Where in the world is TallGirl
1 Aug
Irish Liver
TallGirl’s blog is ALIVE.
You’ve asked what I’ve been up to – well besides meandering through Ireland, England and Scotland – let me tell you what’s really been consuming my time.
“Everyone” says starting a blog is easy. All you need to do is sign up at blogger.com (Google) and, magically, a template will descend from Google-land. And, presto. You have a pretty blog. Not the case with this tallgirl.
Long story short. Somehow…someway…. This Google blog randomly inserted pictures of random people doing random things. Let me break it down. When I pulled up my blog, I would either see a family of redheads or frumpy Irish men on holiday. Bad sign. What if frumpy Irish men turned to frumpy Irish porn. Couldn’t solve that one so I sacked Google and moved on to the next blogging program, wordpress. Enter week 2 of blog hell.
“Everyone” who blogs says wordpress is the way to go. They say, you have more options. More templates. More resources. More of everything! Here’s the deal. I just wanted a template with a pulse of color, an area for an automatic photo slide show, and a map to show where I’ve been and where I’m going.
I devoted a full day of London time to sit in front of this damn thing to figure it out. I’m not an idiot. I’m just stubborn. To kick start the fun, I actually read the Getting Started guide for wordpress.com. Five minutes in, I realized the damn thing is written for people who dream in computer code and believe socializing involves starring at a screen.
So, I googled blogging for dummies. Blogging for idiots. Blogging for newbies. Blogging for slugs. Blogging for people approaching 40…50…60. Blogging for people who actually like people and hate technology. The list goes on and on and on. Someone has an opinion. Someone has something relevant to say. But, you really don’t know who these jackasses are. It could be some big joke where they post crap just to screw with the computer commoners, like me. And, if someone has a decent tip, guess what, it is old because wordpress has “just released” the latest version 3 hours
All Colors Included
Time to take a break.
I don’t smoke so I jumped on a train to Scotland for the second largest fringe festival in the world. I’m in need of some fringing. For the first two days – I did just that. Fringe.
Day three, I sauntered into an internet cafe run by a Pakistani family. It was fate. Today is the day. The shop owner pointed up. Was he pointing to the blogging heavens? Telling me to have faith? That I can do it? No, the computers lived upstairs. Two hours down and the photo slide show was mastered. The minute PART-AY fell from my lips guess what appeared? Not one, not two but three damn slide shows. I’m no longer in control “It’s” taken over. I’m out of here.
Down the cobbled street. Through the parade of painted, semi-naked fringers banging on drums, over the bridge, around Sir Walter Scott monument and back to my hotel. Mumbling the entire time. Burning people looks through my H&M sunglasses. Willing them to hurl themselves off the bridge.
As I stormed the Edinburgh streets in search of victims, the more I over analyzed this dreadful situation. Blogging of this kind is enthusiastically self-serving. It’s the vehicle to track my travels, capture entertaining moments, document observations – whether or not there’s an interactive travel map, pictures, audio, video, widgets, plug ins, themes…or whatever “everyone” on the blog-a-sphere claims you need.
Jim Spencer – former youth group leader and now pastor at St. Peter the Fisherman at
New Smyrna Beach – imparted a few words before I set sail. He said, “you know what I would do if I were in your situation… I would ask God what He wants you to see, hear, learn… Because, God is going to show you some awesome things. Lead you to some amazing places. And, support you in some crazy times. Write it down. Reflect on it. Share it.”
So, I ask myself, what has God being trying to show me these past 19 days? Well, the first thing that popped in my cloudy, pissed-off head was…Screw what everyone else says. Keep it simple. Keep it real. Keep it honest. And, just keep communicating the best way you know how.
Well, the best I know how includes 2 pathetic photo slide shows, a clock and no travel map.I hope by day 190 to have a map, pictures of MY travels and a legible list of countries
Shoe in Wicklow, Ireland
where I have visited and intend to visit. Until then, all I can promise is text and the occasional colored picture of my shoe.
Yes, the blog is ALIVE. Dori Madison won the title award with Not Your Typical Day. www.notyourtypicalday.net.
The goal is to share a random entry about random occurrences each week. This will be difficult for I’ll be in remote places like Siberia, Mongolia and…but, I’ll try my best. Please feel free to share this link with those who may be interested.
OK. I’ve GOT to shower and air out a shirt. Have plans tonight with some gents at a Scottish pub. PART-AY!
“It’s Me”, so now we are identifying you by your shoe! I love it! and it sounds vaguely familiar all at the same time. I look forward to seeing it more often. Sounds like a fabulous trip so far. Glad you didn’t give up on the blog! Can’t wait for some more posts:) Steph
By jove, you are NOT HAVING TYPICAL DAYS – yeah! That’s what it’s all about…NOT spending too much time worrying about a blog, no matter what a great name it is. I love hearing about the random adventures, the people and places…await your notes about the greatest characters you meet, the food, wine, art…I need to escape with you even if just in simple wriing! May the spirit continue to lead you to fateful friends and experiences…and forgive your potty mouth. So much love to you ADay – we have out Atlas out to follow your trek here at the Madison’s!
sounds like you are having fun – thanks for keeping us posted
Can’t wait to read your memoir: Drink, love, pray! 🙂
Glad you’re having fun.
Wonderful Mind, Wonderful trip, Wonderful writing skills!
We will keep reading!
Enjoy!
Agree with Dori – you are doing this for those of us who can’t – loving it and wish I were with you – just enjoy, watch what God has to show you and drink what the locals drink (always good advice when all else fails). Can’t wait to hear about the tall blond American in Lebonon 🙂
Yay Amanda. I was thinking about you. Glad to see you’re still alive and drinkin’. Albeit a little “under the weather,” not sure if it’s from the actual weather or how well you’ve weathered in your everning activities. Lol
Hey Lady! I love it! Can’t wait to read and see more. It’s such a joy to see you having so much fun and adventure. Thank you for sharing. 😀
ROCK ON!
I am so jealous. Sounds like you are having so much fun. Be safe and keep blogging.
As I read this I sit on my couch.. my “b’s” .. butt, belly and boobs getting bigger by the moment. I am so thrilled to live vicariously through your adventures. I want to hear some good smut though.. foreign men, great food, and drunken adventures!!!
Blog on sister!
Good for you! Have a blast. Leave no stone unturned. Thanks for sharing your adventures…
Take notes along the way for your book. Every day, seek out the flavor of the day, you never know where it will be, thats half the fun.
Would love to be there Amanda, have lots of fun.
Awesome Amanda, I will read this every week!!!