Blogathon 2006: Ready to Rumble?
Test...test...test. Is this thing on? Testing...1, 2, 3...
Dang, I'm sleepy already.
Well, anyway, welcome to the 2006 edition of Blogathon, the Fire Ant Gazette Edition. We'll be here for the next 24 hours, boring you to tears hopefully proving that not all Darwin Award-worthy performances end in fatalities.
By the way, did you know that hopefully, as used in the preceding sentence, is just another sad example of the impending collapse of western civilization. According to Bryan A. Garner's excellent Garner's Modern American Usage, hopefully is now a "skunked term," meaning that it (along with its posse of data, decimate, enormity, and, likely but not actually addressed, posse) is somewhere in the middle of a continuum that stretches from the original intended use of the word all the way over to a new and improved usage, but until it arrives at its destination, those who inhabit either end of the continuum will pooh-pooh any usage of the word whatsoever. OK, there's more to it than that, but we've got better things to do. Hopefully.
Let's review, shall we? We're here on behalf of Midland Fair Havens, a Midland-based ministry that provides transitional housing and much more to single mothers and their children. Many of these women have left abusive situations, and many don't have all the skills necessary to be successful. Fair Havens is doing great work in helping these women get back on their feet, acquire those skills, and also develop a spiritual and emotional foundation that will serve them and their children well in the future.
So, while I think we'll have some fun -- a lot of fun, hopefully (ha!) -- keep in mind it's for a great cause. If you haven't made a pledge but would like to do so, you can click the link near the upper right corner of this page any time during the next 24 hours. And if you've already made a pledge, you have our deepest appreciation; it's a very good thing you've done.
Now, let's get after it, shall we?
Good luck and have fun today!
This is your monitor and the post counts. :)
Posted by: Debsy at July 29, 2006 08:10 AMGood Morning, Eric!
Midland Fair Havens sounds like a great place to help out.
Oh - and Garner's Modern American Usage is a fabulous book. Everyone should have a copy.
Queen Beepy, welcome to the 'thon! Being early...can't help it...too excited. Fortunately, I've still got that old meth lab that I figured I'd someday find a use for. ;-)
Debsy, welcome to the Gazette! I'll try to be on my best behavior. (For those of you who aren't familiar with Blogathoning procedures, each blog has a monitor to make sure we're walking the straight and narrow. I'm pretty sure they're non-bribable, but, you know, it never hurts to try.)
Buenos dias, Brian. I'm sure Bryan A. Garner agrees with your suggestion! ;-)
Posted by: Eric at July 29, 2006 08:24 AMGood morning, Eric! I'm off to a late start, but still early enough to capture your location...looks nice and sunny and relaxing! Go get 'em! ;-)
Posted by: Gwynne at July 29, 2006 08:52 AMAbout the publisher
Random Abbye photos...
Angry Clouds
I am Curious Llama
Ganglia & Brain Cloud
Cabeza del Diablo
Aurora Moreorless
Be careful Who you plagiarize
Coming Attractions
All Thorns, All the Time
Hitchin' a Ride
"...the flower fades..."
Finding meaning in random events
Random Thursday: The Thanksgiving Edition
A Matter of Perception
Reason #21 to wear shoes in West Texas
The Neighborhood:
West Texas Blogs:
[Midland unless otherwise indicated]
Other Texas Blogs:
The Business:
The Church:
The World:
Does this count? I mean, you're 2 minutes early ;) Well, hopefully the powers that be will be forgiving. Now go get some coffee, cause being sleepy this early in the game probably doesn't bode well.
Posted by: beth at July 29, 2006 08:01 AM