Thank God for Growth!

I started this blog over a decade ago.  Every now and then, I'll go back and read some of my older posts just.  Sometimes I find myself laughing at loud at a story that I barely remember today.  Other times, I smack myself in the head and say, "What were you thinking?".

So many things that I believed years ago I don't believe now.  And even if I do believe in them, I now have a different approach to it.

I've always tried to take an old school approach when it came to solving problems in society.  I still believe that approach can work more times than not.  But some of the things I said in previous posts were harsh and therefore rendered ineffective because I was trying to enforce an old school approach in a new school society.  That tends to make things worse.

Thankfully, I now understand that finger-pointing is no longer the way to instill accountability.  Even if it's true, it doesn't make it helpful to people to get it thrown in their faces.  I've learned to take a different approach to things.  As much as I hate sugar-coating the truth, it's simply something we have to do in today's fragile society.  And I can't take back anything I posted years ago, but I can atone for them with a changed approach.

It's amazing how a person's mindset can change simply by continuing to live.  Of course, it takes an open mind, but it can be done if people allow it to happen.  I'm glad that it happened to me.  13 years later this blog still exists and it continues to show the progress I've made as an individual.  

Thank God for growth and Happy 13th birthday to my blog.  I have a teen-ager now.

"My Brother, My Rival" by @EveRabi1 #Books

Cody Garrett, a former Navy SEAL, has never met a skirt he didn’t fancy. His six-pack, rugged looks and bad boy image ensures a steady stream of hot babes waiting to slip him their phone numbers wherever he goes.

So, he is confused when Bridie Barker refuses to go on a date with him. It’s not like she’s a stunning beauty or something. According to him, her ears are big, she’s well-rounded and she’s not even a D-cup.

In spite of her shortcomings, the more she pushes him away, the more he finds himself thinking of her.

Twenty-year-old Bridie Barker has control issues. Every detail in her life is planned. Her closet is color-coded and she has an array of storage containers, to ensure that everything is in its correct place.

Her whole world is black and white, and grey areas are a no-no. When she meets the warm and grounded Scott Garrett, she thinks she has found her soul mate. Unfortunately, and to her disappointment, things don’t pan out with Scott.

While waiting tables, she has a disastrous run-in with his brother, wild boy Cody Garrett, king of body shots, who parties every night with a different girl. Even though he’s good to look at and makes her laugh, she turns down his advances as he’s clearly the tag-and-release kind of guy. Besides, she is pretty sure he does not own a single storage container, and she’s certain that his closet is not color-coded.

Problem is, Cody Garrett finds her rejection an aphrodisiac and pursues her.

Buying Links:

Amazon US:
http://amzn.to/ImrIBS

Amazon UK:http://amzn.to/17PmTij

Eve Rabi lives in Sydney Australia, but she hails from South Africa.  She is the author of 26 modern-day love stories and is known for her kick-ass leading ladies, her alpha males and her ability to make you laugh and make you cry while falling in love.  

Where to find Eve Rabi online

Please follow Eve Rabi’s Blog: http://everabi.wordpress.com/

Website: http://everabi.wordpress.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/eve.rabi

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/everabiauthor

Amazon.com link: http://www.amazon.com/Eve-Rabi/e/B005HXX1C4

Post #600!

5 Blogs to Follow: @LadyT523, @VanityStrokes, @DirtyInPublic, @SingleDatingDiv @MarriageDr, Post #500

I wanted to do something special for my 500th post and I've decided to pay it forward.  I'm a firm believer in supporting what I like.  If I enjoy something, then I try to share it so that others may do the same.  Although I don't read blogs as much as I once did, I still take time to enjoy a select few.  I want to share some of the newer blogs that I read religiously because of their entertainment value and useful information:

The Tasha Mac Chronicles 

www.TashaMacChronicles.blogspot.com

Twitter: @LadyT523

On top of being eye candy, Tasha chronicles her life as a single mother of four daughters.  She talks about how dating and home life for her is completely different from someone who may not have kids or may not be married.  Not only does she do a great job of "painting the picture" of her life, she also is a genius in regards to teaching life lessons.  She is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, who because of Hurricane Katrina, now lives in Jackson, Mississippi.

For new readers, I would suggest that you check out these posts: "Can Football Help or Hurt My Relationship?," "Am I My Brother's Keeper," and "What My Daughters Don't Understand."

Stroking at Midnight

www.StrokingAtMidnight.com

Twitter: @VanityStrokes

This Toronto author started in October and the blog world hasn't been the same since!  This site is steamier than your bathroom mirror after a morning shower.  Vanity takes some of her own personal experiences and shares them in a vivid and deliberate fashion.  She has a way with words that will paint a picture that any adult reader can appreciate.  Seductive blog posts like "What's Your Fantasy?" and "Caution: You Will Get Wet On This Ride" tells how it all started.  Give Vanity a try and enjoy your imaginative visuals that will raise your eyebrow on multiple occasions.

www.DirtyInPublic.com

Twitter: @DirtyInPublic

Where do I start with this site?  I love what Dirty in Public has to offer.  Californian, Marrie Lobel, is the owner/operator of DiP and she always finds an intriguing relationship or sex topic to pique your interests!  She takes everyday conversation and presents it in a way that makes you think.  She does a great job of helping people understand either where they went wrong or how they can improve upon their relationships.  With posts like "Available for Sex: Leave the light on for me!"  or "The Other Woman: What she needs to understand!" which breaks down the #SideChickRevolution.  Marrie is as insightful as she is delightful.

www.SingleDatingDiva.com

Twitter: @SingleDatingDiv

This Canadian red hot really dives deep into the core of relationships.  Suzie takes a look at different relationship situations from all angles and offers a solution to those issues.  She also does a great job soliciting feedback from the readers which generates a lot of insightful comments.  If you have a question about your relationship, then send an anonymous letter to "Ask Single Dating Diva" to get honest options towards solutions.  You will also enjoy posts like "Dating a Work in Progress - Stay Away!" and "The 3 Date Rule Hook Up."

www.RelationshipRx.net

Twitter: @MarriageDr

He's the only guy on the list, but don't let that deter you.  Aaron Anderson is the real deal and probably the only certified one in the bunch.  He's a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and owner of The Marriage and Family Clinic in Denver, CO.  RelationshipRx always takes a positive approach to solving dilemmas which is what makes it so refreshing.  There are relationship resolution posts like "My Husband Wants Sex All the Time" to "She Never Wants Sex."  He also provides helpful tips to keep your marriage fresh with posts like "Six Naughty Ways to Spice up Your Sex Life."  It's the feel-good blog that everyone should have in their RSS feeder.

So, there you have it!  Five blogs that will educate and entertain you while I crank out my next 500 blog posts!

Do you have a blog of interest to share?  If so, feel free to add them in the comments below!

Can You Say "500k?"

That's right, folks! The originally-titled "Thank, Q for Common Sense" blog has gone over 500,000 page hits! What started as a short rant against Rush Limbaugh, that received one comment, has turned into a site that has really felt the love of a bunch of readers!

It must be the month of milestones because the Talk 2 Q Radio Show just passed 50,000 downloads last Wednesday.  By the way, if you haven't checked me out on the air, then catch me on iTunes, on my Android app or just listen live from the chat room on Sundays and Tuesdays at 10 PM EST.

Anyhoo, I just wanted to thank all of you for thinking enough of my site to stop in 500,000 times.  It really means a lot to me to know that you care enough about what I have to say or that you enjoy my stories that I share.  I hope to get 500,000 more so I can reach the million mark like my man Brandon up there in Idaho.

I hope to get back into blogging a lot more.  As of late, I've been doing some things for The Indie Chicks site, so check out my latest contribution over there right here.  But, I will get back into posting more here, so I appreciate your patience and thanks once again!

Is 400 Enough?

Well, I always thought that I'd blog forever, but I'm starting to feel that's not the case now. As therapeutic and enjoyable blogging can be, it can also be time-consuming. I've always tried to provide multiple blog posts per week to entertain my followers, but that requires sitting in front of my laptop an awful lot at times.

I may have hit a wall on this one.  It's blog post #400 and I'm not sure if I can keep up the pace any more.  I'm not saying that I'm quitting because I'll always have something to say.  Those who follow me closely know of another venue in which I make my points and discuss important topics. :)

But, despite the many crazy, college stories that I have left to tell and the many stupid people in this country who need to be called out, I have to ask myself, "is 400 enough?"

When I first started blogging, I thought I'd post a few blurbs and be done, but I got two followers early on and that drove me.  The posts kept coming and so did the followers and eventually the comments. 

Well, over time, the followers slowed down and so did the comments.  I wasn't putting in the same work in marketing/promoting and the content may have suffered a bit, too.

I've dealt with a work schedule that required a lot of nights and weekends.  I spent more time with my mom after February when her cancer peaked and ultimately claimed her life on June 2nd.  Now, I'm spending a lot more time with my father to make sure that he knows that he's not alone now that she's gone and nursing a sick wife.

So much has happened over the past six months and the aforementioned is only a part of it.  What was once fun has now become "a business plan to get more readers" and I never wanted it to come to that.  I read about SEO's, keyword bait, etc. because I'm constantly searching for followers/comments instead of simply writing for the sheer purpose of saying something that needs to be said.

I just wanted to be a guy who had an outlet to share his opinions.

Well, I'm still going to be that guy, but not as often as usual.  I'm not shutting my blog down, but the pressure to post 3x per week is out the window.  I hope that those who are new to my blog decide to go back and read some of the older ones.  Trust me when I say that a lot of them are still relevant or contain some funny story.  Here are ten suggestions:

When Elevators Attack, Part II

Real Housewives of Panama City Beach

Gettin' Funky

Cold Chicken Tenders

Would You Go to Jail for A Hamburger?

The Real Blogger Shore's Amazing Undercover Idol

Hooters & Bikinis

Torturing Telemarketers

The Cereal Killer

Boonies Aren't for Me

That should hold you for a while if you're new to the blog within the last six months.  However, I promise that I will post when I have something to say.  Will I lose some followers?  Maybe.  Will my presence eventually fade into the sunset?  Possibly.  Will I be happy to simply express myself and not constantly check analytics to figure out why one blog post isn't as popular as the other?  Definitely.