I want my own website--what do I do?

[BeachBum]

I want my own website, but I have absolutely no idea how to go about doing it.

What I ultimately want is to be able to add blog type entries and share lots of pictures with my friends and family. I want it to be private where I need to give you the link to see it (or at least obscure enough that you wont accidentally find it).

I'm assuming that there is canned software out there that allows you to do this? I am open to using a site set up for this, or getting my own domain name.

Can someone point me in the right direction?

[Trillian]

I *think* Blogger gives you an option to keep your blog private. (www.blogger.com)

[Katy]

If you go with Blogger, you can get a good photo blog that works "seemlessly" (so they say) through Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/)

[angelpalgt]

If you're wanting just a blog-type thing, Blogger is probably a good idea, as the other posters have mentioned.

If you're wanting to have a full-scale website set up with web pages and everything else, I would suggest Start Logic (http://www.startlogic.com). They have open source buletin board software, blogging software, and image hosting software available for your use when you purchase a hosting plan. I maintain a site over there and it is very nice to use.