Paring down my Friends list

[spedbug]

Can I be honest? I have seventy-seven people on my friends list and it's partially due to this that I spend less time on LJ. I realize I'm under no obligation to post in everyone's journal yet I feel I should and will actually avoid reading journals if I feel I can't reply. This sucks. I worry that I already show partiality to certain people's journals while ignoring others and hate to think I'd inadvertanly hurt someone's feelings, in the end.

I went and looked at my Friends list, today, in hopes of finding a good ten people on there I could cut without hurting myself or them in the process and it was fruitless. Nearly every single person on my Friends list is someone I adore interacting with (even if it's only once in a while).

*sigh*

I love you guys and can't bear to part with any of you. :(

Comments

[antof9.livejournal.com]

it's partially due to this that I spend less time on LJ. I realize I'm under no obligation to post in everyone's journal yet I feel I should and will actually avoid reading journals if I feel I can't reply. This sucks.

What you said. I just said as much (but not so eloquently) to caffcaff. Who doesn't love having "friends"?! Friends are great. But unfortunately, I don't read the ones I feel like I know because there are so many others. It's so nice when a friend of a friend friends you and your circle widens, but sometimes it's too wide, and then it becomes shallow.

ooh -- maybe that's what I'm going to post. Yeah right -- I don't even have time to post the 3 blog entries that are in my head NOW, let alone a crunchy one. . .

[buffra.livejournal.com]

I know how you feel (though not all my friends are prolific writers, thank goodness!). You can feel free to skip me anytime and only comment if you want to.

I don't know what to tell you....don't feel pressured by it -- it's for fun!!

I'd hate to not have you as my friend, but if it means you're around and I get to interact with you in mutual friends' living rooms, that'd be OK.

Hugs to you. (((((((((SpedBug))))))))))

[eireannaigh.livejournal.com]

I am not too worried about whether or not people reply to my posts. It's nice to have them, but some of you, like Ant, have soooo many friends that I realize I could get easily by passed. Come to think of it, I don't think you have actually replied to any of my posts ;)

[rendiru.livejournal.com]

Aww, we love you too, speddy!

And I don't worry about whether someone comments in my journal or not. You are free to skim or ignore at your discretion. :-)

*hugs*

[spedbug.livejournal.com]

You, my dear, are the eloquent one. Shallow or deep, I'm glad you're on my friends list.

[grendel1031.livejournal.com]

I know exactly the feeling you are having, because I've been going through the same thing over the past several weeks. I keep hoping it will get better. It probably will.

Someday.

[spedbug.livejournal.com]

I'm not unfriending you(!) though I may be a not-so-involved friend from time to time. Thanks for understanding.

[spedbug.livejournal.com]

If you can just think of me as a bad boyfriend - one that ignores you and forgets to call, we'll get on great! ;)

[spedbug.livejournal.com]

I have the sweetest group of friends! THanks.

[antof9.livejournal.com]

xoxoxoxo

[spedbug.livejournal.com]

I tried playing the "catch-up" game and was even more disheartened at the end. My plan is to embrace my inability to read everyone on my list all the time and rely on the understanding of my friends!

(or grit my teeth and try not to whimper if they unfriend me)

[antof9.livejournal.com]

some days I just launch my friends page and answer whoever is at the top!

(which is why I removed the cooking community this morning. I love them, but they were 80% of my friends page!

[emperor-fool.livejournal.com]

Thank you for not cutting me, sweetums. If it means staying friends with you, I'll even launder your danties.

[eireannaigh.livejournal.com]

~sigh~ Not like I haven't had enough of them in my life.

:)

[spedbug.livejournal.com]

"I" don't seem to be in my dainties in your estimation (or imagination! Hee hee hee).


Besides, darling, we're more than friends. We're affianced!

[eireannaigh.livejournal.com]

I wondered why you ignored me somedays. There have been a few posts where I have had your name and a question...but no reply.

[antof9.livejournal.com]

yikes! Not ignoring, just crazy busy and exhausted.

I'll have to go looking :)

hijack!

[eireannaigh.livejournal.com]

good luck finding them. I will/should be in Granby in July for Hog fest. Was wondering if you wanted some company on our drive through Denver. Have to get back to you on the dates.

[emperor-fool.livejournal.com]

*mwah* I do so wuvvum oo!

And, for what it's worth, I don't do a particularly good job of keeping up on my friends' journals. I do get here most days, but I don't always make it. And even when I do, I only look at the first page or two of freinds' entries. If you want to hear from me, it's all about the timing, baby!

[myopicmeringue.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know that feeling - I have had that experience too, and I also don't want to cull anyone. I feel a bit overwhelmed sometimes by my friends list, and I feel I at least have to read everyone's posts even if I don't comment, but lately I sometimes just skim read and then decide which I want to read in more detail and maybe comment on, because I really don't have time to read them all.

I now feel a bit bad because I know I write a lot of entries sometimes, but honestly I don't expect people to read all my entries. A lot of the time I'm just rambling because I like expressing myself in writing (and also now trying out my digital camera!) and I never think anyone is ignoring me if they don't comment.

*hugs*

Don't worry about me!

[reggiesgirl2.livejournal.com]

I've made lots of posts where no-one has responded and it doesn't ruin my day or even my minute! :D

The only time I'd hope you might respond is if I'm asking for responses. Even then, I don't expect everyone on my friends' list to respond.

So don't worry about me. Read mine when you can and skip it when you're too busy. I'll love you anyway. And my LJ isn't all that interesting because I'm rarely travelling or doing anything out of the ordinaryness of my life.

Although I'm flying out to British Columbia next Tuesday for two weeks. I might have something interesting to say during that time period. We'll see.

Hugs & a big smooch! :D

I'm doing my part

[absbookcrosser.livejournal.com]

Speddy, I've not been posting as often, so at least there's less to read. But I do adore your posts, so please do keep me.
Cheers!

[meirionwen.livejournal.com]

It's hard to read *every* entry on my friends' page, let alone comment, so don't worry, I understand. :) Besides, I like that people on my list can catch up with me when they have time. Life gets in the way of stuff, but I wouldn't miss it (life, that is), so I don't expect people to read/comment on my journal all of the time.

Are you dumping me?

[yokospungeon.livejournal.com]

Wail! Tooth gnashment!

(LOL! I know, only kidding, it's OK!) :)

[spedbug.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the assurance. I would dearly love to read everyone's journal even if they are, as some have said, just daily ramblings but it's just become too overwhelming. Lately, I've had the attention span of a flea and the capacity to absorb very little "outside stimulus".

I'm not one for change and handle it poorly because I tend to spend a lot of time worrying over details and possibilities. At this moment in my life, a lot of change is happening or gearing up to happen, some out of my hands and some by choice. Hopefully, when it all settles into place, I'll be better able to focus on something outside my own little sphere of worry.