In a bedroom community located just north of the city, is a little town named Rio Rancho, and me and my wife lived there for over 19 years. 

Pretty boring so far, right?  Don't worry...it gets worse!  (YAWN here!) 

We lived walking distance from the giant plant of Intel, which, as everyone, who doesn't live in a cave...the manufacturer of computer chips among other products.  At one time, the plant employed over 7,000 people, and is located on the banks of the Rio Grande River, with the towering Sandia mountains nearby, which rise to a height of over 10,600 feet, and supports the longest tramway system in North America.  (WOW...what a country!)

Back then, none of us in the family were computer literate, and mainframes, Big Blue, and computer chips were on another planet someplace.  The only chips we were familiar with, were the cow chips out in the fields...but we knew nothing about computer chips, etc.

My father and mother-in-law lived near-by, and I remember, we were all sitting around the dinner table one day, and we were talking about computers, and it was unanimous...none of us sitting around the table, would ever be able to understand computers; none of us would ever know how to operate a computer; and none of us would ever be able to afford to buy a computer! 

Well...well...well...how times change!  In 2009...millions of people in America and around the world, are computer literate, and have computers of their own in their own homes!  I never thought in my lifetime, I would ever see this computer revolution come about, and I've owned TWO computers now...amazing!

Back in the Stone Age of the 1990's, I wanted something called a "website" more than anything, so I could start my own home business; put up my writings; ideas; hobby; and just anything worth showing the world/1  It has been an exciting time in my life!  (YAWN here, again!)

When prices on computers fell low enough to afford, I bought my first computer in 2001.  I was over-joyed, and I was fascinated getting out on something called the "Internet" and looking around.

At this time, there was about a month, between the time I purchased my computer, and the time I found where I could get my website started.  After I got my copy of PC World, there was a listing of the top five website host companies, and Homestead Technologies was at the top of the list, and it didn't take me long to get to their website and sign up for my website...and, at that time, and amazingly...it was FREE!  I couldn't be happier!  The clip-art library was also free...and WOW...I was in heaven...a dream come true !

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NOTE:  My website is about a lot of different things...but primarily about humor.  It is also about inspiration; motivation; sharing; writing, educating, etc.  But, if I had to pick just one word, that brings the positive feelings for what has happened to me, because of my website...I would have to pick the word...gratitude!

"Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone."  Gladys Brown Stern

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Back when I was a woodcarver for over 25 years, I carved mostly cartoon-like characters, because I like to make people laugh, and I would place captions on most wood pieces.  They were popular, and I sold almost everything I carved.  So, the clip-art library at Homestead was similar, to the cartoon-characters I carved, and all of it was just frosting on the cake for me!  I pulled graphics out of the clip-art library, and placed captions on them...just like I did with the wood pieces. 

Building the website was easy at Homestead, and it didn't take me long to build my Front Page, and to get things rolling, etc.  I couldn't get my ideas up fast enough, and the clip-art library sure helped.  Without the use of the graphics, I think my website would be mediocre at best...but it's the graphics that make it much better! 

Website name; humordoctormd
Humor and creativity just seem to go together;
http://humordoctormd.homestead.com

"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it, is like wrapping a present and not giving it."  William Arthur Ward

I had the computer and I now had the website...and now...it was pretty much like everyone else's problem...how was I going to get traffic to my website?  Not an easy task...back then...or in 2009, right?  I had to put on my thinking cap and come up with an idea, etc.  Without traffic...a website in nothing!  (YAWN again...and I promise, this piece is almost over!) 

At the time, there was a community center, that in 2009, doesn't exist anymore.  That's it...I thought...I would go to the websites in the community center.  Most of them, at that time, had guestbooks on their websites, and I would sign them.  And, that's what I did to get more traffic to my site...I would sign guestbooks and maybe traffic would come to my website!  It worked well and I continued this practice for over a year! 

My idea started on Labor Day week-end, as my counter read, "00000" so I was not doing so good the time.  I get a little chuckle when I think about what happened next.  By Sunday night of Labor Day week-end, I had signed about 40 guestbooks over the week-end.  And, by Sunday night, my counter now read, "00019!"  Hooray...I'm getting some traffic on my website!  I was so excited!  I got a couple of nice emails, too...I was on a roll...WOW 19 visits...I was overwhelmed!  Isn't that funny, when a person thinks about the good ole days?

This method was successful in getting traffic to my website, and I continued signing about 40 guestbooks a week for over a year.  I also developed my "Getting Acquainted" expedition, which was successful, and I personalized the emails, to stay away from spam, etc.  I was now getting a steady stream of traffic because of my marketing ideas (Jerry, you're so brilliant!) and so I kept doing it every week, etc. (YAWN-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z please stay with me...this piece is almost over!)

In 2009, I don't market my website like that anymore, because my traffic pretty much comes from my article directory and my writing site...and a few drifters out in cyberspace with nothing better to do, etc. 

How wonderful to have a website; have my articles on an article directory; and be on a writing site.  This way, people from all over the world, can see my work and I hope they can get inspired; helped; educated; and just entertained and have a laugh or two with my work.  (be nice...put away those pitch- forks and shovels...it's almost over!) 

Another of my goals, has been to encourage people to get more humor into their lives and their work.  The reader can see the results of my work, and the wonderful people all over the world, who have inspired me with their indredibly nice comments about my site and my work, and I am grateful to all of them! 

VIP Apprciation Gallery;
http://humordoctormd.homestead.com/vip.html

"Gratitude is the most exquisite form of courtesy."  Jacques Maritain

My style of humor:  Specializing in off-the-wall and dry humor; From our observation department;

- In 2009...you don't see many women wearing dresses anymore!  You see a lot of men wearing them...but not women!   (Boo and hIss...throw the bum out!) 

From our news department; (breaking news!)

- In India, there are over 290 million cows with gas...are you stlll skeptical about global warming?

And finally...(thank goodness!)
In building my website, and with everything that goes into it...such as writing; graphic use; page balance; color combinations; technical issues...I've never considered myself one of the fastest horses in the race.  But, one thing is certain...being one of the slowest horses in the race...enables me to see plenty of "horses patoots" up in front of me!   SEE YA! 

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Copyright; 2008; Jerry Aragon/The Humor Doctor
Website; humordoctormd