Hey OOTOB readers and especially OOTOB commenters,

Well, that clock is ticking and 2013 is quickly drawing to a close.  Waah!  I am SO kidding.  I’m excited to usher in 2014 in all its glory!  Let’s talk about 2013 in review here on OOTOB.

So by a huge long shot, my most popular post in 2013 was How to Clean for Passover in One Day.  I mean, that was viral (by my standards) with nearly 10,000 hits.  9332 for you dataheads.  Is everyone really so intimidated by Passover???

Next in line, in the 3000 range, was my interview with my friend, the convert, Diplogeek.  In the 2000 range were #3 and #4, Disillusioned and (surprisingly to me) Be Careful What You Name Your Kid.  People are so into names for their kids!  This post got almost the most comments too.  180!!

#5, #6, and #7, all in the 1700 range, were Christian Modesty, Jewish Modesty, A Skeptic Becomes a Convert, and Why I’m Not a Pluralist.  #8, with 1400 hits, was my marriage tips post in honor of our 20th anniversary, and #9 (1392 hits) was The Bnei Mitzvah Blues.  And #10 for most popular posts of 2013 was I Don’t Know What To Say, with 1299 hits.

Parenthetically, my most popular off-the-charts post of all time, with 12,675 hits, is my interview with my Chassidic friend, Libby.  And nearly EVERY SINGLE DAY someone finds my blog by googling something about Chassidic people.

Least popular post!  Tada! Prayer for Boston, after the bombing back in April.  Even fewer hits than my “announcement posts” (like “I’m taking a blogging break”).  I find that kind of weird.  Isn’t that universal?  Maybe the people who read my blog don’t pray all that much?  Or maybe it’s not why they read my blog?  It got only 323 hits.

Most comments?  Why I’m Not a Pluralist, in June, with 191 comments, which, together with the Bnei Mitzvah Blues, in April (at 62 comments, some emotionally heated) were my scariest posts to moderate.  Perhaps they contributed to my unprecedented two-month blogging break and subsequent reevaluation of the blog.

Now here’s a surprise: the post I wrote at least three times and never had the guts/stupidity (you pick) to publish, entitled “WOW Backstory: Israel’s Identity Crisis.”  I’m grateful that one stayed in the drafts!  But I didn’t actually delete it 🙂

Curious to hear your favorites, or what really stuck with you from OOTOB in 2013.  Wishing all a happy new year in 2014 with lots more fun convos here!

Dear readers,

Out son’s bar mitzvah next week!  See ya on the other side!

Hey OOTOB community,

I’ll be taking a little summer break.  See ya on the flip side!  Hope you all have a safe and wonderful summer.

Ruchi

1. If you could outsource any domestic chore or duty, which one would you choose? Sweeping!  Also laundry (doing and folding)  – not that I really mind doing them (I actually find them kind of relaxing) but because it takes too much time.  Really cooking but it’s a way to nurture my family, so it’s going to be me.
2. What mitzvah, or spiritual practice, do you connect with the most?  Shabbos.  It’s just so brilliant and there is no other way to carve out that time unless mandated communally.
3. If you could rename yourself, what name would you pick?  Gosh, I never thought about that.  Maybe something a little more pronounceable, like Shira or Rina.
4. What’s your proudest accomplishment?  Every time I think of an accomplishment, I realize it’s really a blessing.  So instead of proud, I am very, very grateful.
5. What’s your favorite holiday?  Chanukah!
6. Where’s the most beautiful place you’ve visited?  Rosh Hanikra in Israel.  The water flows through these caves and the sun plays on the water and it’s just crazy.  I also have a weakness for the old city of Tzfat.
7. What song would you listen to for a boost of energy?  Raffi Rise and Shine 🙂
8. What do you consider comfort food?  Pasta.  Yum yum.
9. Prior to marriage, did you have a “list” of qualities you wanted in a spouse?  If so, how close was your list to reality?  Yes.  Very.  Another blessing, thank God.
10. If you could play any instrument, which one would it be?  Guitar.  It’s on my bucket list.
11. You won a free trip to anywhere you like.  Where would you go?  Of course I would say Israel first, but I do get to go to Israel with my organization so I’ll pick instead South Africa.  Or Prague.  Because everyone says they’re so beautiful and both are rich with Jewish history.

How a post goes from brain to screen is different depending on each blogger.  Here’s my story:

1. Idea
An idea pops into my head, or as I prefer to look at it, God pops an idea into my head.  This may be sparked by a conversation I have with someone, an article or book I’ve read, a question I am asked, a discussion I’m following on Facebook or on another blog, or just out of the blue.

2. ColorNote
I enter the idea into an app on my phone that I use to organize my life, and I do mean my whole entire life.  It’s a sticky notes app, and I have one for calls to make, errands to run, things to discuss with my husband (I do not kid), things to do on a real computer (as opposed to on my phone, on the spot), books I’ve loaned out, people to pray for, and blog post ideas.

3. Immediate Creation
Or, if I feel really passionate about an idea, I’ll bypass the list and just get in front of the computer as soon as I can and whip it out.  I have also been known on occasion to blog on my phone if I feel very strongly about something and my patience level is low and it’s not too long.

4. Computer
When I have a few moments in front of a real computer, like now, I’ll pull an idea off the list and blog away.  I try to switch it up so serious posts are interspersed with light ones (both for your sanity and mine).  If the idea requires research or quoting another source, it’ll take a little longer, but usually I write quickly and get it all out.

5. Editing
I hit “preview” which means I see what the post would look like when published.  This is important because it psychologically puts my brain in the brains of my (varied and eclectic) readers.  I try to imagine what an Orthodox and non-Orthodox person would feel while reading it.  I try to imagine if my rabbi would be pleased, or if I would feel embarrassed for my mother to see it.  I try to envision if a non-Jewish person would respond well or poorly.  I edit for spelling and grammar but rarely actually rework it.  (Major exception: my Disillusioned post was heavily edited and reworked after writing.)  I figure, it’s a blog post, not a novel, and if I try to make it perfect, it will never see the light of day and the blog will die.

6. Labels
I choose “tags” or labels that describe the subject matter.  That keeps my post organized so, if you look on the right sidebar, you can click a topic and see things that have been written on those topics.

7. Publish
I used to schedule my posts to appear during early morning so people will see them first thing.  I don’t do that anymore.  Firstly, I don’t blog every day so it’s not like it’s a daily thing, but mostly, I’m excited to publish and get responses, hits and feedback so basically…I just don’t want to wait!

8. Facebook
I link my new piece on my Facebook page with a little teaser or excerpt.  Facebook is a major traffic source for my blog.  I love when a discussion ensues there as well as on the blog.  It used to bother me (I wanted more comments on the actual blog as opposed to “losing” them to Facebook) but not anymore.  It’s just another place for people to chat about the topic and learn about my blog.

9. Check My Hits
I go to my blogger page and check out my stats.  It’s way fun to see those numbers go up.  Yeah!  I can also see if other websites are bringing me traffic by linking my posts or blog, which is exciting.  Sometimes I’m linked in anti-religion sites, but I’ve already learned not to click those or I will end up reading nasty things about myself – no thanks.

10. Comments
Every time someone posts a comment, I get an email with three options: publish, delete, or mark as spam.  Most of my non-spam comments get published as-is.  On controversial posts, I get a little pang in my stomach when I receive a new comment, wondering if it’s going to upset me or be OK.  Even when a comment upsets me, usually it only upsets me until I formulate a response.  Occasionally I edit comments if I think they contain lashon hara or are mean-spirited.  Or I might choose to delete it entirely.  Or I might not publish it, but will write a response inviting the commenter to rework it so it’s publishable.

If I’m in a meeting or with my kids, and not looking at my phone for awhile, the comments will hang out until I get to them.  Then I might approve a bunch of comments at once when I get to my emails and they will all hit the blog at the same time.  Fortunately, blogger organizes them in the order that they were originally posted, so the logical thread remains intact.

11. Responding to Comments
If I have short response, I just do it on my phone.  Or in the evening when I get in front of my computer I’ll respond to a bunch of comments at once.  Sometimes this can be really frustrating – if I really want to respond but don’t have time to get to it right away.  But sometimes other commenters will respond instead of me, and do an even better job.  THAT is cool.  Bloggie nachas.  The comments usually go on for a few days, and when they wind down, I post something new.  Of course, I love when the conversation continues even after new posts go up.

12. In Person Feedback
I might be in shul/synagogue or the carpool line or at a wedding and someone gives me feedback about the blog.  That is always really exciting!  The idea that what I do here behind my tiny little laptop makes a difference in people’s lives is thrilling and humbling.

How do you participate in this blog?  At work?  At home?  On your phone?  If you’re a blogger, is your process similar?