One. I started blogging in November 2012, not coincidentally when I was at my first NCTE conference. My very first post was called Writing Advice from John Green’s Dad and my mom left my only comment. “11 Things About Me as a Blogger” will be my 1,066th blog post.
Two. The title of my blog comes from a quotation in a Harry Potter novel. You’d think that must make me a huge Harry Potter fan, and I do like the books and I’ve read them more than once. But I’m no mega fan. No HP merchandise or clothing for me, no sorting myself into houses (doesn’t everybody just choose Gryffindor anyway?), etc. I can’t even remember which book the line about the dirigible plum comes from anymore. (Readers, if you know, please remind me!) Also, I have to slow down every time I type dirigible because my fingers always want to type digirible instead.
Three. I started blogging to reflect on teaching, writing, reading, and learning. I still do all those things, but I also have a lot of posts about cats. (This is probably my favorite one, since it’s about my favorite cat. But I also love this thank you note to Zorro.) I also write about parenting, though less and less as my son gets older and I become more thoughtful about privacy issues. During March for the Slice of Life Challenge, I will tackle any topic that inspires a little writing (even bloody noses—which I’ve sliced about twice!) (Even if my son has a bloody nose this month, I hereby vow NOT to write a slice about it. Two bloody nose slices is probably already one too many.)
Four. I try to blog twice a week throughout the year (Monday’s “It’s Monday! What Are You Reading”? reading round-up and Tuesday’s Slice of Life) and every day in March for the Slice Challenge. Last year, I added every day in April for the poetry challenge and every day in December for a haiku challenge with my friend Trina). I like daily blogging challenges, though I am not inclined to write more poetry–at least not until December!
Five. I have a lot of ideas for blog posts that I don’t make time to write. I feel an urgency to write for a few hours or even a couple of days after I find the idea, and then it disappears. I hate losing all this potential writing and thinking.
Six. I rarely use three words when thirteen or thirty-four or ninety-two might work just as well. I know many readers prefer shorter posts (I do too!), but my posts often run long.
Seven. I have been meaning to change the appearance of my blog for three years now and still haven’t done it. I like the font just fine in drafting mode, but once I hit publish, I can’t bear to visit my own blog because the font is so tiny and ugly. Will sharing how much I hate my own blog’s appearance in this post be the spark I need to actually change it? Stay tuned!
Eight. My mother has always been my first reader, and she has read all 1,066 blog posts and commented on many of them. Even when she doesn’t have a comment to make about the content, I know I can count on her eagle eyes to spot the typos and send me an emergency edit needed text!
Nine. I’m always surprised when people I know in real life read my blog. It’s still startling when a colleague stops me in the hall to ask me about something they’d only know about from reading my blog.
Ten. Blogging has connected me to a supportive online community of like-minded teachers who are committed to reading and writing and reflecting on living a literate life. I’ve even made lasting friendships through blogging.
Eleven. Many of my posts, especially slices and including this one, are inspired by other blog posts. Reading and commenting on other blogs is a huge part of the blogging joy for me. I love how someone else’s post will sow the seeds for mine. And then someone will read my post and feel inspired to write their own. And so on.
Thanks to Trina at Trinarrative for the idea for today’s post!
the dirigible plum 
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