I think I'm gonna make my blog private--here's the "key" to get in!

I am so sad it has come to this, especially since it's been fun to have people-I've-known-in-the-past-but-lost-touch-with find my blog through the Internet. It's been fun to reconnect and I hate to lose future opportunities to reconnect with others that way with whom I've lost touch. However, I have begun to receive comments on my posts from complete strangers.

Now, don't get me wrong...it doesn't bother me if a "stranger" knows someone I know, and they read something on my blog and leave a legitimately kind or contributing comment. But, and I'm sure I'm not alone in this, the comments that have bothered me have been from strangers who ultimately are trying to sell-something or just plain smell fishy. I've deleted their comments, but as an example, I received a comment saying that I was to be congratulated because my blog was "interesting" and that this "person" was going to post it on their blog. They claimed to be from Brazil. When I went to see their post, it directed me to basically a large advertisement. Obviously, I do not want my blog to be used in any such way.

So, I feel left with no other choice than to go private. If I understand blogger correctly, that means that if you were to view my blog you'd first have to log in. Common sense tells me that my blog is in no way fascinating enough that most besides close friends or family would bother taking that extra step to view my little world, but I'd like to invite all of you just the same. I have some of your emails, so I will send you an "invitation" to my blog. But for those of you for whom I do not have an email address, if you'd like to be sent an official invite (and I believe that is the only way you can "register" to view a private blog), feel free to email me your email address at brettandhope@gmail.com.

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I plan to go private next week--I wanted to post this and give people time to read it and know what is going on.

I hope I don't lose anyone that may have read or contributed in the past in any way--that's my one apprehension about going private. It's been so fun to share our lives with you. I hope we can keep sharing with each other, despite this "high-security" world. Thanks for understanding!