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!

VERY interesting day today - now with 199 entries (rats! didn’t quite make 200) from 42 people, we’re getting over the hump now and going for the gold. We’re rounding second and going for third. We’re over the 50 yard line and heading for the goal line. We’re coming in for the home stretch - hey, what’s with all the sports analogies, anyway?

I just gotta say - you guys are doing fantastic! As a group you’ve displayed extraordinarily wonderful creativivity (is that superlative enough?), and I’m continually being surprised by what I’ve been reading.

Prior to starting this contest, I had no idea just how far this meme might spread. I knew it might get some traction, but (I’ll freely admit it) probably like most bloggers I fantasized about getting on the front page of Digg (at least once in my lifetime). Of course, I always hoped it would be for, you know, something I said or did, like a genuinely workable plan for world peace, or cold fusion or… something profound!

Ah, well, c’est la vie.

I do have an exciting new development to share with you, though. Andy Nulman, of the always-surprising POW! Right Between the Eyes! blog has agreed to join your extinguished distinguished rank of judges in a special capacity: Andy will determine the story with the best surprise ending!

When I issued the invitation to Andy, I have to admit I truly expected to be turned down. But wouldn’t you know it - to my surprise he not only accepted the challenge, he even posted about it on POW! What a guy! Thanks, Andy, and when you come down to Texas, how about bringing some of that warm weather with you?

You know, it would just be absolutely finer than a frogs hair if you would subscribe to my RSS feed!