I have been a blogger for quite some time now.  Writing is almost like breathing or lets just say I love doing what I do best.   Now, blogging has not really been financially rewarding for me, except for the fact that blogging has helped me hone my writing skills as well as my technical know-how in various blogging platforms.

So here is a quick rundown of the Top Blogging Tools that I use here as well as my other sites:

WORDPRESS.  WORDPRESS.  I cannot say it enough but I love WordPress!  And yes, this has little to do with intelligent and handsome Matt, but its because WordPress is probably the best blogging platforms today.  I started blogging with Blogspot almost 10 years ago.  I was unhappy with its hosting limitations so I decided to switch on Moveable Type, which was uber cool 9 years ago.  I can probably launch a site in less than 10 minutes.  I guess the pros can do it for 5 minutes, but since I am plagued with false modesty today, I reckon I can get a WordPress site up and running in 10 minutes.  Another thing that I love about WordPress is its versatility when it comes to customization and there are literally thousands of reliable plugins to make your blogging experience spiffy!

For hosting, I have an account with SwankWebStyle.  And for domain registration, I use local ploghost and GoDaddy.

MacBook and HP Pavilion p6240d.  In order to write and post my articles, I use my reliable Macbook for non work related tasks.  I also use my HP Pavilion to maintain and write my posts for my client’s websites which are running in WordPress.

For my internet connection at home, I use Globe Broadband which is the most reliable service in my area.  Although I had issues with Globe (as if I have not ranted enough already), I have nothing much to complain when it comes to speed.  I have 2 internet connections at home actually so my children’s PC has its own sole connection and I do not have to fight with them when we are sharing connections.  Imagine, we can now do FarmVille and Farm Town simultaneously!

For images, I use a Canon Digital Ixus 30.  This has been one of my recent upgrade since the loss of my reliable GE Digital Camera.  For photo editing, I just use Picasa since uploading in Facebook takes only a few clicks!  I also like carrying a spare micro SD card along with my mini tripod along with my digital camera.

I also use my trusty Nokia E72 to take photos.  Its been very handy and I tend to use the camera as well since it comes up with decent images for my blog.

Blogging has provided me company when the going gets rough.  I would like to believe that I have amused and even helped some people because of this love for blogging.  There is no chance that I will quit writing in the near future, so all of the tools that I have dearly invested in better be worth it!  :)

I have moved houses last weekend, and although I am happier for finding a house which was only a block away from my children’s school and this entails an increase in savings since the children won’t have to take the short tricycle drive to the school everyday now, my webwork was halted by absence of internet connection.

I was so excited about the move that I forgot to consider my DSL connection.  Moving not only meant moving furniture but also moving antennas and packing– again… darn, I am getting so good with packing and moving houses now. Moving also mean changing my mailing addresses and that mean changing billing addresses for my internet, landline as well as bank statements. Being a webworker, my life and work breathe along with the internet.  Without internet connection, my job is non-existent, and my work was for a week on hold until I get my antenna up.

I went to Globe Innove office the very next day I moved and requested for relocation as well as reinstallation request. Much to my dismay, the CSR who attended to me at the office told me that I needed to make the request at another branch and asked why, she said this was because the form was unavailable in their branch. Trying my best not to explode, I asked her if the other branch can send the form via email or by fax to their branch so I can complete the form there so they can perform the process. She looked at me like I came from outer space and when I started to look for another personnel to speak with. I asked her, “can you just check if my request is possible?” She reluctantly went to her colleague on the other table and the other girl said yes it is possible. I smiled back upon hearing this and then the girl who was attending to me hurled another stupid utterance: “Ah, Ma’am can you please come back later kay mag lunch pa ko…”

OMG

…Aaahhhhh…

Customer service truly suck here in the country! Hearing this reminded me of my experience with Banco de Oro and I had to strain myself from bursting.

Then my son started saying, “Mom are we eating at Pizza Hut?” Save by the bell… Instead of reasoning out with her, I instead I said, “ok, can you please make sure the form is here after 45 minutes? My kids and I will have lunch as well.”

After our lunch the forms were ready and I signed the request.

Now waiting for the serviceman to come around my address was another thing…

Nifty and convenient way to fix your broadband connection

Earlier today my daughter suddenly screamed that the internet was no longer working.  I asked her to make sure that the Airport Switch in the Macbook is “ON.”  She said the “rainbow” was missing.  After her loud scream, Freida who was using the other PC in the other room screamed and she said there was something wrong with her PC too.  I looked at the PC and saw that there indeed was no connection.  I reseted the modem and unplugged the cable from the wireless router and directed the cable into the main router and reloaded the browser.  Nothing.

Good thing I still have the Bayantel Wireless Dial-up and I connected to Globelines stylish and rad website and downloaded Click Fix. Click Fix is an easy to use tool that subscribers can use to troubleshoot their connections without having to call for assistance.  Using my Bayantel connection, I downloaded and run the program and in minutes I was asked to unplug and replug the cables, turned off the Windows firewall, etc.  A small pop-up window conveniently instructs me what to do.  I followed the instructions explicitly and after 5 or so minutes we were all back online!

Thanks to the convenient program from Globelines.  If you are a Globe Broadband subscribers, I strongly suggest you use the program while your connection is STILL working.  In case you lose your connection, there is a more economical and convenient alternative other than calling technical support… who liked being put on hold, anyway?

My Globe Broadband is fried again!

Damn. Am currently using my dial up right now to blog and to do some freelance work. I thought that I wouldn’t have this kind of connectivity problem with Globe but yesterday, it hiccupped and I lost connection again. This is simply unthinkable for me since I am now relying on my connection to do my work…

Damn, Globe!!!