Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Z is for Zip-a-dee-doo-dah!

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay
My, oh my, it is finally "Z" day!
The Challenge is over, hip, hip, hooray!
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay

Jiminy Crickets, I had NO IDEA the A to Z Challenge would be so harrrrrd! I totally blame Christine at In The Coop for that, because I read hers last year, thought it looked like fun, and signed up. I was totally fooled by her easy writing style and plethora of writing prompts provided by a husband, six kids, four pigs, and a bunch of chickens.


This by no means is meant to imply that I did not enjoy the experience; I did, immensely. Here's what I got out of it:

1. I have found some awesome blogs to follow and made some new bloggy friends.

Ruby watching the rain. This has
nothing to do with the post; just like the picture.
2. Even if I didn't get it written and posted until nearly midnight, I was able to write something every day, under pressure of a deadline, which is something I haven't done since college (if then; I was an Elementary Education major, after all).

3. I concede that planning your posts around a central theme would make it easier to decide on the day's topic.

4. I also concede that ANY planning would make it easier to decide on the day's topic.

5. I have very talented and creative blog friends.

6. They are also supportive, especially Clark of the Wakefield Doctrine, who never failed to plug my A to Z Challenge posts.

7. My IRL friends who read my blog via Facebook have been complete darlings about reading, liking and commenting about my posts on my Facebook page. If I attempt to list all of you, I will surely leave someone out, so just know that I am very appreciative of the loyalty you have shown me through this VERY LONG month. Love you all!

8. Topics popped into my head about 25% of the time with little or no effort. For the other 75%, I subjected my family to brainstorming sessions. And while they were willing to play the fill-in-the-blank game I forced them into they enjoyed so much, they (I believe purposely) came up with such narrow or off-the-wall topics that I was unable to use a single one of them, which brings me back to #3 and #4.

9. A to Z Challenge participants who keep up with writing their own posts AND reading and commenting on endless posts by other bloggers have my utmost admiration. The upside is I have a lot of fantastic reading material ahead of me as I get caught up on my reading.

10. Wordpress STILL hates me, so if you are a Wordpress blogger, do me a solid and give the ol' spam folder a periodic check for my comments.

A to Z Challenge: accepted and conquered.






14 comments:

  1. Well great minds think alike. My post was exactly as such - Zip-a-dee-doo-dah!

    I agree planning would definitely help, as well as a theme. I think I already know a theme for next year if I decide to give it another go.

    I am glad to know my "undies" idea was one that made the cut, considering your family member's ideas weren't so fortunate. I am sure you could have made their oddball suggestions work though, if you had to.

    Kate at Daily discovery

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    1. It was the first thing that popped into my head. Then my family offered zygote and zebra. You can see why your suggestion of underwear won out.

      I've been mulling over themes for next year, too! Wouldn't it be funny if we chose the same theme without realizing it?

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  2. Well done you :D You DID IT! And I totally blame Christine, too, and cannot believe she then crapped out of this one. *dances* WE SURVIVED

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    1. Let me just jump in here and tell both of you...there is a reason I didn't do it this year. The A-Z is a whole mess of time-consuming HARD WORK! I do believe I told you that before you started. But...I am happy to know I can inspire crazy ideas....what shall I inspire you to do next.... :)
      Nice job, Dyanne!

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    2. But you made it look so easy, Christine!

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    3. And I mean that entirely in a good way, not that it didn't look like you put any work into it.

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  3. YAY! Congrats on surviving the A to Z! I met Christine during last years challenge, and I was pretty bummed to find she passed this year. I feel like we are drifting apart... not really, I'm certain we are still tight! But a hiatus never helps matters in those respects.

    The A to Z is very challenging. I told myself, after last year, that I would have a game plan. Not only that, but that I would write in advance. Yeah, no. That definitely didn't happen, so I was left winging it. "T" and "Y" were the only two I believe I knew in advance. I've already told myself that I will be better prepared next year, but I have a feeling I know how that will turn out.

    I'm obviously catching up, as you can likely tell from the bombardment of comments. I've so much catching up to do.

    Congrats again! I'm glad you gave this challenge a go! Now for the Blog Every Day in May Challenge?! Muahahahahaha!

    Jak at The Cryton Chronicles & Dreams in the Shade of Ink

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    1. Hey Jak, no drifting here. You're the one who dropped off the face of blogging. I was just waiting for your triumphant return. :)

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    2. I'm STILL catching up. It may take me months.

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  4. I'm so glad it is over!! I did it last year and enjoyed it more- don't think I will be going again.

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    1. I'm thinking it might be an every other year kind of thing.

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  5. A round of big applause and heartiest congos Dyanne ! What ever u mentioned in all the points - I too did the same , like having brainstorming sessions with family and even putting gun at point blank and asking them to write :P LOL !
    It was too challenging for me this time due to persnl reasons and time constraints but am glad too that I did it and that I met people like u.
    Hoping to be in touch with u challenge or no challenge :)

    Love
    Afshan

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