Today I just want to give a shout out and let you know how much you mean to me.
Yes, you.
You make me want to do this every single day of my life.
Even when I’m tired. Even when I’m hungry. Even when my brain is a pile of mush and the thoughts I think shouldn’t be shared with others.
As I write this now, I see you. Your faces, your comments, your encouraging words are swirling in my mind.
It isn’t always easy. For instance, I’m in the process of changing addresses. I was supposed to get internet service last Saturday at my new house. You know how that goes, “Your technician will be out sometime between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and next Friday. Please have someone available during this time.” As if I don’t have a life. Okay, okay, I don’t have much of a life, but geez. Anyway, the technician was supposed to be there on Saturday from 8:00-12:00. So I woke up early on Saturday, (which should be against the law in the first place), and sat around in the quiet to wait for him. Around about 8:35, I received a phone call from the company telling me that my technician called in sick. Really?!?! I wasn’t buying it, I’m sure he was probably hung over, or fishing. They said they couldn’t have anyone else come out until Wednesday. Not wanting to take time off from work, I rescheduled my appointment for tomorrow. Another Saturday to wake up early. This inconvenience in internet has meant that each day after work, I have come to my old house to blog.
On Wednesday, WordPress (this blogging site I use) had technical difficulties. I had written a post about my house I’m moving from and memories from my dad in the house, but when I went to click the publish button, I got this error message stating no changes could be made and how they were working very hard to fix it, but to keep trying.
Because I committed to doing a “Postaday” challenge, and because I am a little bit obsessive-compulsive when I make commitments (except exercise) this went against my grain and ruffled my feathers. I had problems. How was I supposed to publish a blog post with technical difficulties? How could I try later when I don’t have internet at my new house and I needed wanted to get home? How could I live with myself if I broke my “postaday” commitment to myself and the handful of readers that I have?
As much as I hated to do it, I waved the white flag and posted a status update on Facebook that read: to my blog readers: My blogging site is experiencing technical difficulties. I don’t have internet at my new place, and I’ve got chickens to tend to, so there may not be a blog posted today. Please don’t eat rat poison. Or dance a jig.
I didn’t expect to hear much from my Facebook friends, but instead I got this:
(Suzanne) WHAT?!?!?! I DON’T THINK YOU SHOULD DO THIS!!!!
(Michelle) Ack…..I knew it was only a matter of time before the chickens took the place of your loyal & faithful fans!! 😉 enjoy your evening Angel!!
(Donna) ahhhh, I so look forward to them.
(Lena) Ok double blog tomorrow
(Lara) What will I read tonight??
(Sheryl) 
(Jennifer) Aww man, I was looking forward to it. 😦
(My sister Jolea, as if there is any other) What??? Nooooooooo!!! You must blog now…:/
(Linda) aww snap!
(Jay) I don’t think that was the deal!
I wish words could express how wonderful this makes me feel. To know that my writing matters to someone out there inspires me, encourages me, and uplifts me. It makes me trudge ahead.
Needless to say, I got a post up that day. Not because I’m awesome, but because you are.
I want to let you know how much you mean to me. I want to give you something back in return for the commitment you’ve made to read my ramblings, which aren’t even half good half the time. But you stick with me anyway!
I’m going to have a small give-away to one faithful reader. All you have to do to enter, is click here, print this form, fill it out, make sure and state your mother’s maiden name, and the last 4 digits of your social security number, have it signed in front of a notary, in blood, and witnessed by a celebrity on a deserted island.
That’s all.
No really, just leave me a comment here on my blog (not on Facebook). Be clever, be cute, be serious, be snide. I don’t care. Tell me what you like to read, what you hate to eat, what I should name a chicken. Anything. I just want to hear from you.
In exchange, I’ll randomly choose one of you for a $25 Visa or Mastercard or something-like-that-gift card. Accepted at lots and lots of places in the nearest 3 blocks.
It’s not much. I wish it could be more. But I’m just a poor, broke cowboy’s wife schoolteacher with 14 mouths to feed. Chicken mouths, but nonetheless mouths to feed.
I’ll announce the winner tomorrow after my internet is installed at noon. Better make it afternoon, well sometime between noon and midnight.
Waiting to hear from you and hoping for a sober technician…….