Just when I think people know more about me than they really ever wanted to or should. . . along comes Robert Hruzek over at Middle Zone Musings practically daring me [not really, but it makes my having to write this seem more legitimate] to list FIVE THINGS YOU MAY COME TO REGRET KNOWING ABOUT ME.

Now, if I could peer out of this blog post, I’d probably see the four or six of you who read this blog jumping up and down screeching, “Wait, I could list at least a dozen things I’ve already regretted knowing about you.” Well, if you want to share them, you’ll just have to get your own blog. So there.

In the meantime, here are the regrettables:

1. I read the last few paragraphs of most books before I read the beginning.  I like to know where I’m going, okay?

2. At the tender age of 21, I started teaching in an all boys public high school. I assigned my freshmen their first book for the year, A Tale of Two Cities. Only when I repeated the title, my tongue rode the wave of alliteration, and replaced the “c” in Cities with a “t.”

3. When my husband’s not home, I barely watch television because I can’t figure out how to operate the DVD player, TIVO, or the remote.

4. When I’m alone in the car, I blast the radio and sing along, especially if it’s Elton John’s, “I’m Still Standing.”

5. On most days, I can’t locate one or more of the following: my purse, my classroom keys, my cell phone, or the receipt my husband insists he needs or the entire financial infrastructure will collapse.

5.5 I hem my pants with duct tape.

So, my little bloggy friends. . . do you dare?

Hey, it’s time for the Great Middle Zone Christmas present! (sound of crowd cheering enthusiastically)

In broad terms, Middle Zone Musings can be described as mostly a collection of personal stories illustrating pithy observations, random thoughts, lessons learned from life, and – of course – musings about life, the universe, and pretty much everything.

Robert Hruzek’s Middle Zone Musings is a comfortable place to stop, have a cup of coffee, swap a few stories and share practical ideas for the real world. In Robert’s words:

I don’t ask for much, just a bit of your brain every now and then. Have a seat, take a load off, and relax…

BLOGAPALOOZA is a variation of his regular monthly What I Learned From… groupwrite projects (collectively known as “WILF”) – but with an exciting (and hopefully not too confusing) twist.

The topic, of course, will be What I Learned From 2008.

How BLOGAPALOOZA Works

Now, looking back at your archives, you’ll choose one post from every month you’ve been blogging in the year 2008.

So how do you choose? Well, the question you have to ask yourself is, what was the most amazing, moving, profound, surprising, insane, whacky, or whatever thing you learned in the month of March? How about July? Anything in October?

Use any criteria you like – your most commented, your most profound, your cat’s favorite – hey, whatever, y’all; it’s up to you!

So How Do You Participate?

It’s really pretty simple. Here’s what you do:

1. Search your archives and pick one post from each month you’ve been blogging in 2008
2. Create a list of the links to those posts*, including a brief description of each one. VERY IMPORTANT: Please use MS Word (preferred) or Rich Text formats ONLY!
3. E-mail the list to me (rhruzek@sbcglobal.net) as soon as possible! If you like, also include a blurb about yourself and/or your blog, and a flattering photo of yourself (in .jpg format, please).
4. REQUEST (NOT REQUIRED): Please publicize this project as much as possible – blogs, Twitter, Facebook or whatever social media you use. The more that participate, the bigger and better it’ll be!

(*NOTE: Please be sure to validate your links, y’all!)

Now, here’s the great part: once I receive your list, I will post it as a guest post! Yup, you read it right, friends! Your link lists will appear right here at the Zone! Wow, how great is that?

They will start appearing every day, starting January 5 and continuing through Sunday, January 25!

So Why Should You Participate?

So why would you want to participate, you ask? Hey, glad you asked!

Well, when I post your entry here, then Voila (which is a French word that translates roughly as holy SEO, Batman!), you’ll receive as many as 12 (and maybe even more) incoming links to your archives (trust me; that’s a good thing!) – and that’s my Christmas present to you!

Hey, we had quite a party last year with a total of 30 entries. I’m tellin’ ya, my poor overworked fingers were flyin’! Yessir; there were over 300 outgoing links to posts all over the blogosphere, right here from the Zone! Now ya gotta admit; that’s a whole lotta link love!

I don’t mind tellin’ ya; I’d like to knock the socks off last year’s project. Call me crazy (you’d be right), call me irresponsible (who me?) or call me insane (also true), but this time I’m goin’ for 100 posts! But to do that, I’m goin’ to need your help!

Sound like something you want to try? Great; then assuming you’ve been payin’ attention, then you know what to do!

But first…

BLOGAPALOOZA RULES

Hey, ya gotta have rules, right? Otherwise… chaos!

Now as always, groupwrite projects are open to anyone. But please remember these simple rules:

• Be nice. (Now, that wasn’t so hard, was it?)
• Please only link to posts that are G-Rated. (Fair warning: I reserve the right to link to your posts – or not. If I receive a complaint, I may delete your link.)

All right, ladies and gentlemen; you know what to do! Grab the writing instrument of your choice and get to it!

[Further note from the Proprietor - I realize it may take time to write your entry, but the sooner you get it in, the sooner it appears! I surely thank you, and as a token of my appreciation - have yourself a cookie!]

Click here for a photo slideshow of 4-year-old Hannah Garman of Lancaster County, Pa., who was diagnosed with a rare, incurable brain tumor in October. Hannah’s mother died of cancer two years ago. Hannah has a Christmas wish and her community is spreading the word: Send her a card.

Day by Day’s Chris Muir sent his in cartoon form.

You can send yours to:

Hannah Garman
259 North Reading Rd.
Ephrata, Pa. 17522

See Michelle Malkin‘s original post HERE.