Blogging In The Black

I’m not sure if y’all noticed those little graphics there over on the right-hand side. Those would be ads. Put there by yours truly…with the help of the organizations who were kind enough to approve me and provide me the code.

I grappled with the decision for a while. Do I really need to put ads on my site? This is a blog, which is a place for my writing. Writers write because that is just what they do. They don’t do it for money. No! They do it because they must. They cannot help themselves. It is all about the art of writing, and not for monetary gain.

I, however, am not a writer by trade. I am an accountant. And not just any accountant; I am a Chartered Accountant. I went to school for many years, articled for many more and wrote a four-day exam (and passed on the first write!) in order to use those “CA” initials. All of that training prepared me for the following conclusion:

This site is currently running in the red.

Meaning that I pay to have my site on its own server and with my own URL. Yet another hobby that costs money. So if I can make enough in ad revenue to cover my hosting costs? Awesome.

If I can make enough to get to BlogHer next year? Sweet.

If I can make a little more to cover my Diet Coke intake? Absolutely fantastic (though highly unlikely).

I’m not asking you to click on the ads (unless they interest you) because I’ve about outworn my click requests. I just wanted to address them in case you were wondering what in the world was going on. I do make more moola if you click, but the agreement states that I can’t ask you to do so. If something pops up that you want to check out, feel free to click. I just wanted to clarify. Especially for my Mom.

When we were down to the wire for the Scrapblog/BlogHer contest, she clicked sixty times in one evening. SIXTY! That shows a true mother’s love. She had no idea what the contest was for, but one of her girls was asking her to click, so CLICK SHE DID. Not bad for a woman who couldn’t send an email if her life depended on it.

Speaking of my Momma, she checks here daily for new shots and stories of my babies. I will not disappoint. Especially after she did all of that clicking in vain.

(On that note, one of the ads that has shown up is the “Win A Trip To BlogHer!” ad by Scrapblog. Kind of ironic, no?)

Miss Emily is not crawling, but can get across the room (and over to the stairs) by scooching on her bottom at warp speed. She has also (finally!) cut the other top two teeth. Her hobo phase will be short-lived. She’s beautiful regardless of whether or not she has teeth (or hair).

She has also started waving, and if I put my hand up and ask for a high five, she gives me one. She’s so advanced.

I took the boys to Wal-Mart yesterday. The whole experience was…fine. Nothing exciting to tell. They were so well-behaved that I did what I had been meaning to do for Graham for a while now. He has been growing like a weed, and many pairs of his beloved jammies have become crop tops with flood pants. So? I bought him a new pair of Spiderman pyjamas. He might be just a leetle excited about them.

I am so very thankful that there was no toothbrush costume hanging on the rack. That’s one visual that I don’t plan on making a reality any time soon. Or ever. Though it sure would make some sweet blog fodder.

Nathan still likes to “mow” the lawn every day. He pushes that toy mower all over Creation. I’m thinking we should put him behind the real one and get him to start earning his keep.

He has also started to pee! Well, he’s always peed, but he’s started peeing in the toilet. Wonder of all wonders. He has actually taken off his diaper of his own accord and peed into the toilet. It started the day after I did my Potty Talking post. Internet karma in action. Now maybe if start whining about his lack of desire to poop on the toilet he will surprise me. I doubt it. I’ll probably have to bribe him with a toy like I did his brother. Whatever will save me from looking down the barrel of his crack.

With all of this potty talk it should be interesting to see which Google ads will start showing up.

Edited to add:

A BIG shout out to the talented Christina over at Red Dirt Road who fixed my layout to have that third column for my ads. Christina is the Queen of Coding. Thanks, Tina! (PS – you might have to hit “refresh” to see the changes)