Okay, Wendy, as is evident from the multitude of test-blogs below, I've finally managed to figure out one way to be notified of new postings. I went under "CUSTOMIZE", then "SETTINGS", then "EMAIL". From there I was given TWO interesting options:
FIRST: The option of entering any email addresses that I want included in an instant posting notification. The catch is that it doesn't only tell you a new post was made, it sends you a copy of each new one! However, at the bottom of the email is a link to the blog page (it only brings up a page with that specific posting on it, but beneath the posting is the "HOME" icon which you can then click to open the entire blog page home and see all postings at once). It will make for a rather crowded inbox on busy posting days (or days filled with millions of insignificant tester posts, like today!). But if you're on your email all the time and don't want to jump back and forth pointlessly, I'm sure it may be worth it!
SECOND: Even if I didn't want the email notifications, on this "EMAIL" page I also had the opportunity to allow access to posting directly from MY email. It gave me the option of creating an email address to that end (it pre-filled in "sandanperry." then there was an empty box, and then the prefilled "@blogger.com"). I tried to let the address just be sandanperry@blogger.com without filling in that empty box, but nothing happened. However, when I added "email" to the box, thus creating the address sandanperry.email@blogger.com, it worked perfectly. (In retrospect, I'm wondering if I typed in the "." following sandanperry when I entered the address for my first emailing attempt-----its possible that it didn't work simply because I left that off, not because I needed to add something to the empty box!) ANYWAY, what that email address now allows me to do is post a new entry to the blog page from my email site, rather than only being able to do it by logging in to the blog page itself. This way I could also forward emails from others, I assume.
I know that I can enter other people's addresses to add them to the email notification of new postings list, so if anyone doesn't want to bother with going through the process themselves just let me know. As for creating an address for your own email-to-blogspot posting access, you have to handle that when you're signed in yourself. If for some reason you don't see the "CUSTOMIZE" option at the top right of the blog home page it means you somehow haven't been added to the "authorized" list, so let me know and I'll fix it!
All of these technical postings have completely interfered with the original reason I sat down at the blog page today----I wanted to post an entirely personal note! But at the moment I'm blogged-out, so it'll have to wait until later tonight. Hopefully I haven't managed to entirely confuse everyone with all of the instructions today----bear in mind I'm working with a brain that's only 2/3rd's conscious at any given time! Love ya! SANDY
