Monday, May 2, 2022

Reflections on April A to Z

 


I did it! I completed the A to Z Challenge EVEN when I realized I had somehow missed the master list sign up. I did the theme reveal and was maybe number 37 on the list and was so proud that I was so far up the list. Once the challenge started, I realized that I wasn't getting many visitors to my posts but didn't think that much about it. One day, I was visiting other blogs on the spreadsheet and realized that my name/blog was NOT on the list. I emailed the team and a couple of days later received an email telling me that I had failed to sign up on the final list. I'm going to be honest. At that point, I wanted to just stop. I almost cried (which seems silly), but I persevered. As I continued visiting other blogs, I began to leave my blog address in the comment section, along with my comment, which garnered a few visits. All of this to say, I'm making a note on my calendar for next year "BE SURE TO SIGN UP FOR THEME REVEAL AND FOR THE CHALLENGE - TWO SIGN UPS." 

On another note, when I was preparing to participate in the challenge, my theme seemed great and I even liked the way I titled it, "The A to Z's of Being 63." I liked the catchy rhyme! I mapped out a list of topics that would go along with each day. I did realize that many things I blogged about would be applicable for any age. 

I really enjoyed visiting some "new to me" blogs. I love that sense of connection with folks who don't live nearby. I learned about coffee. I learned about lots of interesting places from Pauleen plus I love the name of this blog - cassmobfamilyhistory! I enjoyed reading about the history of this family. I already followed Joyce but really enjoyed her A to Z series. I loved Janet's Smiles date suggestions and must admit I laughed out loud about Quickie! There are so many others that I enjoyed, too, plus some of my "regular" blog friends were faithful to come and visit and comment. One friend actually gave me the idea for my W post!

I also was taking an online class at a local community college so I did feel a tad stressed this month.

Regarding suggestions . . .I wish there was a search function for the spreadsheet. I did copy and paste into a clean spreadsheet so I could sort.

All in all, I feel like the month was a success!


21 comments:

  1. Just my thought, but folks need to relax in regard to those sign-up things/lists, grin. We all lead busy lives....(ok I'll step off the box now, grin). I hope you have a beautiful day. smiles

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  2. Last year I forgot to sign up on the master list, too. Do you think many people actually go there and look up fellow participants? Glad we met anyway :-)
    I prefer the daily link-up on Facebook.
    Thanks for the shout-out. So you'll participate again next year?

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    1. I use excel spreadsheets all of the time at work, so I did use it to visit other blogs but maybe next year, I will use the daily link up on Facebook. Thanks for letting me know that you forgot to sign up last year. Knowing I'm not alone helps :-) Yes - I intend to participate again!

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  3. Congrats on finishing the challenge, even if you weren't on the master list.
    Personally, I work my way through the master list to find other participating blogs (I'm not on Facebook) -- for Tamara who asked.

    Ronel visiting for A-Z Challenge Reflections 2022

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    1. I, too, used the master list but I may use the Facebook page next year. I'm just a spreadsheet kind of "girl" (I'm a little old to be a girl :-))

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  4. Ahhh - I think I'm going to love reading this blog. I didn't find you during the A to Z but I'll be back for more. I can understand how frustrated you must have felt to find your name wasn't on the final list.

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    1. Thanks so much for visiting and please do come back soon! Yes, it was frustrating . . .especially when they responded and I realized it was my own fault!

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  5. I didn't get here for every letter but enjoyed the ones I did get to visit. You did it!!! Congrats on making the finish line!!

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  6. Congratulations! I nearly missed the main signup, too. I found all of this year's signups a little confusing but I will know better next year.And, I did find you through the Reflections sign up so it's all good.

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  7. I'm glad you didn't quit and that you had comments and a successful challenge without being on the main list. Thanks for listing my blog and the Joyce link was broken when I tried it.

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    1. thanks for letting me know -- I fixed Joyce's link!

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  8. That is such a bummer about the sign up. That list was a mess anyways so don't beat yourself up about it. I gave up trying to find people on it and now I'm visiting from the Reflections list and I really do intend to catch up with everyone's posts while the road trip takes place. Congrats for all THREE (over achiever!) blogs.

    Cheers,
    Reflections from A2Z 2022Barbie

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    1. I'm going to try to visit everyone during the roadtrip, too. I tried to visit as much as possible during April but working full time and life seemed to keep my visits short.

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  9. You missed the master list and I missed the Reflections list ;) BUT we both finished the whole challenge so it’s been a success for both of us. I enjoyed your posts and appreciated your visits to my blog also. It’s so fun seeing how others live their lives, sometimes far away. Thanks for mentioning mine in your finale.

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  10. It's funny, I usually don't participate in the Theme Reveal, for exactly the reason you give: I know I'd forget to do the sign up! I missed you on the list, but I'm trying to catch up from the reflections list. Glad you signed up on that one!

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  11. Congratulations on completing your A to Z! I would have found missing the master list a discouragement, too. I'm looking forward to the road trip!

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  12. Congratulations on finishing the challenge. I've just been reading some of your posts and enjoying them. I turn 63 this year so I can empathise with so much of what you've said. Shame you missed out on the sign up list. Unfortunately there does seem to be a lot of emphasis on visiting other blogs, posting on social media etc with the challenge now. There are not enough hours in the day! (And I'm retired so have more hours than most.)

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