Divorce (IMO) is reset button. It’s a chance for me to build a better life for myself, to learn to be independent, to grow as an individual as opposed to as a “couple”, an opportunity to find new happiness, it’s freedom from “us” and now it’s All About ME!

Sure I had it easy because my Ex and I are still friends and our split was for the most part quite amicable. And I realize in many cases it may not seem so much “greener grass”, but for me it is… or at least this is how I choose to perceive it.

So why should I be subjected to feeling pitied for? Why should I be made to feel guilty for celebrating this milestone in my life?

It’s time society change their views. I am not a victim. I don’t need your sad faces when I mention I’m divorced. I am embracing my decision to end the life I started and begin anew.

Perhaps I just need to develop a new term or hybrid of the word to make my situation more acceptable to others. Would that help?

Suggestions are welcome in comments!
/rant.

As of Wednesday, Aug. 11th the former Mr. Diva and I are officially Divorced. I haven’t made much mention of it here, but many of you knew and I am sure many more of you figured it.

Things ended amicably and we still remain friends, which is great compared to some of the horror stories of divorce I’ve heard.

Now that I am a free agent I’m celebrating my single-dom and really enjoying my life as an independent. Even though it can (and does) get a little lonely at times, but hey that’s why they make pets, right?

Adjusting to a single income has probably been the biggest challenge, but I am managing and will continue to find ways to cut back and live with-in my means even if it means no new shoes or fancy makeup

So what’s next?

Well in addition to a site redesign and the relaunch of the podcast, I think I’m just going to live life and see what comes along. I figure I’ll either find the right path or it will eventually find me

More posts in Draft coming soon! I never did finish up the recap of #Bloggersinbabeland so be on the lookout!

XOXO Diva

Well, it is for me! SingleEdition (The Premier Lifestyle destination for Singles) and Babeland (The Adult Toy Shop run by Women) are hosting a cocktail party for all the sexy single bloggers tomorrow @ Babeland in Soho.

Details & Registration info Here!

Even though I can’t afford to attend the actual convention, I can’t wait to crash this lil’ bash so I can See/Meet/Make friends with a bunch of awesome bloggers! I’ll be sure to Live Tweet and post pics!!

Umm… and hello?? How hot are THESE??? <—Not safe for Work

Is RSS a Dead method of Syndication for our Web Content?

When I first discovered Blogging and Podcasting years ago the first essential rule of content creation was syndication. So it blows me away that this seems to be an element which has been lost.

So, I asked Twitter and while the responses were not overwhelming the few that I received gave me a bit of insight. Am I right in assuming that the common bloggers of today are less ambitious about gaining readership than those launching 3-5 years ago?

Maybe we should look at the platforms in use? Are facilitators like Blogger, WordPress, and Tumblr at fault for not educating users of the benefits of using syndication? Do they make it so easy to start a blog that the fundamentals are totally lost!?

What does this mean for the future?

Are we to assume that our readers are savvy enough to know that most RSS readers allow you to simply enter the URL of a blog to subscribe? or that if readers really want to keep up with our postings they will check back every so often to see what’s up? What about all the benefit of using services like FeedBurner with their “SmartFeed” and “FeedFlare”… not to mention analytics?

Do today’s bloggers even care about Syndication?

With Twitter and the likes making it so easy to “share” content with your friends/followers could this be the new choice of syndication? Do bloggers now rely on tweeted links and Re-Tweets to get content read and gain new readers?

Maybe I’m making a mountain out of a mole-hill here, but I encourage any bloggers to leave a comment on the following three questions:
  1. Does your blog offer an In-Your-Face method to subscribe to the blog’s feed?
  2. How do YOU, the blogger get your content out to the world?
  3. How do your readers consume your content?

Where do the “dead contacts” go when they are no longer needed?

I’m sure someone out there has the magic method for keeping contacts current, while not losing data on those who have faded away per chance they reach out to you one day via drunk-dial/butt-dial… and you SO want to be sure to ignore the call/message!

So, you really can’t just go deleting them, right?

Assuming you are not the type of chick who can’t be trusted with a guys number after a split… One Twitter recommendation from The DatingRev was to place a “Z” in front of the person’s name so they get sorted down to the bottom of your contacts list. Kinda like out of sight, out of mind. Well, at least until they attempt to contact you… in which case you can promptly execute a big fat IGNORE!

‘Cause I’m sure we have all experienced the “OH Shit! I so didn’t mean to answer your call” moments at least once.

If anyone has any other ways to deal with the “dead contact” I’d love to hear it!!