This post is written in conjunction with the 30 Days of Writing, a blog challenge devised by Nicky and Mike at “We Work For Cheese.” I’ll be participating throughout the month of June. If interested, you can see my post with the details of the challenge.
Please note that some of these posts will be serious, some will be normal, and some will be an attempt at humor.
This actually was quite the tough topic.
It’s not that I don’t know any bloggers to toast or roast. It’s more that I don’t want to single anyone out. There are many bloggers I read on a normal or semi-normal basis. And there are some who I’ve found during this challenge that I will continue to read well beyond the end of this 30-day craze.
With the risk of missing some people, I’m just going to basically give a speech and try and include some of my favorites. If you’re not listed, it doesn’t mean I don’t read you… it just means that I probably forgot (after all, getting many blogs in this post will be tough!)
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I could start by noting about this damn challenge. A 30-day blogging challenge where one has to write about certain off-the-wall topics. Yes, it’s the brain trust of Nicky and Mike over at We Work for Cheese. It would be easy to roast them. From their devotion to cheese to being Canadian. Easy roasting, no? Alas, I have an affinity for cheese and for Canada, so not so easy, eh?
And Nicky, believe me, my next trip to Montreal, I’m cashing in on your offer of free poutine!
Alas, by stumbling upon this challenge, I also had the chance to find many new and intriguing bloggers. And it seems bloggers of all ages, too, which is excellent. On top of that, they are from all over.
Such as Babs, who is on the other side of the pond. She’s not the only blogger I read from the UK, either — a fellow geocacher, Sarah, is also from that side of the world. It’s probably good that I am reading their blogs as I’m sure they have accents! It’s always cool to think about what somebody would sound like when you only see them in the Blogging world.
This challenge has led me to blogs like Linda, Wendy, Barb, Linda M, Katherine, Lauren and Laughing Mom, who have all sown creativity and different styles of writing that I really have enjoyed. Whether tales of life, poems or whatever else, they have consistently made me look forward to visiting their blogs.
Shawn has made me laugh — more than once — during this challenge. And laughter is something I truly love, so it’s always a bonus.
And I can’t forget Nonameddufus, who may call himself a dufus, but has humor, excellent stories and a love of hot dogs (albeit microwaved, but still…) and is someone I truly look forward to reading each day.
There are others — not involved in this challenge — who I try to read as often as possible. From geocachers such as GeoKs, to “everyday life” bloggers such as Naked Girl in a Dress (get your mind out of the gutter…) and Christelle, to a former co-worker who now has a “foodie” blog as Scratch Made Wife, my blog roll is a dynamic mixture of tastes, styles and posting frequency. I am happy to be able to read so many excellent blogs.
And Michael leads the fight for peanut butter against Nutella, so he’s obviously a worthy read. Lady in Red has helped that fight. We just need to make sure she doesn’t stray off course in the quest to crush Rusty’s beloved Nutella.
I had to save the “best” for last, however. See, I couldn’t go the whole thing without a true roast.
Over the years, I’ve gotten to know other sports writers and such through the Internet. Mainly through a message board (of which I am no longer and active participant). It’s through there where I first met Jerry. (Note I’ve met him several times now at events such as the Hall of Fame Inductions and have since grown to call him a good friend … he even mentioned me in his acknowledgments at the end of his most recent book… cheap plug! Go look at it and buy it if you are a baseball fan. It’s a great read!)
But about the blogging part…
See, for a long time, I used to tell Jerry to read my blog. But he wasn’t the biggest of blogging people. He’d usually respond to me something along these lines:
Me: Hey man, I had an interesting post at my blog today. You should check it out.
Jerry: BLOOOOOOOOOOGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGS!!!
And that would be it.
A funny thing happened on the way to the blogging world…
See, Jerry became a blogger.
Now, it’s one thing to start a blog. Whether it be about books, sports, real life or whatever. Maybe a niche. Well, Jerry has hit the niche. He blogs about Hofstra basketball. (His three readers will confirm it). Sometimes, when other sports at Hofstra are doing well, he’ll blog about them, too.
Despite his blogging of a school that many people scratch their head at and say “Who?” Jerry has become a blogger. The banter of “Sofstra” and “No football” are inside jokes that always make me chuckle.
In the end, though, Jerry truly runs a solid blog and is something that fans of alumni of Hofstra should be happy to have. I won’t lie that I don’t read it every day (I don’t have connection to Hofstra), but I check it out and there are, at times, posts that truly engage me. His style is excellent and the way he relates things is strong so even those who aren’t connected to the school can read it without thinking it’s been done by some fan boy.
I would encourage people who enjoy good writing to check his blog out. The only bit of advice I would give is if you don;t want millions of updates about Hofstra and CAA basketball, don’t follow him on Twitter (Hi, Jerry!)
For those I left out of this post, accept my apologies. I’ll still be reading!
Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!
I can’t single one blogger out either, P.J., because there are so many I like very much and I would probably miss naming a favorite. I feel like the people I read share so much of themselves with me that I feel like I get to know them on a “friend” level and that really does make me happy. I’m glad I found you through this little competition.
Linda Medrano recently posted..Stilettos – Day 23
It’s so tough for sure. But I’m glad I found this challenge and that I’ve found many of the bloggers. I now need to update my blog roll!
Well said.
Thank you. The challenge led me to you, as well as others, and for that I will always be grateful.
I’m still winging my way through the list of blogs in the challenge. I hope to visit them all in addition to the others you mentioned.
I guess you finally nudged Jerry over to the dark side. : )
Now, where’s the Eggs Benedict and Mimosas? You can’t have a roast without food and drinks.
Lauren recently posted..Stiletto Heels or Insoles
It seems like we all seem to agree with the fact that this challenge has been good to find new bloggers!
Mmmm… eggs benedict!
Me? An accent? I thinks it’s you that has the accent 😉
I’ve also met some great bloggers through this challenge.
Babs – Beetle recently posted..Roast or toast another blogger
Nah, I have no accent. 😉
Free poutine? When did I promise FREE poutine? 😉
You are on, P.J. Anytime!
Nicky recently posted..To All The Bloggers I’ve Loved Before
To quote from one of your comments via an earlier post in the challenge…
“You’ll have to let Mike and I know the next time you’re in town… we’ll spring for the poutine”
Heck yeah. I will be cashing in!
Hi PJ – Thanks for the mention. Once I saw your post about signing up for the 30 Days of Writing challenge, I was inspired to go check it out. I even considered signing up, but since June is the last month of school (here in Canada) and I have tons of Parent Advisory Council to wrap-up along with shepharding the GeoKids through exams, track and field days, end-of-year field trips and more, I decided against it.
So I have enjoyed participating via reading your posts and a few others. The writing inspired a few chuckles along the way, included some inspiring turns of phrase and showcased tons of creative thinking. Thanks for the fun!
GeoKs recently posted..Weekly Photo Challenge: Close
I will say it’s been a tough challenge. There are some days that have really pushed my limits. I just want to make sure I get through the whole things. And what a way to find new bloggers, too! 😀
Glad you have enjoyed. I would have loved to have seen you in this one though… I imagine it would have been good! 😀
Very cool of you to mention so many – especially those of us that are new to you! I had a tough time trying to figure out the prompt and what to do with it – I ran out of steam half way through my blog list. It’s been great getting to know you!
laughingmom recently posted..30 Days of Writing – Roast or Toast Another Blogger
Yeah, I was losing steam, too. I have a feeling I missed some of my other favorites! 😀
PJ, thank you for the mention in your list. This challenge has brought new faces into view. I have enjoyed reading your posts, throughout the weird and wacky prompts. I think it was a great idea to have a number of people all writing based on the same prompt and seeing all the different views and creativity.
Linda recently posted..Cheers to You!
Besides the challenge of having to come up with ways to fill a theme, I think the best thing about it has been the new faces and the styles of writing. It’s excellent!
P.J. recently posted..Train coming
That’s how I found you too. You commented on someone’s blog (Michael’s, GYB or Chiz) can’t remember which and you must have said something very witty for it to grab my attention. I haven’t had much time to read lately but am just now catching up on your last 5 posts. It may take a while but I eventually get to all the past posts I’ve missed. They stay in my in-box till I’ve read them, lol.
Happy blogging my friend.
I’m glad I grabbed your attention. Thanks for stopping by so often! And you need to get rolling on yours, too! 😉
Thanks for noticing me! I often feel like no one reads my thoughts so it’s nice to see that others are reading! 🙂
Barb recently posted..Day 25: Worst Christmas ever
I think it’s the best part of this challenge — finding new people to read!