Welcome!

So, I can't believe I am starting my own blog! I've read or skimmed over so many in the past few years, but they all seemed to be written by witty people with exciting lives! I am hoping that mine will be at least somewhat interesting and will only hope for a witty remark to emerge now and then.

Anyway, I loved using the design elements provided to set up my page design! Had a few glitches, though, when I went to import my design to a new page, and it failed!! Hours and hours of work down the drain. (okay, maybe only an hour! LOL) Of course, I couldn't remember all the individual color blends I had selected, so you are now seeing FleetingImages 2.0, and I expect more versions to come about as I learn what I like and dislike about my current choices. Who knows, I may even change the name, and hope you all can find me again! I also had some trouble thinking of an appropriate name. This involved some concerns about using my real name in the blog. I still worry about security issues when presenting all my information out into the blogosphere (is that a word?).

We are always quick to to hear reports of identity theft, so it is definitely in the front of my mind. And isn't it interesting to use all the new words that have been introduced into our language since the Internet started. I didn't even known where the term Blog came from until I read the Wikipedia account required for class (weblog separated into we blog, and then blog, used as both noun and verb).

I am also amazed at all the various types of blogs out there. I had no idea so many people are interested in sharing their thoughts with the world! Or even that they are secure in the knowledge that anyone else wants to hear them. I am not quite so sure. It is rather scary to think that just anyone can read and comment on your thoughts. It takes a strong person to deal with any negative comments that can be and probably will be posted in response to one's random thoughts. It has become so easy to instantly post information about our lives so that everyone can see them. They seem much more permanent than when we blurt out some comment orally. I may regret something I have said, but it doesn't float in the air forever for everyone to see like words written in a blog. However, blogs and tweets are reality, and I need to know and experience them in order to help students learn to manage their posts in a positive way when I begin working in the classroom.

Blogging seems like it would renew interest in writing and reading in a way that involves technology and is current. We are experiencing a whole revolution in the way our society interacts with each other via the written word. As a teacher, we can't just ignore it; we need to give our students the information they need to decide when various styles of writing are appropriate and the skills to be literate across many genres.

It will be interesting to see how this blog evolves as it takes on a life of it own as posts and reactions synthesize and move me into new directions!

Talk with ya later!