Howdy y’all!

Hey, in case you’re wondering about the slow week here at the Zone (I’m assuming that’s true – if it ain’t… please don’t disillusion me!) it’s because today’s my birthday and I’ve sorta been layin’ low on purpose.

Don’t you worry ’bout a thing, y’all; I’ll be back on Monday with the kickoff to our next What I Learned From… groupwrite project! See ya then!

In the meantime, I think I’ll have another slice of that cake…

p.s. If you think I did this just to fish for compliments, why I’m shocked – simply shocked you would even suggest such a thing! I would never do that. No, to be honest, I was fishing for presents! Just send your cash or checks to – ouch (sound of blunt object hitting back of head)

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Have you ever wondered what the future holds?Hey, join the club, Bubba; sooner or later we all do. It’s sorta like wondering what’s behind this big blue door.

Well, wonder no more! For those of you who may have been wondering what happened to our monthly What I Learned From… groupwrite projects, I’m pleased to announce I’m kicking off the first one for 2010 on next Monday, February 1! (sound of crowd cheering enthusiastically)

The topic will be (sound of drum roll) … What I Learned From Children

Now, for those of you who have no idea what I’m talking about, here’s the deal:

If you’d like to participate, all you have to do is write a post (or link to an existing post) that addresses the topic. Something you learned from, because of, or with the topic du jour (which in this case is, of course, children). Post it on your blog by the project close on Sunday night at midnight, CST (-6 GMT), Feb. 7. Then send me an email with the link (so I don’t miss it). I’ll collect them all and post them right here at the Zone on Monday, Feb. 8.

It’s a great way to have some fun, gain a few links, discover other writers both new and old (hey, who you callin’ old?), and maybe even learn a thing or two. Plus, you get to join the hundreds of entries already submitted for past WILF projects!

Please give some serious thought to joining us, won’t you?

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A very merry Christmas and a happy new year to y’all!

Welcome to the final post here at Middle Zone Musings for the year 2009 – and what a year it was, I’ll tell ya! Thrills, chills, spills – and that was just at my house! Heaven only knows what happened at yours!

And hey, who knows what amazing things are in store for us next year?

I want to thank all the wonderful folks who have participated, commented, or simply dropped by the Middle Zone this year. A big ol’ tip o’ the hat to ya, and thank you from the bottom of my ol’ Texas heart!

Well, here’s the final results from this year’s annual What I Learned From 2009 groupwrite project. We had only 14 entries this time, admittedly a far cry from the 138 entries y’all contributed in last year’s Blogapalooza. But that’s just okey-dokey with me; I’m just honored y’all chose to squeak some time out of your holidays to participate. Really!

I asked y’all to write a post at your own blogs, listing your best, or favorite, or most outrageous (or whatever) posts of the year 2009, then send me the link to your round-up post. So here’s the list of entries, in no particular order. Do yourself a favor and check ‘em all out, y’all; there’s some great writers here:

• The Best of BeAllergyWise Blog for 2009, by Monique Attinger at BeAllergyWise
• The Best of BeAllergyWise News for 2009, by Monique Attinger at BeAllergyWise
• My Most Conversational Posts of 2009, by Brad Shorr at Word Sell
• Old and New Tricks and Issues – What I’ve Learned From 2009, by Alina Popescu at Words of a Broken Mirror
• A Year’s Worth of Posts, by Geoffrey Philp at Geoffrey Philp’s Blogspot
• The Best of Brawise, by Monique Attinger at Brawise
• Favorite Posts of 2009, by Meryl Evans at Meryl.net
• My Essential Lines from 2009, by Joanna Young at Confident Writing
• The Reward of Finding…, by Nancy Kourmoulis at Treasures of Darkness
• What I Learned From… 2009, by Lillie Ammann at A Writer’s Words, an Editor’s Eye
• Picturing My Way Home, by Joanna Young at Joyful Jubilant Learning
• What I Learned from 2009, by Karen Hanrahan at Best of Mother Earth
• 2009 Life’s Lessons Learned, by Sheila Glazov at Sheila Glazov

And of course, there’s my own entry. It was a mite harder than usual selection the criteria for this WILF. But after much anguished soul-searching, I hit upon this gem of a topic: My “least linked to” posts of 2009 My Most Profound Lessons Learned from 2009:

• A Prolific Profusion of Profound Profundity. Or Something. by Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone Musings

Now, y’all have a happy and safe finish to the year 2009, and as always, a big ol’ tip o’ the hat to ya!

See ya next year! Yeehaw!

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[Note: This is my entry for this year's final groupwrite project, What I Learned From 2009. Care to join the fun? See the note at the bottom of this post!]

I’ll tell ya; it was tough picking the posts to highlight; there’s just so many choices! And deciding the selection criteria was a bear, too. For awhile, it was a close call between “Most Ignored Posts” and “Posts Least Linked To”.

But after much soul-searching (not to mention long hours minutes scanning this year’s posts) I finally decided to call this collection:

My Most Profound Lessons Learned From 2009

• The Perils of Pumpkin Bread (December) – Why it’s always important to include every ingredient in a recipe. I’ll tell ya; it was an aggravating morning – that yielded a valuable lesson!
• The Dangers of Sitting Still (November) – Sometimes you have to see the buzzards circling to realize you may be in danger, y’know? I’ll never sit still again – at least, not out in the open like that!
• Jump With Joy! (October) – Whatever you do, do it with enthusiasm! That’s what I learned from a summer camp, a little kid, and a trampoline.
• Better Pay Attention! (September) – Sometimes there’s plenty of indications that danger lies just ahead, y’know? Sadly, we often don’t pay enough attention to all those little signs. Just sayin’.
• Upwardly Mobile (August) – Reflections on the perils of being upwardly mobile. Sometimes the apparent scariness of the situation is not really all that big a thing. Maybe it just takes – doin’ it.
• What To Do When You Mess Up – Bad (July) – A bit of self-confession here. On occasion, admitting you have a problem is the first step to getting it solved. Or something.
• Exploring New Horizons (June) – A business trip to a small town in Utah led to some very interesting insights that can apply to pretty much anywhere you happen to be – if you’ll just look.
• Moseyin’ Around Downtown Chicago (May) – No doubt about it, attending SOBCon’09 taught me quite a few things about community. But outside of the conference, taking the time to wander around downtown Chicago early one morning was a wonderful bonus. Come walk with me, won’t you?
• The Trouble With Trouble (April) – Without a doubt, the best lesson I’ve ever learned from facing adversity. I’ll admit; it doesn’t make it any easier. But still, there’s comfort in knowing…
• School of Hard Knocks (March) – I just want to go on record here: no matter what conclusion you may come to when you read this one – I still blame the hat! One reason I wear a cowboy hat and not a baseball cap these days.
• From Here to There (February) – Musings on the path often convoluted paths we travel in life. Take it from me; you may not always end up where you thought you would. But then again, you might! Still, it’s the journey, not the destination, that’s interesting.
• What I Learned From Blogapalooza 2009 (January) – Here’s a few things I learned after running last year’s end-of-the-year extravaganza, Blogapalooza 2009. I’ll give you a hint: it’s all about the power of the invitation.

Well, that’s about the size of it, y’all! 12 posts chock full of, well, sumpin’ anyway. But then again, maybe that’s for you to decide, ain’t it?

Hey, here’s to a great finish for 2009!

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[Note from the Proprietor: Hey, you're invited to join us for this final groupwrite project of the year 2009! Just click on this link: (What I Learned From 2009) and read all about it! Also, I've decided to leave it open a bit longer, so I'll be accepting entries through Sunday, December 27! Lots of time left!]

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Hey, amidst the confusion, I realize everyone is generally busy this time of year! So this is just a quick note to let y’all know I’ve decided to extend the entry period for this month’s annual round-up groupwrite project, What I Learned From 2009.

Originally the last day for entry was Sunday, December 20, but I’ve extended it for another week until Sunday, December 27 to give everyone just that much more time to squeeze it in. All entries will be posted on Monday, December 28 to wrap up the year here at the Middle Zone.

Be sure to spread the word!

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Yeehaw, y’all! Today is once again the first Monday of the month, and you all know what that means, don’t you? Yep; it’s time to kick off the next What I Learned From… groupwrite project! (sound of cheering)

Hey, since we’re pretty much at the end of the year, the choice of topic this time is probably gonna be pretty obvious, am I right? I mean, what would a year be like without a time of retrospection? Just think (sound of gears grinding) about all the great things you learned this year.

Besides, it’s almost Christmas, y’all! Think of this month’s WILF as your Christmas present from you to all of us: it’s your chance to give us your best, y’know?

Yessir; all those great posts you’ve written, the veritable plethora of lessons learned, not to mention all those wonderful memories you’ve stuffed into the ol’ memory banks. Well, this month, you have the opportunity to share the best of ‘em with the rest of us!

How It Works

So, your assignment for this month’s WILF, should you decide to accept it, is to compose a post listing your favorite posts (or your most popular, or whatever criteria you want; it’s your choice this month!) from your own blog posted during 2009. Simple, right? Hey, that’s what I thought!

Oh, and I’m aware some folks may already be doing something similar. If so, then just send me the link and I’ll include it. (In other words, it doesn’t have to be a new post.)

And, for each post you mention, for the sake of your audience don’t forget to include a word or two about why you chose it. After all, you want to give folks a reason to drop by and read, right? OK, now list your links in a post, include a few words about each, and post it at your blog. Then, send me the link to your compilation post. That’s all there is to it! (See? I told you it was easy!)

I’ll collect the links to your posts and post ‘em here. (NOTE: Normally, WILFs are open to entries for only one week. But this month I’m giving you lots more time since most of us are pretty busy around this time of year.)

What To Do [NOTE - UPDATED!]

NOTE the longer time frame this month! The project is open from now thru Sunday, December 27, at midnight (that’s midnight to me, which is GMT-5 time). I’ll post the entire list of entries on Monday, December 28, just in time for the new year.

And let’s not forget the details…

1. Write a post (or send me the link to an existing post) on your blog with a link to THIS POST (uh, the one you’re reading now). By the way, feel free to be as eloquent (or concise) as you like.
2. Send me an email (rhruzek@sbcglobal.net) containing your name, the title of your post, and the permalink of the post. (To make sure I don’t miss it.)

That’s all there is to it! Then on Monday, December 28, I will post the entire list of entries right here at the Middle Zone; be sure and drop by to check ‘em all out.

As always, we have just two simple rules around here:

• For the sake of the general blogging audience, please keep it G-Rated. (Also please note: this is a request, not a demand, since after all it’s your blog and you can do what you want. Fair warning: I can choose to link to you or not.)
• Be nice.

All right, ladies and gentlemen; you know what to do! Grab the writing instrument of your choice, dig into your archives, and get to it!

[Note from the Proprietor - I realize it takes a little time to write your entries, but would you mind too terribly not waiting until midnight on Sunday night, December 27 to notify me? Sometimes it can be difficult to get them all compiled by Monday's 6 am post time! I surely thank you, and as a token of my appreciation - have yourself a cookie!]

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Wow, what a great topic, y’all! I mean after all, I can hardly go a few hours without encountering a limit of one kind or another. Why, just the other day I had to forgo that third basket of chips at our favorite restaurant. I mean hey, I am on a diet, y’know…

Anyhoo – All I’m sayin’ is, I think a big ol’ Yeehaw! is in order for the participants in this month’s groupwrite project: What I Learned From Limits! In fact, we had 22 entries this time, including two guest posts from Kay Plantes and Chris Garrett (sound of crowd cheering enthusiastically).

So take a look at the list below, in which all the entries are listed in the order in which I found ‘em. Do yourself a favor and drop by each writers’ site and start a conversation, why don’cha? You’ll be glad you did!

• What I Learned From Limits, by Lillie Ammann at A Writer’s Words, an Editor’s Eye
• 2 Word Limit, by Joanna Young at Confident Writing
• The Old Man and the Mountain, by Steve Woodruff at Steve’s Leaves
• What I learned from limits in Genealogy, by Tina Didreckson at Windows Live
• Twitter and Writing Within Limits, by Brad Shorr at Word Sell, Inc.
• What I Learned From Limits, by Meryl at Meryl.net
• Non-Competes, Health Insurance, and Other Ugly Limits to Innovation, by Fred Schlegel at Frog Blog
• Limits? What Limits? By Geoffrey Philp at Geoffrey Philp’s Blogspot
• What I Learned From the 24 Hour a Day Limit, by Chris Garrett at Middle Zone Musings (guest post)
• What I Learned From the Limits of Allergies, by Monique Attinger at BeAllergyWise.com
• What I Learned From Limits, by Sally Ferguson at Sally’s Words
• The Power of Vision, by Kay Plantes at Middle Zone Musings (guest post)
• What I Learned From Self-Imposed Limits, by Avil Beckford at The Invisible Mentor

And of course, here’s a few more from yours truly:

• 5 Things I Learned From Driving Around in Circles, by Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone Musings
• Impenetrable, by Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone Musings
• The Day I Went Flying, by Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone Musings
• Paths and Boundaries, by Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone Musings
• Limitations and Opportunities: What I Learned From a Ferry Ride, by Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone Musings
• The Day I Decided to, er, Get Help, by Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone Musings
• Overcoming Barriers, Part 1, by Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone Musings
• Overcoming Barriers, Part 2, by Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone Musings
• Language Barrier, by Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone Musings

I’d like to thank all those who participated this month, and hope you enjoy some of the wild, weird, and sometimes even whacky stuff that goes on here at the Zone. Don’t forget to drop by next month for another exciting episode of As The World Turns What I Learned From…!

And of course, a big ol’ tip o’ the hat to ya!

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