Name Of Site: Elle's Web Pages
URL: http://www.growley.com/
Why did you start writing your Web site?
My health has been difficult for the last year and a half, which kept me from working. For entertainment, I started developing a Christmas website where kids (and fun-loving adults) could "build a snowman" or "decorate a tree" or "arrange a nativity." Because I have such varied interests, my web pages just continued to grow.
What is your site about?
My Christmas pages are my first love, followed by La Purisima Mission. Of course, I had to put in family pages, especially to honor my father, Douglas Welch, who although passed away lives on in our hearts. Being a round person, I plan to include a new page about my journey to lose weight and re-enter an "accepted" part of American society. With the terrorist attack on America, the helplessness I felt was at least somewhat abated by my ability to create both an informational site as well as a tribute to those rescuers who lost their lives in the attempt to save others. I would have ran; I have no comprehension of how they not only stayed to help others, but more than that strode up those stairs under cataclysmic conditions.
Why do you write a site about your interest or hobby?
I write because I have an interest in something...and, of course, I believe others will also be interested. My Christmas site saw 50,000 visitors in its first two months up (heh, of course, I put it up 2 months before Christmas! ;)
Do you communicate with readers of your site?
I respond to all email readers write. Of course, Santa writes back to all children.
How much email feedback to you receive from your site? Is it mainly positive or negative?
99% of all email feedback I receive is good. About the only negative feedback I receive is from dorky teenagers who have nothing better to do than act stupid. I have researched the origin servers of a couple of nasty teenage writers... and contacted their internet providers. I have a strong belief that we are responsible for all the children of the world, and letting a child behave badly, behooves me to help them address it.
Have you met any new friends because of the site?
I have met a few people through my web pages who have become a part of my "larger" community.
Has your motivation changed over time?
I started this page for escapism through my Christmas pages... however, the struggles of the real world are an ever present part of my everyday life, so I have (and will) include more and more of real life struggles/information. On the other hand, my Christmas pages will continue to expand.
How has it changed your life?
When life was looking fairly dark because of my health concerns, the adventure of learning how to write html was a great challenge and put me back on the path of looking forward to the future and regaining some incentive. I now am experimenting with learning Java, Visual Basic and Flash. There is so much out there to learn!
Do your friends and family know you keep this site/read it? If so have you had any really negative experiences as a result? If not why?
My friends and family read my site... of course, I make them even if they don't want to. They have ALL been very supportive :)
How has your Web site benefited you? Your friends? Or total strangers?
My hope is that my tribute to the rescuers during the attack on America has brought some comfort to the American public, but especially to the rescuers and their families.
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