Saturday, June 7th - Welcome to a new format! Now you can comment to me!
I’ve been trying to incorporate an interactive blog into my website for the past several months. I had a few bugs I needed to work out, and grew quite frustrated with the process.
This past week, I devoted many hours to finally getting it online, and I think I finally have everything functioning correctly. If you find any bugs while reading me here, please let me know via email, or by commenting directly to the journal entry itself.
Each new entry appears at the top of the page. Images which are in thumbnail size will still enlarge in the same window when clicked.
Above the header photograph, are the links to three additional pages within this blog format. The ABOUT link is a brief intro about me, and how I came to Alaska. THE PHOTOGRAPHER link takes you to a page where you can learn more about my passion, and how I became interested in photography. THE WRITER link takes you to a page where I pen my thoughts about journaling.
To the right of this entry are all the links leading to the table of contents from my original journal, as well as my gallery page, and more.
The search box will allow you to search my entries for key words. I also plan to categorize my entries (I hope I keep up with this) so that topics can be more easily located.
In order to comment, I do require that you enter your name and email where indicated. You don’t need to write your entire name, if you don’t want to. Whatever you write in this box will be visible to the public. The email field WILL NOT be visible to the public, and is a way for me to keep spam down. If you have a website, by all means share it with me. I love to read other people’s blogs.
I moved over my previous entry from June 5th, so that this new blog will include the entire month of June as a starting point. I appreciate your feedback as I get used to this new way of blogging. I hope it works well!
Welcome to my ‘new and improved’ Alaska Journal!
~Susan~
Susan,
I have spent many pleasant hours reliving our wonderful life in Alaska through your writings and photos. You are so talented in both media.
I identify with so much of what you write, including your love/hate relationship with the long cold and snowy winters and the brief and too often rainy summers. I know there are times when you question the sanity of remaining in Alaska. There may even come a time when you decide to retreat to a more friendly environment and a more comfortable lifestyle. But one word of caution should you and Steve ever decide to leave Alaska, be prepared to live your life with a longing that will never go away. We lived in Fairbanks for twenty-five years and have been gone for sixteen but still miss it so much.
I’m sure many folks come to Alaska and leave without experiencing any regret, but I can tell by your words that you and Steve would never be so lucky.
So, we ask that you continue recording your journey always mindful that you are helping to fill a void in those of us who, for what ever reason, have left a most memorable life in the most magnificent state.
Thanks for what you a doing.
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Comment by Ken Stockholm — June 8, 2008 @ 1:49 am
Looks like a great start Susan. And the fact that you have comments now makes it that much easier for me to harass you.
Surely I just.
I love these pictures of Denali. Can’t wait to get back up there and see the green.
Less than a week until our road trips start!
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Comment by Angie M. — June 8, 2008 @ 7:47 am
What a great new way to log your journal! Blogging will be a great way for all to follow along on your life journey. I also like how we can leave comments, this way we won’t clog up your email all the time! LOL. Hoping you and Steve have a fantastic trip and can’t wait to hear all about it and see the new wonderful photos that will follow! I know I’ve said it before but I just have to say it again, THANK YOU SUSAN for this wonderful journal you have created! I enjoy reading every word of it!
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Comment by Lynn in MN — June 8, 2008 @ 9:29 am
Thank you all for your wonderful words! I look forward to using this new version of my journal, and being more interactive with my readers.
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Comment by susanstevenson — June 8, 2008 @ 9:39 am
This is beautiful Susan! I as well have spent many hours reading your journal and you have a gift of making those feel like they are traveling right beside you. Thanks for sharing! Warm (VERY warm here in the Southern US) Regards! Susan.
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Comment by Another Susan — June 8, 2008 @ 10:46 am
Hey Gorgeous!
You never cease to amaze me! I’m glad I know the most talented lady in Alaska!
Love ya Bunches!
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Comment by Darla — June 8, 2008 @ 10:54 am
I am so glad to be able to comment directly to your blog. There have been so many times I would have commented had it been this format. Love the looks of it.
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Comment by Rose — June 8, 2008 @ 11:55 am
Love the new format and LOVE that I can comment!!!!
Looks beautiful!
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Comment by Michele — June 8, 2008 @ 12:56 pm
Sweet! I’m sooooooooo glad you’re in a format I can subscribe to now. Excellent!
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Comment by Christen — June 8, 2008 @ 2:18 pm
YAY!! I like this format where you can comment. I can imagine you spent many hours working out the bugs. I missed reading your entries while on vacation. I hope this format works well for you. I hope you have a great start to your week!! PS I loved how your pictures were displayed at The Stash.
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Comment by Abby C. — June 9, 2008 @ 12:09 am
Looks so good! You are so smart to figure this out. I always love to read comments right along with journal entries; it adds an extra dimension to them. Congrats on your new format!
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Comment by Becca — June 9, 2008 @ 3:03 am
I like this set-up. I was reading the this blog before, but it’s now nice that we can comment directly onto each entry. I don’t know HOW you figured out how to make this all work!
I enjoy following you wherever you might write - and photograph!
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Comment by Wendy — June 9, 2008 @ 9:19 am
I just love this new format, Susan. I’ve been reading your journal for several years now - since you started it, I believe. My husband and I have been to AK 3 times and each time is better than the one before. After the first time, I knew that I left a piece of my heart and soul in AK. It had always been a dream of mine to visit, and when that dream was fulfilled, I was so sorry that I hadn’t done it earlier.
If we were younger and not so “set in our ways” we would love to relocate from NC, but with family here and the years getting shorter, we need to stay here. Please continue your writing, Susan. I don’t know what I would do without being able to live vicariously through what you write and the pictures you take.
God Bless You and Steve.
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Comment by Marylyn — June 10, 2008 @ 8:11 am
You are a great talent, Susan. It has been my privilege to follow your life story up there and help me remember what it was like there. Thanks so much for that. I am sure there are many of us that enjoy your wonderful shared life via your journal and your awesome photography. Take Care - Suzanne Allen (wife of retired Army PAO Greg Allen (formerly @ Ft Rich)
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Comment by Suzanne Allen — June 12, 2008 @ 4:39 am
I like it!
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Comment by NatalieF — June 12, 2008 @ 7:36 am
Pam from ‘Alaska Living’ kept writing to read your journal. I didn’t do it right away. One night I was up and received another message from Pam, decided I’d procrastinated long enough and started reading. I stayed up until about 4:30a.m. reading. The next morning I had Gip read it. Like me, he couldn’t stop reading. Not only was your writing mesmerizing, but also your photography. Then we had the privilege of meeting you both in person. It was as if we knew each other at another time in the world. You write about your experiences as I wish I could and your photographs are exquisite. You and Steve are an asset to all who know you and to Alaska. There is a saying I will try to state correctly, “Some people come into our lives, stay for a while, then leave and are gone. Other people come into our lives, imprint beautiful, permanent footprints on our hearts and we are never again the same.”
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Comment by Carmen and Gip Moore — June 27, 2008 @ 9:13 pm