Okay…I know I’ve Been A Bit Lazy Lately
Yea, I’ve been a bit lazy this past week. It’s not that I’ve forgotten about blogging now that summer has technically kicked off with kids out of school…but during the summer months keeping a daily online journal certainly becomes more of a challenge. After all, who wants to sit by the computer each day and type when the weather is so damn nice outside? I know a lot of days I sure don’t.
Quite honestly, the raw statistics of who reads this blog site bears this out to be true, too. Typically during the summer months I can expect about 1/3 to 1/2 as many readers as I get during the other three seasons. Unless you are some kind of computer junkie who needs a daily computer fix like some folks need a cup of coffee in the morning…chances are good you hook up to the World Wide Web a whole lot less often during the next three months than any other time of the year. That’s just an educated hunch I have.
Truth is I mostly blog for fun, but I also try to blog regularly and with some degree of seriousness. Often times I don’t know what I plan to blog about until I sit down at the computer and start typing. Those are the days that it probably sounds like I’m rambling about nothing. Hey, I admit it…there are times I write about things that inspire me less than perhaps the topic should.
Take for instance the bass fishing season that recently opened about two weeks ago here in Minnesota. I know for a lot of folks bass fishing is a year-round activity, but that’s not so up here in the Northern tier states. Our season opened about two weeks ago and while I had every intention to write a big piece and try to get all hyped up about it…the truth is the day came and went with no words written. I even told Rich Lindgren over at Rich Lindgren’s Bass Tournament Fishing Blog that I would give some time to bass just like I did to the walleye about a month ago…but I just couldn’t muster the enthusiasm to do it. I’m sorry! I’m not a bass fisherman and I just can’t feign some enthusiasm for a sportsman activity that isn’t there. I know that bass fishing is without a doubt the most popular type of fishing in North America…but it just doesn’t excite me. Therefore, I choose not to write about it. If you want to learn more about bass…then check out Rich’s web site or the Basspastor over at the BassPundit.
I guess that’s what’s fun about blogging. I really have nobody to answer to so I can write about the topics that truly excite me. Oh, sure, I try to keep the readers in mind and focus on topics that have broader appeal…but that’s not always the case. Same way with some of my posts that focus on Minnesota. Some might say I’m too regionalized…and that criticism may be true. But a person has to write about the breadth of experiences you have and when you spend 90% of your time hunting and fishing in one particular state what else do you expect?
The Sportsman’s Blog is therefore mostly about my thoughts and comments as a sportsman from the upper Midwest. If you’re a regular reader I would hope that over time you feel as though I’m just a regular sportsman who would fit into the mix just like the others do in your hunting and fishing circles. Sometimes I have opinions, other times I have ideas, occasionally I even have some news items that I like to share that might benefit others on this blog site.
During the upcoming summer months I will continue to do my best to blog as regularly as possible. I’m even planning to keep the podcasts rolling along (by the way, I plan to post Sportsman’s Blog Podcast #3 on Sunday, so stay tuned). But keep in mind that during the summer season life often pulls me in many different directions with family commitments, etc. Therefore, if I’m not posting for a few days it’s probably because I am out enjoying the great outdoors or away for a few days on vacation. I’m sure you’ll all understand.
Take care…have a safe and wonderful summer enjoying the great outdoors!
2006 Jim Braaten. All Rights Reserved. No Reproduction without Prior Permission.