Being Margaret

On By Peggy BereIn Margber, Musings

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Hello People!  Finally, after months and months of trying to resolve the issue of losing my domain, (oopsie-daisey!) I’ve taken the plunge & registered a brand new, shiny domain!!  And no, you’re not seeing things.  I’ve also revamped my site a wee little bit with a new, updated, fresh title!!

I had been thinking about changing my site title for a very long time.  Changing it from ‘Twenty Thirteen’ to, well, anything else.

A few months ago I went through an exhausting ordeal while attempting to renew my domain.  It was stolen right out from under me!! – and is currently being held for some ridiculously large amount of ransom by an evil domain shark!! (I may or may not have felt forced to temporarily turn to the bottle during this ordeal – devastating!!) There’s an entire racket built around snatching expired domains from current owners and selling them back at exorbitant prices. (my previous domain is now valued at over $1000. – ridiculous!!)  It’s a sad situation that many unsuspecting people fall prey to out of laziness, procrastination or in my case, simply by being caught up in the system.  This article explains how the entire process works.  Bookmark it!  No, first set your domains and upgrades to Auto-renew (which I THOUGHT mine WERE set on) and then do yourself a favor and read this article. 

Fast forward 4 months.  Like so many devastating situations in life, there was a hidden, silver lining.  The loss of my domain forced me to step out of my old, familiar, blogging comfort zone and take a good, deep look at the branding of my blog and the direction in which I wanted to head towards in the future.  (I know, deep!!)

After much obsession thought and discussion with my friends, spouse, kids, neighbors, friendly checkout lady at the grocery store, – pretty much anyone I could corner – I realized a small revamp was in order.  I had put much thought into leaving my original title behind.  It was restricting and limiting.  It did not really point to the purpose behind my blog.  It did not give my readers a clear vision of what my blog was about.  In short, it had to go.  (whoa, I surprised myself!  Being as fickle as I am, who knew that a title change would be in order because I’d still be blogging a year after I began?!?!)

It was a decision that I did not take lightly.  I thought about it for months.  I weighed all of the pros and cons and finally decided that it was a step in the right direction.  I was moving away from my lost domain and taking control!  (Evil Domain Sharks!!)  Still, it’s a change.  And, a big one.  Anyone who knows me personally knows I am just a teeny tiny itsy bitty uncomfortable with change.  When it comes down to it, aren’t we all?

But I forged through my fear and today I introduce to you my new title – Being Margaret!! –  Hey! That’s me!..Hurray!!!  That’s right,  I’ve taken the leap – it’s goodbye to Twenty Thirteen and hello to Being Margaret.  I’m excited for this new chapter.  I’m thrilled that I was able to not only arrive at a solution that worked in my favor, but also, that I was able to outsmart the evil Domain Sharks!!  AHA!  Take that, you evil doers!

Change is inevitable.  It’s never easy.  Often it pulls on our heartstrings.  We try to stop it because we like our comfort zone.  But also, because it signifies the beginning of the end of something.  Of moving on.  We like staying put right where we are.  We are not ready to say goodbye.  Or to say so long for now.  We like keeping things just the way they are, comfortable and familiar.

So as you all mull over my new site title and become familiar with it, I will leave you with one of my VERY FAVORITE quotes about change and about endings.  As for me, I get a shiny new star for outsmarting the evil domain sharks.  Hmmmm, Being Margaret – I like it!!!

 

“There is a universal truth we all have to face, whether we want to or not, everything eventually ends. Last day of summer, the final chapter of a great book, parting ways with a close friend. But endings are inevitable, Leaves fall, you close the book. You say goodbye. Today is one of those days for us. Today we say goodbye to everything that was familiar, everything that was comfortable. We’re moving on. But just because we’re leaving, and that hurts, there’s some people who are so much a part of us, they’ll be with us no matter what. They are our solid ground. Our North Star. And the small clear voices in our hearts that will be with us … always.”

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49 thoughts on “Being Margaret”

  9. Love your photo, it’s perfect!
    Isn’t it interesting how we are sometimes led to the precipice and then – pushed off! I think the Universe was telling you that you needed to expand more, become more of YOU. I think your new domain name is brilliant – may you continue to shine and grow through it!

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  10. LUCY

    The new domain fits you to a tee….anytime you do something thoughtful, or show a kindness to someone…which is quite often, i think to myself she’s just “being Margaret” ❤ to you and keep them coming!

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  12. So sorry to hear about your Shark Attack. I see though that you have survived and still have your life. From your telling you were brave and are handling physical therapy well. Congratulations! (love your new blog) 😀

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    1. Thank You!!

      My prior (first) blog name was simply chosen from the year I started blogging – ‘Twenty Thirteen’. It will always hold a very dear place in my heart. It was hard to walk away from. 🙂

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  14. Thank you for liking “Beautiful and Bizarre Butterflies and Moths.” I am glad you were able to make the best of an unfortunate situation and find a new domain name you are happy with. Good luck with your revamped site! 🙂

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  15. Thank you for this post! I went and checked my setting with WordPress and Go Daddy. WordPress is fine (and on auto-renew), and Go Daddy was set to auto-renew, except that they had an old credit card number! I would have missed that!

    It never occurred to me that such theft and ransoming was going on!

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    1. You are very welcome! I wish I had thought to dbl check my settings, although, things seem to have turned out for the best for me because of the huge oversight!

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  16. Ok, now I’m wondering how to go check on all these registrations. I’ve never gotten a renewal notice that I remember and I also started with another blog site (but not the hated, evil one). Hope I’m not in for an experience I’ll regret.

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  18. I love the new look and name – it’s got a light-hearted feel, yet, the title also allows for much deeper reflection. And, the typewriter image brought me back to my 12-year-old bedroom where I pretended I was Kolchak the Night Stalker typing up my article after besting some meany beast…thank you for that.
    Great design. I’m sorry though, that you had to deal with the wicked process. Someday when those hiding behind tech programs… remember humans exist at the other ends of the keyboards…the digital arena will become a peaceful world…
    AnnMarie 🙂
    Enjoy the new home. My housewarming gift to you – the finest electronic chocolates your imagination can enjoy 😉

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    1. Yes, Domain sharks seem to be very unscrupulous. Quite the unethical way to make a living. In the end tho, I actually came out on top and was forced to take an action that I should have taken a long time ago regardless of whether or not I had lost my original domain. Hindsight is 20/20 🙂

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    1. Thank You, Kelly. The actual layout of my page has not changed, just the address – aka, my domain. It was hard to make the change but I have no regrets whatsoever. 🙂

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  20. I wasn’t even aware such a thing could happen! I’ve just checked my domain thingy and it just says ‘never expires’ – possibly because it’s not a paid domain – I don’t know. But I had visions of losing everything I’d written. What a nightmare for you. But your new look suits. Awful though that you can be held to ransom for a name – one you chose! Sods!

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    1. If your domain says ‘never expires’ – then it is most likely a WP domain and not custom. I am glad though that my post encouraged you to check. It’s a terrible thing to lose something you’ve worked so hard on.

      *chuckling* at your use of the word “sods” WIsh I had thought to use that word throughout my post. 🙂

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