Archives for 2012

Email Love: Volume 3

September 13, 2012 by Ashley Hackshaw

The third installment of email love. (click here if you missed the first two)

First off, I am sad to say that there have been no offers on the new domains I purchased. Some business opportunities just don’t pan out quite as you expect them to.

And for some reason (I don’t know, maybe because I publish them?) the hate mail has died off a little. Slim pickings recently….but here are a few humorous emails and comments to share:

“I spent the better part of an hour looking for the final version of a pin and still haven’t found it. I understand you can’t control what is pinned, but would it really be troublesome to link to whatever the project was to the finished tutorial instead of “Oh hey, I finished this, if you want to view it go look through all my other craft projects. Because I’m so awesome I craft my toilet paper.” It makes me much less likely to want to view, try, or link anything from you.”
Well, top o’ the morning to you too!
Just a note, would it be too troublesome to leave a valid email address? That way I could actually respond and maybe help you out.
P.S. You’re right, I can’t control what people pin from my site.
P.P.S. I’ve never crafted my toilet paper.

Were you the same girl I used to talk with on ICQ nearly 16 years ago? You had the name Millertime and worked down in Louisiana? I was a young guy from Chicago and always talked about meeting one day. I had a dream the other night and I was reliving my past and I could see myself typing to you on ICQ ………………I’m sorry if it all sounds strange but my brain works in odd ways…………if it isn’t you, I apologize.
Sorry, it wasn’t me…..but I’m intrigued. I hope you find her….with the name “Millertime” she has to be awesome.

Not an email just an excerpt from a recent conversation:

Me: So what do you do? (even though I already knew what he did, because, well, he’s well known and has a large Internet presence)
Him: Just Google me when you get home.
Me: Oh yeah? Well just Google ME.
(Yes, I actually had that moment. He was so smug and arrogant….I had a brief moment of insanity and I threw the “Google me” card right back at him.)
And you know what he said?

Him: Well….okay…..I will.

Posted on a reader’s comment: [Read more…]

Every Man (and Woman)…..His Own Historian

September 13, 2012 by Ashley Hackshaw

Back around 2001, I started interviewing my grandfather. I’d show him photos….and then ask him about them….and then I’d frantically write everything down. I videotaped him a few times when I felt Iike I couldn’t keep up. Once, I asked him to sketch out the floor plan of his old family farm and I asked him questions about each of the rooms:

It’s amazing the detail you can get just from asking a few questions……

[Read more…]

The Lil Journal Project | Day 9

September 13, 2012 by Ashley Hackshaw

I feel like every year that goes by, I lose more and more of my early memories. To keep them, I take old photos and write everything I can remember about them. Sometimes I have to reach out to a family member or a friend to help when I can’t remember someone’s name. I’ve posted old photos on Facebook on several occasions and I can’t believe what people remember…..and then they help me remember. Some memories come from looking at other photos related to a group photo, maybe from a different vantage point. I started doing this about 10 years ago and when I look back on the photos I did back then I don’t know how I remember the events I wrote down. It’s like every day can bring an entirely new history out.

The above photo is my 2nd grade class at Bethel elementary. I don’t remember a whole lot. But I was able to piece a few things together:

Sitting at the honor roll table.
My navy velcro Stride Rites.
Getting in trouble for talking too much.
Playing soccer on Field Day.
The awesome loft my friend Kerry had.
My teacher highlighted and feathered her hair
I had a crush on a boy named Charlie.
A birthday sleepover at my friend’s trailer.
Make or Break a Sentence Game Show.
Pencils for the honor roll.

Some people don’t have photos from their childhood…..for various reasons.
My mother kept everything and always took photos of everything…so I have more than enough to share. Reach out and ask friends and family if they might have photos to share. Check to see if your elementary school has website or a group/page on Facebook with old class photos. A little persistence can go a long way…..and remember…..your story is important and worth telling.