Comments on: When Does Blogging Dilute the Experience? http://swirlingnotions.com/2008/04/18/when-does-blogging-dilute-the-experience/ Experiential wine education and real conversation over a virtual glass of wine Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:49:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: swirlingnotions http://swirlingnotions.com/2008/04/18/when-does-blogging-dilute-the-experience/#comment-2190 swirlingnotions Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:35:14 +0000 http://swirlingnotions.com/2008/04/18/when-does-blogging-dilute-the-experience/#comment-2190 Steph . . . What a lovely image! Laurie . . . Those are great tips, thank you! I think it's even more the photography that throws me off than the writing. So I really appreciate your advice. Dana . . . I so know what you mean! Last weekend, I had a bottle of CDB rose on the table with some mortadella and jamon serrano and the sun happened to be shining in just a certain way that it illuminated the wine and just made a gorgeous composition with the meats. So I made my husband wait on the salumi course while I snapped away! ;-) Steph . . . What a lovely image!

Laurie . . . Those are great tips, thank you! I think it’s even more the photography that throws me off than the writing. So I really appreciate your advice.

Dana . . . I so know what you mean! Last weekend, I had a bottle of CDB rose on the table with some mortadella and jamon serrano and the sun happened to be shining in just a certain way that it illuminated the wine and just made a gorgeous composition with the meats. So I made my husband wait on the salumi course while I snapped away! ;-)

]]> By: Dana McCauley http://swirlingnotions.com/2008/04/18/when-does-blogging-dilute-the-experience/#comment-2172 Dana McCauley Fri, 25 Apr 2008 13:04:19 +0000 http://swirlingnotions.com/2008/04/18/when-does-blogging-dilute-the-experience/#comment-2172 Hey there, I'm fairly new to blogging so I can say that yes, I do sometimes find blogging a bit intrusive to enjoying food experiences. More than once I've had to ask people to "Wait! Don't eat that yet!" So that I could get a picture. Needless to say, this interupts the seamless enjoyment of eating. The other comment I'd make is that blogging about food adds complexity to otherwise easy party preparation. I found that the day of my Scotch tasting (http://danamccauley.wordpress.com/2008/03/17/scotch-tasting-and-its-connection-to-butterscotch/ , http://danamccauley.wordpress.com/2008/03/20/an-easy-appetizer-for-the-weekend/ )that I had to build in time for photos. Once I got started the chairs were distracting so I had to move them all and then move them back when I was done...In a way it's all worth it though since now I have much better pictures of the set up than I would have bothered to take if I hadn't planned to blog about the party. And that, is my .02$ on that! Hey there,

I’m fairly new to blogging so I can say that yes, I do sometimes find blogging a bit intrusive to enjoying food experiences. More than once I’ve had to ask people to “Wait! Don’t eat that yet!” So that I could get a picture. Needless to say, this interupts the seamless enjoyment of eating.

The other comment I’d make is that blogging about food adds complexity to otherwise easy party preparation. I found that the day of my Scotch tasting (http://danamccauley.wordpress.com/2008/03/17/scotch-tasting-and-its-connection-to-butterscotch/ , http://danamccauley.wordpress.com/2008/03/20/an-easy-appetizer-for-the-weekend/ )that I had to build in time for photos. Once I got started the chairs were distracting so I had to move them all and then move them back when I was done…In a way it’s all worth it though since now I have much better pictures of the set up than I would have bothered to take if I hadn’t planned to blog about the party.

And that, is my .02$ on that!

]]> By: Laurie Constantino http://swirlingnotions.com/2008/04/18/when-does-blogging-dilute-the-experience/#comment-2170 Laurie Constantino Thu, 24 Apr 2008 07:37:09 +0000 http://swirlingnotions.com/2008/04/18/when-does-blogging-dilute-the-experience/#comment-2170 You've posted a very interesting question and one I'm sure most people who spend time blogging have thought about. I don't draw hard lines. Sometimes, I'm in the mood where paying attention to blog issues is important, and sometimes I'd rather be more in the moment. It's like Justice Potter said about pornography, I know it when I see it - in this case, "it" being the frame of mind necessary to catalog information. You also wonder about getting in the habit of taking photos of dinner. I try to keep my tripod visible and convenient which is a helpful reminder to take pictures. If I make enough food for there to be leftovers, I take pictures before I put the food away, as I'm cleaning the kitchen. If there is only enough for dinner, I take them before. After awhile, it becomes an easy habit. I end up photographing lots of things I don't write about, but it doesn't matter because it means I will have pictures of everything I do want to write about. You’ve posted a very interesting question and one I’m sure most people who spend time blogging have thought about. I don’t draw hard lines. Sometimes, I’m in the mood where paying attention to blog issues is important, and sometimes I’d rather be more in the moment. It’s like Justice Potter said about pornography, I know it when I see it - in this case, “it” being the frame of mind necessary to catalog information.

You also wonder about getting in the habit of taking photos of dinner. I try to keep my tripod visible and convenient which is a helpful reminder to take pictures.

If I make enough food for there to be leftovers, I take pictures before I put the food away, as I’m cleaning the kitchen. If there is only enough for dinner, I take them before. After awhile, it becomes an easy habit. I end up photographing lots of things I don’t write about, but it doesn’t matter because it means I will have pictures of everything I do want to write about.

]]> By: Stephanie http://swirlingnotions.com/2008/04/18/when-does-blogging-dilute-the-experience/#comment-2168 Stephanie Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:27:06 +0000 http://swirlingnotions.com/2008/04/18/when-does-blogging-dilute-the-experience/#comment-2168 I love Shana's illustration too . . . as to writing things down, I am grateful my daughter was beside me in Vietnam also keeping a journal. One thing we both wrote about was on the 4th of July, as we drove through the mountains "home" after a long clinic day, a storm pounded us and lightening flashed in a way I've never seen . . . our own special fireworks. I'm still hungry. I love Shana’s illustration too . . . as to writing things down, I am grateful my daughter was beside me in Vietnam also keeping a journal. One thing we both wrote about was on the 4th of July, as we drove through the mountains “home” after a long clinic day, a storm pounded us and lightening flashed in a way I’ve never seen . . . our own special fireworks. I’m still hungry.

]]> By: swirlingnotions http://swirlingnotions.com/2008/04/18/when-does-blogging-dilute-the-experience/#comment-2165 swirlingnotions Tue, 22 Apr 2008 20:16:05 +0000 http://swirlingnotions.com/2008/04/18/when-does-blogging-dilute-the-experience/#comment-2165 What an awesome conversation we have going here! I love hearing everyone's perspective on this. Mike . . . I love your mantra, "blog for fun, don't have fun to blog." It keeps it real. Thanks for sharing. Rosemary . . . Everything about your comment is precioius. You are adorable. Steph . . . And there's the conundrum of how much is forgotten if it's not written down . . . Robin . . . I think I tend to view blogging more as you do. I'll ponder something for a while in a larger context and then capture it in a post to spark conversation. And you're right, there's a big difference between that approach and sort of in-the-moment blogging. Shana . . . What a great illustration. Elisabeth . . . I still haven't got the take-a-photo instinct embedded yet. Even when I'm cooking at home, I'll clean my plate and think, "what a great dish," and then lament that I didn't take a photo to post. Any suggestions for getting in the habit? Or is it just practice? Steve . . . I'm so glad you made it to Deanie's! You didn't happen to snap a pic, per chance, did you? ;-) And I agree, blogging can become pervasive--and invasive--when you're thinking about it all the time . . . and maybe Katie's method is one answer on how to balance. What an awesome conversation we have going here! I love hearing everyone’s perspective on this.

Mike . . . I love your mantra, “blog for fun, don’t have fun to blog.” It keeps it real. Thanks for sharing.

Rosemary . . . Everything about your comment is precioius. You are adorable.

Steph . . . And there’s the conundrum of how much is forgotten if it’s not written down . . .

Robin . . . I think I tend to view blogging more as you do. I’ll ponder something for a while in a larger context and then capture it in a post to spark conversation. And you’re right, there’s a big difference between that approach and sort of in-the-moment blogging.

Shana . . . What a great illustration.

Elisabeth . . . I still haven’t got the take-a-photo instinct embedded yet. Even when I’m cooking at home, I’ll clean my plate and think, “what a great dish,” and then lament that I didn’t take a photo to post. Any suggestions for getting in the habit? Or is it just practice?

Steve . . . I’m so glad you made it to Deanie’s! You didn’t happen to snap a pic, per chance, did you? ;-) And I agree, blogging can become pervasive–and invasive–when you’re thinking about it all the time . . . and maybe Katie’s method is one answer on how to balance.

]]> By: katie http://swirlingnotions.com/2008/04/18/when-does-blogging-dilute-the-experience/#comment-2164 katie Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:35:26 +0000 http://swirlingnotions.com/2008/04/18/when-does-blogging-dilute-the-experience/#comment-2164 I do it in stages: pay close attention to the details for a few minutes; then put the blog out of my mind and concentrate on the pleasure. Then the next day, I go over it, in my mind, so I don't forget anything. I never take notes, and, only maybe, 1 photo at the start. I do it in stages: pay close attention to the details for a few minutes; then put the blog out of my mind and concentrate on the pleasure.
Then the next day, I go over it, in my mind, so I don’t forget anything. I never take notes, and, only maybe, 1 photo at the start.

]]> By: Steve http://swirlingnotions.com/2008/04/18/when-does-blogging-dilute-the-experience/#comment-2163 Steve Tue, 22 Apr 2008 11:44:45 +0000 http://swirlingnotions.com/2008/04/18/when-does-blogging-dilute-the-experience/#comment-2163 I was just in New Orleans two weeks ago. I made the mistake of waiting in line for Mother's. It wasn't what I remembered it to be. Deanie's was great though. I love down-home cooking. I struggle with this topic. I have taken two weeks off from blogging, entirely unintentionally, and I have to say I have enjoyed wine and eating out much more. It is mentally taxing to be thinking about your blog while doing something. I was just in New Orleans two weeks ago. I made the mistake of waiting in line for Mother’s. It wasn’t what I remembered it to be. Deanie’s was great though. I love down-home cooking.

I struggle with this topic. I have taken two weeks off from blogging, entirely unintentionally, and I have to say I have enjoyed wine and eating out much more. It is mentally taxing to be thinking about your blog while doing something.

]]> By: Elisabeth http://swirlingnotions.com/2008/04/18/when-does-blogging-dilute-the-experience/#comment-2160 Elisabeth Tue, 22 Apr 2008 01:28:46 +0000 http://swirlingnotions.com/2008/04/18/when-does-blogging-dilute-the-experience/#comment-2160 Like Mike, I don't ever blog about restaurant experiences..only things I make myself. Partially because we don't eat out very often, and partially because I DO think I might have some difficulty "savoring" the experience - though I admire and appreciate those who do restaurant reviews on their blogs. At my house, the most difficult thing to contend with is waiting to eat something until I get that perfect photo - especially if I have guests. I've learned to let that go a bit and realize that it's not the end of the world if I don't get a photo of EVERYTHING that comes out of the kitchen - sometimes it's more important to enjoy the food itself, and of course, the company. :) Like Mike, I don’t ever blog about restaurant experiences..only things I make myself. Partially because we don’t eat out very often, and partially because I DO think I might have some difficulty “savoring” the experience - though I admire and appreciate those who do restaurant reviews on their blogs. At my house, the most difficult thing to contend with is waiting to eat something until I get that perfect photo - especially if I have guests. I’ve learned to let that go a bit and realize that it’s not the end of the world if I don’t get a photo of EVERYTHING that comes out of the kitchen - sometimes it’s more important to enjoy the food itself, and of course, the company. :)

]]> By: Shana http://swirlingnotions.com/2008/04/18/when-does-blogging-dilute-the-experience/#comment-2159 Shana Mon, 21 Apr 2008 23:32:39 +0000 http://swirlingnotions.com/2008/04/18/when-does-blogging-dilute-the-experience/#comment-2159 When I was younger I used to be the one at the parties taking the pictures. When I would get them developed I noticed that I was never in them, I was watching other people having fun. I finally realized that there is a balance of actually living and capturing the moment to share with others. I just posted a blog in response to this post.... I believe that it basically all comes down to enjoying life the way you want to without having it pass by. When I was younger I used to be the one at the parties taking the pictures. When I would get them developed I noticed that I was never in them, I was watching other people having fun. I finally realized that there is a balance of actually living and capturing the moment to share with others.

I just posted a blog in response to this post…. I believe that it basically all comes down to enjoying life the way you want to without having it pass by.

]]> By: work and life to intertwined together… « Shana; not out on VHS yet http://swirlingnotions.com/2008/04/18/when-does-blogging-dilute-the-experience/#comment-2158 work and life to intertwined together… « Shana; not out on VHS yet Mon, 21 Apr 2008 22:16:22 +0000 http://swirlingnotions.com/2008/04/18/when-does-blogging-dilute-the-experience/#comment-2158 [...] Huber, Clos du Bois’ blogger for swirlingnotions.com just posted a blog asking the question, does having the experience just for the sake of a blog post make the experience satisfying enough [...] […] Huber, Clos du Bois’ blogger for swirlingnotions.com just posted a blog asking the question, does having the experience just for the sake of a blog post make the experience satisfying enough […]

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