135 Started, 68 Published, What’s Next?

Since I published the first post to this blog, I started 135 posts. Of that 135, I have published only 68; when I publish this, it will be 69; a publication rate of roughly fifty percent.

First off, I’m curious how many other WordPressers average about the same publishing rate. Anyone want to share their average?

Right now, I am participating, sort of, in both the Blogging 101 and 201 challenges. I’m failing miserably at both. While I haven’t published them yet, the first task in the 201 challenge asked me to set some goals for this blog. Publication was optional, but I am going to publish mine, as soon as I finish the post. It’s only about number ten on my “get this done today” list. What I can say right now, though, is one of my goals is to publish my first poll and hopefully get some response from you, the kind, responsive, helpful, insightful, reader that you are.

While reviewing the 67 drafts that I’ve yet to finish, I marked about six I can delete and another handful I can combine. I also came up with this list of the top eleven posts I should publish next. I chose the prime number eleven for two reasons: (1) Because it’s a prime number and (2) in honor of the classic mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap. They are, in no particular order:

Coco: 1992 – 2013, RIP: Post about loss of Coco. She was over twenty years old.

Blogging Plan: In a previous post If Your Blog Dies, It’s Your Own Fault, Not Ours, I wrote about developing a plan for this blog. I also wrote before that I am a simple man. That is the heart of the matter.

Words I Like – Words to Use: This morning I woke up with the word perdition on my mind. I was vaguely familiar with the definition. I looked it up. I was inspired to write about it – I just never finished. Something else got in the way.

Pains and Ailments: The list of medical conditions I have is this long. (see pic) For any English major reading this, correct me if I am wrong. The prepositional phrase “…of medical conditions I have” modifies the noun “list,” which is singular and calls for the verb “is” instead of “are.” Rewritten without the phrase, as I was taught to do many years ago, it would be “The list is this long.” Which sounds correct and is correct. Or am I incorrect?

Road Trip – 2005: In the fall of 2004, I purchased a 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser Limited Edition. Many people had, and still have some pretty strong opinions about the PT Cruiser. I liked it – still do. That’s why I bought one. So, we took a road trip – my wife, my two youngest sons, and a boot full of luggage (if you want to call it a boot).

Woke Up This Morning – Foot Like a Sponge: In his song, “Please Don’t Bury Me”, John Prine sang “Woke up this morning, Put on my slippers, Walked in the kitchen and died.” As the song continues, he sings, “You slipped upon the floor and hit your head.” I didn’t die, I just woke up with a numb leg and foot…like walking on a sponge. I didn’t slip upon the floor this morning – that happened a few nights ago; and I didn’t hit my head; just bashed my shoulder and aggravated an already painful back and neck.

Places to Live – Invite Me: I would be a wonderful addition to the citizenry of any village, hamlet, burg, town, city, state, province, economic zone, country or continent.

A Poem : Only Five Days Left in NaWriAFPoInAprMo

More Bluegrass from Ricky Skaggs or Alison Krauss

Another Awesome Photo

Return of Java Fueled Journaling

 You decide

As I said earlier, this is my first poll, and it is an important one. I’m sure you agree. My goal is to get at least 111 responses/votes. I chose 111 for one reason; it is not a prime number and it looks good in print. I guess that is two reasons. So if 10 of you read this and share it with 10 people and those 10 share it with another 10. Well, you get the picture. It’s kind of like a chain letter, only not. I’m not promising you good luck if you share it or threatening you with gloom and doom if you don’t. But I can, if you’d like.

If I don’t get at least 111 responses, I am going to go get the infamous pencil. Instead of stabbing myself in my left thigh, I will stab myself right in the middle of the birthmark on my right thigh. It looks like a well developed amoeba. So there you have it, please vote and share; I implore you. My amoeba looking birthmark really doesn’t need a bloody pencil jutting from the middle of it.