Thursday, June 17, 2010

DL is on a Quest

My blog buddy DL Hammons is on a quest: Blogging Buddies Around the Globe. He's trying to find like minded followers in all 50 of the United States and as many countries around the world as he can. As of last time I checked he's got at least 38 states and 14 countries (including yours truly & several others from Canada).

DL's blog is Cruising Altitude - if you haven't visited it yet, it's well worth a look. DL has a wonderful attitude - he's fun, positive and really gets you thinking.

In his words, here's his thinking:

I’m sure that if I turned to Google Analytics to analyze my site hits, I would see traffic from each of the 50 states. That’s not what I’m after. What can you learn from a site hit? Nothing. Somebody could have been searching for a cheap cruise, or researching the average cruising altitude for jet airplanes and stumbled across my blog accidentally. I desire interaction, active participation, feedback about the words I’m tacking up on this electronic bulletin board. I get that in spades from a significant portion of the ‘Like Minded’ that follow me regularly, but I’m greedy, I want more. A nudge in my direction is all I’m after, I’ll do the rest.

I love the idea - and I'd like to help out a buddy. Check out DL's blog and see if you can help him out.

I'd like to know too! Where are you from?

94 comments:

Arlee Bird said...

Well, I've been a follwer of DLs for quite a while now. I haven't really checked to see where all my followers are from, but I guess it would be interesting to know. I am blogging from Los Angeles, California.

Lee
Tossing It Out

Jemi Fraser said...

Lee - It is fun - I don't travel much, so I'm going to visit all these places vicariously through my bloggy friends. :)

Mason Canyon said...

What a neat idea. I'll click over and see what's going on. Thanks for passing the information along. Me, I'm blogging from Georgia (USA).

Mason
Thoughts in Progress

Nicole said...

I'm blogging from Wainuiomata, New Zealand :)

Theresa Milstein said...

I'll check out the blog.

I'm from Cambridge, MA.

I got a map so I could see where people check in from. It's pretty cool to see readers from halfway around the world.

Natasha said...

With me, you get the Eastern Hemisphere, Asia, India, Maharashtra state and Bombay city!

And I am definitely not an accidental visitor- I have read every one of your posts since I started following you a couple of months back- don't often leave a comment, but that's because my internet often goes funny on me.

VR Barkowski said...

Another Georgia resident here. :) I can't believe how many writers I've met in person and online since I moved to Georgia. It's mind boggling.

Anonymous said...

Nice for you to help out DL Jemi! I think you know where I'm from already. Alberta it is, the oil and cowboy part of Canada but, like many living here, I'm transplanted from Eastern Ontario.

Shannon O'Donnell said...

I just love DL! I sent him someone from Alaska today, but I'm not sure about the others. It's a good idea to help him out with a post! :-)

CATE said...

What a cool idea, I should put aside some time one day to check out my followers and map out where they're all from.
I'll send my buddy from Finland over to his blog!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like an ambitious plan. Will love to find out how this goes.

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

It's like going around the world without all the hassle of airports, volcanic ash, jsit in the comfort of your own home.

Yvonne.

Stephanie Thornton said...

I like DL's blog- I joined a while ago so he could cross Alaska off his list. It's a great idea!

Cruella Collett said...

Funny - I found DL's blog earlier this morning and liked the idea, so I left a comment that I'm from Norway (which I am, but he already had that checked off), but that I also almost counts as Japan and/or Maryland, since I've lived (though briefly) in both places.

The internationalness (is that a word?) of the blogosphere is probably one of my favourite things about this whole experience. You learn so much from reading about other people's cultures and daily lives!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I've been following his progress. He'll get them all eventually!
And thanks again for your nice comments about my character interview. I was worried when I realized how short it was compared to all the others.

Buttercup said...

I'll definitely stop over, though I'm pretty sure there's already someone from New York. I really like the idea of folks from around the world visiting.

Jemi Fraser said...

Mason - Georgia - so you've got one of those adorable southern drawls I bet! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Nicole - what a lovely city name - but I bet little ones have a hard time spelling that in school! I've got a couple of other bloggy friends from NZ too :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Theresa - I love the accents from Massachusetts as well (I'm pretty sure I didn't spell that right!)

I do have Stat Counter with its map, but I rarely look at it - I'll have to check it out :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Rayna - I love your photos of your city - just gorgeous. I have a couple of students in my class from India (parents are working here) but they're from Mombai (again I'm probably spelliing it wrong...)

Jemi Fraser said...

VR - another Georgian :)

If my memory serves me correctly, you haven't been in your new home all that long either - that's so cool that you've actually met other writers!

Jemi Fraser said...

Lynn - yup - I knew you were a fellow Canadian :) Alberta has sure attracted a lot of folks from Ontario (and probably other places) with all those jobs you've got out there!

Jemi Fraser said...

Shannon - DL is terrific! I'd like to see him accomplish his goal :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Cate - it's so much fun to know we have friends from around the globe. Maybe one of these days I'll actually meet one of them :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Cassandra - very ambitious! He's giving himself another 2 weeks to see where he's at. Hope he gets lots of new buddies before then :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Yvonne - so true - no ash, no delays, no line ups! Love it :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Stephanie - glad to hear it! I mentioned your name to him earlier in his quest. Glad to hear he found you :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Cruella - wow - you've lived in some amazing places!

I totally agree - and if it's not a word, it should be :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Alex - you're so welcome - I thought the character came across very vividly!

Jemi Fraser said...

Buttercup - I know - it's the best part of the Internet getting to meet so many people from so many places!

Alix said...

I'm writing this from Washington DC but I'm originally from the UK.

I'll pop over to your friends blog, sounds fun.

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

Very cool! I'll check it out. :)

Anonymous said...

Ha--fun idea! I'm a South Carolinian by way of Houston, TX; Batesville, AR; and Chicago, IL. (Funny thing--I just realized I've lived in the South now just about as long as I lived in the North! Strange realization.)

DL Hammons said...

Jemi ~ I know I have to use words to compose this comment, but I'm at a loss for them. This is so wonderful of you to do, and your followers are just awesome! Two weeks or not...I've decided not to let this quest die until I reached my goal. Its not just my efforts anymore.

Here's a virtual (((hug)))...but it feels so inadequate. Thank you, friend!

Laura S. said...

I sent a writer/blogger from North Dakota his way the other week. I sure hope he achieves his quest!

I'm from Pennsylvania, the 'burbs of Philadelphia. :)

Tahereh said...

yay for DL! (i already follow his blog.)

i wish him luck with his goal! :D

jmartinlibrary said...

I'm from the Dallas Fort Worth area in TEXAS!

(Hi, Y'all.)

Beth Zimmerman said...

Blogging at you from Tulsa, Oklahoma! The heart of the mid-west and the buckle on the Bible Belt. Or something like that!

Anonymous said...

Cool goal.

I'm in Miami Beach, FL.

Sarah Skilton said...

Fun post! And I agree with DL that site stats, no matter how fascinating, don't reveal much about who's reading your blog. I'm from Chicago, but I've lived in L.A. for ten years and that's where I'm blogging from now.

Anonymous said...

Pipestone, Minnesota. Seven miles from South Dakota and 20 minutes from Iowa.

Lindsay said...

I'll pop over and take a look. :)

Susan Fields said...

I've already stood up to be counted for Missouri. :) That's great of you to help DL out like this.

Jemi Fraser said...

Alexa - I hadn't realized you were from DC - that's supposed to be such a gorgeous area in the spring :)

Enjoy the visit to DL!

Jemi Fraser said...

Elizabeth - you won't be disappointed. DL has a great blog! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Mary - you've been a lot of places! I wonder if you think of yourself as a Northerner still! I know it took my parents a long time after they immigrated to think of themselves as Canadian :)

Jemi Fraser said...

DL - awwww - thanks! You're such a sweetie :)

It's fun. One of the best things about this whole writing business is meeting and befriending so many incredible people!

I'm glad you're going to keep it up - it will be fun to watch the numbers grow!

Jemi Fraser said...

Laura - it's fun to help people connect, isn't it? :)

I've heard good things about Philly - a steel town with heart is how it's been described to me!

Jemi Fraser said...

Karen - we've certainly got a vastly growing group of friends! This is fun. New Mexico looks incredibly beautiful from the photos I've seen of it. Such a different landscape compared to where I live (forests!)

Jemi Fraser said...

Tahereh - yay for DL indeed!

I'm hoping his list is growing :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Jenny - Hi y'all :)

I knew you were from Texas (Lone Star State, right?) - just didn't realize where. It's such a big state - I imagine the big cities have a very different feel from the ranching areas.

Jemi Fraser said...

Beth - 'the buckle on the Bible Belt' - I LOVE that expression!

Every time I hear Oklahoma, the song from the musical breaks out in my head. You folks from there must get mighty sick of hearing it! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Medeia - Miami Beach has such an image that goes with it! Sophisticated, hot, diverse. At least that's the way I've heard it. :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Sarah - there's such a world of difference between Chicago & LA! That must be a fun transition :)

Chicago isn't far from my neck of the woods (Northern Ontario) so I think that would be a comfortable city for me :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Cat - Pipestone - what a great name!

Sounds like you're right on the border - that's fun!

Jemi Fraser said...

Lindsay - have fun visiting DL - I hope you enjoy his site!

Jemi Fraser said...

Susan - Go Missouri! I have to admit I know very little about your state. I'm going to have to go and Google some images to give me a visual :)

Tricia J. O'Brien said...

I love the blogs with flags of different countries. I keep meaning to add it to mine and then forget. Go, DL!

I blog from Southern California, Riverside mostly, sometimes LA.

Lola Sharp said...

Jemi, you are a sweetheart.

I love that you did this. :)

Happy Weekend!
Love,
Lola

Helen Ginger said...

Wonderful idea Jemi. I'm from Austin, TX.

Jemi Fraser said...

Tricia - so that's where all your gorgeous pictures come from! You have beautiful shorelines :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Awww - thanks Lola :)

It just seemed the right thing to do - DL is a sweetie!

Jemi Fraser said...

Helen - another Texas gal! Although a different big city. I'll have to check my map - I'm not quite sure where the cities are in Texas. I bet you ladies are swamped with heat about now!

Rebecca said...

Hey Jemi. Just letting you know I've awarded you with the versatile blogger award. You can come pick it up at my blog. Thanks :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks Bec! You're a sweetie - I'll pop right on over! :)

Helen Ginger said...

You're right. It's hot here. Supposed to get up to almost 100.

Jemi Fraser said...

Helen - yikes! That's hot. We got to 34 Celsius (with the humidity factor) yesterday. That's about 93 F according to my chart. It was so hot in my classroom, I thought the kids were going to melt :)

Mari said...

Italy here, but you know that already, right? heh

DL seems really nice. I popped over and left a comment. You're very generous Jemi! *hats off* :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Mari - I did know that! I often dream of visiting there one day - but it's a long way off!

DL is great - I know you'll enjoy his blog!

Thanks :)

Talli Roland said...

Hi Jemi! I follow DL and I wish him well in his quest!

I live in London, UK. Yay!

Jemi Fraser said...

Talli - I knew that one too! You've posted such great pictures of your area! :)

Roz Morris aka @Roz_Morris . Blog: Nail Your Novel said...

Great to see so many familiar names and where they're from. I'm in London, UK.

Jemi Fraser said...

Roz - another Londoner! It's such a beautiful, historic city - so full of life and fun :)

Stina said...

He he. DL certainly has quite the campaign going. Yours is the third blog I've visited talking about his goal. I hope he achieve it. :D

Alyssa Kirk said...

I'm in Southern California. Great fun to see where everyone is from!

Jemi Fraser said...

Stina - really? That's awesome. The best thing about this online writing community is how willing to help everyone is! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Alyssa - thanks! Another SoCal girl :) There are a lot of people who enjoy that sunny southern region!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Looking forward to your Movie Dirty Dozen on Monday!

Carolina M. Valdez Schneider said...

What a crazy cool idea! On my way to DL's!

Jemi Fraser said...

Alex - me too - although I'm still undecided on where a couple fit in!! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Carol - it is crazy cool! Hope you enjoy the visit - DL is great :)

Rosalind Adam said...

I've not yet visited DL's blog but I'll pop over when I leave here. I'm from Leicester in the UK. I've lived here all my life and I love hearing about all your home-towns. The differences are fascinating.

Jemi Fraser said...

Rosalind - I'm sure you'll enjoy DLs place - he's a nice guy :)

It really is fascinating to see where everyone comes from and lives. Lots of variety!

Jo Schaffer Layton said...

Cool idea. I can get behind that. (=

Jemi Fraser said...

Jo - I agree - it's a fun idea! I hope he keeps finding folks from new areas :)

prashant said...

Great fun to see where everyone is from!
Banner Advertising Network India

Jemi Fraser said...

Prashant - It sure is - thanks for dropping by :)

Anonymous said...

Such a cool goal - I follow DL :) all the way from Queensland, Australia

Anonymous said...

Such a cool goal - I follow DL :) all the way from Queensland, Australia

Smander said...

This is an interesting idea. I'm new to your blog and will def check out your friend's blog. Im in NSW Australia!

Jemi Fraser said...

Michelle - DL is great so I'm not surprised you already follow him. :) I knew you were from Australia, but hadn't realized you hailed from Queensland - cool :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Smander - welcome :) I'm assuming NSW is New South Wales? One of these days I really would like to visit your country. It looks so beautiul!

Patricia Stoltey said...

I'll have to check out DL. His goal is like some of the contests ham radio operators participate in -- Worked All States, Worked all Continents, DXCC (working as many country entities as possible in a given amount of time).

You probably already know from my blog that I'm in Northern Colorado. Love it here!

Jemi Fraser said...

Pat - love the ham radio idea! I've always thought doing ham radio would be so fun.

Colorado seems like such a gorgeous state from what I've seen. I've actually set a story there - way back when. Not a story anyone else will ever see as it was written just for me :)