The internet is smarter than me

Four years ago, I started this blog on Blogger as a place to show progress on our nightmarish home remodel. It originated as a place for friends and family to see what we were doing, but became a spot for me to vent, complain and reach out to the Internet in hopes that others could offer advice or simply just relate to what we were experiencing. And that’s what I found—people who sympathized with and supported our efforts; people who laughed right along with me when projects went horribly wrong.

Then we wrapped up our projects and had a baby and the blog changed courses a bit. Readers have come and gone, but this blog became a bigger part of my life than I ever expected. And then I was asked to write a piece for a great new DIY (from fashion, to decorating, to dining) (look for it on newsstands now – I’m on the last page), and they said they’d mention the blog in the magazine, so I decided it was time to gussy up my little blog. Hence, the move to WordPress.

I assumed it would be easy. I got my own domain and hosting through Host Gator, whose customer support is absolutely amazing. But switching from Blogger to WordPress was really, really, REALLY difficult for me, mostly because I don’t know what the hell I’m doing when it comes to Web/computer stuff.

For a while, the blog wasn’t working at all, then it only worked for some people, then I couldn’t find a way to help my subscribers move over to WordPress with me and I lost most of them. But slowly, they’re finding me (Hi Ethan! Hi Suzy! Hi Tracylynne!)

I could not have created this newer, polished version of A Constructed Life without help from the incredibly awesome Mel Russell, who held my hand through the process of creating a new site. If anyone is in need of a new Web site, graphic design or even just a phenomenal photographer, let me know and I will hook you up with Mel. Also, he’s got a thing, literally, for chicken wings. For all things chicken wing, visit his blog, awingthing.com.

I am also so grateful for my friend, Chris, who has been a part of this blog from the start, as he helped us destroy and rebuild our home and then, because he is a man of many talents, drew the header you see on the blog now. Mel took Chris’ illustration and put it into Illustrator and the new look of the blog was complete. Chris is very talented—his illustrations adorn many of the rooms in our house. If you need some custom illustrations, he’s your man.

And I have to thank Derek Mantz, husband to Cheri, one of the coolest chicks I know, for the fantastic header that I used to have. I sent him three images and asked, “Can you take these and make them a header?” And he did it. Derek, thank you, thank you, thank you for so graciously helping me with so many projects, including artwork for Addy’s room. Go visit his website now, cause he has got some skillz!

And while I’m at it, thank you to my husband for tolerating the many hours I put into this blog. I know he hates it when he sees me reaching for the computer. But he also knows how happy this blog makes me, regardless of how many people read it. And thank you to my friends and family for letting me display you and your glimpses of your lives on the Internet.

And finally, thank you to all the people reading this. Many of you are my friends in real life, but a batch of you have become my blog friends and I greatly appreciate all the support you’ve given me.

So, to sum it up: Thank you and sorry this blog was all messed for a while. It was my fault, not WordPress’s.

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