Don't forget, we're having a contest!

Our "The Owner's Box" mug is the perfect complement to this balanced snack.

As I announced a few weeks ago, this blog is having a contest. I want to reward my loyal followers, those of you that have responded far beyond my expectations to put me on the precipice of 10,000 views since February.

And when someone trips the counter to the left of this post to 10,000 (sorry … web view only, not the smartphone view), that lucky person and four others close to the target will win spiffy new "The Owner's Box" coffee mugs if they follow a few simple rules.

One of these could be yours.

Indeed, the person that either hits 10,000 exactly or comes closest to it will win not just one, but TWO "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.

Once all that is done, 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. And the decision of the judges (i.e., me) will be final.

Back in February, when I re-discovered this 11-year-old blog in the Internet ether, it had only about 300 hits on it. But it didn't take long for a new generation of viewers to discover these ramblings and offer their support, which absolutely amazed me. Now, this is my way of saying thanks. We're almost at 9,700 hits, so my guess is that we could reach the magic moment right after the holiday weekend. And if you see 10,020 or something like that, still try! That counter moves quickly!

I can't wait to hear from you! And thanks so much for viewing Blogging Fearlessly!