Real Estate Blog - I've given up on ever getting a gold star

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I've given up on ever getting a gold star

I've tried funny....blogs about my expanding butt, blogs about changing my name to something rude-ish sounding, blogs about why I enjoy getting to choose my clients.

I've tried analytical .... blogs about absorption rate and strategic ways that info can help buyers and sellers; blogs about what you need to have a successful short sale;

I've tried "local" posts.....video of local area; info on farmers market; school ratings, etc.

I haven't tried an "I'm new here" blog, because by the time I figured out, reading AR stuff, that this would most likely generate "star love", I wasn't "new" so much as "new-ER", and my guilt complex kicked in and I figured it would be a total sham to post one....so I missed that opportunity.

And frankly? I'm out of ideas.

And that makes me sad.

Very, very sad.

My dying wish is to get a star here on AR, but it doesn't look like it's ever going to happen. Not in my lifetime, anyway.

Not that I'm dying, mind you. Not that I know of anyway.

But I COULD. I mean, isn't Florida like the lightning capital of the world? People are croaking here all the time.

Or I could get hit by a bus. Or attacked by a rabid armadillo.

And then my children would have to bear the shame of having a star-less mother on AR.

And then how will you people feel?

Seriously. Think about it. Think long and hard about what your lack of clicking on the flaggy thing has wrought on my children. And my husband. My dog is darn sensitive, too.

Is this a shameless attempt at star-snatching?

You'd better believe it. Because I love my children, and my husband, and my Yorkie-Poo Snickers THAT MUCH that I will reduce myself to such humiliation.

But I know it's not going to work.

Not in a million, gazillion years.

And that makes me sad. Very, very sad. For my husband. And my children. And my little dog too.

And also, it makes me very sad for America.

Yes.

Yes it does.

Waah.

Coleen DeGroff, MBA
Your Gainesville, Florida REALTOR
Gator Nation Relocation - Specializing in drama-free realty for the hassle-averse
Coldwell Banker M. M. Parrish, Realtors
Gainesville, FL
(352) 372-5375

Coleen DeGroff, MBA

Coldwell Banker M. M. Parrish, Realtors

3870 NW 83rd Street

Gainesville, FL 32606

Office: 352-372-5375; Cell: 352-359-2797

Posted by Coleen DeGroff, MBA -- Your Gainesville FL Realtor on 07/04/2009 07:01 PM

Comments (125)

Star-Trolling in the ActiveRain Channel

startrolling, humor

Post is included in group: "Whacked"!!!
Post is included in group: New Home Sales
Post is included in group: Diary of a Realtor
Post is included in group: Club Chaos
Post is included in group: Addicted to Active Rain

125 Comments on I've given up on ever getting a gold star

JUL

It's been talked about a lot. It's a tough secret society to break into but once you've got one, others seem to flow easily.

Well I can't complain, I was lucky enough to have a post featured within my first month here. Haven't had another since mind you. You will notice lots of the same people who do quality composition and content seem to achieve that goal more frequently. When my work (and yours) reaches that level I am sure we will be on the front page too.

By the way, I've never had one either in over 100,000 points!

Coleen - I can so relate to how you feel. I feel the same way but apparently it is not to be for me either. It seems its always the same agents who are featured and its not always well deserved. I've written some posts hoping for that illusive star too. Oh well, just write for the people who enjoy reading you.

Coleen, I laughed at that one! Shameless for sure. My first gold star was for being totally shameless. I wanted my picture to appear on my comments, I needed just under 200 points, so I wrote a post I thought NO ONE would read... yeah, shameless and silly.

So, I hope you get your star. You gave me a good laugh, I enjoyed your post more than you would believe. Sometimes we just need to chuckle, to laugh at ourselves, to give others fodder for gossip, etc.

My favorite line in my favorite movie and book, Pride and Prejudice, (I will butcher the line I am sure) "For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbors and to laugh at them in our turn." - Jane Austen

Colleen, I'm with you! You see other bloggers getting gold star for...Exactly! Hmmm, for what? Oh well, I'm giving you a gold star:) star Maybe we should start a new group?:)

I'm giving you a gold too (Joanna I lifted your star, hope that's okay. Please don't sue me.) HAHAH

Ron, Robert, Stacey-Ann, Andrea, and Joanna -

My husband thanks you.

My children thank you.

My little dog who needs to get his anal glands expressed thanks you.

And, most of all,

America thanks you.

I'm assuming you've all clicked the flag thingy??

Yes??

For every person who clicks my flag thingy, God spares the life of a kitten.

Just sayin'.

When you least expect it, expect it!

Candice,

I appreciate the star. Really. I do.

But your criminal star-lifting tendencies have been reported to the proper authorities.

And don't even be giving me no lip about it, sister, because you know what you did was WRONG.

WRONG WRONG WRONG.

But I love you anyway. :)

Joanna,

Thank you for the not-stolen star. I am sorry you have had to endure the tragedies of copyright infringement right here on AR, all because of me. God Bless You, dear one. And keep your chin up. If we say a special prayer tonight for Candice, perhaps she will repent and mend her evil ways.

I'd share my gold star with you but I don't have one either! I like the suggestion for a group that doesn't have stars yet and when you get one "OUT you go"! LOL (:-))

Susan - I'm least expecting it now.....even though there are LOTS of baby kittens counting on it happening, I told them not to hold their tiny little breaths.

Valorie - Thank you for your generous spirit. Us star-less types must stick together, as ours is a very heavy burden to bear. Hugs to you, sister - and a star too!

Coleen...

We'll start by featuring you in the Group:

"Whacked!!!"

Richard,

God bless you, sir. Me and my husband and my kids and my little dog and all the little tiny kittens in the land send you our blessings and our greatest thanks.

I'm bad to the bone Coleen . . . and CONGRATULATIONS!

Candice,

Thank you for repenting. And thank you for the good wishes. :)

For anyone who cares about the welfare of my family, please be informed that a lightning storm has just moved into our area.

Please plan your flag thingies accordingly.

Remember the children.

Coleen, it is an honor to be featured by Mr. Weisser, I would take that any day! Good for you, way to go. I told the AR gods to feature you, I said anyone that is as shameless as you are deserves a gold star. So, I hope you get that star before anyone gets hurt. :D

Andrea,

I am thrilled beyond belief that Mr. Weisser decided to featureme in "Whacked!" I am trying not to take offense at the notion that he may very well consider ME "whacked"....but I am willing to suffer all sorts of indignities if it means living a life fulfilled and granting my children the chance at having a mother they can be proud of.

Also, THANK YOU for clicking the flaggy thing on my behalf.....I'm pretty sure I know the exact moment you clicked it.....I'm betting it's right when the thunder rumbles grew fainter.

But I don't know how long our good luck will hold, so I pray other people are on the flaggy thing bandwagon as well.

And, in case anything DOES happen to me, at least know in your heart that you did everything you could, and that I will in no way hold you responsible.

Colleen, I am thrilled to know that you will not be holding me responsible. That would be the last thing you would want to do, LOL. I hope the powers that be see that you deserve a gold star, LOL. And if not, I can only say that they come when you least expect it. Mine usually arrive after I have been a total smart a#@! And I do that ever so well. My guess is... so do you! Glad to meet you, I am now hitting the "subcribe" button!

See you around! You got my vote!

My favorite story when I was little was the little engine that could. Don't give up, you'll get it one day......

(I'm also a sucker for humor and this is funny :-) )

Wait, how did this get featured? You were put on the 'do not feature' list for that 'Buttshrinkers' series. Someone here is in trouble!!

Hey I have over 300,000 points and only 3 features. It really isn't about the stars. It's about blogging for prospective clients. I would give you my three stars if I could get 3 more good clients. I'm getting clients from blogging about my area. THATS thao

OK, I keep checking, I saw your post come up again to the top of the list, I am getting ever so excited and thrilled for you.. huh? I don't see a star.... but then again... Mr. Stewart graced the post and led me to believe...

But then again, he did say you are on the do not feature list for the 'buttshriners" series...

LOLOL... I will be back again... I am on a sit down strike here until I SEE that gold star!

Coleen - just think of all those great realtors you have met - who needs the gold star. I have 47K points and no gold star. I see people just writing about the number of blogs they have written about and they get a featured post. It ain't everythin'....

Colleen,

Post this in New Home Sales and I will give you a gold star....the only place I have any authority.....

I have been here since July 06 and only have 3 features, so go figure.

Why does the feature mean so much to you? I'm not trying to offend you, but your goal should be to put some money in your pocket, not get a gold star by your name. If you blog the consumer content that people can find, it's going to make people contact you, hence money in your pocket.

Can the gold star pay your bills?

Hi Coleen~ Your post cracked me up. Hey, I somehow managed to get 2 gold stars early on, and none ever since. ( and they weren't good posts, I have written better) Your day will come, just keep writing. But, getting business from this is a whole lot better!

Andrea - "Buttshriners"?? Isn't that the group that builds hospitals for gluteally challenged children?

Bob - Seriously???? You mean countless kittens will die because I used the "B" word?? Thank goodness I didn't really get going out here on AR.....I don't want to be responsible for any more kitten carnage than necessary.

Kathy - I am thrilled about all the great people I've met out here on AR. So I crossed that off my Bucket List. So sad to think I'll go to my grave without attaining a measly little star. Tragic. And SO preventable. If I had a star, I'd let you hold it and everything. But I don't. Sorry. :(

Julie - I'm on it! Thanks!!

Charles - That's 3 more than I have, so put your big-boy pants on and deal with it mister. :) Perhaps you should try whining? I hear sometimes that helps.

Donna - Why does the feature mean so much to me, you ask? Because I'm shallow. And so are my kids. The dog might be shallow as well....I don't know for sure because he doesn't talk.

Good for you. I have never gotten a feature or a star or anything else. Sigh

Glad you did!!

I know that this is tongue in cheeck butIve often wondered why anyone here cares about points , stars, etc. Who cares about these points? Its preaching to the choir. Im just usng this blog to express these feelings---not to pick on the thread author.

Zillions of points tells me you have WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY to much time on your hands that could be spent marketing.

A STAR????? REALLY????

OMG.

I'm verklempt.

This is so unexpected!

Thank you everyone!!! Now I can die a happy woman.....so I'm going to go outside to dance in the rain!!

And always remember: The more you whine, the longer God lets you live. Hugs to you all!!

Whew, I can leave now... you got that star! And here I was sitting here reading the Mirriam Webster Dictionary to occupy my time during my "sit down protest" until you got that star. Now I can eat...

But, just in case there were one or two who didn't understand, can I clarify for you Coleen? Hope you don't mind... here is what I found while reading....

"Humor.. \ˈhyü-mər, ˈyü-\ Function: noun Etymology: Middle English humour, from Anglo-French umor, umour, from Medieval Latin & Latin; Medieval Latin humor, from Latin humor, umor moisture; akin to Old Norse vǫkr damp, Latin humēre to be moist, and perhaps to Greek hygros wet Date: 14th century 1 a: a normal functioning bodily semifluid or fluid (as the blood or lymph) b: a secretion (as a hormone) that is an excitant of activity2 ain medieval physiology : a fluid or juice of an animal or plant ; specifically : one of the four fluids entering into the constitution of the body and determining by their relative proportions a person's health and temperament b: characteristic or habitual disposition or bent : temperament c: an often temporary state of mind imposed especially by circumstances d: a sudden, unpredictable, or unreasoning inclination : whim 3 a: that quality which appeals to a sense of the ludicrous or absurdly incongruous b: the mental faculty of discovering, expressing, or appreciating the ludicrous or absurdly incongruous c: something that is or is designed to be comical or amusing."

From Mirriam Webster online dictionary.

And my new friend, you nailed it.. all the way around, LOL.

Congratulations on your REAL GOLD STAR!!!!

OK, I still do not SEE the gold star, where is it??

(Vickie, look under her picture... LOL, for some reason (I think Bob S. is screwing with her) she has a star under her picture but not at the end of the post.)

And yes, Buttshriners Coleen, haven't you ever seen a million of them get out of one of those tiny little cars?

Did Bob take away the star? Say it isn't so... I don't see it either...

Blog content, information that is new to AR (if you can find any)...blog from the heart...as soon as you are not expecting it, it will come.

Coleen, good for you on the gold star.

I had a featured post, but still not gold star. I keep asking, but have not seen anything yet!

Coleen,

You are not on the feature dashboard, nor do you have a gold star yet...only from your peers. That should be more important to you than anything.

Andrew,

If you had a featured post, you had a gold star...email me the featured post then I'll show you where to look for it. If it's not there and you were on the feature board, they will fix it.

Excuse me Coleen, we are all obsessed about this gold star thingy..

Karen, she didn't have a gold star under her picture in the comments before when I first found her post. I subscribe to her blog. Fast forward about an hour, all of a sudden on my subscribed blogs she popped up first, which only should have happened if she was featured. I came here and little Ms. Coleen now has a star under her photo in the comments section. But, still no star at the end of the post.

Go figure.. someone has a wicked sense of humor! :D

Andrea, Coleen, and Karen~ LOL! this post isn't showing up as featured .... most of us have gold stars under our pictures.... I want to know where Bob Stewart put that gold star,LOL! LOL!

Andrea - Someone indeed has a wicked sense of humor....yanking around with my kids' feelings like that??? Their dad just took them out so they could "surprise" me with flowers for the accomplishment, there was talk that they may be bringing back a mariachi band as well, and now I'll have to reveal the cruel joke to them before I even get those suckers in a VASE???

Cruel, cruel world. Perhaps there really IS some sort of ButtShriners Curse on me, and I will be forever wandering in the star-less, featureless wilderness.

Woe, I say WOE, is me!!!

... how could we let your little doggie be so upset !

Bob would never let that happen for long after he found out about it - so voila - a feature star under your profile pic for eternity !!!!

.... Oh and in addition to your Whacked feature, you are now Featured in Club Chaos ;o)

The day just keeps gettin' better huh !!!

Cheers Coleen !!!!

Sheldon :o)

PS: Never post at your mortgage guy's housewarming party when he's logged into ActiveRain !!! lol

... oh and I found this post so humorous that you just got a new 'subscriber' :o)

Vickie -

Glad you liked my post....I love making people laugh! Obviously so does Bob, as he seems to have passed off my Gold Star to those frickin ButtShriners.

Ah, well. It's for the kids, I suppose.

Kim - You may not have a feature (and I don't either, apparently), and you may not have a star (okay, so I did enough whining to get one of those).....but what you DO have is THREE CHEERS AND A HUG from ME!!!

Andrew - Thanks for the good wishes. And about your star.....sounds like the frickin ButtShriners have been at it again. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Sheldon - REALLY? Club CHAOS too? Sooooo cool. Somebody really DOES need to get it on the feature dashboard though so a starred copy can be printed out and read at my funeral. Thanks for subscribing to my blog as well.....my first reader with a British accent! (I'm assuming it's a British accent anyway....your scones dialect in your posts is what makes me think that).

I think "trying" to get one is the surest way to NOT get one. LOL. I always get one when I least expect it, which is frustrating when I have other posts that I've put many hours into, and they hardly even get a comment. *sigh* Who knows the secret to the almighty Gold Star, and running a close second... lots of comments! LOL!

JUL

You deserve it, girl.... you are one good writer.

Now don't you be a getttin' starry eyed about this. And don't ya be complainin' any time soon about not having been awarded a second one.

Colleen,

I had to bamboozle my way into getting featured within a group and look at you! As for my gold stars, I just buy them.

...oh and by the way, congrats on being "Rookie of the Moment" !!!!!!!! :o) ...love that !!!!

Cheers !

Sheldon

JUL

OH loved it. I would also steal Joanna's gold star to give you, but I'm not that sophisticated. Coleen, NEVER give up (and you should probably stay away from lightning too)

Congratulations

You have articulated what many think. It seems that some members can literally pull down their pants and moon the audience to ovations, cheers and gold stars.

There is sooooo much writing talent here that for the same person to be featured in the same month is an insult to all the other great writers who contribute to this egalitarian place called A.R.

I am glad you found a way to get noticed! :)

oops. The feature button has a mind of it's own. Sometimes if I click it too fast it features then unfeatures. Back to where we should have been originally :-)

Sorry for the confusion!

Congrats! You know I had a baby about 10 months after I gave up trying to get pregnant too.

It's all about getting the right person to see your post and take interest in it. Congrats on the feature.

Chanda panda

Congrats on whining your way to the Gold!!! lol- Thanks for the Three Cheers for me. I appreciate your support! I feel the love.

Well there you go - a gold star for you! Now you get to wade through all the comments! :) Seriously, congrats...

Coleen, Not only do you have a star but you have Bob messin' with ya!!! I would have been by earlier but I was busy polishing all of my stars. I do that every Saturday whether they need it or not :)

OK now that you have broke on through to the other side the pressure is on you!!! Keep it up.

Looks like -- ask and you will be given one-- all the best.

Now I know at least one way to get a gold star. I'm up to 228,874 points and 574 posts with no gold stars. I think I shall settle for invisible stars because I can get as many of those as I want -- LOL.

Great going, you got your "gold star" about 32,000 points worth of blogs before I received my first one.

Quite frankly, I didn't know the difference. As nice it is to be appreciated by the community' it is for outside readers that most of my blogs are intended. You said it in your "shortest blog" when you got a lead from your blogging. That's why we are here, and to share our successes.

WELL WELL. Major congrats! Very glad to see you got your gold star. Happy Fourth of July!

Great attitude and good insite! Thanks for the great post!

Congrats on your gold star!! I love the way you got it! lol

---Kim, virtual assistant with REVATS

Coleen: Now lookie here...a big old GOLD STAR for your star post. Sometimes we have to whine a little, and I'm never to proud to do that. :)

Congrat's!!

You're funny, Colleen, and I love funny posts. This is the first time I have seen your blog. Congratulations on the gold star! Looks like you have found the secret --- shameless begging! LOL. High five!

Colleen,

Congratulations on your featured post. You are featured in New Homes Sales Group as well.....2 gold stars for you.

Hey! I decided to check back and yes you did get your star and 67 comments to boot!

I blogged for what seemed like forever and one day when I least expected it I got a star!!! I have only had one since then...but that is okay. One day I will mature as a blogger and get more! Congrats on your first...your children are proud I am sure! :o))))

Hey if the phone is ringing from the blogging, consider that your gold star, doubled!!!!!!!

I am so glad you received your star! and it is a special star - Red, White and blue for the holiday!

Hi Coleen .....Well now...... what have you done with AR QUALITY CONTROL OF THE GOLD STAR. You have set a precedent and made a lot of people happy. Now everyone knows the secret on how they can gain the elusive star.

I can see the next few hundred blogs pleading shamelessly and begging continually, drowning their keybards with

sad sad tears...all for the reward of the gold star....Oh well what works and you have got your gold star and inspired a lot of people not to give up. There is a secret code and girl...you may just have found it. LOL

BTW a sense of humor is always so refreshing ...it SHOULD be awarded

a star...congratulations. BTW how many boxes of kleenex did you go through?

You were already on my right sidebar, but if it makes you happy I'm glad you now have a star.

"Absorption rate and strategic ways that info can help buyers and sellers" sounds like a good weekend read. And I wouldn't have found it without the gold star. Congrats on the recognition, Coleen!

Coleen: There you have it... way to go and congrats on the feature.

Congrats and welcome to the club....here's to your next one!!!!

"For every person who clicks my flag thingy, God spares the life of a kitten."

Hi Coleen... if for no reason other than that comment this post definitely deserved to be featured. Thanks for a great laugh at the end of a long day! :)

I guess I missed the buttshriner posts but this post definitely is worth a gold star! Congrats!

Hi Coleen -- This was a great post. I would give you a gold star but don't even see where to click it!

Colleen - I think this post has been through the ringer a bit. As I recall, it was featured, then "unfeatured", then re-featured. Congrats on getting featured TWICE with the same post. Well done!

Coleen...

What what do you know, you got your gold star after all! Good for you!

Ghesh, poor thing, if only you hadn't made the buttshiners crack.. oh wait... I did...

Congrats on getting a gold star that EVERYONE can see. And you probably are out celebrating the 4th and don't even know you got the real thing!

Coleen -

YOU'VE GOT ONE NOW!

Seriously, just write for content, and for your local market with compelling, relevant stories. Relevant keywords and links.

The featured posts will follow. And if they don't - do not cry!

AR is helping your web presence, Gold Star or no! Enjoy that alone!

Happy continued posting!

DEAN & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO

Coleen: Now we are equal.. I have only recieved 1 of the gold stars here in the rain. At times I thought for sure I'd have another.. Well, that has never happened. Maybe soon I will get my 2nd star

This is too funny. You actually got your wish by writing about your wish.....how clever! And congratulations, btw...

JUL

I'm out of ideas.

Never, never, never give up. :)

Coleen, congratulations on your gold star - AND - many of us respond to each comment and then go to the commenter's blog post and comment. That's what I used to do.....until a month ago - and then ran out of time. Reciprocation is HUGE on the Rain.

Coleen, shameless works. That's the ticket. Congratulations on getting over the hump!

Coleen- You have a great sense of humur, that is one talent that is not freely given to many. You are in a league of your own, star or no star. Katerina

Congrats on your yellow star. I have had 2 so far and my husband thinks I am nuts because I act like I got an Oscar!

Welcome to the Star Club, Coleen. I think it was the 'Waah' that did it!

Uh-oh, I'm doomed.

Congrats on your comical cry for the gold! Now your kids and dog can be proud shoudl the rapid armadillo come your way. Keep up the good work and never lose your sense of humor.

That was the most hysterical "I want a feature" post I've ever read :-)))

You go girl!

The consumer knows nothing about a gold star...it's all in house stuff so if you are just looking for readers or a fan club then the gold star will make you a gold star. I can tell you that being here as one of the first few thousand that joined....the gold star argument will never end and all you have to do is say you want one and chances are you'll get it...especially if you are new...AR likes to give new bloggers a chance to get more exposure here by giving them out...I didn't even know what the heck I was getting or why when I posted the first blog. I thought my stuff was actually turning me into some sort of writer.

Coleen...

Flippin' Hilarious :)

TLW...ROAR!

hahahahaha

I loved this -- I didn't even know about the little flag button - but now I do....and I can go about my day knowing I saved a kitten...always a good way to start the morning.

Congrats on your STAR! Plus you received a ton of points to go along with it... and you had fun.

Colleen: Glad Joanna gave you the big gold star. It is post like this that come from heart that shine. We all get in the mode of "what is in it for me" attitude. When that shows up in a post, people read through it. Heck I do it all the time and it is a good slap in the face, and it improves my blogging. I love this site as it allows me to teach others what I have learned over a gazillion years, and learn from others that know more than I about any particular subject. I don't get the point structure as that will not bring me any additional income, but there are motivating factors that keeps me going. Blog on......

Wow,

102 comments....that is impressive....keep up the good work....

Congrats on the feature. I see you found the "secret" finally!

Congrats on the little gold star. It may be small but it feels GOOD! FYI- I got featured stars on some blogs that just burst out in a second. The long planned out blogs have yet to produce a single gold star. Hang in there you will get more I am sure!

;)

ROTFL....congratulations on the gold star!!!! You are a hoot. Loved it :) Glad you hung in there and finally GOT THE GOLD STAR!

You CRACK me up! "isn't Florida like the lightning capital of the world? People are croaking here all the time." DON"T CROAK :) Get out of Florida while you can :)

Hey Coleen, Absolutely love your dry wit, thanks for the fun read today!!!

Aren't you the chick on the comedy channel? Yeah - it's gotta be you cause you are one crazy chick and I love it! I must subscribe so I can enjoy more of your refreshing yet shamless post. Keep em coming....stars or no stars. Baby you are a STAR!

There is a flag thingy we're suppose to click on if we think a post should be featured? I don't know about this!

And lightening in Gainsville is pathetic. Don't you have hurricanes there? We have tornados in Oklahoma, so I'm needing more stars - I have a dog and husband too!

Congrats on your first star -- I suspect it's not your last!

Hi Coleen. Your post is very amusing. Congratulations for getting the gold star! Aloha, Lana

OMG. I am flabbergasted!! I leave town for 2 days to recharge my batteries.....and as part of my recharging strategy I stay far far away from the computer and all things blogging....and I get home and ramp up my addiction within 2 minutes of hitting the couch....and I find THIS!!

Holy. Crap.

And Woo Hoo!!!

I am honored and touched for the recognition.....and I am NOT being a wiseacre about THAT! Reading comments from bloggers I regularly read has me feeling humbled and inspired and, well, VISIBLE.

So thank you. Thank you ALL!

I LOVE Active Rain!! You people ROCK!!!!!

Blessings to you all .... and thanks again!!

Coleen :)

WOW -- the squeaky wheel does get the grease. I've never had a featue either. I've read a lot of TRIPE . . . crappy posts that do. Funny how the really sympathetic posts are the meanest -- I've never been a sucker for pandering for points! And when I realize that some posts are written just to get the sob quota . . . something about preaching to the choir I guess -- I'm amazed at the dribble that gets 'featured.' I glad to read I'm not the only one who has tried . . . but kudos to you! The Feature god must be smiling down on you today!

Hi Carla -

Thanks, I think. And kudos to you by leaving me confused as to whether you're patting me on the back or kicking me in the butt! :)

HEY, THERE IT IS, THAT GOLD STAR IS RIGHT NEXT TO YOUR NAME - FINALLY - CELEBRATION IN PROGRESS!

Have a great 4th, you will never forget this weekend I'll bet!

Coleen, even those who only blog for the sake of blogging (or so they say) secretly want those gold stars! Congrats for getting yours by being upfront about it! Wish I had thought of it!!!

Coleen,

for what it's worth, don't try to "get featured." I don't. I've got 24, but it's not like I have a goal with featured posts or anything. Content seems to be crucial, but the type of content is critical, I think. I dunno, I don't have a feature wand.

I'm subscribing to your blog because you sound neat. Have a nice night.

Hi Greg -

Now that my dying wish has been fulfilled, I'll never (well, PROBABLY never) try to get featured again. But the flowers and mariachi band and eternal adulation I received from my husband, kids, and dog as a result of my foot-stomping AR whinefest was TOTALLY worth it.

I'm tickled you've subscribed to my blog! You're one of my fave AR writers! And, let's face it....what's the chance a Big AR Kahuna like yourself would have even CONSIDERED subscribing to my blog if I didn't make such a spectacle of myself??

Let's face it.....Local content is a beautiful thing. But, in a pinch, Melodrama works too! :)

What a funny blog. I loved it. I think I'll go read your other blogs.

Colleen, You have a great sense of humor. I'm sure you'll be featured again. My first post on AR was featured, so I thought it was a piece of cake. It was a year and many posts later before I got featured again. We all have to get more active about flagging posts for features. I've definitely been doing my part lately and reading posts by people I don't know. I look at the most recent posts and I'll flag one if I think it should be featured.

Congrats on the double feature! Too funny about the mooning and could be featured. :)

JUL

Is always darkest before the dawn ! Congrats ! The flood gates are open : )

You got your star!! Congrats! Loved the post - very cute.

This is a great post. I hope your family and little dog are all doing well now. Congrats on the gold star!

Nope, I was all compliments . . . yours was funny. It wasn't written to get featured, but just a ramble. It was funny, and I'm glad you got your gold star!

Carla - Thanks for clarifying! As a woman who is currently being held hostage by her uterus, hormonal misunderstandings are pretty much my life right now.....so I was SO glad to hear you liked my blog!

Integrity - Thanks! Yes, hubby and kids and little dog are all doing MUCH better since I pitched my Star Fit. :) The things we won't do for our family....

Linda - Thanks! Glad you liked it.

Christopher and Stephanie - Yes it is! And my shiny new gold star definitely lit up the night! Thanks!

Heather - Thanks! Yup, I saw that "mooning" comment and I'll tell you what.....if I was to do that AR would DEFINITELY repossess my star. It might be a different story with someone else's butt, though. Just curious....what do you mean by double feature?

Hi Gail - Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. See you in the Rain! :)

Hi Barbara - Thanks! And thanks for reading my other stuff as well....it made me feel good that you said that. :)

Lisa - Thanks. Subtlety has never been my specialty. :)

Karen - Thanks for the good wishes, and for helping me out with my star cause!

And to everyone else who commented here and who I haven't thanked by name: THANK YOU! Truly. If I could figure out how to scrolly the screen back and forward to grab everyone's names and put them here, I would....but it's beyond my computer skills. But believe me when I tell you.....I've read every single one.....so THANK YOU (mostly) EVERYONE!!

JUL

Colleen, ah, the elusive Gold Star! I have written posts that I was sure were destined for the Star only to have them fizzle, then wake up in the morning to a gold star I had totally not counted on! Who knows what goes on in the minds of the AR star-makers? Congratuiations, now your children and husband don't have the disappointment of a 'star-less' mother/wife! :) lol

Shaorn

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