Okay, so maybe this is a little self-serving, but I have people — mostly my age, although some who are younger — who are always asking me how to do this or that on a website. Well, to be honest, my knowledge of building websites is pretty limited. I have created a few fun ones in the past year or so, but I’m not a teacher when it comes to lessons in css or php. So, today I am thankful for a friend from home who has picked up the ball and is now running with it.
Several years ago, when I first started The Gratitude Journal I did it for me. Well, I must have done it for you, too. Otherwise, I would have simply kept my thoughts in my personal journal. I decided to publish it online because I would like for each of us to think in terms of things — some big, some small — for which we can express gratitude. Seems to me that most of the time the only things that get published are negative. Just look at the daily news! Anyway, in this world of whine, I was hoping to spread a few thoughtful smiles.
In doing so I had to learn a new trick or two, starting with how to register a domain name and how to build a website. For those who have been around, reading this little site for a while, you are aware that I have finally moved up to the Thesis Theme. I have done little to this site to make it pretty. I am more interested in sharing smiles than any skills I may have learned along the way. But, a friend who started a website sometime back has resumed it.
Here’s what happened. A group of us started our websites at about the same time. Of course, we all have different interests so we aimed our content toward our passions. SinDe is always going on about something political. Happy is the master gardener. Well, you get the idea. We built our websites around our interests. Kelly — have I ever mentioned her? — is a sort of neighbor. She lives several miles away from most of us and spends much of her time in Florida. We keep in touch, once or twice a month. You know as you get older, you just like to know everyone is still breathing and smiling. Most of us smile because we are breathing.
Anyway, Kelly started a website about making money online. For a while she tracked everything she did and how she did it. Then, it seems that she lost interest. Well, actually she had a few personal things that took her away from us for a while. But, now she is back. She’s teaching older folks in her Florida neighborhood how to build websites. Actually, I’ve learned a thing or two along the way.
What is more important to me is that her site, Kudzu Cash, is about as simple as it gets. I really don’t have the patience to teach anyone anything any more. So, for all the folks that are wanting to begin a website and to quote Kelly “don’t know their css from their php” this is a good site in the making — with pictures and great free tools. I’m referring all my AARP-er friends who think they want to build a website to this site, only because I know what a tough time I had when I was trying to get started. Guess it is like everything else in life — it’s easy once you know how. Getting the “know how” is the hard part.
Well, today I am thankful that Kelly and Kudzu Cash are willing to take on all of us old folks who can’t find our css with both hands. Thanks, Kelly. You are a brave old soul! Love you!
By the way… Kelly says you cannot build a website in anything except overalls. (She’s a recent convert.)
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Maya, I believe I’m a potential student at Kelly ! First, I’m over 60, secondly I have to register each time when I want to make comments at you blog since I forget my last password ! and of course thirdly I am wearing overalls !:)) and I can tell you this summer have been so fantastic, like heaven or paradise on earth, working together with my wife on building house ! really promising for our life in retirement ! getting dirty in overalls every day juhuu, and it is in the countryside, so it is the default dress code ! but you must come up with a photo at some time together with all your converters
) lol Niels
Hi, Bib!
If I can ever get all of us together again, we will take a picture, although most of us are a little camera shy.
Kelly is unique. Her guiding hand has helped me quite a bit over the past couple of years, but you know all the stuff already.
I have been following your adventures during the summer — a bit jealous, I must admit. My summer at the beach has been so hot that I have not dared try to till the sand or plant a thing. Luckily, we have a good farmer’s market within walking distance. We have had a few family losses this summer so I have been trying to spend as much time as possible with family. However, I must admit that I have kept up with you and your wife by way of your posts. Hopefully, by next summer we will be back to normal (for us) and we will have navigated a few bumps in life’s road.
Your farmhouse looks marvelous! Enjoy your free time as possible, as school is back in session here so you must be heading back to the university.
As always, good to hear from you!
Maya
Hi Maya, well, I might be able to do several things on the web, but I still struggle with logging on in order to make comments to you, but anyway, now I’m here again and I can understand your jealousy, it has been one of the best summer vacations ever in my life ! and I have returned after 40 years !!, yes, 40 years !, break to do things with my body, getting dirty etc. and the funny thing, or I choose to see it as a funny thing, is that in Spring this year I was close to a new break down and weak etc. and I have just got a letter from the hospital who wants me to stay 2 weeks for finding out what is wrong and if I have a post polio syndrome ! but I think I have to cancel that and say that I believe it is a matter of using my body more in a more active way than just sitting and running around on campus ! and I suspect that it is stress and not PPS !
Well, in our closest family, things are going well, but as you say life goes on and things are happening in all families and not everything is that easy and may be hard to go through, but how lucky we are, you and us, to be happy with living this simple life, cheap to buy, but value as gold in the long run, if you understand ! Many friends have said to us that we live on a stone ! due to our thrift habits etc. etc. well, perhaps, but what a stone !:))
next Spring I will be on sabbatical at Stanford and we will live in San Francisco, so perhaps we could come by if we are turning an idea of going from coast to coast into reality ! warm wishes Niels