(This is Mark writing this entry.)
OK, I'm starting to think that we made a mistake in appointing the Mick to be the Grandmaster Blogger of the Forever Fosters site. He apparently can't handle it, as he has yet to make a single significant entry into the blogosphere. I would suggest that we replace him, but I'm willing to give him one more shot. If he still can't walk the walk and talk the talk, then I think Large Marge should take over. The Mick has his own blog anyway . . .
Now, I would like to open up a question for discussion. What do YOU, the Foster Clan, want out of this Forever Fosters blog? Now that we each have our own blogs linked to this one, what type of info should be on this site? Who should manage it? How should it look? What is the purpose of it?
I see it as a sort of portal/newsletter/announcement site. Also, I haven't tried to figure it out yet, but I believe that we can set this up so that all of us are teammembers on this site, so that we can each make entries under our own sign-in names.
So, if you are reading this, please make a comment attached to this posting, and let's get some dialogue going here about the future of this blog. And maybe the Mick will do something about it. But probably not . . . :)
--Mark
6 comments:
Mark, Mark:
I am pleased that you finally began honoring my resolve to impose my will by clearly identifying yourself. So noted. You get a raise my friend ;-)
But why O why do you post under the screen name Mick? I guess that my argument that you should not do this is pithily summed up thusly: you are not my father.
I think the site would be a nice place to up&download photos of chubby children and parents. I am missing seeing Cal & the other kids in person. And soon-to-be new Max. That is an excellent name btw.
Still haven't heard from some of the clan. Where you be and where's yr. famous obnoxious attitude? Don't make me regret these words.
Hope everybody survived March Madness w/ unlovable egos intact. Mark: whosyodaddy?
-M@TT
I think you are a little over-anxious to get results Mark. Give the Mick some time to settle into this new, very demanding role...
The main website should be used to post general family info and pictures. Like after a family event, the Mick could post a bunch of pictures and such. Or in preparation for our time together this summer, he could post a general schedule of stuff that is planned.
If you have something about which you want to rant or wax eloquent, then that is perfect for your own blog.
I like the idea of all being team members, because then we could all post on the main site and it would show up as our name, not as "Mick" and Matt would be appeased.
-Ty
I do so like to be appeased. I like the team idea too.
I think the reason that I made up the "2 rules" was because of something Ty just mentioned. I would like to avoid reading on foreverfosters the sort of insufferable arguments exempified by that March Madness email thread. Get a room!!
Let's do this team member thing.
M@TT
I concur -- the Fosters blog should be a portal / photo / general announcement kind of thing, and you boys can hairsplit over sports minutae on your individual pages. Now play nice, everyone! :-P
This is the Blogmaster himself logging into this thing. I am somewhat peeved at one blogger to the north of us who will go unnamed, but whose initials are the same as mine. He is relentless in his pursuit of bloggers and is somewhat annoying and is definitely moving up the scale of annoyingness in the Fam.
That being said, I do apologize for not getting onto this site previous to this. This has been a very, very busy week for me and I do apologize and will try and be more consistent.
What do I want out of this site? I obviously am a rookie at this and so I'm not sure how to answer that totally. I certainly think it is a fun idea but truthfully we talk to you all so much, I'm not sure what your mother and I can contribute to this that is new in nature. I think it is probably true that while most of you talk to each other periodically, you probably don't talk to each other nearly as much as your monther and I talk to each of you. Therefore, this site could a good place to kind of be a clearing house of info that all will have access to.
While I respect Matt and Wendi's comments on some of the stuff we get into, I think it is also true that discussing, yeah maybe even arguing, is kind of the Foster way, right or wrong. I admit we can all be overbearing, (me being the worst at that sometimes....oh all right maybe most of the time........okay all the time!!!)and if one choses to be offended by such banter or is too busy for such casual chatter and wishes not to chip in, I don't think it should curtail it for the rest of us. It is quite easy to log off, like turning off the TV to objectionable material.
What I would most like to do is discuss things and subjects in some depth of a nature that might be of interest or importance to the group... We should be able to do this without shouting or being offended. It is a discussion not a lecture or a speech. I for one have a great deal of respect for each of your opinions and your own life's experiences so far and what that can contribute to the whole of us.
Perhaps we should make a rule that politics and religion, (those seem to be two hot topics and maybe should be mostly off limits) and except in a tangential way should be off the table mos to the time. I have to say that I have had a couple of discussions with Matt over Messenger about topics that we clearly disagree on and I learn from him and I hope he from me. I just enjoy that and also enjoy hearing what each of you thinks about things of importnance to our country, our culture and even the world. We have differences in many areas and that is clear so let's try notto feed the fire in some of those more sensitive areas.
But there are many areas I would like to explore with all of you. Mark's discussion on the medical field is very interesting to me, for instance. Addie's thoughts on why he is thinking about medical school and not dentistry. Dana's thoughts on this impending birth of Max and Angie's thoughts on being a mother all are things I've enjoyed on theirsites for sure, but it would be nice to a have a thread of discussion on a given topic rather than having to jump to everyones' blogs all the time. Parenting in general is a great topic. Matt's knowledge of the stock market and companies he has looked into and his obvious understanding of financial things is of interest, yes maybe even importance to all of us, as you start to think about investing and the like. Same with Wendi, Jeff, Meg, Liz ,etc. All of us have interests, experiences and thoughts that will help the rest of us of that I'm sure. There is a lot we can explore, comment on and perhaps even help or lift each other in a even small way at times.
Please don't anyone get offended. If anything that is going on is distasteful, simply wait for the next topic to come around. I hope you all chose to chime in and lend depth and interest to the discussion and not be upset or angry or annoyed or disgusted or any other adjective.
We are all different but we are all family and no matter what any of you thinks or says on any given topic, that will never change for any of us.
I love you all and that is my 2 cents worth.
My first subject is in-laws and the richness they add to our lives.
I have to tell you that marrying into the Boice family is one of the great blessing in my life. In many ways, I feel much closer t to Margaret's family than my own....epecially the Rustands. As you know, I'm not real close to my own siblings, even Kathy who I share the most aren't that close and that has always troubled me. They have such differnt lifestyles in some cases and are so far away, it is hard to stay close. Even when I was a kid or a younger man, we didn't really stay in touch and the gap has only widened over the years. It was just the way it is. Marrying into the Boice clan was so different for me and I truly, truly love the way I have been accepted by Margaret's side of the family. That was so true of Howard (Boppa) and Caroline for me. I wish some of you daughters-in-law aand even my sons and daughter could have known Boppa longer and better, the way I did. What a great man!! I learned so much from him as a father and husband. I will always be grateful.
Then I think of you girls and how much you mean to me, how much I love you and how much you have enriched the lives of my sons not to mention Margaret's and mine lives. I just almost tear up from the joy that I feel for the selections in wives they have made and the blessings you are in our family. Thank you, thank you and thank you again. You are terrific people and I want you to know how much we love and respect who you are. I know it is not always smooth, but it is very much worth it, to have family and to know you can rely on them to support you and love you despite all your warts. I know I do, and I have plenty of warts, as you all know.
Okay those are some thoughts.
Until the next random thought comes along, I'm outta here.
Dad
It would be really cool if one of you internet-savvy guys figured out how to post sound files. Is that possible on a blog? It just seems like, with as many songs and grandchildren as there will be in this family, it would be cool to be able to hear each other on the family site. If anyone figures it out, please let me know.
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