Tonight marks consecutive blog #364. Over the course of the last year, I've heard from every continent except Antarctica, believe it or not. Frankly, I have a hard time believing it myself. But I have this handy-dandy 'spying' device called Site Meter that lets me know the whereabouts of everyone who logs onto my blog. Only by location, but still, fascinating — and not a little amazing.
When I wrote once about the Galapagos, I heard from the Galapagos. When I signed up for the trans-Canadian rail trip, with a stopover in Alberta, I saw that Alberta had logged on. So keywords trigger silent or comment-driven responses. Last February, when Pete and I got to Shellman Bluff in Georgia, Lin Rogers said she knew all about us, because 'Shellman Bluff' lights up her computer every time it's mentioned on the internet. And I had mentioned it a lot.
And I thought Caller Spy-D on our telephones was surreptitious!
Over the course of this year, Site Meter has shown hits all over North America — from regular readers in Mountainview, CA all the way to Sparta, NJ. There has been the predictable cluster over northeastern Massachusetts, the Cape and the islands. Regular readers in Orem, Utah and Claremont, NH; incidental ones from Quebec to the Caribbean. OK, so many of these are loyal friends, occasionally reflecting their own travels. But not all.
Overseas has been even more remarkable and interesting — readers in Europe, Australia, South America, Central America, Africa and Asia. For about a week this blog was a hot ticket item in central China. Why? All I can figure is some teacher said find an innocuous Western blog, follow it and write a paper about your command of the English language. My one stalker was based in Hongkong. The people who logged on in Scandanavia, the Ukraine, Spain, Germany, France, England and Greece were not plants.
Nor were those from Melbourne, Zimbabwe, Ecuador, Saudi Arabia, Mexico. Every time a new state or province or country lit up on my Site Meter map, so did I. Better than chocolate, finding a new light on my little world map.
So, tonight, before it is too late, I am trolling for Antarctica, the only continent not yet heard from. Surely someone on the bottom of the earth has a computer and too much time on his/her hands. It's frigid down there. Warm the cockles of my heart and your own — give me a hit, will ya? Tomorrow is my last chance to add this final continent.
No harm in hoping. I'll let you know what happens tomorrow, blog #365.
Truffle: The immeasurable satisfaction of setting a goal and accomplishing it.
Quote of the day: "Si finis bonus est, totum bonum erit." (Unknown)
And now that I am an addict you are going to stop. Will there be a 12 step program for all of us? Hello, my name is Julie and I am a Simply 60 addict!--from close enough to Orem, Utah.
Posted by: Julie | November 11, 2010 at 12:00 AM
Blanche Lyon would be proud.
Posted by: Tom | November 11, 2010 at 07:43 AM
I wish I was in Antarctica so I could complete your picture! You made a big difference in my life starting with meeting you at the ACK when Beverly couldn't, and with you was baby Pica!
Posted by: Nancy | November 11, 2010 at 08:15 AM
Did I ever tell you I finally figured out Pica was a cat disguised as a dog? That explains how she managed to survive so many near misses, and why she was such an independent little cuss. :-)
Posted by: Kate Stout | November 11, 2010 at 08:20 AM
Julie, you made my day. Thank you. Read tonight and perhaps you will find something there as close to a 12-step program as Id be able to offer.
Posted by: Kate Stout | November 11, 2010 at 10:43 AM
Funny you would mention her. I was talking to her just the other day about this. And she said, Blog? Whats a blog? It sounds like something that happens to a bug on a windshield.
Posted by: Kate Stout | November 11, 2010 at 07:11 PM