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Friday, March 25, 2011

Let's Take a Breather....

Let's kick back!

          After a couple of heady high-falootin' topics earlier in the week I think it's time to just slow down and relax today here on Tossing It Out.  I want to thank everyone for not only the great discussion here on this blog, but also the discussion that carried over on some of the other blogs.  I guess it just goes to show you that the topics of followers and  just doing the A to Z Challenge are topics that many of us are still thinking about.

           In between other activities I've been trying to get the press releases out to the media.  Unfortunately I haven't been able to devote much quality time to writing up the releases and making contacts, but I believe I should be having some things come out.  This is a project that I'll have to start on earlier next year.

          I mean really!  Is April 1 coming quickly or what?  It's next Friday folks!  And now I'm thinking I'm not as ready as I'd hoped I'd be, but not to worry I'm sure we'll all manage.

stuff and other stuff

            So speaking of followers, I've run across some of our participants who still only have a handful of followers.  Here's a new challenge:  If any of you reading this have the same follower philosophy as I do (try to get a bunch of them) would you please try to find at least five new blogs from the A to Z list to follow this weekend.  If you can do five a day between now and next Friday that would be even better.  Let's give some of our fellow bloggers a boost. 

            And so before the Challenge starts I have a couple of awards I need to get out of the way.  I also still have a few lost among my emails.  I'll have to get to those later.  But I'll take care of these two and you can start on my follow-a-new-blog challenge by following the blogs that I pass the awards to as well as those who gave me the awards.   I will be drawing from my commenters of this week.

One Lovely Blog Award
                

From MysteriousRose at MysteriousBooks comes this One Lovely Blog Award.

What do to when receiving this award:

1)  Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link (okay, that's done--thanks again Mysterious Rose).

2)  Pass the award to 15  3 other blogs that you've newly discovered (I'm going to reduce the number to save time)

3)  Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award (I hope I remember).

I'm going to pass this first award to:

Angeline Trevena / Fantasy and Horror Writer

Lisa  Vooght at Flash Fiction

L.G. Smith at Bards and Prophets




Memetastic Award



           Sandi at That's Ahh Some! passed me the Certified to Lie Memetastic Award where I'm supposed to tell 3 lies and 1 truth and you're supposed to guess which one is true.   But then I received the same award from Liz at 8-Bit Words except that hers is an Allowed to Tell One Lie Award (okay I made that up) where I tell four truths and one lie.  Now I don't know how this divergence occurred in the life of the award, but I guess it leaves me to choose which way I want to go with this.

          Hmmm--- I don't like to lie, but I am a storyteller so I guess they're not really lies are they.  So here's the deal.  I'll tell mostly "stories".  Can you guess which of the following is true?  

Wait!:  there is only one story tonight and it is true.  My computer slowed down so bad tonight that I'm not going to get around to any story telling.  I'm going to go to bed instead.  But I'll still get the award passed on and the recipients can tell their stories if they like.

Once again I'm going to pass this on to, not 5 like suggested, but  3 more bloggers just to save some time.

dafeenah a Journey of Self Discovery

Sand Castles and Snow Forts

Julie at What Else is Possible?



So I'm done.  Not going to proofread or anything else.  Done.  Finshed.  Soon to be asleep.  That's what I get for waiting so late to do this.

Follow some new blogs--make some new friends!


---

50 comments:

  1. Congrats on your blogs awards and for the suggestions of other blogs to check out. I will be visiting them after I get off work. Have a great weekend.

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  2. Congratulations on your awards, and to the new recipients!

    Five new blogs? I can do that.

    Happy Friday!!!

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  3. Good morning Lee...what a lovely surprise! Thank you for the award! You, Alex, Talli, Yvonne, and a bunch of others have been so encouraging. You've been awesome at promoting the challenge, and encouraging other people and it's deeply appreciated. I'm leaving for work shortly but I'll get my post and link up this evening. Have a great day - you've made mine!

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  4. Congrats to the winners!! Enjoy your weekend.

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  5. Congrats to the winners! I agree that a breather is exactly what everyone needs at this moment. I don't know about y'all, but I've been busting it out the last couple weeks. I need a break.

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  6. Sleep would be nice, I'm lacking lately so I suppose I have time to check out new blogs! Congratulations Arlee! Love Di ♥

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  7. Congrats on the awards and to the awardees. I was so busy clicking on links I forgot to comment here :O)

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  8. Congrats Lee on your awards, well deserved. I am really amazed at the last look of entries for the A to Z. OVER 600 WOW. A m off on Tuesday to see Daniel and come back Wednesday so I will have a little breather before April 1ST.


    Have a good week-end.
    Yvonne,

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  9. Great advice and motivation! I remember when I only had about ten followers, and it made a huge difference every time I gained a new one. It STILL makes a huge difference, but it's especially nice when you're just starting out :)

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  10. congrats on the awards, Lee! Hope many people will find many new followers and friends during your April challenge!

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  11. Congrats on your awards!

    I totally agree about making new friends.

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  12. Wow. This is my first award. I have never got one before. Thank you so much.

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  13. Well, how cool is that! Thanks Arlee.

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  14. Part of taking a breather means I won't be responding individually to comments today--not much controversy here anyway. If a comment warrents a special response I'll do it, but thanks for all the kind words so far.

    Lee

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  15. Congratulations on your awards! I'll check out the blogs you've listed. I love connecting with new people :D

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  16. well Lee, for the amount of work you and your helpers have done....you all deserve to take a breather! i've been following you steady although i haven't left many comments behind to prove it. been scanning the list right along and have bookmarked a number of possible "low profile" blogs to follow:) added one already today. later on i'm going to put them on a side-bar like you have here. soon as i figure it out, that is. have a great weekend!

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  17. Lee, I must confess (hand raise) I really messed it up, because I didn't know the rules. It's supposed to be 4 truths and a lie. (oopsy- blush)

    For some reason, I thought you were supposed to guess the truth. I like "story-telling" better! ;)

    It makes a blog post so much more interesting vs. "I like grapes" "my favorite show is" kind of stuff...not that those are bad, I just prefer a good yarn.

    I'll be revealing my answer this morning! Also, I purposely reduced it from 4 & 1 to 3 & 1.

    Anyway, it's the MeMetastic award. I added "certified to Lie" for fun!

    There I go, just ruining all the fun. Just see if I ever receive any other awards. (darn-it!)

    What can I say, I have to have my own variation...even if by pure accident. Well, so now you have an option! People can do it either way.

    I've gone through your list from 1-200 so far...I'll look through another batch. I've always looked for those that don't have a large following so I can become friends w/them! Usually, I find those that are really successful blogs with huge followers, I kind of just get lost in all the responses! :)

    Except YOU, of course! :)

    have a super weekend, everyone!
    sandi
    http://www.ahhsome.wordpress.com

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  18. Thanks for this post! I would love to have some new followers. I have to say, when I come upon a blog that I like that only has a few followers, I always add myself, and hope that the blogger feels as pleased as I do about opening up the computer in the morning and discovering that some one new has joined on for the ride!
    Off to find some more!
    Kim
    http://kim-thelunchbox.blogspot.com/2011/03/ginger-spice-cookies.html

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  19. An ongoing thanks to everyone stopping. I saw a whole bunch of new comments and then realized half of them were repeats of the same comment from Sandi--uh, Sandi, 4 truths and a lie, not 3 comments that were the same. That's okay--I still think you're "aahsome".

    Bud -- Glad you're doing this in a way that works for you. I'm just glad you're here with us.

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  20. Congrats to you and everyone on the awards.

    On following -- I can't push that button just to do it. If the blog theme and content aren't my thing I can't make myself do it. You may find that cruel but I find it honest. I don't expect people to follow me because I follow them.
    I may find you fascinating while I bore you to death.

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  21. 5 new blogs in a weekend... I can do that!

    congrats on the awards!!

    baygirl32.blogspot.com

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  22. Congrats on your awards.
    I'm supposed to be taking a blogging break until the challenge, but I can follow 5 new bloggers. Easy peasy! :)

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  23. congrats on the awards and will get to work on your assignment..hugs

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  24. A few blogs should see some increased followings this weekend. Thank you all for giving them a boost.

    Lee

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  25. Congrats on the awards Lee. I came by to see what's cooking with A - Z. As you know I've done a post or two about it. I'm wondering about the time. Do we schedule our posts on US time? In Australia we are way ahead of you guys.

    Good suggestion about following blogs with only a few followers. That's part of the premise of this challenge isn't it? To follow new blogs as we get around? Hope so.

    Have a great weekend.

    Denise<3

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  26. Sleep well Lee - yours was my last read of the (very) late night, and a joy it was too :) Thanks for your lovely comment over at Daily Dodo yesterday - I appreciate your support and advice. Looking forward to next friday... Having decided to do no prep at all and post by the seat of my pants... I can feel the nervous excitement growing. Will find lots of new blogs to follow before then in leu of prep - I promise
    Lx

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  27. Denise-- I would recommend posting at the same time that you normally post so readers stay with your normal schedule. If you don't have a regular schedule I would say whatever works best for you.

    Laura -- Writing on the edge can be fun. It's more of a challenge and keeps it more topical I guess. Just have fun!

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  28. Hard to believe it's almost April! 2011 is zipping right along!

    Congrats on the awards :)

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  29. I have recently ran across a few blogs with only a few followers. I love following blogs like that. I remember when I was starting out, it felt wonderful each time I received a new follower.

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  30. Ah, followers....
    During a nearly month-long Blogger absence, I'd nearly forgotten about how much I love 'em.

    How the heck are ya, Lee?

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  31. Jemi -- Hard to believe for sure.

    Clarissa -- I too remember those days of few followers and how thrilled I was every time I got a new one.

    Andrew -- It has been a long time my friend. Good to see you back. Hope things have gotten settled some at work for you.

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  32. Dobre xD zapraszam do siebie:
    http://www.harry-potter-swiat-czarodziejow.blogspot.com/

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  33. Hi Arlee.. You are doing a lovely thing by promoting new bloggers.

    I have added the A-ZApril Blogging Challenge, on the sidebar of my blog.

    Though I will not be able to participate due to prior commitments, I want to publicize it in the Indian Subcontinent. Hope more bloggers join. :)

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  34. I think that most of us who have been at this blogging thing for a while really do enjoy encouraging newer folks. Thanks for giving us some links.

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  35. I have just started following you today. I am still a relatively new blogger, having only figured out what I am blogging about in 2011 (which is a humorous look at my life - which is easy to laugh at). I have accepted your challenge and hope to have fun. Have never blogged daily before, but that's ok, I warned the family. They'll get over it. Getting new followers is a bonus, so I will start today by finding more than just you to follow.

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  36. Lee-

    Is that the custom with blog awards?

    You're supposed to pass onto a certain number of other people?

    The reason I ask is, someone left me a comment telling me they were giving me an award (creative blog), and I replied saying thank you but did not know I was supposed to do anything else.

    Is there somewhere that lays out blog customs for us miscreants?

    Larry

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  37. Congrats! Just signed up to join the A to Z Blogging Challenge. I'm a new follower from A Season for All Things. http://aseasonforallthings.blogspot.com/

    ~ Ellen

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  38. What a great idea! I'm not A-to-Z-ing this year (April's just not going to permit it, no matter how organised I am in advance--no use setting them all up to autopost if I don't visit anybody else), but I'm going to be checking out those who're participating when I can, and I'll definitely be finding a few to follow.

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  39. Nice awards, congrats! And worthy bloggers you passed them on to, too. :-)

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  40. Hi there,

    Just a new follower saying "Hello"

    Just run into your blog after trying to find about the A-Z challenge. The Advertising sure works as i have seen the logo all around the writing world and i ended up here.

    I have now joined up and am feverishly thinking about what i can post about.

    thanks for orchestrating such a massive event.

    Sarah Ketley
    from The Precocious Scribe

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  41. Congrats on all the awards! I'm actually a new follower (with only 2 followers myself) but I love the idea of finding 5 new blogs to follow!

    I can't wait for the A to Z Challenge, it's such a creative idea. Keep up the great work!

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  42. Congratulations on your pretty new awards!

    Thanks for hosting the A to Z Challenge. Looking forward to it!

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  43. Congratulations Lee - well deserved! I always love reading your blog. :)

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  44. Congrats on your blog awards! Also, thanks for visiting my blog. I am looking forward to the A to Z April Challenge and can't wait to get started. It will be a great way to freshen up my blog and check out other bloggers. :) By the way, my mother-in-law lives in Maryville. I am not far from there at all. Cali sunshine does sound nice though. The cold/warm spells of spring are pretty sporadic here right now.

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  45. I am a new follower. I hope to learn a little more about writing and blogging and meet a few people! I plan on trying your A to Z challenge, too!

    www.notjustanothermotherblogger.com

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  46. Congratulations on your blog awards! Can't wait to check out the A to Z challenge, too. Been entirely too long since I've bopped around the blog-o-sphere. :) Hope you had a great, and restful, weekend, Lee!

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  47. One more thanks before I turn in earlier than normal on a Sunday night. Not much blogging activity this week-end and I'm still worn out! Big burst of steam this week as I head full throttle into the April Challenge. You guys are great! Thanks!

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  48. I can relate to kicking back and relaxing. Fortunately, I had a guest blogger (Ann Best) who posted a wonderful blog and allowed me to take a breather. Getting well rested for the A to Z Challenge. Ready to go!!!

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