With a Little Help From My Friends

"What would you think if I sang out of tune?
Would you stand up and walk out on me?
Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song,
And I'll try not to sing out of key.
Oh I get by with a little help from my friends,
I get high with a little help from my friends,
Oh I'm gonna try with a little help from my friends."
- Beatles

Disclaimer: The only drug being used in this household to "get high" is yarn fumes.

Do you remember back around the middle of October, when I bemoaned the fact that I had lost a subscriber? Do you remember I ran a contest to predict when I would again reach 25? Did you think I had forgotten?

Oh no, my friends! It just took W-A-A-A-Y longer than most of you optimists thought it would. In fact, I lost ANOTHER reader to bottom out at 23. WAAAAAAAH!

(I think I should get a commission for every A in this posting. Don't you? To whom would I apply for such preferential treatment hard earned reward?)

I didn't hit 25 again until Thanksgiving day, when I ran my little check and discovered I had something new to be thankful for.

With Kim's able assistance (through her blog and web store, The Woolen Rabbit) and her gushing over Morocco (including a link) I surged right past 25 to 35. YAAAAAAAAAY!!!

(That's nine more commissions by my count!)

Ah yes, the power of word of mouth!

So the winner is...

Drum roll, please...

Tiennie, with her guess of October 31st (the latest in the bunch with the exception of one pessimist who guessed sometime in December. Oh ye of little faith...)

All of this is by way of making a heinous request. I understand it is considered bad "netiquette" to ask others to link to your blog, or mention you, or otherwise give you free publicity of any kind, but I am trying to make a living eke out enough money to bribe the postman into overnight delivery of all yarn purchases!

In return, I promise to laud you to the skies, brag about your exploits, remember you in my prayers, and name my next cat after you (What? You were expecting my first born son? Sorry, he already has a name. And I'm too old to have any more like him. See entries on perimenopause.)

I would never ask anyone else to do what I wouldn't do, or anything I didn't believe in. But, I assume you guys aren't hanging around all the time because I give away these absurd prizes (like 25 items) periodically. If you didn't like what you read, you wouldn't come visiting.

When I was Executive Director of the Indianapolis Arts Chorale, I coined the term "friendraising." I told my organization we were not looking for donations; we were looking for investment. We were inviting people to join our family, and if they felt like sharing the family story, or hauling out the brag book, so much the better.

So, that's what I'm asking you to do for me today. Not because I'm trying to use you. But because I believe that together we are stronger than we are apart.

All you have to do is look around the blogosphere at all the charity events and fundraisers to know the truth and power of this community.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch (or the Indian Bazaar, if you will) things are perking right along. Life is good on the road to Morocco (or is it the Marrakesh Express?) One inch in and NO frogging. No sir!

Latest pics:

































Now, in case you've never paid attention to that little list on my blog, entitled "Blogs I Read," hie thee to a nunnery the right hand side and do your best to support the cult collective.

We are knitters. Hear us roar.