Blog Archives are your Hope Chest

Mack Collier

Do you have a blog? If so, are your previous posts archived and accessible as a reference for your readers? Maybe you remember meeting Mack Collier when I wrote about #DellCAP. Mack Collier is also the standing host and moderator for the Twitter #blogchat. Some weeks Mack will tweet that he is looking for a #blogchat topic. August 22nd's tweets went like this:

@mackcollier Thinking of discussing posting schedules for #blogchat tonite, sound good or do y'all have another topic you'd rather discuss? 9:42 AM Aug 22nd via TweetDeck
@judyhelfand @MackCollier pros and cons of archive lists. It doesn't have to be a full time topic, it is a question. #blogchat 9:46 AM Aug 22nd via web in reply to MackCollier
@mackcollier @JudyHelfand I like that, maybe 'Maximizing your sidebars', what content to include, where to position it, anyone else like that? #blogchat 9:48 AM Aug 22nd via TweetDeck in reply to JudyHelfand

@mackcollier Tonite's #Blogchat topic is managing and maximizing your sidebars - http://bit.ly/bJ7qxU 10:12 AM Aug 22nd via TweetDeck
@mackcollier BTW @JudyHelfand thanks for suggesting tonite's #blogchat topic, I've got a free pass for you to #Optsum if you want it, just email me ;) 10:13 AM Aug 22nd via TweetDeck

@judyhelfand @MackCollier glad U like the idea -sidebars-archives. Yesterday I visited 2 blogs looking 4 1 or more old posts- no archive list! #blogchat 9:55 AM Aug 22nd via web in reply to MackCollier

By 12:55PM, Mack had published a blog post #Blogchat topic for 8-22, Managing Your Sidebars! announcing the topic. The rest is now history.
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I would expect by now you want to know why I asked Mack to discuss archives and maybe you want to know why my post today uses the analogy of a hope chest.

My mother had a hope chest. It was a Lane Cedar Chest. I once asked my mother how she came to have her cedar chest and she proudly announced that my father bought it for her when they married in 1942. According to a 1942 ad a new Lane cost $29.75! I suspect that many of your mothers had a hope chest or cedar chest, but my most vivid memory of this chest is that it held my mother's keepsakes. I know this because when my two older sisters and I were young we would love to wait for our parents to go out on a date and then we would open the cedar chest and carefully read my father's love letters to our mother, we would try on wonderful little pieces of jewelry (gifts sent by my father to my mother during WWII and the Korean War), we would carefully touch clothes and other keepsakes. These items were part of the family archives and each item was part of a story. As a very young girl I never took the time to read my father's military records, but I learned much later that my younger brother had often visited the cedar chest when he wanted to learn more about our family. Both of my parents are gone now, but after my mother passed away in 2006 I met with my sisters to go through the cedar chest. We each took some things as keepsakes and my middle sister's youngest daughter now has the hope chest.

In my August 9 post I introduced you to Ridgely Johnson. On August 11 I went out of town for a few days.  I traveled with my laptop, but I really wasn't on-line much. Once I returned I took a few minutes to catch up on blogs that I try to read on a regular basis (see BLOGS Judy Reads in the right sidebar). I was "curious" why Ridgely had not published a post since August 10. A few more days went by and then my intuition told me I should send an email to see if Ridgely were ok. But I didn't. Then on August 20 Ridgely posted "I hit a bump..."

Over the weekend I tried to find one of Ridgely's previous posts and then I tried to find one of Jorja's (our mutual virtual friend) previous posts, but neither Ridgely nor Jorja's blogs has an archive feature. Thus my reason for asking Mack about the efficacy of an archive feature.

Here are some final thoughts about archives:

• Make them available for your readers, they may want to link to a particular post!

• No room on the sidebar - make an archive page.

• Short of sidebar space, use a pull-down box for your archives

• @designmilk I say remove tag cloud and blogroll - add archive links and popular posts. Use your sidebar to drive traffic to your best content

• @KseniaCoffman Use archives in sidebar: shows how frequently content is updated (& for self motivation)

• @BabsSegal [archives give] Insight into how long you have blogged

• @MackCollier I have an archives section because I know SOME of my readers get value from it, I personally don't get much

• @BabsSegal I use archives daily for many reasons. Years of posts. Make me want to dig in on other's blogs. On my own I re-tweet.

• @SbuxMel Agree with many comments abt monthly archives. They can show off that a blogger is persistent w/his or her blog.

• @SmartIncomeBlog If you have good content, people WILL read your archives

Your archives have value to your reader, to your clients, to your company, to yourself. They tell your story. Take care of them as if you were saving them in a hope chest. You won't be sorry.

Let me know what you think. Do you use blog archives? Your ideas are appreciated.

Today, I am dedicating this post to Ridgely, wishing her good health and better days. Here is a photo poster I made of Jorga and me giving Ridgely a virtual hug, savoring it beyond the pale!

84 Things You May Not Know About Me!

Ridgely Johnson

Meet Ridgely Johnson. She writes a blog called Savor the Ride. This is the first time I am featuring Ridgely on my OP-ED blog; however, she and her blog were the inspiration for a May 31, 2010, post I wrote for Webconsuls: Bystander Effect on Broken Blogs and Websites.

Jorja White

Do you remember Jorja White? I introduced you to Jorja in July when I wrote about Peaks and Valleys. I actually met Ridgely because Jorja re-tweeted one of Ridgely's tweets, thus the Webconsuls' post. Since that time, Ridgely, Jorja and I have become "friends" and we often talk about how some day we will meet in person and sit on a porch and get to know each other.

About a month ago Jorja wrote a post: 84 Things, she followed up by writing a post about Why Lists are Good, then she took it step further and convinced the author, Theo Nester, to write a guest post 84 Things from Theo. This past week Ridgely wrote her own list of 84 Things and she coaxed me to write a list of 84 Things You May Not Know About Me. Here is my list:

1. I was born in San Diego, CA.

2. I have lived in five of the 50 states, CA, KY, AK, NH, and AZ.

3. I am 100% Irish.

4. My maternal grandparents emigrated from Ireland; my paternal grandparents were 1st generation Irish Americans.

5. My father was one of 13 children, my mother was one of four.

6. Both of my parents were fraternal twins, they each  had a twin sister

7. I have two older sisters and one younger brother.

8. I went to an all girls high school, I graduated in 1967.

9. I was the high school ASB president.

10. All of my high school awards were for science. 1st place Biology, 2nd Place Chemistry, Greater San Diego Science Fair 1966, 1966 Ford Future Scientist of America.

11. I moved to San Francisco late summer 1967!

12. I attended University of San Francisco, just across the panhandle from Haight-Ashbury!

13. I love San Francisco, I do not like vegetables.

14. I love New York City.

15. I met my first husband when I was 13, we married in November 1968, we were 19!

16. My first husband and I divorced in late 1974. The day he left I learned how to drive a manual transmission.

17. I completed college at California State University, Los Angeles. 1974

18. I have a degree in Sociology, with an emphasis in Social Welfare and Corrections.

19. I have never been a social worker or a corrections officer.

20. I once met with the U.S. Navy recruiter, that same summer I was recruited to be a community organizer for Cesar Chavez. Cesar Chavez was born in Yuma, AZ.

21. I was inducted into Alpha Kappa Delta, somewhere packed away is a certificate!

22. I have never had a manicure.

23. I have had two pedicures.

24. I can watch certain movies over and over again.

25. I have very curly hair…especially if I live in a humid climate. Some days I like curls, some days I don’t.

26. I met my husband Dennis at Oakwood Garden Apartments in 1977, March 5. I was paying my rent.

27. We were married September 23, 1978.

28. We have two sons, Aaron and Daniel. I write about them quite often. 

29. I like to take photos. I have a lot of photographs.

30. I was one of the high school photographers; I worked on the school annual(s).

31. One of those annuals is now available on Classmates.com.

32. I ran the darkroom for Cal State University Los Angeles daily college paper, The University Times. 1973-1974, circulation 30,000.

33. I love to smoke, but quit smoking the last time on March 26, 2009. Too expensive!

34. I do not like camping of any kind. Almost died too many times.

35. Though I grew up in San Diego, I am not very fond of water. Almost drowned too many times.

36. I took piano lessons.

37. My last piano recital was 1962. I played the Warsaw Concerto, from memory.

38. I always like to have a piano in my home. My husband is a very good pianist.

39. For my first job I was a hotel maid, summer 1968. I went to work for Wells Fargo Bank in January 1969.

40. I was an Assistant Vice President for Crocker National Bank and a Vice-President for Indian Head Bank North/Fleet Bank

41. I was once featured in a TIME magazine ad.

42. My husband and I owned and operated a country inn in the White Mountains of New Hampshire from 1986-1997. The inn slept 120. From 1939-1949 the Inn was owned by Babe Ruth's daughter, Julia Ruth Flanders Stevens. Julia (Judy to her friends) would come and visit us and gave us the guest book that her father signed when he stayed at the inn! Julia Ruth Stevens lives in AZ.

43. For some reason I have met a number of famous people.

44. Richie Havens.

45. Dallas Taylor (drummer for CSNY – Woodstock)

46. Congressman Don Young (Alaska), Senator Ted Stevens (Alaska), Senator Frank Murkowski (Alaska) been to his home, Governor Tony Knowles (Alaska) Governor Sheffield (Alaska)

47. Had private breakfast with President Jimmy Carter in the first class lounge of Alaska Airlines. Actually the secret service and Aaron and Dan, then 4 and 1, were with me.

48. Chatted with Johnny Carson in another first class lounge, he gave me his autograph.

49. I like traveling by train.

50. I learned how to create stain glass artwork. I like it a lot. I am not an expert.

51. I like writing my yearly holiday letter. Friends and family will call me if it is late!

52. I did 20+ performances of the play “Love Letters” by A. R. Gurney. I played the part of Melissa Gardner; my husband played the part of Andrew Ladd.

53. Met Pamela Anderson Lee and Tommy Lee. She was hosting SNL. Dennis' boyhood friend was a cameraman for NBC, invited us to rehearsal. My husband, our two sons and I were the only people in the audience.(Oh, yes, Father DeGagne was also with us.)

54. I like to cook. I was the dinner 'chef' for about four years at our country inn.

55. I make great pies.

56. I make great brisket and I am a pretty good project manager.

57. I converted to Judaism in 1979.

58. I served on the board of directors for the Mount Washington Valley Theatre Company. It was real summer stock.

59. I once attended Strawhat auditions in NYC. I was not auditioning…but casting.

60. I wear glasses, have since 7th grade. I am near sighted. I am also left-handed.

61. I know how to sew. I have my mother’s original sewing machine.

62. I also have the Singer portable that my first husband gave me for Christmas 1969.

63. Had dinner with Roy Scheider in Alaska. My husband was on the board of the Light Opera Theatre and Mr. Scheider came to a fund raiser. He was very nice.

64. Once accompanied Congressman Mo Udall to Prudhoe Bay. 1983

65. I now live in Arizona, the home state of Mo Udall.

66. I was once interviewed by Al Roker. My two sisters and I stood in 15 degree weather outside the TODAY program. Al couldn’t resist us. We were wearing funny hats!

67. I once made a television commercial for NBC’s hit show American Dreams.

68. I served on the board for California Repertory Theatre.

69. I met Richard Carpenter (The Carpenters)…his season ticket was next to mine at the Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center at California State University Long Beach.

70. I really love Broadway musicals, but I cannot sing.

71. I have raised puppies, pigs, sheep and one lovable Jersey cow, Sarah Louise.

72. I have had many dogs. Queenie, Lady, Tango, Sasha, Benjie, Maggie, Juneau, Max…and now TOBY. Toby is a not so bright basset hound. Never again. Farm animals are easier to tend than dogs.

73. I met Bobby Unser, Dan Gurney and John Peterman (the real Mr. Peterman, of Seinfeld fame). I have Peterman's autograph on one of his catalogs!

74. I love my husband…but he usually says I have him packed and ready to go.

75. We have moved a lot in our married life. By choice… every place interesting.

76. I am a poll worker, since 2000.

77. I have never served on a jury.

78. I have only been called for jury duty once in my life. That was in NH and I was dismissed because I knew all of the policemen from our small town.

79. I like listening to the news. I have been on the news in AZ twice!

80. I was a substitute teacher in New Hampshire.

Judy and JFK, Jr  March1991

81. John F. Kennedy, Jr. stayed at our country inn in March 1991. He came with his fraternity brother to ice-climb. There were 100 other people at the inn; no one, except me, recognized him! The greatest compliment was he tried to return the next year, but we had no vacancy.

82. In 1983 I once spent a day on the Ocean Odyssey. I was four months pregnant and had to reach this mobile drilling rig in the Gulf of Alaska by helicopter. Until this year, I never thought about how dangerous this adventure might have been.

83. I do believe my father was one of the nicest people I have ever met. He had loving eyes and enjoyed telling stories.

84. I can write 83 stories based on these aforementioned 83 things that you may not have known about me me.


Well, nothing very remarkable. Right? But maybe you have learned a little more about me. I must also say that I like Ridgely and Jorja. I am glad I met them. I learn from them most every day and they make me laugh.  Here are a few photos to go with the list.

Let me know what you think about my list. I would love to hear from you and maybe you will write your own list.

Aboard the Ocean Odyssey, 1983

My Front Porch waiting for Ridgely and Jorja