I see you.

I added this new feature to my blog recently that shows my most popular posts, measured by the number of page views for each - you can find it on the right hand side of my page, under my recent posts. Interestingly, it seems that the most popular posts are the ones that are not just around food. Maybe it's because a lot of the posts are primarily about food and those were something a little different. Maybe it's because food is boring ... no, that can't be it. But maybe in addition to the really interesting food, it's more fun when it's about more than that. That, I can see.

That's just one of the ways I can use technology to analyze my blog. I've been using Google Analytics for almost a year, and it tells me all kinds of neat things.  No, it does not tell me who your name, address, age, credit card number or any other identifying information, so don't worry! :) But it does tell me how many visits my blog gets each day, and how many of those visits are "unique", meaning if you visited my blog 10 times today because it's super interesting (or you were super bored) it would tell me that there were 10 visits, but 1 person. It also tells me approximately where people are checking in from - based, I think, on where your internet service provider is located (no, I am not able to track down your house and unless you're the only person I know in Montana, I don't know it's you.  ... I made that up, I don't know anyone in Montana).

So, who visits me?  Obviously you (thanks!!). 

What I can tell you is that I've apparently had visitors from the following countries:

• United States
• Canada
• Brazil
• Panama
• United Kingdom
• France 
• Spain
• Czech Republic
• Greece
• Haiti
• Vietnam
• Hong Kong
• Poland
• Sweden
• South Africa

Crazy, huh?  I can identify that many of the international 'hits' are from friends who have been traveling or live internationally and checked in, but there's some that I am not really sure about. In the U.S., I've had 'hits' from 31 states (but not Montana -- see, I don't know anyone there) and Washington D.C.

The number of hits isn't completely accurate, because it's been counting mine the whole time.  I may  have figured out a filter to leave me out of it going forward, but I'm not sure if it's working yet. But it shows me these neat graphs that depict my blog traffic as a roller coaster of ups and downs.  Probably because I don't have a huge following and my posting is sometimes sporadic. Since I started this, my traffic pattern looks like a bad lie detector test, or an alarming EKG:

I can definitely tell when I haven't posted for a while (see gap of low activity near the end -- that's the month of March when I was MIA).  But I wonder if I did have time to post every day if you would even want to read what I have to say every day.  Would I have a more steady flow of people?  I guess that's one thing we may never know unless we try.  I'll think about it. :)

Maybe this is boring to you, but I think it's interesting.  And, again, I'm not stalking you so please don't stop visiting me.  It doesn't share with me your name or any other really identifying information - unless I meet someone in Montana.  I might know it's him/her then because they'd be the only one.

In other, but related news, I've added a new feature to my blog and it appears to be working properly.  Below the posts and in the upper right hand corner, there is a link that allows you to subscribe to my blog via email.  This means that whenever I make a post, you'll get an email at the end of the day letting you know I've made an update.  If you're interested in something like that feel free to subscribe.

So, what do you think? Is this interesting? Did I scare you? What do you like hearing from me?  Personally, I think Mom needs to new another guest post... she's #3 in my most popular list. Go mom!

UPDATE: Mom has now moved into the #2 slot.  Before too long, she'll be more popular on my blog than I am. I'm not sure how to feel about that... haha!