Blog Note 2: Keeping Up Appearances

Welcome to the new and improved Roxie's World, my pretties!  As Moose declared on Facebook the other day, in blog years this happy little place is older than Joan Rivers, so it's high time we had a little work done, don't you think?  (No, we haven't seen the movie yet, but we intend to.) 

Anyway, in some ways the changes are simple.  We switched to a new Blogger template that we think is easy on the eyes and will display images nicely.  Please tell us if you have a different opinion about that, and we'll take it up with the team of raging, tasteful queens whose judgments we rely upon in such matters, but I gotta tell ya the resident former yearbook editor of Roxie's World is awfully pleased with the new look.  If you object, she might spank you with her pica stick.

In other ways, the changes may be a little surprising to those of you who were seriously invested in the idea that a dead dog was really calling the shots around here.  (Don't be sad, darlings!  You know we love your ability to suspend disbelief and will work hard to bring that special feeling back for you on a regular basis.)  We've added a series of tabs up top that take you to pages that give you the skinny on such deep mysteries as who my typist really is and what she does here (About the Typist).  We've also added some things to help new readers find their way around the joint, including answers to (in)frequently asked questions and explanations for some of the unusual words and phrases we use (Roxicon/FAQ); something like a comment policy (Bark, Don't Bite); and a selection of some of our favorite posts from the past four and one half years (Best In Show).  Click around in there and let us know what you think -- unless, of course, you can't handle the truth of certain aspects of America's favorite dead dog blog.  We'll understand.

Why are you doing this? you may or may not be wondering.  Part of it is a craving for a fresh look and access to some of the technical advances available on the new template.  You know how technologically challenged we are, but we still want to provide you with as much fun and prettiness as we can.  Part of it is the ongoing transition necessitated by the suckitude of my unfortunate demise last December.  It's also related, however, to the fact that blogging has now become a significant part of Moose's professional life.  She's publishing on blogging, teaching on blogging, even organizing a session and presenting at the MLA on blogging this coming January.  (See that "About the Typist" tab for some of the details.)  She has begun to think it's time to formalize some things and clarify others as a way of boosting her cred with the muckety-mucks or something.  In truth, I think she's mostly annoyed that some readers still think Goose has some involvement in the production of this multimedia extravaganza beyond laughing hysterically and saying, "Would you please publish, dear, so we can eat dinner?"  Wevs, I said.  Let's just keep it funny, OK?  She assures me we will.

"Build, therefore, your own world," Emerson says, and we reply, "Sure! As long as we can find the right Blogger template to help with the design, construction, maintenance, and renovation."  It's your world, too, darlings.  Welcome to it, and let us know how you like the new digs.  As always, your pleasure is our top priority.  Peace out.