Okay. For the most part I’m keeping things the same. After scouring the worldwide web, I’ve come to the conclusion that I like the look of Decompose. It’s slightly different from the “typical” website (and I like being slightly different). I was initially thinking about going to a more traditional look, but in the end, I still prefer the grungy, earthy, parchment-type feel of this spread.
I was with Blogger since July ’05. I got a decent start there — learned some HTML and blogger etiquette (okay, so I learned HTML). Blogger was good to me. So why the changes?
Couple of reasons. One, I did not like the lengthy addy: www.mikedurans.blogspot.com. Usually when I gave the address out to friends, I’d have to repeat it two or three times. I wanted something simpler. Decompose.com was not available, but mikeduran.com was — and that was even better. As a writer, there’s no better way to “get your name out there” than to have your website be your name. Secondly, (and this is kinda weird) I received a letter from a literary agent who told me that she missed one letter in my address and it took her to a porn site. How embarrassing! Actually, it’s not a porn site but a crude, lewd party dude (and no! I’m not telling you what letter it is, so don’t go looking). Anyway, that really bothered me. Finally, I just got tired of Blogger’s instability — especially when it came to posting pics.
Natalie Jost, who ran with my initial ideas and designed this site, transferred everything from Blogger to WordPress, which means I am now on the front end of a significant learning curve. I’ve got lots of tinkering and tweaking ahead. There are categories to sort, links to add and the continual hammering out of the site’s general content and appearance. So your patience and understanding is appreciated. If you come across something that needs work or burial, please give me a holler. And if by chance you’re linked to Decompose, now would be a good time to change the URL to www.mikeduran.com. Blessings, y’all!
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Done. Changed. Good choice – especially when one wrong letter …. eeeek!!!!! It’s a sick net out there – glad we’ve got some good stuff to balance it out.
I’m glad you stayed with your template, Mike. It has character!
Hope you like your new home. Links are changed now–in favorites and on blog.
Becky
I can relate with the long URL.
I’ve been meaning to say that I really enjoy your blog, and find it most thoughtful. I usually save your blog until I’ve got time to think and read carefully, rather than a “quick click” during the day. Keep up the challenging work!
Blessings,
Jason
Jason, thanks for the kind words. I really appreciate it and am humbled that you can gather a bit of manna out of this wasteland of mine. And Ame and Becky, you know I appreciate you too. Grace to you all!
Looks great bro!
Hey bro, I changed it for you. thanks for linking to me:) are you packed yet?
hey, i noticed you have a flannery o’connor quote. my assistant pastor just gave me the complete works of flannery and told me to read it! I read “Parker’s Back” first. Amazing writing.