Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Making Magic - The Blogger Challenge II

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Everybody loves comments. Everybody loves to see that somebody else has subscribed to his or her blog. Everybody loves to see that they’re being followed (in a totally non-creepy way via Blogger…not in real life by the mustached man driving in a windowless van claiming to have lost his puppy, and that he needs your help so that he can find it...or the man claiming that his real name is Willy Wonka and he has bagfuls of your favorite kind of candy if only you’ll climb into the back of his vehicle to get them).

It was about a year ago that I first challenged my readers to help everyone out there feel the magic of blogging and truly live a little piece of the dream. So, here’s the deal...

I would like to challenge you to do two things with the reading of this post...especially all of you secret lurkers. Heavens, I know that there are over 350 of you out there who subscribe via email, Google Reader, or carrier pigeon (no, I don’t know who you are, your secret identities are safe...I only am appraised of numbers); however you who are of a silent majority...I’m calling you out and asking you do do something totally and absolutely unprecedented up to this point...

I'm asking you to make a comment on this post, indicating that you’ve been here. Then I’m going to ask you to click over to at least three other blogs via the links in the comments, leaving a comment on a recent post on their sites as well.

Heaven knows we all love to find out that somebody else has read over what we’ve written, and appreciates us for doing it.

Let’s spread a little blogger magic this week, shall we?

By the way, if you’re one of the first few people to comment on this post, return in a few hours/days to check out a few others’ blogs as well…you never know, you just might find your newest favorite blogger—only you never knew that they existed up until now.

To help facilitate this magic moment, comment moderation has been temporarily suspended, probably until...oh, maybe Sunday?

Also, I’ll be visiting everyone’s blogs who leaves a comment to poke around a bit (unless your blog is set to private...you sneaky little devils).


P.S. For those of you who still haven’t reached a point in our relationship where you feel comfortable dropping your cloak of invisibility as of right now, that’s okay, too, Teachinfourth still loves ya...secret insecurities and all. Heck, I’ve got a ton of them myself; maybe one day I’ll blog about the non-creepy windowless van versions someday...

So, for some of you I hope to see you again, for others I hope to meet you for the first time this week.

54 comments:

Kalei's Best Friend said...

Well, J., I am here... Great idea you have here...Looks like I am the first. :-) Is that a good thing? Will check back later...

Rachelle said...

Such an awesome idea... I'm not the only one who checks my e-mail for "new comment on your blog" notifications? Thank goodness. I was beginning to think I was a bit starved for attention or obsessed or some other such abnormal classification... Anyway, love your blog, love the idea of checking in with new sites. Thanks! mommyrachelle.com

Anonymous said...

I'll admit that I haven't been keeping up with your blog, but when I saw the pic of the magic school bus, I was intrigued! When I do find my way here, I'm never disappointed! When I started blogging, I had no idea how much more I would be reading! There are so many great blogs "out there," yours being one of them.

Thanks for the call to action. I'll check out some of the other commenters' blogs!

Ashley Sisk said...

What a fun idea - we all love comments and I'm certainly not afraid to leave one! Off to comment!

Jamie said...

What a great idea. I'm a completely stalker. I love your photos and should be less stalker-ish and tell you so once in a while.

Kelly said...

I loved it when you did this last year. It got me some very loyal commenters and interesting blogs to read.

I however am not the best at commenting. As you probably know : )

Still love your blog! Keep up the good work so we can lurk.

Pedaling said...

with a post picture like that, how could I resist leaving a comment.
You know I Love ya--read your words all the time.
Great Idea.

Kalei's Best Friend said...

I fixed it Jason...:-)

SHELLS BELLS! said...

I love this blog. Thanks for the challenge. It will be a new adventure to not only stalk a blog but also comment :)

Mindy said...

Excellent challenge.
It can be a little lonely out there when no one comments... I've even thought about making a post on my blog titled "Will Blog for Comments..." LOL
Thanks for the reminder that others probably feel the same way... :-) Here's to spreading - and getting - the magic!

Gerb said...

You had to go and issue a challenge, didn't you? Well, hello friend. I was here.

Laura said...

I'm always reading, even when I'm not commenting. But I guess, since you asked. :)

Richard & Natalie said...

Present and accounted for.

As always. :)

Holly said...

I am a relative new-comer to your blog and have enjoyed reading the archive. I even added a button to my blog directing friends to yours. Thanks for brightening my days - past, present, and future.

Unknown said...

I totally agree! I will try to check back later this week. :)

Unknown said...

I was here!

Your magic school house picture is fun! I wish that I had some magic to get through today.

Shawna said...

I enjoyed doing this last year, so lets do it again! Count me in....

Tracy P. said...

Good for you, Teach! I'l

Tracy P. said...

Oops! Somehow got published before I finished. I'll stop and meet some new friends asap. I should do this too--got some regular visitors I haven't met yet and the ones I have met have gotten busy with life.

Katria said...

I haven't seen a school bus in what feels like forever, despite the fact that I live at a school. That's amazing.

Jillybean said...

Great idea!
I usually visit, but haven't commented for a while.

I do this on National de-lurking day, but allow my readers to comment anonymously as thier favorite celebrity with a random comment. My readers are hilarious!

LW said...

Hey Jason, love reading your blog but don't like commenting unless I'm adding to the conversation. Sorry for that, a lurker I will probably remain unless struck by inspiration!

CJ said...

Aw but everyone loves a good stalker! Now you've forced your readers to blow their top secret covers :) Love your posts (and pictures)

Danielle said...

I'm always here! ;)
Who doesn't LOVE comments?

I've always wanted my own creepy-ish stalker....

Mr. Hughes said...

Wow, your sparkling magic was more than I could resist. How do you send your special powers through blogging? Michael would be proud of you... Eeee Heee!

Nancy said...

I'm a random comment leaver, mostly lurker. lol Cool pic of the magic bus though.

♥Miya said...

Your magic sparkles. Should I be worried?

Gilbert Gardener said...

*wave* Reading (lurking) from Sunny Gilbert.
Enjoy your photography and stories.

Anonymous said...

I got a little confused (I think it's the heat) about whether you wanted just lurkers to reply or any old blogger. ;)

Anyway, I'm replying and I am going to click a few blogs I have never seen before.

Great idea!

CB said...

One of my most famous posts (if you could consider it that) is about how I feel like getting a comment is like getting a "Blog Hug" - it really does make you feel good.
This is such a great post and a great idea - truly everyone likes to feel the magic!!!

Unknown said...

I found you a week or so ago via 3 Sunkissed Boys.....been following you ever since! Not stalking, following at an appropriate distance.

elysabeth said...

I would love to have a lot of teachers following my book blog. I keep leaving comments on people's blogs and tell them where I found their blogs and still don't get comments. I can barely get 50 followers on my blog. If I go to a blog and there is a way to sign up for email, I usually do since I don't have time to get to every blog I follow and leave comments.

Thanks for sharing - E :)

Ma America, The Travelin' Maven (Elysabeth Eldering)
Author of the JGDS, 50-state, mystery, trivia series

Where will the adventure take you next?

http://jgdsseries.blogspot.com
http://jgdsseries.weebly.com

The Blonde Duck said...

That's a great idea!

4 Lettre Words said...

I'm here! :) And, I adore that pic.

We're getting settled now, so I hope I can visit my faves again regularly. (Psst...you're a fave.)

A Lark said...

I came. I saw. I conquered.

Stef said...

I always think it is really interesting how in blogging you can hide in plain sight. So glad that you don't do that.
Once again, I love your blog. So does Hubs, for that matter. HE is one of those mystery readers...oops. I just blew his cover. Heh.

shari1172 said...

I love your blog. I read all of your writings. They are heart felt and I love to feel a frog in my throat. It makes me feel like a real person. Your last post on teaching at the Juneville place was very touching.

Yanet @ 3 Sun Kissed Boys said...

I seem to be lurking a lot more lately. I'll get better. After all, now I'm challenged.

The Blonde Duck said...

I did the challenge!

I think the hard thing about blogging now is so much is about self promotion...

mamahasspoken said...

Great idea! I'll come back and take the challenge later today,or tonight, or tomorrow.....

Mindee@ourfrontdoor said...

Ha! This is such a fun idea. I never understand why people don't comment. A mutual relationship is so much more fun than a one-sided one.

Bibi @ Bibi's Culinary Journey said...

Here I am, but I am not a secret lurker....at least not here.

Loving the Magic School Bus photo...

and of course loving this idea....I am on board.

Catherine Grace Life Photography said...

Love it...I found you because you commented on an I Heart Faces post on my blog. (Thanks!) Can't wait to check your blog out some more. Thanks for the fun idea! :)

Stacey said...

Great idea...and great references to the phenomenon we both love...Harry Potter! Now who will I be visiting...let me find my 3 or 4.

Jamie said...

I'm leaving a comment even though I no longer have a blog to which people can leave comments. But, Jason, I think you are just swell. Thanks for always promoting such goodness. Pretty kickin'. :)

Danielle said...

You know...to tell you the truth...I do this often anyway. Blog hop and comment. Maybe I AM a creepy creeper....

Kathy said...

Great challenge. Thanks.
I love your "Moments with Joey" posts. They always bring a smile to my face. :)

Natasha and Jesse said...

I remember that challenge. Thanks for reminding me!

jenifer said...

you are a great commenter... me, not so much. here is my great attempt at reaching outside my comfort zone!! have a great day!!

imbeingheldhostage said...

You can SEE me when I'm lurking??? Stink. I was trying to catch up...

Holly said...

I did it! I commented on another's blog after clicking through from yours. Thanks for your comments on mine!

Happy Monday!

Karen M. Peterson said...

I haven't read any blogs in the past week, so I'm catching up. But I love this and I'm going to get to visiting!

Shanna said...

What a delightful blog you have. I am a school nurse and I love to observe and read about teachers who love children and make teaching an adventure. I've been acquainted with the results of the other end of the spectrum.

Kelsey said...

This is a great idea. I just discovered your blog a couple days ago! I've really been enjoying it so far!

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