Life's Little Adventures

WHY BLOG?

It just seemed like a fun thing at the time. Little did I dream, back in May 2006, the extent to which blogging would enhance my life. It has brought me into contact with long-lost buddies from my years in the U.S. Army in the 1950s, with co-workers from my photographic career in New York City in the 60s and 70s, with people in publishing from the 80s and 90s, and with complete strangers from around the world who share my current interests and passions.

And it was all so easy.

If I can do it, anyone can. TypePad makes it simple and offers a free trial, so I gave it a whirl and discovered just how rewarding this can be. If you'd like to try it without cost, just go to near the bottom of the left-hand column and click on the red TypePad button for more information and their famous free trial.

Keep on bloggin'

Looking for Something?

As you may have noticed, this blog doesn't stick to one subject, but is filled with all kinds of stuff — whatever comes into my garbage mind and won't go away. This might make it difficult for you to find anything, but not if you use the handy Google search field near the bottom of the left-hand column. Just enter what you're looking for, choose the "lifeslittleadventures.typepad.com" button, and click the "Google Search" button. It really works. And, if you choose the "www" button instead, it searches the entire web. Is there anything Google can't do?

The Fun Of Blogging

TYPEPAD HAS MADE MY LIFE MORE INTERESTING

Back in the Spring of 2006 I read one of those "Dummies" books about blogging and decided that even a technically-challenged person like me could do it. Among the various service providers and plans described, Typepad seemed to be the best fit for me — both featurewise and costwise. So I signed up for a free trial.

Am I ever glad that I did!

Getting started was amazingly simple. They do all of the nasty tech stuff like HTML; all I do is type and use the mouse. It couldn't be easier. And when I did have a question that wasn't in their "Knowledge Base," I just typed it in and got an E-mail back the next day patiently explaining all.

On September 1st of this year they made this blog a "Featured Weblog," which resulted in thousands and thousands of more hits. As a result I have been reunited with some of my old army buddies from the 1950s, with business associates from the 60s, and with other old friends. It has also helped sell my books, which makes me happy.

Anyway, if I can do it anyone can. If you'd like to try, just go to near the bottom of the left-hand column and click on the red TypePad button for more information about their free trial.

Keep on bloggin'

LIFE'S LITTLE ADVENTURES is thrilled to have been chosen as Typepad's Featured Blog for Saturday, September 1, 2007! My most heartfelt thanks go to Robin Tilotta at Six Apart for having picked my blog from among the thousands of really great ones hosted by Typepad. And thanks to everyone at Typepad for making blogging so easy that even a technically challenged person like me can do it.

What is this blog about? That's really hard to answer. Travel, Photography, Writing, Book Publishing, Personal Adventures, Music, Art, and Whatever Else Comes Into My Head That Won't Go Away.

A special section is devoted to my time in the U.S. Army, serving in Japan in the late 1950s. Other vets are adding to this blog-within-a-blog, getting a lively discussion going. These are the most visited pages on the entire blog. Just click on either ASA or Military Service on the left-hand column of each page.

Another feature is the selection of free entire chapters from my Daytrips series of travel guides. Click here to see what's available.

Thanks for Visiting, and Come Back Soon!

BLOGGING HAS ITS REWARDS

When I started this blog way back in May of '06, I never realized the extent to which it could enhance my life. Usually it just receives 20 to 30 hits a day, but just last week it got hundreds.

Further investigation revealed that nearly all of them were checking out the pages related to my time in the U.S. Army Security Agency some 50 years ago. As it happened, one vet, Noel Garland of Texas, who happened to be in the same unit with me in 1957-58, came across the blog and told many of his old buddies about it. Now we're e-mailing each other several times a day, comparing notes and photos. Oh, what fun this is! And maybe we'll even get together. Thank you, Noel.

For More On My ASA Experience, Click Here.

Actually, this happened before in the Fall of '06. On the thread about my experiences working with the noted photographer Richard Avedon I mentioned his use of a particular camera. Someone who posts on a website devoted to that camera saw it, and put a link to mine. The hits came pouring in for a few days.

So now I must get busy and put up more posts that attract people with similar interests, along with old friends, colleagues and acquaintances. And if you see something of interest here, feel free to leave a comment or e-mail me.

{NOTE: as of early 2008 it is getting well over a hundred hits a day. I'm aiming at a thousand}

Amazon Connect

A FANTASTIC NEW SERVICE FROM AMAZON:

Amazon Connect opens a wide door for continuous dialog between authors and their readers. It also lets readers and prospective book buyers get to know something about the author, such as a short biography, their activities, plans, likes and dislikes, and whatever else they want to reveal about themselves. And there's usually a picture of them!

Find out more about this exciting new service by visiting their site.

And see my new posting there.