Your blog is everywhere

One reader, Betsey, asked in a comment what kind of differences in traffic and comments I've seen since I made the switch to login-only a few weeks ago.

I had not actually looked yet, so I checked Sitemeter and Google Analytics and here's what I saw: There is a marked difference in traffic because I was getting a lot of traffic from search engines as well as lurkers. Looks like about a 50% decrease compared to January, which was a very high-traffic month and February's not over yet anyway, so really more like an average of 20% decrease when you look at the past 12 months.

Not surprisingly, based on the amount of traffic I got from Internet searches, lurkers, and even RSS feeds (I don't know about you but I am way less likely to comment on syndicated blogs), commenting hasn't changed much. Currently there are 98 of you who can log in. I'd actually like to do features of people who read the blog so you all can get to know each other if you want. I may start doing that in random posts. E-mail me if you don't want to be linked.

Which leads me to a confession, which is that I started a second blog a while ago thinking I would keep that one public and use this one for more personal stuff. I like having a "Web presence," especially since I want to go back to work in the future. This blog has helped me get more than one job, which is great. But, this blog also has way too much personal stuff on it that spans the past 6 years--stuff I don't especially want employers or prospective employers to read without my permission.

So, I actually started this new one last fall and promptly forgot about it, then went back to it again when I decided to go login-only. However, I haven't posted on it much--probably because no one knows about it yet and so no one reads it! I keep thinking I will make it public once there is some substantial stuff on there. But the reverse is probably more likely.

Who knows how much I will continue to post on it. I can't promise anything. It seems kind of weird to have 2 blogs. Maybe slightly less weird if I admit the fact that it is weird? In theory this new blog will cover a variety of topics of personal, professional, and maybe even political interest to me, and re-establish my presence on yon interweb. However, I feel like it is hard enough some days just to think up stuff to put on this blog, which already has readers. Either way, here it is in case you need one more blog to add to your feeds (this one is public and does publish a feed):

Everyone up on the peace train.

The header is in flux because I am still trying to get permission from Marimekko to use the image of people walking. Plus I am not totally in love with it anyway, or with the template.

Enjoy.

And please enjoy your Sunday. Personally I am experiencing a hangover of sorts from too much laziness yesterday. (3-hour nap? Matt and Theo did it too. 6 p.m. shower? At least I took one!) I may even go outside. It's cold but the sky is blue.