The new Web site is nearly finished. In fact, my Web masters (my son Joe in the Czech Republic, and a great friend, who wishes to remain anonymous for now) tell me the site could go live in the next day or so.
As my daughter would say when she was 3, “I’m so exciting!”
I think about this Web site all the time. It’s a little like being in love. I can’t sleep for thinking about it. I spend a lot of time hanging out with it. I dream about it. I want only the best for it.
I hope we’ll be together for a long, long time.
But the thing is, this isn’t really my Web site. It’s yours.
Everything I post on it, everything I write for it, every profile, every recipe, every quote, every feature on this Web site is chosen with you in mind.
I mean really, how dumb would it be to have a Web site and ignore your wants and needs?
That’s why I recently asked for your suggestions regarding what you’d like to see on this Web site. Here’s a sample of your answers:
Judy Darting suggested a place where people could submit travel photos and information, along with tips about what to see and even what to pack.
Bob Thompson likes stories about local people and the area’s history. He also hopes for a civilized Web and blog site.
Deb Duryee said she likes local characters, local cooking, local history and of course, recipes. (Maybe she’ll share her caramel corn recipe with me again. It’s trapped in my old RS computer.)
Budd Hodges, bless his heart, requested stories about Don Chamberlain, my departed father. Dad was Budd’s former boss many years ago at KVIP in Redding, before the station converted to a Christian format.
Erin Friedman, whose wonderful, handsome sons I featured a while back in an RS food story about matzo balls, said she likes stories about local history and landmarks. She also likes food stories. (Hey Erin, how’d your pumpkin ravioli turn out?)
Beck R. wants profiles about local cooks, especially about kids. (Her adorable daughters joined other children for two years as subjects for RS food stories and cooking videos. They’re so cute that I think we should round up the kids again this year.)
Tracy said she’d like stories about local news and history.
Lori V. got specific and requested the memorable crab cake recipe from the former River City Bar and Grill in Redding.
I hear you all, and guess what? You want what I want. And as time goes on, we may want even more.
I’ll do my level best to deliver.
Meanwhile, my talented techie guys are putting the finishing touches on the Web site’s first phase.
Bear in mind that the day it goes live will be the day when it has the least amount of content.
From then on, it will expand in multiple directions and categories.
I’ll tell more about that later.
Thank you everyone who weighed in. And if you didn’t see your suggestion, or you have more ideas, no worries.
This is an ongoing conversation. Add your two cents any time.
Our Web site is a work in progress. Together we’re the architects, builders and interior decorators.
It’s looking good!
