If you don't know of this challenge and want to self-promote and accumulate followers who may well be those much loved drive-by bloggers, then, by all means, join in. Sorry, cynical moment over. If you don't know of this challenge and embrace the ethos of positive interaction in a sharing, caring, blogging community, this challenge may well be to your liking.
Now then, if you're really fascinated and really do want to get involved in time for the fitting date of April 1, 2013 aka "April Fool's Day", here is the link that leads you there, yep, complete with a countdown clock to the beginning of this amazing alphabet challenge : Blogging from A to Z Challenge (April 2013) All the information you could possibly need is provided there.
As for Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar, my good self and even the wee folks, we'll be doing our mainly satirical alternatives to the challenge. Good natured, of course. In fact, perhaps somewhat ironically, in our own small way, we bring further awareness of this blogfest or whatever the heck you call it. And all those hosts of the A to Z just adore us.
So, to cause confusion, chaos and a bit of fun, we may well do the alphabet in reverse. Yes oh yes, starting with the letter Zed or "Zee" if you speak in American.
On a serious note, I wish all those involved, a most fulfilling, positive time. May the ideals of a sharing, caring blogging community, all different, all equal in this great diversity, see you find much contentment and friendship.
"Hmmmm...something beginning with Zee, oops, Zed.."
And looking forward to your satirical take on the Challenge! All in good fun, Gary. We know that.
ReplyDeleteWait until you see my theme - announcing it next Friday.
Hi Alex,
DeleteIndeed, as you will remember from last year, my take on it actually got you to start interacting with me on a regular basis. I'm grateful for that.
Look forward to your theme. The A to Z of how starstruck you are by me. Sorry, I think I've mentioned I'm delusional!
Happy alphabeting,
Gary
I've signed up again Gary..although...now that you mention it, maybe it would be fun to do it backwards.
ReplyDeleteHi Delores,
DeleteYes, you have signed up again. Yikes! You know you want to be a rebel, eh. Something being with Zed! :)
Happy alphabeting,
Gary
I have all of three posts written for this Challenge. Egads. I thought I would be almost done by now.
ReplyDeleteInteresting idea to start at the end of the Alphabet and work your way forward. That will be fun.
Hi Robin,
DeleteEgads, that's three more done than I have in my alternative challenge! :) You'll be fine.
Yep, something beginning with Zed or Zee...:)
Happy alphabeting,
Gary :)
Oh I am so going to enjoy your take on the Challenge, Gary. :)
ReplyDeleteI am honestly so impressed with those who can do this but, alas, it is far outside our realm of possibility. Heck, I'll have trouble keeping up with reading your take on it, never mind trying to pursue myself.
Good luck and good wishes to those who do!
Hi Leslie,
DeleteIt's been a lot of fun doing an alternative to the amazing alphabet challenge :)
Indeed, I'm also impressed with those who would subject themselves to such 'torture'. I will probably only do a few here and there. Or I might do the whole alphabet backwards in one posting...
I share your good luck wishes to the participants.
Thank you, Leslie.
Gary
OK, I am an American but I am also a ham radio operator and we hams say Zed or Zulu for the letter "Z".
ReplyDeleteHi Dizzy-Dick,
DeleteI'm very aware of the phonetic alphabet. And I know you mostly use "Zulu". I'm going now to start up my Zed 28 Camaro and listen to some Zed Zed Top :)
Take care and wishing you better health.
Gary
This is my third year and first year as a co-host. I'm really hoping I can handle it.
ReplyDeleteMay you enjoy my daily photo, Gary.
Hi Diane,
DeleteThat's great. And as a co-host, I know you're going to have some added involvement.
I'm sure I'll enjoy your daily photo, Diane.
Happy alphabeting,
Gary :)
Backwards you ay
ReplyDeleteSounds like fun at your bay
Already done mine
No theme for the feline
May be no reason
Which some ay find a treason
But there is rhyme
All the time
And since you went on and on
Over at my lawn
I figure I have to retort
Here at your court
With an abc
ut for thee
A bring us air
Which is hot at your lair
B is for balloon
Many of those you can fill like a cartoon
C is for cat
You can't beat me, just Pat
D is for dog
You know you like to eat a brown log
E is for eat
You think all is a treat
F is for fib
Next tie cover up your bib
G is for great
Sorry not your fate
H is for hell
Something I may get for ringing this bell
I is for imagination
Like you and your destination
J is for jack
Can't cause you all flack
K is for kong
Having the first name donkey is so wrong
L is for loo
Which can't be used by you
M is for mound
Under which my crap is found
N is for noon
Once again I just wanted to say loon
O is for out
Where you go to pout
P is for prance
As out in the snow you do a cold dance
Q is for queen
Of your scene
R is for ripe
Your gas you can hype
S is for spit
As you slobber at your pit
T is for treat
You think crap is tough to beat
U is for under
Where you go to plunder
V is for viper
Time to pay the piper
W is for work
Reading this will make your eyes go berserk
X is for xena
Sorry your closer to a hyena
Y is for you
And all the yapping you do
Z is for zing
A think a left one or two at your wing
Right then, Pat Hatt, your alphabet is where's it at. I like what you wrote. You get my vote. Now I think, cause I've shared your link, you might mention me on your site and give your fans a worthy delight.
DeleteAnd X is for Xenaphobia, the fear of a warrior princess!
Z to 'eh', is the Canadian way!
Be well and be swell.
I'm outta' here,
Full of good cheer....
Gary, Gary,
quite contrary...
or Xeonphillia the love for a warrior princess :)
DeleteHello Ida,
DeleteAh yes, the love of a warrior princess from New Zealand with an American accent :)
Thank you, Ida.
Gary :)
May be Hillary from Positive letter will like to check out that store. She lives in UK. too.
ReplyDeleteHi Munir,
DeleteIndeed Hilary does. I shall invite her for a tour of "The Alphabet Store" :) Thank you Munir.
Gary :)
LOL! Trust you, Gary. Surprised you aren't going for a random letter each day just to keep us on our toes!
ReplyDeleteHi Ian,
DeleteWhat a great idea. Mix and match the alphabet! :) Which reminds me and I shall be over later on, Seattle, a place I've been to many a time.
Thanks, Ian.
Gary :)
I have always enjoyed all of your posts, and remember with particular glee your alphabet challenge. I am really looking forward to your back to front upside down take on the challenge this year.
ReplyDeleteHi The Elephant's Child,
DeleteThank you, Penny and myself had a great time mostly making fun of it We do not conform to any rules and we might even pick random letters just by pulling a letter out of a hat. When I say, "letter", as in a letter from the alphabet. Satire challenge starting soon.
Gary :)
Well Gary this is a first for me, I had never even heard of it. I can see from your other comments, that this is something worth following. So, I am looking forward to reading your posts and theirs as I watch this on my first year......
ReplyDeleteBert and My Vickie
Hi Bert and Vickie,
DeleteI'm sort of glad you haven't heard of the A to Z thingy. My posts will mostly make fun of it :) Seriously, I do hope you enjoy reading the posts on offer with those who are actually participating.
Thank you Bert and Vickie.
Gary :)
Can't wait to see what you come up with :)
ReplyDeleteHey BZ Dogs,
DeleteWhat a cute site you have :) Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar will do an 'alphabark pawsting' in your honour :)
Penny's human,
Gary :)
You know what you could also do? Use words that END with the letter you are using. For example, Z could be ShowbiZ. Y cold be PennY . . . Now that would truly be the anti a-z experience. I'll bill you later for my unorthodoX wisdom. (:
ReplyDeleteHi Elise,
DeleteI could do a theme about weird folks and their ologies? No? Haha! Okay, thanks for a great idea. So when I get to the letter "A" at the end of April, I could do all the countries that end and start with "A", eh....
I know Xactly what you're talking about. That worries me! :)
Gary, "The official anti-A to Z spokesman." :)
I admire anyone who can take on such a challenge. I shall be waiting to see what you come up with and I'm sure you're gonna be giving us all a good laugh along the way. I should have known that you would start with Z, ha ha ha ha.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, sharpen those senses and oil up that computer, are you ready Gary?
Hi Rum-Punch Drunk,
DeleteI also admire anyone who is willing to take on such a challenge. My postings will not be on a daily basis. I'm just a total rebel, an anarchist to any conformity. And yes, the satire will soon begin :)
My computer is one of those old steam-powered computers. My last two brain cells are ready! :)
Gary :)
What a great idea - the alphabet backwards! I thought about doing the challenge, but just thinking about it tired me out, so I won't be joining in. Good luck to all those that do and I'm looking forward to yours :-) x
ReplyDeleteHi Teresa,
DeleteYes, maybe even do the words backwards. I could not possibly commit myself to such a challenge, either. I'd end up being committed if I did it! :)
Thank you, Teresa and indeed, good luck to those suckers, I mean participants :)
Gary :)
Great initiative Garry, you are a man of action :). I hope Penny will assist you in this endeavor :).
ReplyDeleteHi Petronela,
DeleteOr a man of inaction, perhaps :) Penny will be doing the 'alphabark challenge' :)
Gary :)
I thought about doing the A-Z this year. I know my friend Manzi is doing it... but,... I think I am going to just not do it, then I can go to some of the bloggers who do and check out their posts. Can't wait to see what you have up your sleeve.
ReplyDeleteHi My Journey With Candida,
DeleteI also thought about doing the alphabet challenge. And then I regathered my senses :) Manzanita is doing the challenge. Wow, that will be most interesting, I've no doubt. Enjoy those who actually dedicate themselves to the blogfest or whatever it is. Mine are the bootleg alternative.
Gary :)
I love your new header picture.
ReplyDeleteI'm already doing a weekly A-Z, I think that's enough for now, a daily one would be too much. I thought about it last April and told myself that I would plan ahead and have the posts all worked out by this year, but it didn't happen.
Hi River,
DeleteThank you, that header is a picture of the beach near Cardigan, Wales.
I think you're taking a sensible approach that works for you. It's a bit too much like regimented hard work for me.
Thank you, River.
Gary :)
I admit to not knowing much about this Gary. I see it mentioned around Blogger but have never really known what it's about. Perhaps I need to do a little research? But since I don't post daily I wonder if it would be for me.
ReplyDeleteHi Keith,
DeleteEvidently, it's the blogging highlight of the year. Of course, I might just disagree with that :) I know if I wanted to increase my total of followers to massage my ego, I would join up. I didn't notice you post daily. However, as you will gather, it's an alphabetic thing that runs according to one's particular theme. Still, you get a lot of comments and you're doing well, regardless. I note you get so many comments that, unlike me, you don't reply to those who kindly left you a comment. The logistics, as I'm finding out now, means this is becoming time consuming for all the most flattering of reasons. Yikes, I rambled :)
Thank you Keith.
Gary :)
I C A Bee . . .. . . . . . HAH HAHAH HAH HAH HAH AHHA HAH HAHh ah hah hah haha hhah hah aha hhahah hahah hha
ReplyDeleteHi Rob Z Tobor,
DeleteI C A B U C A B F U C A B U R A P U C
It's another "challenge" like Nanowrimo that's only difficult if you can't budget your time properly to get the entries written.
ReplyDeleteHi PT,
DeleteIt's a "challenge" that would take me away from such things as um having a life. I reckon you know what I mean. And besides, I think you also prefer to do your own thing.
Thank you, PT.
Gary :)
Zebedee!! LOL!!
ReplyDeleteI'll be a lurker as always!! Take care
x
Hi Old Kitty,
DeleteAnd Zippity doo dah! :)
You mean they haven't got you into their 'cult'? Yikes! :) Um happy lurking, Old Kitty.
Gary
x
So, Gary, how many posts is Penny doing and how many are -you- doing? My bet is that you'll have her doing most of the work :P
ReplyDeleteSeriously, though, I look forward to your take on the whole thing...sounds like a lot of fun :)
Take care
Hi Mark,
DeleteAn excellent question. Let's see now. 26 letters in the alphabet we use. I know, for sure that the letter Z will be used. The letter P will be used. And because I can get into blatant self-promoting, the letter K :) And gee, I wonder what letter Penny will use after she has a P..
My take is bordering on cynical in a good natured way, if that's possible.
Thank you, Mark.
Gary :)
Let' see you can use Zebra, Zorp, Zipper, Zanadudu, Zzzzz, Zyke, Ziffle. Some of those words might be made up but does the challenge specify that?
ReplyDeleteHey Powdered Toast Type Dude,
DeleteI Zee what you mean. Be a grammar rebel, make up words. And if they had such rules that specify real words, do I care? Heck no. Thank you, friend.
Gary :)
Oh, dear. It all sounds like so much WORK.
ReplyDeleteWhen you get to Z, you can use me. :-) I'm a "Z", and therefore can always be found at the back of the room. :-)
Pearl
Hey Pearl,
DeletePearl, you work real hard. Heck, when you aren't doing episodes on your neighbours (neighbors), y'all talking about your adventures on the bus. I'm starting to think you actually live on a bus! :)
I get to "use" you? Okay, I'm starting with the letter "Z". I always knew you were a 'Z' of your time, Pearl. "Would somebody get Pearl from the back of the room, please!" :)
Thank you, Pearl.
Gary :)
I'm too miserable to do the challenge. Boy, when I get in a bad mood, there's no Aing or Zeding for me. Actually, I better not anyway because I have to clean, clean, clean every day, then there's the garage sales, and the gardening, and the cleaning, and the gardening, and then they expect to eat too, so there's the cooking, and oh, yeah, the laundry. I should have been born a dog. I could just lay down and fart and snore and eat, then go for a walk. Okay, enough! I've filled your window with nonsense, so it's off to do vacuuming. Oh, dear poor Jo!
ReplyDeleteHave fun, Gary. I'm sure you'll give me lots of reasons to smile.
Hi Joylene,
DeleteI'm sorry you're a bit out of sorts, what with all that's transpiring in your life and the vision of the start of your new hope, new adventure. Joylene, I'm too cynical to get involved with the A to Z. Although I like to believe it's about positive interaction, I've seen a number who just do it for an ego trip and accumulate followers. I find that sad and superficial.
Joylene, dogs are wonderful creatures. "Okay Penny, see, I typed that sentence!" Yet Joylene, you're a cherished, kind human being. However, no stopping you from farting or snoring or going for a walk :)
Thanks Joylene and yes, if my tongue-in-cheek postings about the alphabet challenge, make you smile, then that's a positive result.
Take care, eh!
Gary :)
Ah, you're so pawsitive, Klahanie:)
ReplyDeleteHey M.J.,
DeleteYou figured me out :) Yes, I'm um pawsitive, sorry Penny. I'm positive that the hosts, co-hosts and the dude that started it all, my buddy Lee, adore me beyond any adequate adjectives.
Thank you, M.J.
Gary :)
I have gotten a headstart on April. You might want to come over and take a look.
ReplyDeleteHi rhymeswithplague,
DeleteAlways good to get ahead. I have looked and I will return. Thank you.
Gary :)
I am plodding away at those letter, now up to 'S'. Too many options for that one.
ReplyDeleteHi Susan,
DeleteI can think of a few words I could use starting with "S" :) An option would for you to join my alternative to the challenge and just be a total rebel :)
Thank you, Susan.
Gary :)
Hi Gary .. as long as not too many follow your tune ... it really muddles me! Bad enough going from A - Zee ... let alone Zed ...
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to it - you won't need a pot of tea or two hot chocolates to work your way through one of my posts!
Bet you're frozen up there .. it's miserable weather - I might ask Penny for a holiday and she can and give Hardwick and I a cuddle .. rotten weather and it's now raining.
Well that's me and my moan over .. enjoy the weekend working your way into a satirical stew ... cheers Hilary
Hi Hilary,
DeleteNot to worry, because I'm not part of the challenge, very few will even be aware of what I'm doing.
I know you enjoy it and you always provide an interesting theme. Castles and all that. I personally despise it. I resent seeing my friends go off track and get so ensconced in it. Still, I respect that and yes, bizarrely, even my little recognition brings further awareness of the challenge.
Hilary, it's bitterly cold and were in the midst of a blizzard! I'm sending Penny your way :) Wrap warm, have a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy your weekend, dear friend. Thank you, Hilary.
Gary :)
Hi Gary, I haven't signed up for A-Z not because I don't love meeting new people but because I don't think I can fit in the commitment of time at the moment. Posting everyday, even if scheduled scares me! Look forward to reading your alternative posts though.
ReplyDeleteCuddles to Penny :)
Hi Suzanne,
DeleteIndeed, you have your priorities. Yes, it's a good way to meet new people and that can be most rewarding. Posting everyday is something I would never do. Besides, it can take a few days for people to actually get round to someone's posting. It doesn't make sense to me to post everyday. My alternatives will be sporadic, but they will be out of the ordinary. And Penny's are always interesting. Thank you, Suzanne.
I have just cuddled Penny for you :)
Gary :)
Looking forward to your view on the A to Z.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your week-end.
Yvonne.
HI Yvonne,
DeleteThank you and my view of the A to Z may seem somewhat um rather cynical but good natured. I know, that seems to contradict.
Stay warm over this cold weekend. Thank you, Yvonne.
Gary :)
Hi Y'all,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the "heads up" about a - z. I usually hear about it half way through the month...then it's too late to hop into the fun!
Y'all come by now,
Hawk aka BrownDog
Hey Hawk,
DeleteYou're welcome for the warning about the alphabet challenge. I hope you hop to a few of them. I bet you look real neat as a hopping dog!
Thank you, Hawk.
Penny's human,
Gary :)
Ifi do mine in welsh it will be easier
ReplyDeleteThere are less alphabet letters
But
L
Will have to be done as
LL
Hi John,
DeleteI think you are right. I suggested using the Tamil alphabet last year. It would have taken them a few thousand months to complete the challenge.
Indeed, the wyddor Gymraeg would work perfectly.
What the LL, my friend :)
Be careful in that snow over the weekend, John.
Gary :)
I would have thought writers had far better things to do - like, oh I don't know - write maybe!
ReplyDeleteHi Wendy,
DeleteThank you! Thank you! You understood my posting! Enjoy your weekend, my dear friend.
Gary :)
Although I'm not participating myself (characters in my head on overload), I look forward to reading all the different ways participants will be celebrating the alphabet :-)
ReplyDeleteEspecially interested in what Penny will be doing, along with her human, of course :-)
Hi Angela,
DeleteI hope your characters don't overload your head too much :) Ah yes, a joyous celebration of the alphabet! Bringing further awareness of the 26 letters.
As you now know, I forwarded you Penny's take on the challenge over at 'Farcebook'! :) As for my take, oops.
Thank you, Angela.
Gary :)
I'm looking forward to your ripping on the 'bet, Gary. If something can't take a poking, it shouldn't be on the streetcorner.
ReplyDeleteLaura
x
Hi Laura,
DeleteTo their credit, they have not taken offence to my satirical angle on the darned challenge. Those involved know that it's tongue-in-cheek. Or is it? If they don't like my cooking they can go eat somewhere else.
Stay well wrapped up this weekend, Laura.
Gary
x
Thanks for the wonderful ad for our alphabet awareness endeavors! You are a true anti-spokesman ;-) We love your satire, Gary. The Challenge wouldn't be the same without someone, well, challenging us about it! LOL.
ReplyDeleteTina @ Life is Good
Co-host, April 2013 A-Z Challenge Blog
@TinaLifeisGood, #atozchallenge
Hey Tina,
DeleteYou're welcome and in the spirit of a sharing, caring blogging community, I know you guys will make mention of me and my alternative, somewhat satirical postings in regards to the A to Z Challenge. Thank you for that.
Okay, I suppose that sounded like me being self-promoting. What was I thinking...As you know, I like to think of the challenge as a positive way of folks interacting. It would be nice if all who joined in thought of it that way.
Wishing you much fun, Tina.
Kind regards,
Gary, The Official Anti-A to Z Spokesman! :)
wow I am really challenged by this post, you did a good job. It is very entertaining!
ReplyDeleteZero Dramas
Gosh Adelbert,
DeleteDelighted you were challenged by this amazingly entertaining post! And cool, "Z" is for "Zero". What a world, eh!
This definitely makes me look forward to your A to Z posts. I agree there will be both drive-bys and sincere people.
ReplyDeleteHi Cindy,
DeleteThank you for visiting and it's nice to make your acquaintance over here. My A to Z posts are rather satirical alternatives. As for drive-by bloggers, I just love their comments. You know what they leave as a comment. "Great post!" "Thanks for sharing!" Thank you, Cindy and enjoy your weekend.
Gary :)
Talk about the longest comment ever. Pat did a beautiful job, and your answer -- I am jealous of the talent to rhyme.
ReplyDeleteI'm a bust, except when it come to lust, blood, and gore, then I succeed, because for some reason I have this killing -- need! :)
Sorry, but you can't say I didn't try -- and I brought no knives (my favorite weapon by the way). See you later Gary, and really shouldn't folks, named Gary be glad they weren't Harry?
Looking forward to your Z to A humor!
Hi Yolanda,
DeleteI don't want to brag
Cause that be a drag
However however,
I left the longest comment ever
On Pat's site
Which brought him delight
Anyway, enough of the rhyme. Yes Pat did a beautiful job and I'm in no way jealous of the fact he has over 2000 followers. No, not me, I don't mind have a very talented dog who posts on here getting way less recognition than him. One moment while I sob in a darkened room.
Okay, I'm back now. Your poem was sublime. And blood and lust, it still seems just. Your poetry aint no crime. You did well. I can tell.
My satire will be on fire. Z to A. No other way.
Thank you Yolanda
For having a gander
In kindness, Harry...oops, Gary :)
I had fun with the A-Z last year, but have decided to sit it out this year. In fact, I'm pretty much gonna sit out on blogging for the month. But I'll still try to check in with some of my favorite bloggers during the month to see what they're up to. So, I'll be stopping by here a time or two.
ReplyDeleteZanzibar? Zimbabwe? Zizzer zazzer zuzz? (a Dr. Seuss critter) Take care.
Hi Susan,
DeleteIt's nice to know you had fun with the alphabet challenge last year. Take it easy and enjoy a well earned rest from blogging, Susan. Excellent to note you will be checking out some of your favourite (favorite,) sorry spell check, bloggers during the month. I appreciate you stopping by here :)
Zimmer frame. Is the name of the game.
Be well, Susan.
Gary :)
Ooh, I wish I lived near the Alphabet Store. That would be some awesome inspiration.
ReplyDeleteHi Shell Flower,
DeleteI've heard there's going to be an "Alphabet Shop" opening at the top of the Space Needle :)
Thank you, my friend and enjoy Sunday in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
Gary :)
Learning a little more about you -
ReplyDeleteHi Susan,
DeleteThanks and you might realise that I'm just a shy, humble dude circulating on the peripheries of the blogging world. Thank you for commenting on this archived blog.
Kind wishes,
Gary