Friends and Family and Other Folks - The Few, The Called, The Chosen

I love the written word, stinging them together to create a visual image that stirs imagination and emotions. I don't just hear words. I feel words. They are the lover's whisper, the tyrant's command, the child's laughter. They are the strong arms that wrap themselves around me and pull me ever forward, half resistant, half willing, along a path paved with multicolored jewels, through a land filled with magic and wonders that only my mind can create. Words are swirling dancers, pirouetting effortlessly, through marble halls of castles built on mountaintops wreathed in clouds set afire by flaming suns.

Words are soothing, healing, encouraging and music to the ear. Words are powerful and destructive. And as such, words are an attraction to others. All kinds of others. Blogs are words.

My contact list is a patchwork of characters, personalities, and faces. Some came with me from Y360. Some have been with me since birth. Some are recent additions based on contacts I've made here and there along a path on the web. Friends, Family, and other folks. Interests wax and wane with the moon and the subject. Some of my contacts I love. Some of my contacts I like. Some I don't know well but their blogs made me think I might like to get to know them better.

I look at the words on your blogs. Yes, I look at the photos, and neat little gadgets you may have. I may marvel at your designs. I may even think your pets or babies are absolutely adorable. But for me, in the end, the words make or break my interest in you.

So I don't accept every invitation I get nor do I reject every invitation. And I don't typically drop people, but I have. Words are always there reason.

I do tend to be very selective as to who I accept. I have specific methods whereby I make my choices. I do not deviate from this.

1. I ALWAYS pray about the person asking to be added.
2. I wait about two weeks before I make a final decision.
3. I ALWAYS check your site several times while I "wait".

During my sojourne with Y360 I added several people for whom I neglected rule #2 & #3 even though I followed #1. It turned out every one was a bad choice. Some were worse than others. Ultimately, since starting this new blog, I have become more picky in my selections and more strick in my dealings with old and new contacts.

• I no longer add because you are a contact of a contact. You get added on your own merits, not someone else's say so.
• I don't add anyone who is obviously diametrically opposed to Christianity. What's the point? You'll get mad and I'll get annoyed and we will both say things best left unsaid.
• I don't add anyone who is into pornographic material. It isn't personal, but my Mama said :If it isn't for sale don't advertise it." I'm not in the market, thank you. And you don't have that much money.
  
• I don't add a lot of men because they don't usually ask women interested in intellectual pursuits. Sorry, I'm into brains. If you're into other stuff, well, you might try those advertising.
• I add more people who are into creative pursuits rather than receipts because I hate cooking.
  
• I don't add only people who share my faith. Rememeber, its all about the words.
  
• I don't bear any malice in any choice I make. It's all about me.
  

Also, please note: I never, ever, ever give my name, location or phone number to anyone that I do not know personally or to whom I am not related. Nor do I want your personal information. If this bugs you, perhaps you we're not a good match. The day we live in is fraught with risk. The internet is a predators dream come true. I'm protecting myself.

Protect yourself. I've seen on some of your blogs that your profile is visible. It shows your name, address, phone numbers, where you work, where you go to school, etc. This is a risky thing if your preferences are set to anything beyond contacts you know personally. You can block your profile and I strongly suggest you do. If you do not block it, please put in a bogus name and in the zip are put a 9 five times. It will show you are in the USA but not a city.

Ultimately, I add contacts the way I buy my mustard. There are all kinds of mustard but I won't buy or eat anything but French's. So, if you made it to my contacts list, you passed mustard.

Now, lets see if you can cut the mustard. It's all about words