As you set off on any venture there are always things to consider and tasks that have to be completed that you never in your wildest dreams gave a second thought. Doing a blog was supposed to be a fun way to get my musings online. Then comes the work of the thing.

The writing is easy. I sit down, an idea or event pops into my head and my fingers begin to fly over the keyboard. Next comes the editing and second guessing of should I include this phrase, does this help the story, or have I told too much. Ok, I overcome enough of my neurosis to get that part done and breathe a sigh of relief.

Following this I might share the idea with a friend/reader before publishing; just to get a feel for how what I thought was so witty and brilliant comes across to someone who might not think it so witty and brilliant. One friend/reader in particular has stayed on my back, oops! I mean helped me with all kinds of points and suggestions. Her name is Jennifer, but I call her Virginia as in “Yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus”.

All my emails to her have that in the heading: “Well Virginia I’m off to do this” or “Yes Virginia I have completed it.” She will ask a million questions, make almost as many comments and I really can’t argue with her because most of the stuff she brings up are very good points. Very good points that require work!

A week ago she suggested I set up a mailing list to notify readers when the next column is online so they don’t keep looking in vain for the next installment of “As the Stomach Turns by Cherrie McKenzie.” The final product online looks neat and easy but if you go to the top of your webpage click on the word “View” then scroll down to the word “Source” what pops up is the source code that makes this whole thing work. It is the Great OZ behind the curtain. That strange and wonderful language called HTML. And, setting up the mailing list uses a language very similar to HTML that is just as frustrating.

But, it was a good idea I decided to try. And, thought I would turn the tables on Jennifer and use her as my tester for the instructions I had written for ease of enrolling. Did I mention that I am in Jacksonville and Jennifer is 200 miles away in Tampa, that all the instructions to set up the mailing list are done by computer and no human intervention is involved, or that the computer which forwards the email to people on the list is in London?

Cut to the cartoon with Wiley Coyote and the Road Runner going behind the rock and the email fur flying. But I have to say that despite all the problems Jennifer impressed me and hung with it. So much so that now ladies and Gentleman I have designated Jennifer as the Quality Control Department.

And, just to show that Coactive Dreams is an equal opportunity listener, I have opened the blog up to comments from everyone and no Google account is required:

Simply click on the word “comments” at the end of the article which will open a page that says “Leave your Comments”. At the bottom of the comment section is the heading “Choose an Identity”, below that and you will see “Name/URL” if you highlight that your comments will be posted.

Picture it… you too can join the Quality Control Department and meet Jennifer, the person you will be working with: