If I friended you, you don't have to friend me back -- I won't be offended. I'm just friending you so I can read your updates, not because I expect you and I to become an insta-clique. If you want to friend me, go ahead; no need to ask beforehand.
I don't often write here because my main blog host, Tabulas, supports crossposting to several other sites - but not IJ. Dang. Until that changes, you can still read my Tabulas blog or its RSS feed. (If you set up an IJ account for that feed, please let me know so I can watch for comments on it. Thanks.)