Small Changes

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So, I got another one of ones those “your blog is kind of jacked up” emails from North last night.

He told me my blog is kind of hard to read and suggested I make the font bigger and play with the colors a bit.

I want you all to know that I am aware that my blogs lacks, well everything. It’s not a good design and you may want to sit down for this,

I don’t know what I am doing.

The only person less skilled on a computer than me, is my husband. We literally email, search the web and FB. That is it.

When I first set up the blog, I picked a template, followed the prompts, and started typing. I hated the background color, font color etc. That is actually one of the reasons for so many paragraph breaks. The font size makes it hard to read. Also, I am terrible at asking for help or asking for anything from people, so I just never did. Plus, to be honest, I didn’t even know I could change those things. I had seen cool stuff on other blogs, but I figured it was some professional thing and I am not spending money on a blog no one reads:)

I am still not spending money on the blog because I want to spend it on guns and other col stuff like that, but now that I know how, I will try to make it a better viewing and reading experience for you.

Please be patient as I try to play around the next few days and find what works best. I am not making massive changes. My blog is plain, but strangely, I have grown very attached to it and my new name. I love when you all call me “A Girl”.

I am forever grateful to Mr. North for helping me so much! I desperately needed some assistance and you, as always, were there.

40 thoughts on “Small Changes”

  2. antitango, you are right and I do. That is why when the meanies have said things about my opinions and what not I didn’t get upset. I am not a professional nor do I pretend to be anything other than a girl with her gun sharing her journey. I actually do have a pretty good handle on the English language, but I just don’t take the time to edit well and I write on here “like” I talk and not like I am writer. Thanks for the advice.

  3. The fonts, colors, etc are all just fine. There’s nothing wrong with them. Perhaps the complainer needs to learn to reset his browser’s font scaling zoom or level or something like that. Don’t sweat it.

  4. Evan, he was not complaining. No one has complained(expect those few people on reddit). People are very very nice to me. I meant my post as playful banter with North because we are friends. I really do appreciate his help and he never has said “your blog is jacked”. He always says, can I offer a little help and tells me to ignore it if I want. Thanks for sticking up for me though:)

  5. I actually think it is much easier to read, so thanks for changing it, and thanks for North for offering the help.

  6. I’m pretty sure I didn’t use “jack” to complain about your sucky and horrific blog.

    *snort*

    I’m here for the content, which is great.

    I like the little visual changes. I like that the contrast isn’t so harsh, now. It just feels calmer.

  8. You might want to get in touch with Robb Allen at Sharp as a Marble. Robb’s a whiz with HTML and site design.

  9. The only issue I have with it is the life size Glock 27 at the top, other than that it is a typical blog.

    I made sweeping changes to mine in December and I hardly got a comment.

    Don’t sweat it.

  10. Yup, and for doing blog posts if you’re on a Windows box, I highly suggest Windows Live Writer. It makes writing blog posts as easy as writing something up in word. Pictures and all.

    Don’t sweat it. One way or another we’ll help you straighten it out. Usability is a PITFA and it just takes time. Hell my blog is still going through changes from time to time. You’re mainly seeing an influx of feedback because you have a LOT more eyes looking at your blog now.

    Besides, if people are complaining about the look of your site, I suggest they use a RSS reader. I only click in to check comments.

  11. I kinda dig your black-tactical blog!

    BTW if Robb is booked up (we’ve been slinging him a LOT of work recently) I’ll note that Bluesun over at http://deadmandance.blogspot.com/ made my super-kickass header (and that was without knowing that I have a thing for rubber ducks and even put them on my business card) just because he had a cool idea, and decided to do it.

    I’m with you, while I play around on computers a bit, I’m a biologist who likes to write about stuff. Thankfully people who write blog software make me look like I know what I’m doing!

  12. I read you almost exclusively on RS. Did you change something? I like how it looks now. The black background and light writing is pretty easy on the eyes.

    I tried the same thing and got no end of grief about using a black background with grey writing and purple hyperlinks. Black, White, and Purple are my colors! I finally stopped arguing with people and just went with a white(ish) background and black writing and kept the purple hyperlinks.

    I actually had to totally rewrite my own blog because of all the messed up hyperlinks. I used to add them in Word and copy/paste the whole thing. DO NOT DO THAT! Seriously, don’t.

    I now write everything in Word and add hyperlinks in the Reader editor. Much cleaner. I am told that using Windows Live Writer is even better, but for technical reasons I can’t use it. Maybe soon.

  13. Font-size change makes it MUCH easier to read. Thanks!

    About the only other change I’d suggest is that you change the color of the post text from a gray to a lighter gray or a dirty white. Too much contrast will stun the eye, but a but more will help it stand out for those of us with crappy eyes and astigmastism. 😉

  15. “change the color of the post text from a gray to a lighter gray or a dirty white.”

    This is why my wife drives me nuts when looking at paint colors. She’ll show me 5 paint chips that are all the same, and not only are they DIFFERENT colors, but that they all have names like “Country Creme” and “Pacific Grey”, and “Pale Heath”.

    Nope, they’re “White”, maybe “Beige” 🙂

  17. You guys and gals are great. Thank you for the feedback. I appreciate it. And for the references to kickin’ designers.

    I think for now I am going to leave it as is, except for fixing the font color and Balloon Goes Up, your a favorite of mine, but the life size Glock stays:)

    Weer’d, I am with you. I wanted my kitchen painted yellow, but when I went to select the color, I was like really?? I ended up just picking one and keeping my fingers crossed. Turned out great. As for the blog, I already changed the font color this morning and no one can tell:) Back to the drawing board.

  18. I usually read via an RSS reader, but came over to look. I do like the larger font and slightly brighter font-color. As far as I’m concerned, that’s enough changes.

  19. I like the larger font.

    For readers, you can increase the size in your browser with CTRL and the “+” key. Undo with CTRL and “-” of course. 🙂

  20. Don’t worry about it. I haven’t changed a thing about my blog template since I started it 4+ years ago.

    The content is far more important anyway.

  21. Dang, AGirl, don’t go changin’ a thng here, ya hear? I just went an changt mine ‘cuz I’ve been seein’ so many like yours I decided I like it better.
    If you go an’ change, then what’m I gonna do? huh?
    Maybe Mom’ll let me cry…
    Seriously, looking great, AGirl. Don’t change a thing from today on- that font size is perfect.
    Shy III

  23. The Brady Clusters will never respond to facts or reason. Never. Their superior caring skills prevent it. And anyone who cannot see how pious they are will be called named, and prevented from making convincing arguments in the comments. “We care more than you. See us care. See. See. See. Care. Care. Care. Nyaah, nyaah, nyaah!”

  25. I have found that my blog looks very different depending on what monitor I use. Blogger has a way of screwing up my best attempts at formatting anyway.

    Why on earth is someone complaining about the look of a non-commercial?

  28. I’ve faked my way through figuring out my blog. Sometimes things work, sometimes they don’t. 🙂

    Your blog should please *you*, the rest of us are just visiting your little piece of the blogosphere.

  29. Hey, I guess you’re getting enough traffic for people to care. You should have done what I did and kept your traffic to a bare minimum. 🙂

  31. @GWG: This too is basically your fault. If you’d stop writing stuff that people want to read, they wouldn’t link it, and you wouldn’t have enough traffic to worry about how your blog looks.

    Moral of the story? Write crappy stuff!

    err… well…

  36. I did the same fooling around with fonts and such when I started three months ago. Still do, as a matter of fact.

    OBTW, your “Open Letter” is the #1 most-linked post I’ve ever seen.

    Keep up the good work!

  37. MSgtB, it’s pretty crazy. I got a email from a very nice gentleman in South Africa. He has reposted it on several gun blogs/forums over there. Who knew? He made the comment, I didn’t think I need to ask permission and I said, yea, it has kind of taken on a life of its own.

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