The A to Z Challenge is over. (Click the link if you missed one or a bunch.) Some of your reactions and suggestions were simply amazing. No, not that Friday Follies kind of amazing. The I never really thought the M3 Readers would think of it that way kind of amazing.
It feels really good today to rearrange the furniture and get some of the things back in place around here. I am looking forward to getting back to some of the regular features which fell by the wayside over the course of the challenge. Especially, I am looking forward to the return of the Saturday Evening Post. I hated losing it to the Saturday post for A to Z.
I got it.
I know not everyone was thrilled when I announced we were going the path of psychology for the challenge. However, some of you came up with some brilliant ideas from it. My scribble sheet is filled with ideas which could viably take us all the way to the last post I have already scheduled…in September.
You awe and amaze me. Yes, yes. I am the analytic one of the bunch, but you have brought a humanity to what I have written. You are my oft missing softer side.
Can I tell you how surprised I was to hear, not one, not two, but eight of you suggest we do an A to Z every month? I think Andro would need to bring back his Machine Gun Blogger Award if I did that. Perhaps, we shall put it to a poll to see what topic and try it again later this year. Will that do?
Clear the Room!
Petulant, Incessant, ARGH!
Whom A to Z truly offended was Mantra. I have something of hers I have been staving for the last week. No, it is not a case of writer’s block. It is merely me refusing to open her book so she can finish. I will likely disappear this afternoon so she can put the finishing touches on something which has been forced into the wings for more than a week.
So, perhaps we shall not return to schedule as I had planned after all. Seems Talk Tuesday shall be put on a back burner to accommodate the incessant one.
Statistics and Numbers
April did not leave any conversation about blog goals and numbers. So, here’s a brief recap of where we got during the challenge and up to midnight today:
- Words: 369,636
- Comments*: Over 11,000
- Hits: A touch over 62,500
- Posts*: 452 (Now 453)
- WP followers*: 181
- Email followers: 53
- Registered users: 32
- Blog age: 6 months
I am going to need some of the WP followers to let me know if you are seeing M3 in your Read Blogs screen. Naturally, I cannot see M3 there…since it is mine.
And if you have been afraid to hit the Gimme Mine button for fear of an inbox flood, there are a number of people in the M3 Readers who can tell you, it only comes once a day…and some days, it does not come at all.
The stats with an asterisk are ones which are on target for this year’s goals. I am hoping to finish a few other projects so I can return to Story Time, which will put the word goal back within reach.
~STANDING OVATION~
Just a simple note…
I am not often prone to webscream, but Oh, my word! You have been so helpful in promoting M3! Please take a curtain call! Thank you for all the +1, tweets, dedicated posts, awards (I promise to get to the backlog!), Facebook likes (You are having some fun discussions!), love buttons and more!
If this keeps up, we will be back on track for the hits goal, even using WP meager standards.
Pretending
I must bid you adieu for the moment. The time has come for little ones, and the bell will soon toll for a domestic chore…the baking of a birthday cake. See you this evening when I let Mantra out of the lantern to flit across the page…provided she does not add another 400 words to it before we are finished!
Almost forgot…
We have added a new member to the family! Say hello to Beau.
All dogs should read.
Little V is teaching him about the damage man does to the planet with wasteful practices. Never too little to learn conservation!
Too bad the book did not show how many accidents puppies have before they are potty-trained. That is the book I need to find for him to read!
~~~~~~~~~~
Which was your favorite A to Z post? Have you ever potty-trained a pet? Shall we let Mantra out of the lantern more often? Who wants a slice of birthday cake?
Derek Mansker
/ May 1, 2012I haven’t seen anything in the WP reader from you in a long time. I will retry it though and let you know.
Derek Mansker recently posted..It is really important, I just don’t do it.
Red
/ May 1, 2012Thank you, Derek. I would appreciate it.
Derek Mansker
/ May 1, 2012Nope. Nothing there. I have resubscribed that way a few times. At this point I just come to your blog on my own. I don’t subscribe to any via e-mail. Are other readers working?
Derek Mansker recently posted..It is really important, I just don’t do it.
Red
/ May 1, 2012I know of two who are using the RSS feed through Google Feeds or Reader or whatever they call it. I think it is reader. I know the email subscription is working, but you usually come by bookmark or comment from somewhere else. I fixed what the snag in the feed was early in March and have gotten no further complaints, but I was sure there was no feed going through WP. If you were just there and did not see the post which went live about 8 minutes ago, WP is not working.
Derek Mansker
/ May 1, 2012Correct. It is not working.
Derek Mansker recently posted..It is really important, I just don’t do it.
Red
/ May 1, 2012PFT. I was afraid of that.
Deb
/ May 1, 2012*I couldn’t tell you which of the A-Z posting I liked best since there were so many that were fantastic. If anyone would ask me this other than you. I would tell them you must make time to read them all….they are worth the read.
*I get your once a day post notification in my inbox.
*I’ve potty trained a few dogs, and my most recent once being Cici was grand success!…though I thought I’d go mad!
*By all means, let Mantra out!
* Cake please with a scoop of ice cream.
Hi Red, loved the post, as always you kept me glued to the screen hanging on every word.
Hope you are feeling much better now.
Hugs ♥ xx
Deb recently posted..Summer Sunset
Red
/ May 1, 2012I am no worse for wear. We have had a lovely day, as birthdays should be. The children made homemade ice creams to accompany their cakes. And tomorrow, school work left undone shall be finished! {HUGZ} xxx
PS You may not hold me to letting mantra out after the next post!
valentinelogar
/ May 1, 2012A – Z was da bomb! Nevertheless I am glad for the return to the norm, change scares and upsets me you know. I am unable to select a favorite, I learned many new things and at my ancient days that is saying something.
Do spouses count? Yes, of course they do. Of the four and even two legged kind, I have done that more successfully than spouses. Though my poor old dog is unlearning all she once knew.
Mantra should circle and land as often as she desires, you are not in control; are you?
No cake for me….well unless it is traditional Red Velvet 😉
valentinelogar recently posted..Hope in Peaches
Red
/ May 1, 2012We went with both Strawberry Lemonade cake and Strawberry Shortcakes…made with canteloupe. I must return to civilization soon…before we all starve.
Binky
/ May 1, 2012Beau looks like a fast learner.
Why is it that even though you’re more than a third of the way to your word goal, your word meter is showing only about half that?
Binky recently posted..Orange Juice Fairies
Red
/ May 1, 2012It got stuck there after about the first week. I have tried to reinstall it…And it is the only one which will at least give me 999,999. None of them are geared for that big. I have to hunt around for a new one.
valentinelogar
/ May 1, 2012I am afraid I would stare and wonder why you were eating that.
In order of desert preferences …..
Chocolate
Chocolate
Oh yeah then Chocolate
Red Velvet Cake (yeah I know chocolate)
Then oh yeah Chocolate
Did I mention Chocolate?
Bread Pudding with Rum or Whiskey Sauce
More Chocolate
Do you see a trend?
Red
/ May 1, 2012We agree on this with one exception….creme brulee.
MJ Logan
/ May 2, 2012Favorite AtoZ post at M3 was T is for Temperament.
I’ve house trained a few puppies. One of my dogs house trained a new puppy for us. That was amazing. Never saw a 6 week old puppy house train in under two weeks before. Lesson – let the dogs train each other. I miss Willie a lot, and JD (the one he trained) too.
I’d love to have a slice of birthday cake, but will settle for a brownie since we have some in the kitchen.
MJ Logan recently posted..The Pond
Red
/ May 2, 2012Oh, I wish. The big dog spends all day outside, so is not available to him. Not the role of bitch I choose for myself, frankly.
prenin
/ May 2, 2012I loved all of them! 🙂
Potty training puppies is a pain, but best to keep a mop handy!!! 🙂
Hmmm… I am barred cake because of my Cholesterol level (Boo! Hiss!!! LoL!!!)
Love and hugs!
Prenin.
prenin recently posted..Tuesday – That little bulb lights.
Red
/ May 2, 2012Pish tosh. All things in moderation. {HUGZ} Red.
Gingerfightback
/ May 2, 2012Hello Red!
Glad I’ve worked out how to get your insights again! Best wishes
Jim
Red
/ May 2, 2012Me, too! Good to see you today! I promise…it only shows up once per day. I can leave the math to you… 2000 EST (GMT -5) 😉
Red
/ May 2, 2012If you will put your full website in the box…you will get CommentLuv so others can click through your comment to your newest post 🙂
Angela
/ May 2, 2012I loved all of them, but I am a psych/soc minor and find it all fascinating. Despite my education, I learned a few new things! I loved the temperment thing because the definition of idealist opened some doors into my own actions. I may try the A to Z next time 🙂
Angela recently posted..Surrender
Red
/ May 2, 2012That would be terrific, Angie! I think Temperament was one of the top five for everyone who has talked to me about it so far.
Androgoth
/ May 4, 2012Well I love Cake, and for me this has a double meaning but never mind about that, let us talk about little Beau the Cutie of the M3 pages and soon to be potty trained, if not already then I would imagine that will be rather soon…
A to Z every month? Wow I only just managed the 10 day promise so another month of those could see me refreshing a few more Zombies and kicking a few Ghoulies, I mean Ghouls into touch, of course your postings for the month were truly amazing as per usual…
I can see from your impressive stats that M3 is definitely hitting those high peaks and whetting appetites all over the blogosphere but that is hardly surprising with your uniqueness and high calibre postings my great friend so just carry on as you have been and the limits will be endless…
Okay it is time for my coffee and midnight snack, yes the wrong time to be eating I know but hey, the diet can hold off for a few more days, not that I calorie count I just cut down on all the sugary offerings and be extremely good for a change, yes that is possible, even for me 🙂 lol
Have a funtastic weekend Red 🙂 😉
Androgoth XXx
Red
/ May 4, 2012I am hoping to be back into the swing of things at least by mid-week. I have some things I am looking to do, which were delayed by the research for the A to Z. Eight series were left hanging…That makes for a lot of catching up. Plus, there are a few surprises on the horizon. I seriously need to get an ereader so I am not attached to this awful screen all the time. I could get far more done. The lap top is hardly portable. Amazing. Not so long ago, LT meant on the go. I do as much on my tele! Ah, well.
Enjoy your snack and have a wonderful morning. Perhaps, you will return for the follies which just posted. 😉