I received another email overnight, this one from a real person. Here's the content of that message, sans salutation and name/contact info of course:

I like your writing. I like the stuff you're saying and it makes a lot of sense. Keep up the great work!

One thing though is you should put up more pictures and graphics on your page. You know, make it prettier. Anyway have a great day.

First off, thank you for the compliment. Growing up, the mother of one of my friends (yes, I had/have friends and no, not my mother, someone else's mother) told me to just say a simple "Thank you" when someone gave you a compliment. Funny how some of these lessons just work. Those are the ones that stick with you forever.

Thank you.

Now, are you saying my site is ugly? Well I can't just say a simple "Thank you" to that and be done with it, can I? Hardly.

Actually I know my site doesn't do much for the eye. I developed a simple theme for it myself. It's not fancy but it gets the job done. Why did I do it myself and why didn't I make it really whizzo cool?

The most important thing I'm trying to accomplish here is the content. It's the words. I don't think fancy graphics would detract from the words, and they might even help by making my site a more inviting place to visit. Honestly, it's just a matter of priority. I don't disagree with you, fair reader. My site is rather plain. I just have not yet gotten that far down on my priority list. One day it will come up.

On the other hand I could just download someone else's work. A few clicks and..., instant pretty. Sorry, not my way. I'm too individualistic for that. Not only that but how would you feel about me and my site if it was just a cookie-cutter looking site? I think you might have the initial impression that I might not be unique and genuine.

I wouldn't want that and neither would you.

Maybe I should make Fridays my day to follow up on email - both the real kind and the not-so-real kind we all hate. We'll see. If the flow continues then maybe. One instance does not define a trend.