Progress in a Way

Losing my blog has been a real smack in the head. (I'll explain in another post what happened.) I almost don't know what to write. I've had no help from Blogger via the Internet. So I decided to write a letter. I sent it to a Vice President in charge of Blogger and then I Cced a few other people. It might get some action. I hope. (They were €1.90 each to mail. Can you imagine? I mailed a postcard today and it was €0.95. I said, "That's ridiculous.")

I'm meeting with a friend on the weekend to set up a blog on an independent server...I think that's what you call it. The fact that Blogger is so unavailable has sort of colored how I feel about them. I've tried everything they asked on their website and it goes nowhere.

In other news, I spent the day writing and grading tests. I have some finals tomorrow. I'm glad I can use Excel, at least for some basic things. I'm making two versions of the test and making it look like there are four - I have to dissuade them from trying to cheat.

I'm in the middle of knitting a big round lace shawl because I've never done one and I thought I should have the experience. I can see how people fall in love with knitting shawls. This thing doesn't even really feel like it's lace lace. It's just a bunch of yarn overs every third row and knit the other two. It's a Pi Shawl. I'm so tired of doing yarn overs. But the yarn is really pretty, the Estonian stuff.

Thanks for the kind words, those of you who have contacted me. That's sweet. Makes me smile.

We Are Experiencing Technical Difficulties

Something happened and my fabulous blog - Andy in Amsterdam - has been taken off-line by the good people at Blogger/Google. I'm not sure what's going on, but I'm trying to figure it out.

In the meantime, if you come for a visit, you will be directed here. I have not gone anywhere, nor have I died. I've gotten emails this week from people alerting me to the fact that my blog has gone missing. That gets old after the first two or three. I've also gotten emails from people who asked if I was dead and people who just assumed I'd packed it up and gotten another obsession.

I have a lot to say about this and I will when it's all over. Please return. I think I'll be back in the weekend.

At a Party

Last Saturday, at a party in East Amsterdam, I met a guy really quickly and I mentioned that I would like to do a podcast. I don't remember his name. It was late and I'd had several drinks (and, wow, did I wake up with a thumper of a headache). I thought I should start putting it out there that I would like to do a podcast. I've listened to several on a regular basis and I really enjoy the ones with two hosts. They can bounce subjects off one another.

This guy was not the key to my podcasting career. He was just a friend of a guy in my writer's group. He was sort of wacky and interesting looking - giant nose and long hair. At first, I thought he was the boyfriend of the guy from my writer's group. I told the host, "I thought Kai might be gay. Then I saw him walk in with his boyfriend. That's sort of cool."

The host looked at me and said, "That's not his boyfriend. Kai's straight and his friend has a girlfriend."

I shrugged and said, "They sort of make a cute couple."

Right now isn't even really the best time to start a podcast - for me. But I don't mind looking and talking about it.

Podcasting Obsession

This blog name is being saved as I obsess about making a podcast. I've been listening to podcasts for a couple of months now and I am almost convinced that I need to do my own. I like the name "Instant Andy." Comment and tell me what you think about the name. Is it a little too much "Andy"?

Some of the podcasts I listen to are: Feast of Fools, The Sitterdowners, Cinecast, Morning Sedition, The Catholic Insider, Podquiz, The Bitterest Pill, Am I American? The America Show.

Okay, maybe I should come up with something else without my name. But I like it for now.

Opinions anyone?