Flag and Follower Fiesta!

For those of you new around here, there are probably a few details about Thursday that I should impart first... But I don't want you to be uncomfortable, so I thought to break the ice, we'd have a little fiesta...

What are we CELEBRATING?

Well you may have noticed my flag counter to the left (or maybe not...) it counts flags of where everyone who stops by here is FROM. I have to admit... I have a flag fetish. It totally thrills me to have a new country appear. I've had visitors from 155 countries (or 155 flags anyway... there are odd rules as to who gets a flag... for instance, I would bet half my Great Britain visitors are from Scotland or Wales, neither of which get flags, but Guernsey, a little island off Great Britain DOES have a flag... I don't let it bother me for long though... much as I'd like a Scotish and Welsh flag, I still get off on new ones...

My most recent new flags are from Kyrgyzstan (above), Dominica(over), Guadalupe(below), and Northern Mariana Islands. I don't know how many countries get flags... Seems to me there are around 230 countries in the world, but that some of these flags are for countries that don't count. STILL, half the world has been here! (that just makes me happy).

On the other hand, much of my traffic yesterday was for the search 'hairy gay' which I'm not convinced I've ever included in a post... But never mind... I will stick to my delusion that people all over the world want to read. (in addition to being NAKED Thursday, it is also DELUSIONAL Thursday... every Thursday... Thursday is accommodating that way...)

And then FOLLOWERS!

I know, right? It hasn't been THAT long since I blogged about 400 being the new 200 because I had 200 followers and suddenly all my admired friends who I'd thought were cool with 200 had 400... But I had 330 at the start of the Blogger Crusade less than 2 months ago... my recent growth has baffled (and possibly scared) (and definitely humbled) me. I used to think there was a 'too big to notice new people'. I don't know that that's the case anymore... I mean for those of use who are networking for it. (as opposed to being universally desired agents for it).

I swear I appreciate EVERY new follower and commenter... I try my very best to reciprocate, though some follower profiles don't have blog links, so require a comment, TOO. And I know I have days I am really off my game. If you follow me and you've noticed I don't follow you... POKE ME. I mean to!

I also try to get regular followers into my blog roll, which, in any circumstance OTHER than A to Z is how I choose which blogs to read. In A to Z I am doing 2 things. I am trying to visit the blog of everyone who comments (I've missed a few, but I really am trying) and I am working my way through the list of blogs. I started at 555 (because 5 is my favorite number and that was around the middle when I started this) and am at about 680... a little slow, but not horrible.

I am NOT bothering with blogs who signed up but: have links that give me trouble, haven't actually been doing A to Z, are more than 3 days behind, or are businessy websites instead of blogs.


An Observation

Just last night I had a convo with my buddy Helena... the main point was... even with a lot of followers, when there is a sincere exchange several times, a friendship starts to form... friendships... relationships that I appreciate and KNOW I will HELP if called and HOPE the reverse is true (when it is time to pump a book). My first publication is more than a year away, so there is plenty of time to work me before I ask you to return the favor... just so you know...



And the FIESTA!!!

Cabana Boys! (dressed to code!)

Fruity Rum Drinks!

Great Music and the LIMBO! And of course some sunshine! (don't say I don't aim to please!)

So enjoy yourselves, my friends, and know you're all loved!


My F Blogs to share:

Falen Formulates Fiction: Sarah (and sometimes Yvie—her pooch) provide much entertainment and camaraderie on writing.

Fatherhood and Other Common Terrors: Will is a newer writer, but gives refreshing perspective on life and fatherhood. (and he's pregnant!... okay, so maybe it's his wife... still, he's very amusing about it)

Check them out!  Happy Naked, Delusional Thursday!