100!

This is my 100th post!

I know it is quite the accomplishment.  Actually it isn't an accomplishment at all.  It literally means I've sat down at my laptop 100 different times to write something that may or may not get read by anyone but me and my wife.  When you think of it that way, it's pretty sad.

Think of all I could have accomplished in the time I spent thinking about, planning and writing my blog:
-Learned an instrument
-Trained for another marathon
-Read more books
-Start a fight club
-Watch Lost over again
-Written 50 really excellent posts instead of 100 mediocre ones
-Solve the budget problem
-Take over the world

All would have been a better use of my time.  But here I stand (or more accurately sit), writing my 100th post.

I mentioned to Erin that I was approaching 100 posts, and that I was going to write something about my 100th post.  I told her that I thought it was meta and funny (any time I use the term "meta" she looks at me like I have no idea what I'm talking about).  She insulted me and told me it was lame.  I actually write the blog and don't care if she insults me, so I win.  She immediately asked me what I would be giving away.

This caught me off guard for three reasons:
1.  I don't like the idea of trying to buy readers.  I know that it is more about rewarding your loyal readers, but there always seems to be a component of asking your readers to spread the word on your blog in order to win swag.  I want people to spread the word on my blog because they dig it not because they'll get a gift card or something like that.

2.  I don't like spending money.  Isn't that why people write blogs?  It is a free form of entertainment and therapy.  There is no overhead.  I can just pop on my computer at any given time and post something.  I don't have to charge anyone as a result, so they can enjoy my vent for the low, low cost of $0.00 per month.  Whether I actually write something good or it is my normal mediocrity, you can enjoy (or despise) it for free.  Not saying you get what you pay for with my blog...

3.  I wouldn't even know what to give away or how I'd do it.  There are businesses that I would gladly pimp out simply because I am a happy and loyal customer.  More often than not though I'd promote something local.  This of course is a problem in the blogging world because every blogger has readers in other parts of the country.  I don't want to punish someone because they live far away from me.

But I still wanted to reward my readers for being loyal and (hopefully) liking my blog.  So I decided to do a giveaway anyway.  Since I frequent the joint and have posted pictures from there a number of times, I'll be giving away a $20 gift card to Icing on the Cupcake.  I love that place.  They didn't pay me to say this, and they wouldn't have to because it is just that great.  I realize this doesn't help my readers in other parts of the country.  If you're not in the Sacramento area and just so happen to win, we'll figure out some other method of reward.

So here's how you enter:
-Start following my blog publicly and that will earn you an entry. I know I have readers that check me out through their Google Reader accounts, and I appreciate that.  I would like to see who some of you are though.  For those of you that already follow me publicly, congratulations you have already earned an entry.
-Leave a comment on this post, and you'll get an entry.  It doesn't need any substance to it.  Just typing "Enter me into your contest" is acceptable.  Or if you want to tell me how much you love me to stroke my ego, that works too (you won't get an extra entry, but I do appreciate it).

That's it.  That's all you have to do.  Easy as cupcakes (because pie really isn't all that easy).  Just enter by next Monday, October 10th.  I'll use random.org to pick the winner and announce it on next week's Twitter Machine Tuesday post.

Thanks for reading.  Thanks for entering.  Good luck.