Monday, June 28, 2010

The Final Countdown

My feelings are hurt.  Was it something I said?  Did I do something wrong?  I lost a follower over the weekend.  I had 62 on Friday, and today I am at 61 followers.  Okay, I know I haven't been posting as frequently as I should.  And certainly not as frequently as a good reader would like.  And I apologize for that.  I don't always post about chickens, but my life isn't just chickens.  I love my chickens.  I enjoy raising them.  They are a lot of fun.  In fact, two of my hens hatched out their littles broods yesterday.  And lately, I haven't had any good pics.  I, too, apologize for that.  I've been without camera for a few weeks.  I should have that remedied in another week or two.  With all that being said, I can see how my blog may have become boring.  I am sorry, and I hope you will come back.

Now, I have questions about being followed and following protocall.  Sixty-one blogs is a lot to keep up with.  I do try, however hard it may be.  No, I don't just read the chicken blogs.  Okay, I'd be lying if I said that I didn't have favs to read, but I still enjoy all of the blogs I read.  Really, truly, and honestly, I do.  I don't just read other chicken blogs.  I read plant blogs, life blogs, garden blogs, local blogs, national blogs, international blogs.  In fact, I have tried to follow every blog that follows me.  It seems like the right thing to do.  Wouldn't it be rude otherwise?  Are you required to follow everyone who follows you?  But I have seen blogs with 200, 300, or even over 1,000 followers!  Not that I expect to have that many followers, but if I did, there's no way I could keep up with all of them.  I did make a list over at dobbies.com .  I am on the list of More Chicken Keeping Blogs We Love.  Some of my followers and ones I follow are on that list, too!  I think that is sooo cool!  Congrats to you if you made the list!  But I am sorry if I cause any of you to lose interest, get bored, or just tired of my ramblings.  I hope that over the next weeks or so that may change.

Work has kept me busy, as usual.  Sure there are good days and bad days.  Anyone who never has a bad day at work is disillusioned.  Even people who land dream jobs, like pro athletes, singing and movie stars, and CEO's still have bad days at work.  You think the CEO of BP isn't having any bad days lately?  But overall, I do enjoy my job.  And I am aspiring to upper management.  Yeah, I have goals.  I'd be a fool not to have them.  But starting today, I got my first raise in three years.  Between getting bought out and facing a bad economy we just got passed by.  No, it's not like my salary doubled or anything.  But these days you take what you can get!  I'm sure most of you know what I mean!

The weather has been AWFUL!!  I do love my summertime.  Our temps have been in the upper 90's F. (98F today) And that I can deal with....at least until I get older.  But we haven't gotten any rain.  And we really need it bad.  My squash is all gone.  I'm trying to save my butternut squash, but it's an up hill battle.  So far so good with my watermelons and tomatoes.  The corn is curled and the canteloupes and cucumbers and wilted.  I try to keep water on the maters and melons, hoping I can at least have a melon or two to take to the beach next week.  My Impatiens, Zinnias, and Morning Glories are well watered, but still wilt in the day with it being so hot.  Just send me some rain.  Poor Farmer.  He's hurt his back and is laid out flat.  His grandson and wife have been working the field and taking all the veggies to market.  But Dustin says they will probably have to till in most of what's left.  RAIN!!!!

I will post later this week on the chickens!  Have a great day everyone!  I am on the final countdown till vacation! 

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Maybe this person has deleted their blog...when I deleted my old blog I deleted the people on it so they didnt click on me and I wasn't there.

I cannot understand anyone not wanting to follow you! I couldnt keep up with my old one. some blogs that used to follow me I did follow them back so as not to be rude but some were TOTALLY strange and I didnt know what to comment?!

Just carry on doing what your doing...you keep all of us entertained! I read your posts to Steven...we all wish you would come over here!!

Ames xxxxx

Barbara said...

Ah, it fluctuates. I lose a person and gain a person all the time.

Myself, if I'm following a blog and they start posting once every three weeks, I drop them. I read blogs every day, and if you can't post at least weekly, I'm probably not going to stay interested. I figure if you have a blog - and a life - once a week shouldn't be that hard.

I was sick for a few days last week and just posted that on my blog. Sometimes people's lives do get in the way. People are forgiving.

But don't take it too hard. Sometimes after you follow a while, the blog just isn't what you wanted it to be. It happens.

Besides - I'm still reading you!!

Doc said...

Not to sound like you father or anything but you should not take it so personal, blogs come and go like the rest of life. After all you big goober I have been on your list for a goodly while and....mmmm....let me see...nope your still not on mine,hmmm!Here's looking toward vacation.:o)

LemonyRenee' said...

I know what you mean, Randy. I lose someone here or there, and I still set about trying to figure out why. But the truth is, you will never know. And, from where I sit, it couldn't have had anything to do with you. I love your blog, and I like you, too -- and can't imagine anyone not.

Congrats on your raise!! And on making the chicken blog list. And on your impending vacation.

We desperately need rain up here, too. It finally rained today, but it rained so hard, so fast, and so short, that I'm sure it all just ran off, leaving just enough glimmer on all the plants to get them scorched when that darned sun came right back out!

Anyway, I don't think you should apologize for one thing here with your blog. I miss your more frequent posts, but I'm glad to think that you are busy having a summer. Enjoy.

Jim said...

Randy, you should be blogging for yourself and not worrying if you lose one on occasion. I'm learning that's the name of this game. People will hang in there for you and you get a chance to share your life with them.
Hang in there!

John Going Gently said...

randy...you worry so much dont you?
chill!!! people read your blog and enjoy it!...if someone stops following your blog...well there is only one thing you can do...

dont worry,
wish em well

and fuck em
!
x

joanne said...

I'm not sure how accurate the follower numbers are, mine go up and down and for awhile my own blog was on my list! How can I possibly be my own follower?? But I know what you are saying, it always makes me wonder. I check in on as many as I can but it would take hours to visit everyone and that is just not possible. So maybe I get over here two times a week, sometimes more, I think it's the thought. I always try and leave a message so the blogger knows I was there but I really am trying not to get so stressed about the whole thing anymore. I wanted this to be fun, not another job! Take care...you are always on my list!

Gary said...

Randy, Dude! don't worry about it. The reason's for people to stop following or not follow at all is as varied as there are bloggers. There are some blog I "don't follow but follow". I followed your blog for several months before "following". I have also noticed that sometimes blogs I follow, and for lack of a better way to phrase it, just "fall" of my list. Don't know why, don't know if they clicked the don't allow following button thingie or what. And if there are any more out there like me... I some times get lost in my own blog (lol). So don't take it to heart if you lose a follower. All that aside, I enjoy your blog, and the fact that you touch on everything is informative. Hoping you have a good week. - G

Christine H. said...

Randy,
I gain and lose followers too, just like I gain and lose pounds. You certainly should not feel obligated to follow people who follow you (with the small exception of my blog, of course.) I want followers who are really interested in my blog; if they aren't then I'd rather have them off the list.

Tracey said...

I agree with the old turkey (John), it's their loss! Keep on keeping on...We love you. xxxxx

Toni aka irishlas said...

Ah, their loss for sure...

Life is busy and we can only do so much. I think most folks know this and are in the same boat.

Take heart - there's bunches of us out there who love ya's...

Jimmy said...

people want a little more Beefcake and a little less Bull. lol :)

fromsophiesview said...

How about a new look...with all the new layouts available now perhaps refreshing is necessary...go for it...we all have!

LindaG said...

First off, it's their loss, not yours. You still have 60+ people interested in reading your blog. :)

And oh my gosh! I would certainly not expect updates or pictures every day. You have a life! When you update, I read. When you don't, I read something else. ;)
I don't update very often. I'd be saying the same thing every day. That would certainly be boring.


I hope I never get so many followers that it takes more than an hour to read them. That would be too many, I think. Then I would probably just read/reply to whoever replied to my last post.

I do understand your surprise, but as many told you, you'll probably never know why they left.

I wish I could send you some of our rain! We've got standing water in the ditches.
*hugs* :)

Foothills Poultry said...

RAIN??? We got a 10 minute shower today while the sun was shining. I thought the humidity was bad enough until that. I think the whole state needs rain. We keep watering, but it just keeps things alive. If it doesn't rain it won't produce.

Maybe someone needs to get out there and do the naked rain dance. I am way too fat.

~~Matt~~

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

Hi Randy!! I read this post yesterday evening, and didn't get a chance to comment because I wanted to have a moment where I could write a rampling comment...Just what you wanted from me, I know! :-)
But as I've gotten here this morning, I see you are at 60 follwers...Which means "I think" you lost another. I don't think I have anything to add to what others have said. My blog does the same thing. I used to worry about it, and it bugged me, but then I realized that I was blogging for myself. I really love having people along for the ride and I'm glad that people are reading what I post, but I try not to let the number of followers be the driving force behind what I blog about. I do it for me. Stay true to yourself in blogging Randy. I really enjoy your blog--It doesn't matter what you write about because for me, in the end it's the person and their whole life that I'm most interested in, and I know that your life "has not all gone to the birds!" Just like mine hasn't totally gone to the dogs..Or has it?? :-)
Finally, I will say that I follow many blogs, but don't get to each and every one each and every time. But I try to carve out time to visit them as often as I can. But not all of them are followers of my blog, which is just fine. I just hope I don't lose YOU as a follower! :-))) And by the way, if you aren't able to stop by and/or leave a comment, that's really okay, but just know that I'm here to stay on your blog! Enjoy your day!! ~Kim~

Anonymous said...

I've just added me (hopefully) so now you've got 61 again!! x

Little Messy Missy said...

Sounds like BBQ and a rain-dance is needed. Hope things get better.
xoxoxoxo

Odette Bautista Mikolai said...

i have not been writing for months but it doesn't worry me coz i know that those who truly care will be there when i update my blog.
i continue to read yours and the rest of the gang even though i rarely leave a message now...

Nekkid Chicken said...

AAAAAAAAH Ya Big Ole Worry Wart,

Those who love keeping in touch will. Besides as a military man just think of them 'retiring' and going out to pasture. ALSO, I love Big Johns

FORNICATE THEM! LOL

(fell off chair here --
old flabby tocks bouncing)

Congrats on the raise,
How eggsciting,
Battening down for Alex
See ya,
Mal

Nekkid Chicken said...

AAAAAAAAH Ya Big Ole Worry Wart,

Those who love keeping in touch will. Besides as a military man just think of them 'retiring' and going out to pasture. ALSO, I love Big Johns

FORNICATE THEM! LOL

(fell off chair here --
old flabby tocks bouncing)

Congrats on the raise,
How eggsciting,
Battening down for Alex
See ya,
Mal

Nekkid Chicken said...

Okay see

blogspot has issues

it posted twice when I did hit the button once

So you probably have 600 followers!

Becca's Dirt said...

Hey there Randy. We gain some and lose some. That's the way it is. Everyone can't be pleased all the time. Anyway I enjoy reading your blog whatever you write. I like keeping up in your world. I hope you get some rain. We have been in the same boat here. It has rained to the north of me to the south, east and west but as of this morning I am still waiting on my deluge. Now I'm gonna read your new post. Becca.

BadPenny said...

I wouldn't take it personally - people " Tidy up " their blog list from time to time.

I've deleated myself from some blogs I simply have not time to follow.

We have our favourites - our sometimes ones. It shouldn't become too set in stone. I have no idea how many people " follow " mine - they certianly don't all comment ...I like to return a comment but it would take hours if I had loads of messages left.


Relax about it... it's like friends coming in & out of your life - sometimes out of touch for a while.

Donna said...

Go into your settings where you keep your Friends Blogroll...Check mark where it says to let the people's blogs that recently posted to show up on top of your list...that will keep you from having to Search through your whole list to see Who posted last! Saves me SO much time!
Enjoy your Trip!!! I know you'll have a blast!
hughugs