Blog Progress: By The Numbers

Another milestone in this blog’s history came about today.  And I would be lying if I said that I was not proud of this unusual accomplishment.

This morning I noticed that I was close to reaching 140,000 total views. And now I have surpassed that as it goes beyond 140,100 total views.

So I figured that I would break it down awfully fast for those of you who cannot help it but live in a world of numbers.

It is true that I do not have as many followers/subscribers as I had hoped I would have at this point. Nonetheless I am happy to have what I DO have. But I would not have thought that I would reached this amount of total worldwide views so soon.

This blog post will be the 679th post for Dambreaker.

24 posts where someone left a comment. 296 comments total so far and 79 comments are from me personally responding back.

I have 125 total followers/subscribers at this point. 

From the beginning, it has been 3 years, 5 months, and 21 days. Seven days short of saying “Three and a half exact years.” Or 3 years and 6 months. An exact total of 181 weeks.

This blog has been around for 1,267 days and counting.

Its been accessed through any random search engine 109,993 times. The top engines being Google Image searches 58,368 times. Google Search 31,614 times. Yahoo Image Search 10,824 times. And then Twitter 25 times.

People have clicked on the link on my personal Facebook page to read 4,043 times.

There’s only a few countries that the blog has not been accessed within (many countries from Africa):

Somalia

Mozambique

Chad

Central African Republic

South Sudan

Western Sahara

Mauritania

Mali

Guinea

Sierra Leone

Greenland

Svalbard

Turkmenistan

Kyrgyzstan

I do not know if I ever will get someone from these nations to log on to my blog or not. But it would be really fantastic to say that each and every nation and country on the planet has viewed my blog at least one time. I suppose that I could do some research on these countries and then write about them and tag them and see what happens from there. I am not afraid to tag as I have 2,966 tags in total.

Naturally, since I am from the United States of America, it is the top accessing nation. Followed by United Kingdom, Canada, Hong Kong, Germany, and India.

 

Campaign For The Pissed Off Ex

Okay readers, really quick… I saw this on Facebook.

I laughed, I cried, I got envious because we ALL could make a lot of money if we were so creative. I think that next time I WILL attempt to do something like this and see how far I can make it go.

And for those of you who are wondering, yes I DID buy a t-shirt.

http://teepspring.com/FUCKTODDANDJESSICA

The OMGYA! Award

Ladies & gentlemen, readers and subscribers and followers: here we are.

After much pondering and decision making, I had decided that it was time to unveil a NEW Blogger Award.

I had been seen these other blog awards being tossed around like steam stacks of hot potatoes and I began to wonder what could it possibly be about these awards that they just collect mental dust because honestly, nobody has anything tangible to show for it.

Well….. neither does this award. Nothing tangible. But we will see how far it goes.

Why a new blog award?? 

Good question.

In my personal journey of blogging over this three year and more time span, one cannot help but cross paths with people that will put such a positive influence that it changes your life for the better.

These are the people that should be given the nod for the OMGYA! Award.

People that have given you some major impact, NOT someone who is just your BFF. People that you could say at a certain time in your life you did not know, but now you don’t believe that functioning without them is possible. THAT kind of impact!

And that is how you figure out your nomination.

People who are nominated (and choose to accept the award) are required to do just some of the standard blog award requirements.

They are to write in their own personal blog “their acceptance speech” and provide to their readers the person who gave them the original nomination. And then of course as always, that person will nominate any and all people that have made significant positive changes in their lives by way of their blog(s).

There are NO questions to answer about yourself.
There are NO questions to ask of your nominations.
There is NO limit as to how many nominations you can give. You can give 1 or you can give 10,000.

People who are NOT eligible for this award are the following:

Spouses/significant others
Siblings
Parents
Immediate Family Members of Bloggers and Writers
BFF’s

Spread your love and joy outside of your circles!! People who you appreciate and are grateful for because of their blog.

These are the people that I give this brand new award because I believe that they ARE awesome! They’ve reached down deep and pulled something out of me that has been lifting me up and make me better. They go the distance for me OR they are just needing to know that hey…. I care about you and what you are doing, damnit!!!

I am nominating them with the personal note of appreciation for all that they have done. I am forever grateful.

Congratulations one and all!!

 

Frothtonomy
Head Full Of Red
A Redhead’s Guide
HACKER.NINJA.HOOKER.SPY.
Jodi Ambrose’s Blog
kissmeoutofdesire
Oldest Daughter & Redheaded Sister
Lucy’s Corsetry
That Ginger, Anna
Writer B is Me
YOU’RE JUST A DUMBASS

11 March 2014: Nancy Silva Project @ The 311 Club- SXSW- Austin, TX

Nancy Silva Project

With an entire day of different acts at The 311 Club, the next band that was on stage after Poc Nation was NANCY SILVA PROJECT.

I kept seeing the name but didn’t know what or who to expect.

As I researched the band over the Internet, my curiosity was well-piqued.

Knowing that the set would be finished in plenty of time for me to get home at a decent hour, and that the bands were finishing pretty close to on time, I stuck around for this band.

Much like the rest of them, NSP was there before they were to be on stage. I kept staring at her… wondering if that was in fact the Nancy Silva that I kept reading about and hearing on the Internet.

Finally I just went over and talked to her. Duh!! Sometimes simple is best.

It was a pleasant conversation. I think she was kind of surprised to hear the words that were coming out of my mouth. But she was happy to hear that in a short amount of time that I had come to like her music.

Yay me!!! This would come out to work to my advantage in spades almost.

I would talk and talk and talk with her until there was nothing more to talk about, and even while other bands before Poc Nation were playing, being in close quarters with her was kinda cool. She had barely met me and when we parted ways so that she could go prepare, I got a hug. How freakin’ cool is that?!?!???

So I picked up her CD and a t-shirt. I was a merchandise buying mofo… I tell you what!!

Now you KNOW I am not going to pass THIS up!!

Then NSP would hit the stage after Poc Nation and I pretty much did not wander far from the stage and I kept to myself in my spot through both sets. Only to find out how rockin’ NSP really was when playing live!!

I found myself just going with the flow of it all. People around me dancing like fools. Others drunk as hell trying to get into it and keep their balance at the same time. I guess you could say that a good time was had by all.

I enjoyed it at least.

I was most impressed with a song called “Yesterday” I just really got into it.

For my first time out for NSP, I cannot complain.

She will be performing on the BIG stage this evening. I believe it is the same stage that BEAUTIFUL DISTURBANCE will be playing on this afternoon.

I plan on going for both bands. I just will have a few hours in between and probably back and forth for both shows.

And to think, NSP was playing at the Dirty Dog Bar really late Sunday night and I didn’t go. All of those possibilities lost!Oh well. I’ve made an impact it seems with Nancy Silva. And of course she’s just so darn pretty. Or so I say! 

I don’t know how all of this is going to play out today because the weather took a turn and now there’s so much wind that I feel like I am back in southwestern Kansas again.

Nothing I am not used to, just not used to it happening HERE.

I’ll follow NSP for as long as I can. They are a band from San Antonio, but I don’t drive. So, we’ll see what happens.

I was happy that I stuck around for NSP. It was a great decision as it was entertaining.

Then when after the show, I bought two more t-shirts and got a bit of a break on the prices. Thank you, Nancy!!

After that, she was gone. I thought that I would get a few more photographs with her and probably a few more hugs as she was very open to that. But she vanished. Poc Nation and her entourage was gone as well from the club. And it was getting late, so I busted out of there and took off for the designated bus stop to return home.

Only to arrive at that corner to see the exact bus that I needed to get home was right there parked.

The ramp to get on to the bus was in a weird place and I was in need of assistance, so I called aloud “Can someone please help me??” and I was surprised and both disgusted that NOBODY did a thing. Nobody moved. Finally someone jumped up and pushed me onto the ramp from the weird angle that I was in and I boarded the bus and got home by midnight.

What is wrong with people??

So now I wait around now for me to leave to go back to see BEAUTIFUL DISTURBANCE. I just kinda wished it was NOW. But patience must be had.

Expect more posts about all of these experiences soon!!

Sunshine Award

“A day without sunshine is like, you know, night.”~ Steve Martin

Well ladies and gentlemen, subscribers and readers: CHECK THIS OUT! 

I just received my SECOND nomination for an award to my blog. Isn’t that just something else??

I was going through my blogs that I personally am subscribed to and over at “A Redhead’s Guide” was my name among the list of the next possible recipients. 

Andrea is gorgeous, funny, and freakin’ elusive. 

If you wanna go check out her blog: 

A Redhead’s Guide

So the rules of the Sunshine Award are as follows:

1. Post 11 random facts about yourself.
2. Answer the 11 questions asked by the nominating blogger.
3. Nominate 11 bloggers you think bring sunshine into the world.
4. Come up with your own 11 questions to ask them!

So here are 11 random facts about the one and only Dambreaker: 

#1- I live in Austin, Texas. Which is currently hosting the annual SXSW Festival. If you hang out this week over on Historic Sixth Street, you’re going to find me rolling around! Ending this coming Sunday to see CASKET OF CASSANDRA over at Dirty Dog Bar. 

#2- I’ve never been married. Engaged a time or two but never made it to the altar. Thankfully! 

#3- I once owned an Emperor scorpion as a pet. But it died of dehydration because I had no knowledge of how to give it water and was pretty much afraid of getting attacked by it. Oops!

#4- I have a select number of people who are actors/actresses/musicians/singers and their cell phone numbers stored in my own cell phone. Basically what common society call “celebrities.”

#5- I’ve written over 125,000 different pieces of poetry in my entire lifetime. None of it published.

#6- I have always wanted to write a screen play that would be turned into a big successful film.

#7- I write my own erotic stories. But they are for my own personal use and not for public domain.

#8- Once I like something and begin a fond interest in it, I never shut up and I never back down. I am FREE advertising for anyone or anything. 

#9- The “Friend Zone” is a very ridiculous invention of someone that I think has had boundary issues. All people would be considered to be in the Friend Zone without it being a THING until they are no longer in that zone. And that is up to two people and those two people to decide. Period. 

#10- “Bitch” is never a word I use to describe someone. 

#11- Having this blog has changed my life in so many different ways that I cannot begin to count them all. I am very blessed. 

Now for the questions asked of me:

1. Do you like to cook? What is your favorite dish to make, and do you just make it up or do you follow recipes? I am what you may call a dump cook. Other than that, my bachelorisms come out pretty bad and its microwave time.
2. Cats or dogs? I grew up as a teenager with both. But I am going to say dog, I think??
3. If you could pick any place in the world to live, where would it be and why? I think that I would wanna live close to the water. I’ve been in every other climate and landscape but near the water. And in my short eight months in New England, I couldn’t get out as much to the ocean as I would’ve liked. 
4. Are you a parent? Do you want to have (more) kids? No, I am not a parent. I am however an uncle and I know that’s not really the same thing. But I would love to have children. If I don’t, that’s okay too.
5. Porch swing or hammock? Porch Swing.
6. Margarita or wine? Or do you prefer the brew? I do not normally consume alcohol. It is just a choice I made years ago both for health and financial. 
7. What’s your favorite Tom Hanks movie? We all have one! Good grief, where do I start?!?!?!??????
8. The greatest lesson about life you’ve ever learned? Even if it’s as simple as how to hang the toilet paper on the roll. I am still learning. Get back to me on that. But don’t go anywhere so you don’t lose sight of me.
9. What’s your favorite quote? My own that I coined myself….. “Friends are like roses. Precious when you find them. But if you hold on too tightly to them, you will bleed.” 
10. Favorite color? I have several. Dang it! Black, Silver, Teal to begin with. 
11. If you won the lottery, how would you spend it? Charity? Family? Jet skis and fancy cars? I’m not going to say but I promise you that I will blog about it AFTER the fact. But I probably wouldn’t be spending too much and be holding on to some of it. Anything more than that, you’re just out of luck on that one. 

Now for those whom I am going to nominate: 

Jodi Ambrose
Not A Redhead
HACKER.NINJA.HOOKER.SPY
Simply Stacia
Head Full Of Red
YOU’RE JUST A DUMBASS
Hope*the happy hugger
Oldest Daughter & Redheaded Sister
Kissmeoutofdesire
Writer B is Me
Coco J. Ginger Says

#1- Who is your role model (dead or alive)?
#2- If you could have your choice, would you live in peace and solitude or with an entourage?
#3- Would you describe your first ever date a success or just a learning experience?
#4- Are you someone that can survive an entire Monday without coffee or are you someone who will have a criminal record if you attempt to function without it?
#5- Fruits or veggies? (Can only choose one or the other. Not both.)
#6- If you could re-live only one moment in your life (so far) at any time that you wished, what would that moment be?
#7- If you were given an all-expenses paid trip to anywhere you want, where would you go? 
#8- Describe yourself using only four words: 
#9- Have you ever had an experience where you honestly believed that your dreams had come true? 
#10- What would be your one and only super power?
#11- List any and all nicknames that you were given growing up and which one is your favorite still?

2013 In Review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2013 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 41,000 times in 2013. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 15 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

Happy Birthday, Jodi Ambrose!

Ladies and gentlemen, please turn your books to page four. Thanks!

So I must make a fuss today in honor of the birthday of author Jodi Ambrose.

Jodi has been around just a little over a year now. At least to my knowledge. However (and with absolutely no complaining from my end) Jodi has turned into one of those kinds of friends that I cannot fathom being without by any capacity.

Why is that? Pretty simple: Jodi’s personality is infectious. It is so infectious that you WANNA get bit by the bug just to see what its like. And once you do, you just never think about leaving because it would be like leaving home.

This cool and charming sassy mouth has put her own mark into my brain. She’s definitely someone that I cherish having a friendship with. And for those of you who have been around even longer knows exactly what that means!!!

So as Jodi turns twenty-ish again, I decided to take time out and wish her a wonderful day and hope that her birthday is as beautiful all-around as she is.

You guys need to subscribe to her blog and join her on Twitter and  Facebook pages. Missing out on this wild and crazy gal could stand to be a horrible day.

Her books of course are still up for grabs as it is tied in with the fundraising website for the tournament in Boston. As well as available on Amazon.

So HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JODI!!!!! YOU ARE MY ROCK STAR!!!! Stay vulgar, stay beautiful, stay …… you!!!!

Jodi and her husband

There Still Are Nice People In The World

Money definitely doesn’t grow on trees. At least not how we all would like to believe.

This morning, I had a visit with the RN.

She said that I was doing very well and improving at a spectacular rate. Something that they always like to report and that we like to hear.

Then she asked me if I had remembered the conversation that she and I had about my goals to get to sledge hockey tournament in Boston in 2014.

The Austin Blades program isn’t going to help if any of us players want to go to this tournament. So we have to do this on our own and raise enough money to go.

This RN apparently discussed it at some capacity with another patient of hers earlier in the week. And when she came by for a visit this morning, she reminded me that I was needing all the help I could get.

This patient, or whomever she told about my story…. proved to me that there are still nice people out there in this world.

This person (unknown to me because of laws) gave a cash donation of $10.

I was so excited and surprised that I couldn’t even think straight!!! 

A total stranger. I do not know exactly what was said. And I do not know who this person is. And I will never know, but they felt interested enough in helping me reach the goal.

A teammate of mine (the other assistant captain) vowed this season that when we heard where the next year’s tournament was going to be, that he and I would work together in trying to get the money together to go. We both would go, even if nobody else from the Austin Blades went.

So the fundraising is a little different, since everything is going to be split between the two of us. The goal is definitely not as high as my personal fundraising site that I put together on my own last year… which is still available to receive donations. That one is up to help me upgrade my equipment and be able to return what was loaned to me back to the team so we have that equipment for new players in the future.  IF you are interested in that one, please let me know.

This campaign though is for two people. Two players strongly passionate about the game of sledge hockey that its all we ever talk about when we get together. Eventually at some point in the conversation between he and I, the topic of sledge hockey or the team will dominate our conversation.

We’ve both gone as far as to say that sledge hockey is in our veins.

My partner in this adventure has already stated that he doesn’t want any presents given to him for any holiday, whether it be Father’s Day, a birthday, or even Christmas. Instead he wants people to donate to help him get to Boston.

I have jumped on that as well. I would request that anyone thinking about a Christmas gift or birthday to go ahead and just make a donation to help me out as well.  

Let’s face it though: fund raising is very difficult. Especially for things like this. I hate to sound like I am begging as well. But nobody can get anywhere if they do not ask.

And even though it is really early before the start of the tournament…. I believe an early start is a great head start!!!!

I already have received a donation from the kindness of a complete and total stranger. And I am very thankful for that person. So whoever you are– THANK YOU!!!

And if you are reading this and feel that you are interested in helping, or inspired by the story of the anonymous donation, the link to the site is in the Blogroll. Or you can click on the link provided below.

Even if you are not willing or ready to make a donation, by sharing the story of the stranger and the link would be very, very, very helpful.

We are not looking for or anticipating donations of large amounts. Anything obviously will help. And the more of those kinds of contributions that are put together then the goal can be met and our dream of once again going out, doing something that we love to do and are very passionate about, and having that personal independence to actually have the ability to play the sport, would make every cent and dollar that much more special.

So please help if you can. And spread the word. Think of the kind stranger who doesn’t even know me but still had enough in their heart to believe in me.

Thank you.

http://www.gofundme.com/2t2pvs

 

 

Reuniting With The Bear Queen

“Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.”~Oprah Winfrey

At last this day did come! And it could not have been any better.

The apartment complex held our annual pancake breakfast. And I was able to invite someone that I have not seen in a long, long, long time.

Someone that was (and still is) a wonderful and terrific friend of mine. Even if we’ve not seen or spoken to each other in many years. It was one of those awesome moments to where I had my friend before my eyes for the first time in such a long time.

She’s known as “The Bear Queen” and it was that association to that term which helped me remember her name. And now it is the term of endearment that I use for her.

But when my family moved from my birthplace… well, that was in fact the last time I saw her. Just after my older brother’s graduation from high school.

Until today.

The Bear Queen actually essential to my social skills early on as a child. And I think its safe to say was probably my first examples in life of harmless flirtation with girls. My brother played high school basketball and she was part of the cheerleading squad. If my brother was playing, chances were great that she was going to be there too, helping the crowd cheer the high school team to victory.

GO BEARS!!

GO BEARS GO!! BIG BLUE!!

Here’s the thing that will make you catch on faster: At the time (and yes at that young age) I had deemed the entire cheerleading squad as “my girlfriends” and yes… they all thought it was cute. And I got away with it because I WAS cute….. and under the age of 10 years old.

And then in 2010, she had found me on Facebook. But so much time had passed and I honestly couldn’t remember her at first until she explained herself and how she knew me. Then after confirmation from my older brother, it opened the gates to a communication exchange that would happen here and there and it keeps going on.

Come to find out that she would be living close by and then later on, even closer!! So I would attempt everything I could think of to get to see her again. But most attempts would fail. However, I never gave up. One should NEVER give up hope.

I got to see her with my own eyes this morning. I got to meet one of her children, her eldest.

The pancake breakfast is usually a pretty big deal for the complex. It is one of the fundraisers that does very well. And I sitting there in a suit and tie with a newly shaved head hoping to look a bit more proper. Even my sister brought her two children with her to this event.

But I had gone home to settle something before it became an emergency and I just knew that The Bear Queen would arrive when I wasn’t there to receive her and welcome her.

I was right.

I went back to the breakfast and I was told that my friends had shown up.

I looked over and saw The Bear Queen approaching me as fast as her legs could carry her. In a flash was many years of memories going through my head as I saw her face for the first time in many years. All I saw was her face. Everything else around her was a blur.

After the shock had worn off that this was really happening, I settled down next to her and just watched and listened as she spoke.

And we got to buzzing a little bit about our past together at that high school that she and my brother attended. She had forgotten that I called her The Bear Queen, I think she enjoyed that. Its always fun to share things like that with friends. It is her wonderful and beautiful spirit that actually wants me to keep that alive.

It was a wonderful reunion for sure. So glad that I got to see her again after believing that I never would. She’s still as friendly and kind and loving as I remembered. And even though now we’re grown up into adults, we got along just fine.

I’ve always heard of these stories of people getting back together and reuniting with one another after many decades apart. Most of them never really knowing what had happened to the other person. And usually those are family members.

The Bear Queen is most certainly a part of mine as far as I am concerned.

I thought I would never see her again for as long as I lived. But this really does go to show you that anything is still possible.

The Change

“Don’t walk behind me; I may not lead. Don’t walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.”~ Albert Camus

The thoughts of this came to me as I was coming home.

Even in my bummed out state that I was leaving Houston yet one more time, I was able to draw some positive feelings.

Now that I’ve been to so many SIX MINUTE CENTURY shows, I’ve definitely made some new connections. Garnished some new friendships, and strengthened those which I knew I already had.

But my point of view on going to the shows changed with the last show. And its for the good.

I’ve always enjoyed the fact that the band has never had this attitude of “we’re the band, you’re the fans.. you must worship us and our abilities”  crap, I mean its awful to think that bands out there have this sense of power and deserving.

The last show that I went to, I didn’t think that I was going to see this band or that band play live. But rather I thought of it as I was going to hang out with my friends.

Chuck, Don, Mikey, and Dr. Froth have become such an important part of my personal and social life. They along with their families and their friends.

So this last time, it was more of a sense that I was going to travel again to hang out with my friends, who just happen to play in a band AND who happen to be playing that night.

I probably should’ve had these kinds of feelings a very long time ago.  And I know that one of them is going to have the desire to smack me across my head once they read this. But for whatever reason this time, it really stuck!

All the awesome things that they have done when they are off the stage, has nothing to do with the fact that I am their #1 fan. But rather it comes from the fact that we all are friends. That is the awesome part of everything! They don’t share their news behind the scenes of what’s going on with the band both professionally and personally because I’m their greatest fan, but rather I am their friend.

Its a great feeling.