My first online experience was in 1982 when I was a young teen. I had a Commodore 64 and was so excited to get a 300 bps modem. Connecting through the phone line I found a whole world I didn't know existed (and honestly I would say 99% of people didn't know existed). I got myself a CompuServe account and fell in love with the online experience. It's been so much a part of my life now I can't imagine my world without it. (In fact, I just recently got rid of my CompuServe account -- more from nostalgia than anything else I kept it -- for those of you "in the know", my account was 5 digits and then 2 more after the comma so it was unusual.)
From there I watched the online community grow. I knew people all over the United States from CompuServe (even meeting several of them when they passed through Vegas) and did socializing on local BBSs (Bulletin Board Systems) being amazed as the speeds of the modem shot up to 1200 bps and even 2400 bps. Yes, I still had a "normal" life too. But this was just as "normal" to me then as it is to everyone else now.
When I was pregnant with Travis I discovered newsgroups. While they've been around a long, long time, my main focus of online time had been more of chatting and socializing. I loved gathering all the recipes that were posted to rec.food.cooking and rec.food.recipes. I still have files upon files of those recipes that I go through every once in a while. It was great to read people's comments on food and how they cook. From there I got involved with another newsgroup, rec.crafts.scrapbooks and met the most wonderful people I could ever have imagined. They are counted now as my dearest friends and I only wish we all lived closer to each other so we could see each other much more often.
Fast forward to about a year ago and I discovered another new (to me) phenomenon: food blogs. I'm not quite sure what took me so long to discover them except perhaps my focus computer-wise had been more of gaming than what was online. But once I discovered them I was hooked. I debated about starting my own food blog and if I would have anything interesting to say. I knew it would be a great way to keep my mom in touch with us (they live in Costa Rica) and it would also allow me to share the things that I love.
As is usual, I never imagined how diverse the world of food blogs are. I love the challenges and weekly food events that people are hosting. I was at first hesitant about taking part in any of them (who would want to read what I have to say?), but after jumping in with a submission over at Sweetnick's, I was hooked. Right now my only weekly submissions are for Sweetnick's and Ruth over at Once Upon a Feast but I hope since school is getting out I'll have more time to devote to cooking and blogging.
Where the heck is this post going you ask? Well, I was reading Once Upon a Feast this morning and came across her post about the Foodie Blogroll. It's a great way to get your food blog publicized and make new blogging friends. I joined this morning and wanted to share with you that you too can join the list for your food blog. This is the brainchild of The Left Over Queen and you can find more information about it here.
While the Internet has it's bad sides, one of the most amazing aspects of it is getting to meet and know people you otherwise wouldn't have. I'm blessed to have met and know such wonderful people all because of cyberspace. I hope the list of people just keeps on growing.
