What she wore: black capris, long-sleeve purple tee, black leather thong sandals. The kids HATED my shoes, but the other teachers all loved them. Well, the women teachers.
When I first got word that I would be featured, I was very excited: so many people would be reading my blog. I was sure that I would get tons of interesting comments.
The reality of being featured is a lot different. My traffic was WAY up, but most of my comments were from regulars with a few newbies sprinkled here and there.
I just checked the results and it looks as if I will have the least popular blog of the week. This is a bit of a blow to my ego. I find myself wondering why my blog isn’t interesting. Is the layout unattractive? Do they hate my picture? Or, worse yet, do they find me boring and uninteresting? That’s a lot ponder. Especially for someone who far prefers contemplating how to squeeze more outfits out of her budget.
I was thinking maybe I shouldn’t be doing this. Maybe my blog is a pile of crap. But, I decided to think about what the blog does for me. This blog has been a lifeline for me with my husband away in another country. I feel connected to the world and amazingly interesting people have stopped by and left their thoughts. I’ve received words of encouragement when I needed them, and found strength in the trials of others.
Also, this blog has helped me in other ways. I love to communicate, but I’ve always been a talker. Now, I am starting to find my voice as a writer. Ok, writer may be a bold word, but I’m learning to communicate in a new way–in print. You can’t hear my voice or see my wacky hand motions. Only my words can be read.
So, people aren’t crazy about the school marm in the inner-city school. Maybe that’s a little too Dangerous Minds for their tastes. Well, I’m not Michelle Phipher and this isn’t a Blockbuster movie. I’ll just think of myself as an indie film–not for everyone, but something worth checking out.
KM
Wow, I got some ‘splainin’ to do. This was not intended as a pity-party of a blog entry. I looked at it as affirming. I don’t need the majority’s vote–I need MY vote. In the end, blogging is about putting your two cents out there–if someone gets it, great, if not, so be it. At least you let your voice be heard. I’m doing great, I just wanted to share my thoughts as a crappatorian (the worst of the best). I’m not crying or anything–just acknowledging my feelings.
The Barnyard 
I like to check out the featured spaces because I find moms and teachers. I am 43 years old and a first year special education teacher. I read your essay about why you teach and I love it. I think I will do a blog about why I teach. Thanks for the inspiration.
I tend to read the featured spaces in hopes of finding great blogs. I have been reading yours and am loving it! Don\’t be discouraged. 🙂 I have bookmarked your blog, and will most def be coming back!
Your blog is great – don\’t you dare second guess yourself and your beautiful space! I voted for you twice – was that unethical (smile)? I voted at the office and at home. When I came here the first time, I knew I would continue to come back, and your blog is still one of the best around! Don\’t worry about the voting – you got there and that\’s more than many of us bloggers can say (smile). Please continue to write because many of us look forward to reading about your daily adventures at school.
Hope you have a fabulous weekend!
KM! Get out! You are one of my favorite bloggers. And I\’m convinced the stupid spaces contest is rigged. You are certainly not the least interesting blog featured–that\’s ridiculous!! On another note, I hope you want stop blogging when your husband gets home–I can take less entries–but please don\’t quit on us altogether! Another random thought I\’m having–Do you find that you are alike or dislike other military wives (I think you\’ve briefly touched on this issue before)?? It seems to me that it takes a special kind of person to be a military wife–and you seem to me the epitome of what that kind of person is. I\’m just wondering–mostly because I admire you, and I don\’t think I could ever do it! And finally, yes, Carrie does have the best shoes–how is it exactly that she lives in NY City and manages that great wardrobe and shoe collection?? That\’s just not realistic at all (because if she could do it, surely so could I!!!)! But why didn\’t they change your picture so you could have shoes or clothes or something more representative of you than school marm??? Why just me?? I feel like the reject they can\’t quite place! 🙂 Have a good night!
~Jenn
PS: That might be the longest comment I\’ve ever left for anyone–ever!
LOL! KM…put down the rum & coke–and when you do, I\’ll put down this beer! You\’re right–no way that b**ch could do all that walking in NYC in those shoes!! Give me a break! Like you, I can\’t get through a day running all over campus in 3 inch heels–it\’s all lies–lies, I tell you! I did get pimped by MSN–that kinda sucks…
PS- I like indie films! 🙂
KM, you have a great space! You are one of my very favorite reads! Not just everyone is featured, either, ya know! 😉 Your blog is original and witty…don\’t sweat it, just enjoy it like you have been…and thanks for coming around now and again.
OK now think about it a little more there Teach…
4 Million MSN Blogs… You are featured as one of the best… yeah… maybe you\’re right, nobody finds you interesting…
You\’re being silly!
I know what you mean though about finding a new way to communicate. Whether I was ever featured or not, I wouldn\’t stop… I have found a desire inside of me to write… good, bad or indifferent, I have to do it…
Put your ego aside for awhile about the voting and realize how many people, like me, who enjoy your stuff! You are close enough to ZwebbyVille that there will be problems if you stop!
Have an awesome weekend!
Russ
I found your blog through the featured spaces, and voted for you… but hadn\’t left any comments. Okay, so I didn\’t read all of the other ones, but as a college student who\’s just starting education curriculum… I liked reading your teaching anecdotes. I also love the way you add the outfit of the day- it makes things more fun :).Your entries are entertaining, but not too long, and personal, but not overly so. I think your writing is very real, and I liked it enough to read many of the previous entries and bookmark your blog. Don\’t be discouraged; you rock! 😀
\’morning KM. Don\’t even think about quitting your blog! I love visiting here and always enjoy your stories and comments.
~Carol
Oh sista Girl, I can see you wavin your hands….I take time out from typin\’ just to do wave my hands around……It is habit!! If I sat on my hands, I\’d be speechless!!
And I never even looked at the others site that were featured…….I did vote for yours! My readership goes up every time one of the better ones that I read is featured but VERY few people leave a comment or even say "Hi". Not something I am going to lose any sleep over. I chalk it up to "I just don\’t mesh with some folks." and move along………I love your blog!!
The newset pair of shoes in my collection is a pair of black leather thongs with a kitten heal! Famous Footwear….clearance rack! I am a Clearance rack Junkie!! Only $12!! For Aerosoles!!
Hello, so nice to meet you.
We go to the same "places" and often comment after one another.
It\’s time I officially visit. I have been here through EZ\’s space once though.
Nevertheless, hello and have a wonderful weekend.
Lori
P.S. Perhaps you just didn\’t delete your cookies and VOTE FOR YOURSELF ENOUGH. Have you ever thought of that?
I don\’t know how crazy I am with the Best of thing for the very reasons you have mentioned, and I have threatened to delete my blog if ever I am in that spot, because I couldn\’t take it.
I shall be quiet now. Said too much already probably.
I love your blog, really, I wouldn\’t be writting a second entry if I didn\’t believe what you say is so true. And I have never excelled with popularity contests either.
Lori
(I feel like I\’m not done ranting about popularity contests at this point either.) Oh dear.. time to click EXIT or X quickly before I say too much.
Hi there. Love your blog. I am a teacher too in a rough part of town (Seattle area). I have third graders who I am trying to make a difference with. Most of the time, I succeed, just like you. Hope to read your blog on a regular basis. Have a great weekend and ENJOY EVERY MINUTE!
Dawn in Seattle
Do your children mock you as much as they mock me for using my hands to talk? Oh my…. sometimes they just are harsh. But, I think they love me.
I\’m a first year… I\’m about to go insane. Maybe, just maybe, this blog came past my eyes to save me. I\’m definately bookmarking, so I can see that I\’m not the only one going through hell. 🙂
~Kendra
for the record..i just voted for you….but i think i voted for single jenn recently too. Both good sites.
I like yours…you\’re smart and sassy and funny. hey, 15.6% of alot is still alot.
I was just reading in singlejenn\’s blog that she got 130,000 hits one day. Fuck…
i\’m glad i don\’t get hit that much.
i missed your blogs this week
Quite honestly I completely enjoy your blog. Glad you are deciding to stay aboard. I hope I\’m never featured, I sort of like being small time. lol
Hi KM,
Girl, I voted for you! You are one of my "not to be missed." Actually I featured you on my blog long before "Best of…" found you.
Who knows what folks like! I loved Medico Musings and voted for him and I think he only got 4% of the vote when he was featured and he is GREAT also.
I agree with you, I blog because it soothes my soul, because I have a lot to say, because my family and friends read it. I\’ve made friends here whom I truly like and they come by each day and I go to their spaces each day. It doesn\’t get any better than that.
I\’m a retired teacher and a New Orleans ex-pat and I don\’t miss reading you.
Keep blogging, you definitely have something to say to me.
Betty
I VOTED FOR YOU WITHOUT HESITATION!!! Hell yeah you have something to say. I didn\’t take this as a pity party (although I\’m kind of fond of pity parties myself : ) ) I think I might feel the same way, but gee whiz you were picked as one of the BEST of millions! Woot Woot! for you Katy! Keep it up. We love ya.
Sue
When I was featured I had like 3 or 4 more people leaving a comment. I had 30,000 visitors and that was it on leaving a message. So I know most people don\’t really get into what i write about cause I have seen some really silly stuff and they gets lots of comments. I decided I only blog for me. It has been fun…just had my first birthday for blogging. It has forced me to study up on subjects that normally i would have not given much thot to.
So it is just about me and my needs to communicate…
Your blog is very good and I find it interesting…
I may be missing something but it looks like you have alot of new readers?
I think you processed the part thats iomportant though, which is we don\’t set out to do this to win a contest, we do it as a tool or a way of meeting others?or whatever. i think the contest just adds a little element to it. you were honesta bou t it though, I think in the end integrity is MOST important. how could you not compare and judge in such a thing? Hugs Kat
I\’m glad that you are finding your voice through print. What you write about gives me pause and serious thought.
And how else would I know what\’s in fashion?? 😉
Hey hun… oddly enough… I didn\’t read your post as a \’woe is me\’ or \’come on board the pity train.\’ In fact I took it the way you meant it… without having even read your post edit.
Blogs are a wonderful means at expressing themselves, and finding the voice within… sharing without invasion. They can be challenging and excitting… but mostly, revolutionary at best. To watch the best of us evolve because we are learning to communicate – be it on paper or verbally – finding the voice within. Your blog is amazing in that way.
I\’m happy you found that out about yourself. Perhaps… a few of us regulars already knew but you came around on your own. Good for you.
Ciao bella,
KC
I think that you have a great blog! I thoroughly enjoy browsing through it every day! I find it inspiring! 🙂 Thanks for everything you add here!
I think your blog was the BEST and I am not just saying that…I tried to FORCE everyone to vote how I wanted them to, but apparently free will is still pretty much the norm in this country!! 🙂
HUGS!!