BLOGAPALOOZA! What I Learned From 2007
Howdy, Bubba! Hey, if you're new around these parts, I just want to say how much I appreciate you dropping by! Oh, and you may want to subscribe to my feed. Thanks, and a tip o' the hat to ya!
You know, folks; it’s been a truly fantastic year for lessons learned from life here at the Middle Zone, don’t you think? And together we’ve made a resounding success of seven What I Learned From… projects this year.
I gotta tell ya, my friends; we’ve seen a veritable plethora (a west Texas expression that means the whole herd) of profound, thoughtful, surprising, and occasionally whacky lessons learned, and nobody’s had more fun with it than yours truly.
(*Ahem* have to use my ‘announcer’s voice” here:) So now it’s time to Give… Something… Back… (hey, don’cha just love the cool reverb effect?)
What with the New Year and all just around the corner, I’ve decided to turn this month’s WILF (that’s What I Learned From… get it? Oh, never mind) project into something really special. You know; to find an imaginative way to finish off the old year (and what the heck; kick-start the new one while we’re at it) in a way that not only celebrates the spirit of WILF, but provides a little something extra for everyone who participates.
So I got to thinkin’ (which is probably that grinding noise you heard) – and then it hit me (sound of blunt object hitting back of head).
I’ll turn this month’s project into a
Yes, yes, I know. Right about now you’re probably asking yourself, “What the heck is a blogapalooza?” Well, my fine feathered friends, stay tuned and we’ll all find out I’ll show you!
So without further ado (because as you know, further do makes no sense whatsoever), I present this month’s topic (which should come as no surprise since you guys are, you know, pretty smart; besides, I’m guessin’ you’ve already read the post title):
What I Learned From 2007
“But wait!” I can hear you asking. “What’s so special about that? I mean after all, there’s only about 487,325 (give or take) other bloggers posting on the same subject” (a not unlikely number considering the 80,000,000 or so blogs out there).
Well, Good Buddies; as they say in the funny pages, this is where it gets interesting! Allow me to explain my, uh, plan. No wait – let me put sneer marks around that first: …my ‘plan’.
I’ll start by tellin’ you right up front; this month’s challenge is going to take a bit more work on your part than usual (sound of hordes of readers stampeding for the door). All-righty; I think that went pretty well. Now, for everybody who’s left: Get ready to start your pencils!
Since all WILF projects are about lessons learned, I want to know what you’ve learned and written about on your blogs (or wherever you’re published) over the past year. So for our WILF project this month, that’s what you’ll be writing about.
Looking back at your archives for the year 2007, choose one post from every month you’ve been blogging that best represents a lesson learned. And you don’t have to use your old (should you *ahem* have any) WILF entries; it’s your choice (you can, of course; but you don’t have to).
So what was the most amazing, profound, surprising, whacky, etc. thing you learned in the month of March? How about July? Anything in October? Hey, you get to choose something different from each month! Now that’s a blogapalooza!
And don’t worry; I’m accepting entries much longer than usual; you’ll have 3 weeks to enter instead of the usual one week. (And of course don’t forget; should you or any of your team be caught or killed, or, you know, break a fingernail or something during the execution of this project, the Secretary will disavow all knowledge of your existence).
Project starts TODAY, December 23, 2007, and continues until midnight CST (that’s -6 GMT) Sunday night, January 13th, 2008.
Here’s all you have to do (please notice the procedure is a bit different than usual):
- Choose one post from every month you’ve been blogging in 2007. (For example, if you’ve been blogging all year, you get to choose up to 12; if only since July, choose up to 6. Got it?) Use whatever criteria you like: your favorite post, most commented upon, the funniest, most outrageous, or “what you thought was your best work but ended up being a huge flop”, etc.; hey, knock yourself out!
- Write a sentence or two describing each post you’ve chosen and why. Don’t forget to include the post title and imbed a link to it (you may laugh at that instruction; but if I don’t spell it out, well…). Compile it all into a single article. Please (and if you want to) also include a few sentences about yourself and your blog (and again, don’t forget the link).
- Choose how your entry gets posted (here’s where it gets fun!)
3.1. The Blogapalooza Way (sound of crowd cheering): Instead of posting it at your blog – allow me to host it for you right here at Middle ZoneMusings! Here’s how:
3.1.1. Send your post to me anytime (in .doc or .rtf format only – please don’t send a .pdf!) at rhruzek@sbcglobal.net right up until the end (operators are ‘standing by’) and I’ll post it here at the Zone, including all the links. (NOTE: I will edit if necessary, but as little as possible, and only to make you look better.)
3.1.2. So your readers know how to find your entry, post a notice (write a teaser, summary, whatever) at your blog and point to your entry here at Middle Zone Musings (I’ll provide the link for you).
OR -
3.2. The (ho-hum) Usual Way: Post your entry at your own blog and send me the link as usual. Please include the phrase “What I Learned From…” in your post title.
Of course I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the usual two rules (to which I will require compliance if you wish me to host your entry here at the Zone; otherwise if you still wish to post the old-fashioned ho-hum way - it’s still just a request):
- Keep it G-Rated (as determined solely by yours truly), and
- Be Nice.
OK, by now you’ve probably figured out that by allowing yours truly to host your entry, you’ll get the benefits of all those incoming links (and pointing to your archives, too – always a good thing).
Why would I want to do this? Well, it’s like this.
I really, really, really want to thank you all for your kind and generous support throughout the adventures of this past year here at the Zone. Besides; Middle Zone Musings is most definitely a blog with je ne se quoi (which as you know means blog with no budget). So the links are my Christmas present to you!
After all, that and my thanks (and let’s not forget the ol’ big tip o’ the hat) are the only currency I have. If you can forgive me for paraphrasing the Apostle John here; “Silver and gold have I none, but of what I have, I give to you.”
One last thing… please publicize as much as you are willing and encourage others to join in; the more the merrier, I always say! Let’s see what we can do together to make this a genuine blogapalooza!
You know, it would just be absolutely finer than a frogs hair if you would subscribe to my RSS feed!
61 responses so far
Middle Zone Musings is a comfortable place to stop, have a cup of coffee, swap a few stories and share practical ideas for the real world. I don't ask for much, just a bit of your brain every now and then. Have a seat, take a load off, and relax...
Sounds brilliant, and very generous of you. It’s great that it inspired a new word too!
Joanna
Yes, isn’t it interesting that the word “Blogapalooza” has over 10,000 Google hits, but there’s not one definition to be found anywhere.
Looks like an opportuntity to me! Anyone interested in making a mark on history and creating a Wikipedia entry?
Now come on Robert!
Just when we thought we could switch off our brains and have a little down-time over the holiday period, here you go with a fantastic, brain stimulating, all expenses paid excursion into an extravaganza called “BLOGAPALOOZA!”
Do not be so lazy,
Do not be a loser -
Give it a go at the
Blogapaloozer!
Wow, Trevor; poetry! Hey, I’m honored! Hmmm… lemme see now… OK, how about this:
There once was a Zone called The Middle
Where, entering fit as a fiddle
You’ll never return ‘till you’re
Done to a turn and there’s
Nuthin’ that’s left but a little!
Oh, well; can’t say it makes much sense. But what the hey…
Excellent idea, Robert. I´m having a bit of trouble with my blogs, so I´m really glad you´ve decided to make the blogapalooza longer! Looking forward to reviewing my blog . . .
Howdy, Genesis! Yep, plenty of time for this one! Looking forward to seeing what develops…
[...] BLOGAPALOOZA! What I Learned From 2007 [...]
I’m in, Robert! Thank you for your generous gift (and here I was, talking about unique gifts yesterday…) The gifts that don’t cost anything are usually the very best (IMHO, of course).
I just mailed you the goodies. Can’t wait to read everyone’s submissions!
So, Robert, does this make me a Blogapaloozette?
Howdy, Dar! Thanks for the contribution; I’ll let you know when “real soon now”. I plan to start posting all entries in the week of Jan. 7th, so stay tuned.
And in answer to your question… Yes; yes it does.
This sounds like a good project. But man, you are so verbose. I had to read it twice to understand what this is all about.
Well, Planet Apex; I’ve often been accused of waxing eloquent, and it’s true - I’m guilty! guilty! guilty!
Alas, it’s an affliction for which there is no cure.
I look forward to seeing your entry, though!
Sure, I’m game. I’ll send it to you in a week or so.
All right, Jean - you’re on record!
Hi Robert! This is great idea and a perfect motivator to go back over the year’s articles. I found this today and already have the list ready to send you and the post for my site just waiting for your link. I’ll be in touch at the email. Thanks!
-Will
Great to have you on board, Will!
Don’t forget to tell your friends; tell your neighbors - heck, tell your friend’s neighbors while you’re at it!
[...] Said What… Robert Hruzek on BLOGAPALOOZA! What I Learned From 2007Will on BLOGAPALOOZA! What I Learned From 2007SeanPAune.com » Blog Archive » Blogging [...]
Hi Robert
My contribution - boy what a year is has been - has turned into a rather large reflecting, pondering post I’m afraid.
Have a Happy and Prosperous New Year
Karin H.
I found you through http://momgadget.com. This is new to me and I can’t wait to try it. I want to see if I even wrote anything worth learning something about. Did that make sense? Great idea.
Oh, come now, Sue - for someone with a website called “Edge of Sanity” - well, how could you NOT participate!
After all, it looks to me like you’re already in the Zone!
Howdy, Karin! Thanks for joining us for yet another round; especially THIS one!
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Mine’s on its way!
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thanks for the invitation, and i’ve just sent off my contribution.
when are you thinking of posting all these wonderful contributions?
Howdy, Isabella! They start posting this week; you’ll get a notice and link soon.
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