported her view, and it was a good reminder to me, so I felt it was worth mentioning.

Privacy: each blogger has his or her own standard. Blogs can be completely private, and by invitation only; some are public, but not available to search engines; Some use no names or identifying information; Some use fictitious names; Some use first names only; Some use full names and identifying information. It all depends on what the blogger and his or her family is comfortable publishing on the Internet.

The standard of the blogger I spoke of is first-name-only. It seems, though, that other bloggers, who know her personally, were using her last name on their blogs, or in links back to her blog. Most likely it was innocently done, but the fact remains that this is a big blogging faux pas.

I cannot promise that I have never violated anyone's privacy, but I don't believe I have. Personally, I try to only use last names on my blog in these three situations:

1. You regularly use your last name on your own blog. For example, if your blog is titled, "The ______ Family Blog".
2. If I have the your permission to use your last name.
3. If I use it as a term of respect, whereby saying "Mr. _______" is the equivalent of using your first name, and the post is general enough that you are not identifiable to the general public.

Since I have a number of relatives and personal friends who are bloggers, or who respond with welcomed comments, please remember that I have a first-name-only standard for my blog. I also only identify my location with vague geographic references. Please remember to respect my standards of privacy (as well as all others of the blogging community) if you are to ever mention me or my family members in your blog, or when leaving comments on my blog.
Again, this hasn't been a problem, so this isn't directed "at" anyone. It is just a proactive and friendly reminder of some blogging etiquette... and, a reminder to myself, as well!

Welcome to "UNTITLED"

I'm glad you moved over to the new page with us. "Untitled" isn't the actual title, but I haven't decided what to call it yet. Perhaps you can help me with that.

My vision for this blog is not necessarily just posting pictures of the family vacation or a backyard birthday party, although that will definitely be a part of it. I find that as I "mature" (I use that term loosely!), that I tend to be more reflective. I have never been much for keeping a journal, but as I chronicled my recent trip to China, I found that it was very beneficial to record important thoughts and emotions. Much of this might have already been forgotten, or just foggy, were it not in print. So, my hope for keeping a blog is that it will be a collage of things meaningful to me. It will probably cover a variety of topics, including, but not limited to: family, marriage, kids, adoption, Christianity/Bible, budgeting/stewardship, camping/hiking, or anything else that interests me or I find myself pondering. Jen will also be making entries at times. Hopefully, you will enjoy reading along. Hopefully, you will not always agree with my viewpoint-- that would be boring!

I would encourage more use of the comment feature. I think a blog should be more of an exchange of thoughts. If a blog entry strikes a chord-- enter a quick comment. It's easy to do. Your comment may spark another blog entry. The exchange of ideas or thoughts almost becomes a dialog, but the beauty is that you can better think something through when writing it.

Actually, here is an opportunity to do just that. I described the format, but I am looking for title suggestions. If you have an idea for a fitting title, sound off and put it in a comment. I have a few in mind-- I may or may not use yours, but I'm interested to see what ideas come in. Have fun!