A Good Post

Today is V-Day. This is my positive V-Day post. As mentioned before, we don't do Valentines day. Nothing to do with not loving one another, but today has too many bad memories attact from this time in 2005. However, this post is not about that. That's next.

No, this post is to show thanks and appreciation and love to people. First, the computer saga. After lots of digging, running around and price comparing, I have to say a massive thank you to the In Laws. They might be strapped for cash, but they helped us out after much umm'ing and arr'ing, and as of this morning, I recieved a brand new computer. After spending the day fiddling and tweaking, it's as I like it, and I am once again connected.

Second, just because I can, a big hug and a kiss to Jo. I love you dearly, beautiful, and can't imagine my days without you. You put up with all my shit, my mood swings, my grumpiness and my whining about "ouch" and, more than anything, you "get" me without question.

Thirdly, to all my close friends that I harrass chat with, day and night, email, text, messenger. I'm not naming names - those that send me messages, random photos, smiley mails, or just come around to say Hi, thank you to you to.

And lastly, to all of you readers, lurkers, wanderers and everything else. 0ddness passed 50,000 hits this week. Clearly you suckers coming back for more are interested, and that's all I need, so thanks to you lot too.

Happy 14th Feb ;)

Thank You

Wow. After a day, I am still getting messages from people around the world, people I don't know, people that have read someones post on a forum elsewhere, that have sent it to their friends and family, and so on.

Yesterday, 0ddness received a lot of visitors. While statcounter tracks them all, I can only see the data for the last 100 to come through, and they were all coming from either "No Referrer" which is someone coming here direct, or for various mail programs online.

It still amazes me the massive number of people that know of us and, more importantly, Bethany, and what she went through. Not to mention how she has actually touched people she has never ever met. Then on top, there are the tributes that others have put on their blogs... Amazing.

So a big thank you to everyone that took the time to think about Bethany. It means so much to us here at 0ddness Central.

Lurkers!

So, to all the lurkers that said Hi, Hullo, Howdy and, er, something else vaguely "H" Like, Hi to you too! I received 20 comments on the actual Lurker post down there, and about a dozen mails from people that didn't want to comment, didn't know how to, or would rather just email. To all of you, thanks, and feel free to stick around!

I didn't get any questions except two, which were "Why don't you put some advertising or a paypal account on there - you could make money doing this, get a new laptop" and "Why don't you write for a living as I think people would buy your books if they were published?".

For the first, this is a hobby. I hate adverts, banners, popups and everything else out there, and to make money off people that come here and read my ramblings just seems... I don't know... Wrong, I guess is the first word that pops into my head. The fact people take time out their day to see what I have to say is gratitude enough for me, but to have them pay me? Doesn't seem right. Same goes for people asking for Link Exchanges. The links on my page are places I go a lot, blogs I read daily, sites I visit for chuckles. I'm not going to link to a site or a blog that I'm not personally interested in. As much as I'd like to buy that extra-sparkly laptop, I'm not going to force you lot to deal with banners and pop-ups because I want something.

As for the second question, hehe you have NO idea how often people suggest "You should write" or "Why don't you do a book?". So why don't I? Well, truth be told, the thought scares the bejeezers out of me for one thing, sitting, writing, in order to make a living, earn some money. Knowing that what I am writing would mean the difference between us eating or not. The second thing - what would I write about? People say I should write about our time with Bethy, but that book wouldn't have a happy ending, and I'm not sure I'd be able to write such a book. I often potter around with various types of writing - short stories, mostly - but they either end up on a dusty shelf or tucked away on the hard drive somewhere.

I've always enjoyed writing - obviously, from the crap I churn out - from D&D Games to rambling to some sort of ickle story that blossoms when I go to town, but then, I used to enjoy tinkering with computers - when it became a part of my job, it got less fun. Articles, Reviews, Magazine Columns, I don't think I have what it takes to be honest, and I am just too self-critical.

But anyway, to all you lurkery-sorts out there, I hope that answered the couple of questions I received. Now you've said Hi, feel free to comment on posts or on the Cbox to the side more often :D

All in all, Hug a Lurker week worked very well!

Merry Christmas!!

Hey Everyone!

Just thought I'd take this moment (aka, Calm Before The Storm) to wish all you of - my online family - a very Merry Christmas, and here's to a decent 2007!

Living the oh-so-hard-life that I lead, Jaysen didn't get up till 8.45am, and Tam & Jo have only just dragged themselves from the bed at 9.30am! The turkey is on, the pressies are laid out, and Santa, the messy git, made footprints throughout the house and left crumbs on the table. I think we'll have words next year...

Hope you all have an excellent few days of food/drink/friend/drink/family/drink/food/food/drink.

Thank you all of you that have been there over this year (and, of course, all the previous years!), helping us through everything and generally being there to read my rants, either here or via my emails. It means a lot to us that people we've never met are willing to give us help and advice and bear with my ramblings! So thanks to all of you!

With thanks, christmas greetings, and a hope that everyone has a great day, no matter where they are or what they are doing, Thank You, and let the good times roll!

(PS, Tim, hope you had a great Xmas Day, being that you lot are probably winding down today! hehe Crazy upside-down people!)

Happy, Well, You Know

It's been a long, interesting year, but I won't do my "round up" until the end of next week. Suffice to say, it's been busy with ups and downs, but importantly, I've gotten through it mostly intact. The reason I blog is to rant and rave and ponder and generally put crap out onto the ether. The fact people actually READ said crap is even better, so to you, my readers, Thank You.

Thanks for your input, your advice, your comments, and your sarcastic witticisms. I'm not sure that I'd keep writing if people weren't reading, but you never know. I run a few blogs, but this is my general one that everyone knows about, so this is where I keep track of everything.

To everyone out there, regardless of race, colour, creed, sex, orientation, which ever continent you live on, which ever religion you tip your hat to...