On a fine summer day, two years ago in July, I sat down in front of some blogging software. Blogger, it was called. “Why don’t I start my own blog!” I said to myself. I figured it would be nothing more than an online journal where I could entertain my family and my friends.
Blogger prompted me to select a name to be part of the www.—–.blogspot.com domain. I wanted something unique, something easy to remember and something that would stand out.
“Putzworld!” I said to myself. “There’s not too many people out there with a last name like Putz!”
And that’s how www.putzworld.blogspot.com was born.
Ok, so that wasn’t exactly a brilliant move back then, but you have to admit, it was memorable, wasn’t it? Who forgets a Putz?
In the last two years, I’ve been having fun with this blog. I’ve been able to share bits and pieces of my life, such as my family’s story of discovering a deaf gene, or how about some waterskiing memories and the fun of raising my kids. When I had the drive-thru window closed in my face and service denied at the Bolingbrook Steak ‘n Shake, I shared the frustration here on this blog and it spread to many other websites and blogs.
Along the way, the blog became a little bit of something more. I met so many wonderful people, both online and face-to-face as a result of this blog. Every morning, I get the chance to Twitter to hundreds of people. It’s like having a virtual water cooler conversation– something that I don’t normally have access to when conversing in groups without an interpreter.
The blog opened up some writing opportunities for me. I worked for a writing company for a year, dipping my toes into a whole new kind of writing. I went to work as a copywriting freelancer for a real estate company, and lasted through just one project and a tiny grammar mistake before I was kindly “let go.” I still see that real estate company looking for copywriters all the time.
Last fall, out of the blue, I was contacted by an employee of a new, soon-to-be launched website, Disaboom. Would I come and write for them, they wanted to know. I’ve been writing for Disaboom since they launched and I regularly write feature articles for the site. Having my own blog also led to writing for Parenting Squad and the Chicago Moms Blog. My recent article at Chicago Moms Blog, Camp is Over, It’s Back to the Real World, was syndicated in several newspaper websites. I also have another blog that focuses on deaf and hard of hearing people in different Jobs, Careers and Callings.
So here it is, two years later and I love writing more than ever and I plan to continue this blog for many more years. So I’m turning to my readers to learn more about you. What brings you here? What keeps you coming back? Is there something you’d like me to share more of?
Let’s talk!
Comments
14 responses to “Once Upon A Time… I Started Blogging”
YOU ARE SIMPLY IRRESISTABLE !!! YOUR STORIES DO KEEP ME GOING TOO.. KEEP UP YOUR WONDERFUL ADVENTURES… SHARE IT WITH US ALL..
AFTER ALL, THE MAN UPSTAIRS ONLY MADE ONE MOLD FOR A KAREN GRIFFARD.. THAT MOLD IS BROKEN INTO PIECES.. SIMPLY TRANSLATED TO THIS.. THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE KAREN PUTZ.. TOUGH LUCK.. U GOTTA SHARE YOURSELF WITH US.. THAT IS OUR BLESSING AND YOUR CURSE.. DEPENDS HOW YOU LOOK AT IT.. GOOD FOR US.. SUCKY FOR YA.. SMILE..
DOB
Karen:
I have to agree with DOB (what an interesting name!) that you are simply irresistable! Fortunately for me, I actually met you earlier this year so i know you’re the real deal.
What a journey you’ve been on! Everybody who blogs has a reason for doing so and therefore they attract a certain group of people.
For me, I love getting updates on your personal life because it’s interesting, entertaining and full of life. What I’d like to see more of are some of the things like that cute article where you did the “dog analogy.” That was entertaining but full of life lessons. Things like that.
You’re a teacher of sorts – we can all learn from you.
Stephen Hopsons last blog post..Stephen Hopson Interview with Sharmaine Hobbs of When Women Awaken, Part II of II
Wow Karen, you are a busy woman. I am slowly coming back to blogging and visit my blog friends now that I am getting settled in my new home.
Good to see that you are still here but a “new” place. Now I have to update my link to you blog. LOL
See you around.
Jim
Jims last blog post..Update about Jim and His family
I keep coming back because I don’t have time to email, but I still love my loopies and still want to know what’s going on in your life. If only the rest of us were as dedicated as you are about blogging, we’d probably still be as “up” on each others’ lives as we used to be once upon a time. {{{{{{{{{{{karen}}}}}}}}}}
Ok, My Father In law, God rest his soul, was an amazing man who, If you asked him , was hard of hearing. He wasn’t, he was deaf.
I met his daughter in 1975, we were married in 1976. I got to spend a great deal of time with him for the next 28 years, till he passed away. It was an amazing experience.
He rarely understood me through lip reading, and he was forever turning to my wife or his to explain to him what it was I was trying to say to him. He nor I ever learned sign language. Working with him on cars, me underneath, him on top, trying to somehow get him to understand I needed a 1/2 inch open end wrench when he wanted to hand me a set of pliers. Looking back it was funny as heck, then it was a bit frustrating. I usually would get my wife to get the tool for me. I loved him anyway.
I got to work at a local college with the students in a computer library set up. Once the hard of hearing or the deaf knew I took the time to try and understand them, they flocked to me, sometimes waiting 2 or 3 deep to get me to explain to them about their particular problem. I felt honored by this.
Then lo and behold, I find this lady who posts on the Internet who is deaf. She is having some of the same issues that My father in law had, only from a female perspective and its sort of like having him back, I need to seek her out more often. She is very intelligent, That, in a nut shell, is why I keep coming back,
By the way, I’m still married to his daughter. I still love him and her.
Beamer
Beamers last blog post..Fender detail
@DOB
Ok, the check is in the mail for those kind words!
@Stephen,
Thanks for the feedback. It’s funny, I was thinking along the same lines, that I wanted to spread out more and share some life lessons I’ve learned in hopes of reaching out to others. Thanks for the guidance in that direction!
@Jim
Welcome back to blogging! Looking forward to reading more of your stuff!
@Cyndi,
I know, I miss our Loopies days! Remember the days of 50+ emails?
@Beamer
Thank you for sharing! I love seeing those little insights into everyone else’s life. It sure seems like you and your father-in-law had a nice relationship and found your own ways to get around the communication hurdle.
Hi karen,
I apparently misplaced you for a while, but I’m back!
groovyoldladys last blog post..Sing With Me Now: MeMeMeMeMe…
Hi Karen,
I just entered the blogosphere a few months ago, and only very recently started connecting with other families with deafness.
I have three boys. My middle son (9.5) is HoH/deaf…. completely deaf in his left ear, moderate-severely impaired in his right. We’ve been pretty much in the hearing world – not out of denial :0) but because he prefers to hear/speak. We keep ourselves exposed to sign language, and try to keep all our options open.
I’ve “met” several moms with deaf/HoH kiddos, but it’s always nice to “meet” more deaf/HoH adults, and learn from your experience.
Julie
Julies last blog post..That’s When I Knew
How did I just figure out that you twitter?! Oh, well, consider yourself followed!
Along the way, the blog became a little bit of something more.
classically stated, we all feel that after we start blogging
Way to go!!