Unfortunately, becoming a stingy old Mona was not on my agenda of life pursuits. However, bad constantly rainy weather can really change your perception of things. I always knew that I have changed and I am becoming worse. I have changed completely from the person I was a year ago, or even 6 months ago. I became my nemesis when it came to money and a person I hate. Why? Well, the unemployment thing, yada yada yada. We don’t want to hear that over and over. I am getting migraines from writing about it.

I am the type of person that does not say no to anyone when it comes to buying them something if they asked me. I am way too nice and I don’t ever say no to anyone. Yet, today I uncontrollably started screaming at my sister when she asked me to buy her some stupid black pens and ink for the printer. With her, arguing back is like a breath of fresh air. However, why was I arguing back because she wanted pens and ink for the printer?

Scrooge McMona: “You want pens and ink for the printer? I don’t need those pens or use a printer. Give me money! I don’t have any!”

Little Brat: “Yeah right. You are full of money. What are you talking about?”

Scrooge McMona: “Doesn’t mean I have to spend on you. You got money and all you do is waste it on brand name clothes that you don’t need other than showing off!”

Little Brat: “Why are you being mean? It’s just pens and ink for the printer.”

Scrooge McMona: “I am not BUYING YOU ANYTHING!”

Little Brat: “Then why did you ask if I wanted anything?”

The argument didn’t end as we were walking downstairs. My mom heard it and she gave me money to buy her pens. I was not willing to take more cash from my mom to pay for ink from the mall. There were other places that are cheaper. I took the money and left the house. When I was at the mall looking at cute things that I like, I kept thinking a 1000 times if I should buy it or not. I just feel that it is wrong to spend anymore over things that I like. I don’t know how worse the future will get. That’s how messed up my thought process and view of life has become. So pessimistic.

Later, when I got the pens and purchased them, I felt guilty. It wasn’t that I felt guilty that I took money from my mom, I bought other stuff from my own money for the house, so it wasn’t a big deal. However, I felt bad that I stooped that low to argue about money with a little mischievous high maintenance teenager. Therefore, I did what I had to do when I got back home. I ate some ice cream that I bought, screamed at my sister some more because she is a brat, and all that guilt got out of my system.

Umm, forbidden ice cream. Sacralicious!

Now I am content and don’t feel guilty. I may actually survive a couple of years like this without a job and being mean to everyone. Oh, the evilness from within. All coming out of me now!

*Dancing* I am evil Mona! I am evil Mona!

Yes, this post has far too many references to cartoon characters. That’s how a child at heart I am. I know you will say Awww!! But you won’t be saying that when I eat your fudge!

Blah Blah, Funny, Random Thoughts, They said what?, Whatever!

A lot of people ask me to share some tips on how to keep maintaining their online personal blog, drive lots of traffic, and keep people coming back.

[source]

How to get a personal blog started

1. Choose an overall theme to your site. I know it is personal, but you have to have some type of focus point to your site. For example, I am known to write very direct and to the point posts. I don’t sugar coat anything, and I chose the idea of rebellious as a way to represent my ideas to the world. Quick and dirty, but to the point, because that’s who I am. So, ask your self these questions:
   1. What do I want to represent to the world? A reiteration of what happened in my daily life or journal of thoughts that lead to discussions about certain issues related to my daily life?
   2. What writing style should I follow? Should it be complex or simple?
   3. Who are my main target audience?
   4. Should I stay focused to one idea all the time, or be unpredictable every day and bring something new to my audience?
2. Should you start a blog from scratch? Scratch means the following:
   1. Buy your own domain name. I prefer this route, because you want your web presence to be unique online. It’s like your name. You are a unique person, so why not have a unique name online?
   2. Install a platform that you are already familiar with and practiced using. I have used Wordpress.org for a long time. Before I started this blog, I already knew how to use Wordpress and I have used it for other projects. My suggestion for those that are familiar with programming or web design, to test Wordpress first and play around with it before committing to it. If not, get someone else to do it for you.
   3. Choose an interface style or theme. I know many people have the hardest time with this, and would rather download a free Wordpress template, or buy cheap ones if they are deeply committed. However, if you spent the time buying a domain, buying hosting space every month, then why not spend a bit of time to customize your site? Make it personal. It has your name on it. You don’t want to dress like half the people out there, right?
   4. Spend time upgrading your site. There are many plugins out there that will enhance your site’s functionality.
3. Should I monetize my blog? I know many people want to make money online, especially with their blogs. It’s not that easy, and I don’t recommend you doing it from the get-go. You need to attract visitors first, and many of your visitors are not stupid. If they don’t know who you are, and they realized that your site is still new, and they see advertisements permeated all over the site, then they know you are not being sincere in your writing. You are no longer writing for your self and them, but to only make money off of them. I didn’t start putting advertisement on this blog till after 1.5 years maybe into it.

How to drive traffic and maintain a loyal audience

I know this is the hardest thing about maintaining a site. How to get audience? Is submitting your blog to search engines enough? Should commenting on several blogs just to get your name out there enough?

1. Write a lot of different things. Write anything, and everything possible. Don’t limit your self, or think that “someone” out there is watching. Everyone is watching. Stop this fear from writing and knowing people you know in person might be reading it. Who cares?
2. The more you write, the more search engines are attracted to you. Search engines’ bots love new content. The more you write on a daily bases, the more the bots will go through your site and index new content. The more differing thoughts you have, the more keywords it can pick up.
3. Join social networks.
   1. I use Entrecard on a daily bases, and it is the number one tool for me, as a personal blogger, to attract various audience, and to also see what is out there. The more you drop, limit 300 a day, the more exposure you have online to various people all over the world.
   2. I use Stumbleupon every now and then. I find it a great tool for others to help you advertise certain posts to certain categories.
   3. I use Facebook every day. I find it the most personal way to tell others, I will talk to you. I will be more personal with you, using PM, Wall posts, comments, etc. I am not just a person sitting behind a screen writing blog posts. I am like you, and I don’t mind being friends and getting to know you personally, and vice versa.
   4. I use Twitter all day long. It is the number one way to find me online, and quickly ask me a question. I try my best to answer as soon as I can. I try to write about what I am thinking, how I am feeling, and share some cool links I find online.
4. Get others to subscribe to your site. Everyone will tell you that you must have an RSS feed, and an email subscription link. I agree, however, what I really love is when people bookmark your site to their favorites, or know your link by heart. That’s when you know what you really attracted others and gained a loyal audience. You made your mark online, and people now know who you are.

How to make money from a personal blog

I honestly don’t have a definite answer. I make money because my website traffic is high, and I have great internet exposure from the several keywords or phrases from my blog posts. However, I had this site for over three years. In the beginning, I read a lot about making money online in the 1000’s of dollars, but I didn’t know how to take those tips and apply it to a personal blog. I found it to be a great challenge. So I decided to focus more on attracting people to come on a daily bases, and have fun with my blog instead. I stay interactive with my audience and show them that I am really just like them. If I end up making 1000’s of dollars from advertisements every month, then great. I know it is nearly impossible and I doubt I will ever, but we can only hope eh? Otherwise, I will do what I have always been doing, writing to tell a story about me, the world that I live in, and the way I perceive many issues in life. Then, things can keep developing from there, right?

And like the song says, “Que Sera Sera! Whatever will be, will be!”

Cheers!

Advertising, Advice, Blah Blah, Facebook, Random Thoughts, Tweets

[source]

Nine months have passed, and I feel like I have been slowly collecting dust. Seriously, I blame my self for all this, because I chose this path of waiting. But what am I waiting for? I ask my self that every single day. What the heck am I waiting for? And why? What can I really do with my life?

Recruiters have been calling me, but they don’t leave me a message, so I don’t answer them. I don’t care if they have called me over 10 times, I don’t want to waste my time to be a potential candidate to a job I didn’t apply for, and I only have half the skills anyways they are looking for.

I have not been applying for jobs for over a month. I don’t care anymore. I am careless Mona. Money? Who needs money? Money is to be earned if you have a life to look forward to and responsibilities. Like a house to take care of, kids to feed, vacations to plan, or a glamorous life to want to live.

Interviews I had over a month and a half ago, the HR have not called back yet. So polite of them and so considerate, so HR like. They ask you stupid questions that make no sense, but don’t do the simple job they were hired for of replying back.

So why am I complaining? Meh… I had nothing to talk about in the beginning of the month. I can’t believe it is June already. I wonder what this month will bring in thoughts and ideas to write about? I think in the end I have horrible luck. I got used to it. I have calculated everything, and no way my life can get any worse. So I can only look forward to something just a tad bit better in the future. No? I know, I am kidden my self. It will all go down hill from here unless I see a “sign” that tells me, “Mona. Wake up! Wake up! You are slowly losing your self and what you really wanted from life. Why did you forget it all? How did that happen and why?”

…

Maybe I will read this post again in a year and see if that “sign” ever came.

Blah Blah, Categorize this!, Random Thoughts

Man chops off his penis

From correspondents in Qena, Egypt | May 31, 2009
[source]

AN Egyptian cut off his penis today in protest at his parents’ choice of bride, a police official said.

The 25-year-old labourer from the village of Sheikh Eissa in southern Egypt was taken to hospital in stable condition, the official said, adding that the man had also mutilated his testicles.

“He was in love with a woman but his parents rejected her and told him to marry another woman he didn’t want. He took a knife and cut off his penis in his room.”

Doctors were unable to reattach the severed member, the official said.

Umm peoplez, shit like this happens every day. Oh, no more grand kids PARENTS!

Blah Blah, Culture, They said what?, Whatever!

Sometimes my family is funny. Just sometimes.

One thing that my family prides on is pure sarcasm. Every member of my family just thinks they are Har Har funny. Even when my sister was in Lebanon last summer, she said that everyone there always says the same reply to some smart ass question you ask them.

This is an example of me knowing that my mom is busy doing something infront of my face, but I have to just be a smart ass and ask.

Me: “Mom! What are you doing?”

Mom in a high pitched silly voice: “I am dancing!”

Me: “Why aren’t you singing too?”

Mom: “I am dancing and singing!”

Me: “You got some talent there. Now that’s what I am talking about!!”

Mom: “Seriously, what do you think I am doing? I am busy! Stop asking obviously stupid questions.”

Me: “I know. hehehe.”

It seems when you want to annoy someone and you know that they are busy doing something, you ask them, “what you are doing?” And you will get the most common answer, “I am dancing!”

Is this a trend back home? Is everyone telling everyone else they are busy dancing? Hahaha! Or maybe just my family. Since I am raised here, I just tell people I am doing nothing, instead of saying I am busy, or pretending to dance and sing. Life here has made people like me stiff and boring with their replies.

Funny, They said what?, Whatever!