If you clicked "No" on my poll, read this.

I am a wee-bit embarrassed to admit this, but here goes.  I only just recently, like within the last month, discovered how to read blogs in a reader.  I have gmail for my blogger sign-in and so I use the Google Reader.  I was already following a couple dozen blogs that I would check at least once a day-- some of them more than once.

Using Google Reader has saved me probably more than an hour every day by not having to check the actual blog.  It lets me know when someone has updated.  I can choose to read their post right then, or if it sounds interesting or like something I want to comment on, but can't right then, I check the star.  When I log in later I can choose the starred items to read as well as any new updates. 

I can click right through and go to the blog to comment.  Or I can read it, take note of the nifty advice, and go on to the next.  Or laugh at someone's misfortune (ahem, FluffyChicky.) 

You can even view someone's stats on how many subscribers they have.  Be careful though not to be consumed with jealousy.

You know how when you read someone's blog at the top it says, "Get [blog name] delivered to your inbox?"  They're serious.  You really can get updates delivered right to your inbox.  How much cleaner would my home be if I had discovered this four years ago?  Or was it even invented then?  Doesn't matter.  I have it now.  And I'm loving it.  This definitely works for me. 

Thanks to Google Reader, and I'm sure there are others just as great, I have the ability to keep up-to-date on the current 72 blogs I'm following.  Though, I do forget to check Rachel, Marcy, and Amy's blogs sometimes because they're private and don't appear in my reader.  Any thoughts about those?  Remember, I'm s-l-o-w sometimes.  Only recently have I learned that scrunchies are not cool.

This post is linked at WFMW and Tuesday Tips and Tuesday's Tip Jar.