Blogging A to Z FAQs and a Puppyism

April was my first foray (actually I only wrote one a post not four) into the Blogging A to Z Challenge.

Today, I am going to tell you a few reflections about my experience there, Since it is now 12:00 a,m Friday which as you know is Half Past Kissing Time, I will give these reflections in fragment form. I will do this in Frequently Asked Question format, since I haven't done a FAQ's of Life segment ever so long

FAQ/Fragment # 1 What was it like?

A to Z was fantastic, fun and frenetic. It was also several words that don't begin with the letter F, but I was on a roll. Starting Sunday April the first and ending Monday April the thirtieth with the exception of the subsequent Sundays, I blogged about a word beginning with a different letter of the alphabet. I did this in alphabetical order, because that's the kind of guy I am.

FAQ/Fragment # 2 Did you plan ahead or just fly by the seat of your pants?

yes. The first few weeks were planned out ahead of time and many were written days in advance as I knew I would be very busy the first few days of April. After about mid month, I still had a few letters I was planning on doing, but many I decided the word and wrote the post just hours before the end of that day. I was also very busy the last few days of the month and that's the only time I got into major panic mode?

FAQ/Fragment # 3 What was your most unusual experience with the A to Z challenge?

My wife Amy sometimes will write an unsolicited post for me, as me. Often these are jokes, to get a reaction from me. Many of those never make it to the light of day. Sometimes, she will write something very poignant as me, often saying my thoughts better than I could. Well for the letter O, she did a post for me, as me. This post got more views than any of my other A to Z posts. The unusual thing is that it was called Original.

FAQ/Fragment #4 What was your greatest challenge with the challenge?

I dropped my laptop about two thirds through the challenge. I have still not gotten it back. This really created many problems with getting the challenge done.

FAQ/Fragment #5 How would you compare Blogging A to Z with NABLOPOMO?

NABLOPOMO is something that I've never really enjoyed. I have participated in it three times, completing it twice. The first time, I did it was my second month of blogging. It nearly ended my blogging career before it got off the ground. I was able to complete it again a year or so later, it was less stressful but not very fun for me.

Blogging A to Z was fun. I enjoyed following other blogs. I enjoyed getting more readers and more comments. I really enjoyed getting Sunday's off. Even with my busy April schedule, and my computer mishaps, I would definitely Blog A to Z again. Next year I might even enter from more than one of my blogs.

For more A to Z Blogging experience reflections click here.



Fragment # 6 Puppy on the Wagon

Today, technically yesterday, while the bigs (my name for our oldest 2 kids) were running an errand for me, I told puppy I would take her on a wagon ride.

Here's a snippet of conversation as I started getting ready to leave the house.

Me: Hey Puppy are you ready for our walk?

Puppy: I'm not walking, I'm riding.

Me: That's right. I'm walking and you're riding.

Puppy: You're exercising and I'm restercising.

For more Friday Fragments click here.

Rush to 100

I am giving away two sets of 50 state quarters.  One contest is closed,  The other will close as soon as I get 100 followers.  I will then choose winners fro both contests.    Guess whagt I have 99!  My 100th follower will get 100 entries to win the second set of quarters.  If they still don't win the quarters then they will get 10 state quarters instead. 

Please leave a comment after you have followed.

30 Hour Famine Guest Post

I have invited a girl from our co-op to write 2 posts about an upcoming 30 hour famine she is participating in. She will write a follow up post after the event.

Journey to Fasting

My name is Brie, I am a 16 year old, high school, homeschool student eager to learn about a slew of different things. I am the worship leader for my church youth group, and I am passionate about learning more about the Fathers heart, and studying His word.


Another passion of mine is serving people in any way possible. Whether it’s babysitting, praying for them, or even just helping someone to their car, serving has always been a huge passion and part of my life.


My youth group and I have recently taken up a large serving opportunity together. We want to see God’s kingdom move and we want to be a part of it. So we are all binding together and taking apart in World Visions ’30 hour famine’.


We are trying to raise funds to aid our dear brothers and sisters in Africa with the recent droughts and famine. Then, on June 1st through the 2nd with whatever funds we have collected, and are going to fast and pray for 30 hours straight. Afterwards we are all going to have a giant feast (since we’ll be starving of course) and then we are going to combine whatever funds collected and send them to World Vision!


In all honesty, I have no idea what to expect, but one thing's for sure, I will trust completely in God’s provision, because he’s never failed me before.

Thanks Brie it sounds exciting. If anyone out there is interested in supporting Brie in this effort, contact me and I will let you know how that can be managed.

Dog Day Afternoon or Spring Training

Yesterday the mail came and totally disrupted lunch. This was because the  White Sox Kid's Club packets came.  Each year I sign all the kids up for White Sox Kid's Club.  For no cost they usually get a poster, some stickers and other White Sox material and 2 ticket vouchers for each kid to attend a select ball game.

Major league baseball has become something pretty hard to attend on our family's budget.  Thanks to the White Sox, we are able to go as a family once a year on them. 

Each year when we get the tickets we then go to the Sox website and make sure that the Sox still have their Dog Day promotion and that it is one of the dates available on the voucher.  Dog Day is when White Sox fans can bring their dogs to the game.  We don't have a dog, but our girls love to go to that game and generally get to pet a dog or two before the dog's enter the stadium.  It is also one of the only games, if not the only game where fireworks are not shot off at some point during the game.  Fireworks and dogs are a pretty explosive mix.  My son was pretty skittish about fireworks when he was younger and a no fireworks day was certainly a plus for them.

So today, I took Puppy to to U.S. Cellular field to trade in our vouchers for actual tickets to the dog day game.  We finished her school work on the elevated train ride on the way to the ball park.  We went to the park, which was relatively empty since the Sox are in the middle of a series in Cleveland right now. 

After we got the tickets, we took some pictures at some of the statues outside the park, including this one which celebrates the 2005 World Series.  As I was taking this picture, I saw a man walking into the park from the parking lot.  It was Jerry Reinsdorf.  When I pointed him out to Puppy as the owner of the White Sox, he stopped walking and waved at us.  I practically melted.

I had packed us a lunch, so we ate and then played a little catch.  

Dog day is in 2 weeks, I hope it's as special for us as a family as our Daddy, daughter trip was today. 

Puppy Loves The White Sox!

Well, at least it SEEMS like she loves the White Sox. Every year the White Sox sends us 6 free tickets (two for each child) just for joining their Kids' Club. And Puppy has taken it upon herself to strongly suggest that we all attend the game that includes her favorite things on earth--dogs. Puppy and I took a little trip down to The Cell today to pick up our tickets for Dog Days. We received an extra blessing when someone gave us his prepaid parking place at the train station. Saved cinco dollars! Spring is really here, now that we've got White Sox tickets in our hot little hands. I have to believe that Puppy loves the White Sox!