Day: November 25, 2019

Blogging Insights and More

Fandango17 Comments

Blogging insightsDr. Tanya, at Salted Caramel, published another one of her Blogging Insights posts in which she poses one or more questions about blogging.  In this case, she asked three questions about feeling grateful about our blogs.

And yesterday, Cyranny, the Cyranny who resides at Cyranny’s Cove, announced that she and her blog had been awarded the Sunshine Blogger Award. Congratulations Cyranny!

As part of her response, she asked eleven questions, all about blogging, and then she wrote, “If you are reading this, I pass the award to you! If you should accept it, please make sure to link me into your post, so I’ll notice your reply!!”

Since Tanya’s three questions and Cyranny’s eleven questions are all about blogging, I’m going to double up and respond to each of their questions in this post.

Let me start with Dr. Tanya’s three questions:

1. Are you grateful for your blog?

I am grateful that the technology exists that enables me to share what I write with a large community of bloggers from around the globe.

2. How do you express your gratitude?

By reading, liking, and commenting on the posts of the bloggers I follow and by thanking and interacting with those who comment on my posts.

3. Has blogging added value to your life?

Without a doubt. I’m retired and blogging has allowed me to exercise my mind, to flex my creativity, and to interact with a host of other bloggers. Plus, it keeps me busy and out of my wife’s hair, which has probably saved my marriage.

And now for Cyranny’s questions:

1. How long have you been blogging?

I started my first blog in July 2005. I started this, my current blog, in May 2017.

2. What’s the story behind your blog’s name or theme?

My blog’s name is This, That, and The Other. My blog has no particular theme or genre. It’s basically about whatever occurs to me. In other words, it’s about this, that, and the other.

3. Do your friends and family know about your blog?

My family does, as do a few of my very close friends. And, of course, the friends from around the world that I’ve met on WordPress know about my blog.

4. What do non-blogging people around you think about you being a blogger?

I have no idea and I haven’t asked, but I’d guess that most of them think it’s a waste of time.

5. Have you ever met fellow bloggers, face to face? If so, how did that go?

No. And I probably never will.

6. What would you miss the most, if you couldn’t blog anymore?

The community of bloggers with whom I interact on a daily basis. It’s an incredible group of creative, imaginative, and articulate people.

7. How much time do you spend on your blog, weekly?

I spend three to five or more hours a day, seven days a week, so I estimate between 20 and 40 hours a week.

8. Are there things you thought about trying on your blog, but you still hesitate? (different writing style, adding audio, or video content)

No, not really. I’m happy with my blog the way it is.

9. Who’s a blogger you feel everybody should know?

There is a fantastic blogger that everyone should read and follow. The blogger’s name is Fandango. You should check out his blog here.

10. What’s a post you are especially proud of, and that any new reader should visit?

Why don’t you just ask me which of my children I’m most proud of? I’ve written more than 3800 posts on this blog and I’m proud of each and every one. So if you start now and read each of my posts, you should finish by around the end of the year.

11. What brought you to The Cove today?

I follow your blog, Cyranny, so your posts show up in my reader and I pretty much read them all. You’re welcome!

Share Your World — Easy Peasy

Fandango13 Comments

Share Your WorldTo quote Melanie, “It’s Thanksgiving … in the U.S.A. and so lots of folks will be ultra busy. I thought some general questions that are relatively easy to answer might be in order” for this week’s Share Your World edition. So here are my easy answers to Melanie’s easy questions.

What did you have for dinner last night?

We’re going to the grocery store today to pick up our Thanksgiving haul. Our cupboards were bare last night so I went out to a local Vietnamese restaurant and brought home a couple of rice plates for us to have for dinner. I had lemongrass pork chops and my wife had lemongrass steak. Yum!

Would you rather go out on a Saturday night or stay in?

Sometimes we go out on Saturday night if there’s something going on. But more often than not, we stay at home. At this point in my life — I’m an old fuddy-duddy — I’d just as soon stay home as go out.

How are you, truthfully?

Aside from my ear situation, which will require surgery at the end of December, I’m good. I assume that’s what the question is asking, and it’s not asking me how I am when it comes to being truthful. Truthfully speaking, I’m truthful most of the time.

What’s the best topping/ice cream combination?

When it comes to ice cream, I’m a purist. I generally don’t put any toppings on my ice cream. That’s because I rarely have plain vanilla or chocolate ice cream. That said, if I’m having a slice of apple pie, I love to warm it up and put a scoop of ice cream on top of the slice for some pie a la mode.

For gratitude, Melanie suggests that we share our gratitude with a thought (quote), a picture or a short paragraph.

Here we go:53F68952-1F34-4F2F-8675-615D5514D5A4

Fandango’s Flash Fiction Challenge #42

Fandango6 Comments

FFFCWelcome to “Fandango’s Flash Fiction Challenge.” Each week I will be posting a photo I grab off the internet and challenge bloggers to write a relatively short flash fiction piece inspired by the photo. While there are no definitive style or word limits, I suggest trying to keep your posts to under 300 words.

I want to sincerely thank everyone who has participated in these challenges so far. Your posts have been very creative. I hope this week’s image will also generate some great posts as well.

So now it’s time for this week’s Fandango’s Flash Fiction Challenge. The image below is from mirceaianc at Pixabay.com.street musiciansFor the visually challenged, the image shows two street musicians, one playing a guitar and the other playing a violin.

If this picture inspires you and you wish to participate, please write your post, use the tag #FFFC, and link back to this post.

The issue with pingbacks not showing up seems to have been resolved, but you might check to confirm that your pingback is there. If not, please manually add your link in the comments.

Please take a few minutes to read some of the other responses to this photo challenge.

FOWC with Fandango — Root

Fandango23 Comments

FOWCWelcome to November 25, 2019 and to Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (aka, FOWC). It’s designed to fill the void after WordPress bailed on its daily one-word prompt.

I will be posting each day’s word just after midnight Pacific Time (US).

Today’s word is “root.”

Write a post using that word. It can be prose, poetry, fiction, non-fiction. It can be any length. It can be just a picture or a drawing if you want. No holds barred, so to speak.

Once you are done, tag your post with #FOWC and create a pingback to this post if you are on WordPress. Or you can simply include a link to your post in the comments.

The issue with pingbacks not showing up seems to have been resolved, but you might check to confirm that your pingback is there. If not, please manually add your link in the comments.

And be sure to read the posts of other bloggers who respond to this prompt. You will marvel at their creativity.