Let's have a contest!

When I rediscovered this long-dormant blog back in February and decided to rekindle it, I had no idea what kind of response it would have.

It was incredible, as it turned out. Almost overwhelming, in fact -- close to an average of 2,000 hits a month since then, which is somewhat amazing in that I worked for a pretty small newspaper for most of my life and wasn't sure how many people would still remember me after nearly two years since my departure from it.

That being said, it's now time for me to reward you (symbolically, at least) for your loyalty.

This blog recently went over the 9,000-hit mark, according to the counter that appears on the left-side column of the Web-view version of this blog (sorry, not the phone version). Even though it's summer, I suspect we'll still be hitting the 10,000 plateau within a month. So when that happens, let's make a contest out of it!

The coolest coffee mug ever, and it works with tea, too!

The person that either hits 10,000 exactly or comes closest to it will win not just one, but TWO of my spiffy new "The Owner's Box" coffee mugs, emblazoned with the logo of my popular series of podcasts. Four other viewers that come close to the magic moment will win a mug apiece.

How will we figure that out? Well, I'll need your help. If you should open this blog someday and you notice 10,000 (or above it and close to it) on the counter to the left, I want you to follow these easy steps.

1. Either take a cellphone photo of the page or a screengrab.

2. Send me an email at theownersbox2020@gmail.com and attach the photo or screengrab. Make sure there is a timestamp to accompany the email, because that will determine the order in which winners are chosen.

3. I'll review all the emails and determine from the order of the timestamps who wins the mugs.

At that point, I will respond to the winners asking for a name and mailing address that can be verified. And within a short amount of time, you'll be drinking your favorite beverage out of the same mug given to guests that appear on the podcast -- and those mugs are proudly owned by people from here to Florida and California and back!

Just one restriction -- only one winner per address. No flooding my email box with timestamped entries trying to corner the market on coffee mugs. Take your best shot, and may the best emailer win!

We're just about 890 hits away, so I'll re-post around 500 to remind everyone. And thanks so much for viewing Blogging Fearlessly!