NaBloPoMo from the Stands

You may have heard of National Blog Posting Month, the blogger's alternative to National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). I first heard of NaBloPoMo when those catchy Yoda icons started popping up on a couple of the blogs I regularly read, Raising WEG and Caloden. I thought it sounded cool but not quite my speed. Some days, I just don't have anything to say to the world, and I didn't want to just barf up junk. I'm not one of those people who has a thousand posts swirling in my head. When I've got something to say, I blog. Period.

But I thought it was a really great concept - getting people to write more, inspiring people with awesome prizes (scroll down for the shirt) and reinvigorating the blogosphere, which I think has gotten a little tired lately.

So I decided to start a cheering section. While I'll be rooting for Jody and Heather as they blog to keep the wookies away, I've decided that this NaBloPoMo thing is a good opportunity to meet some new blogs. I know that not everyone cares about their Sitemeter stats or tries really hard to drive traffic their way, but I think that most bloggers write to be read.

I browsed through the list of participating blogs on Fussy's page and clicked through a dozen or so to see who was out there. I've picked five new blogs to follow for the month. These are blogs that I'd never visited before yesterday, though I may have seen one or two of their names as commenters at Sweet Juniper. I chose to read and root for these bloggers this month because something on their homepage spoke to me - where they lived, a clever turn of phrase, a stunning photo, an interesting eye for the world.

For lack of a better phrase, I give you my fantasy team for NaBloPoMO 2006:

• The Cheeseblog - A Vancouverite! The best city on earth! Tortured Potato hates Nickelback, has an adorable baby and thinks and writes fast. She's very witty, and she likes poetry. I think I found a drinking buddy!
• her able hands - Kelly pulled up her stakes from the fast paced city life and moved to northeastern Ohio, ancestral home of Basil's people. With categories like 'Eat Local,' 'Food and Nourishment' and 'Little House in Ohio,' I'm already looking forward to seeing what Kelly throws up each day.
• Less of Paige - Everyone should know by now that weight is always on my mind. It's hard losing weight. It kicks your ass. So if I can lend some support to someone who is on the journey - and who writes as well as Paige! - then I'm happy to help. Plus, I'm really interested in hearing about Paige's job as a foster care social worker.
• Peach and Pearl - The beautiful photographs and the soul-bearing post about the abortion Peach had while she was in high school hooked me. Instantly. Anyone who can write so beautifully and take such stunning photographs has my attention.
• Vindauga - Anyone who has categories for 'Things My Kids Will Talk About in Therapy One Day' and 'Be Quiet. Mama is Watching Her Doctor Story' (Grey's Anatomy) makes me smile. While I'm sure Lisa will make me laugh, I'm sure she'll also make me think as she writes about adoption, miscarriage and infertility and religion.

So there you have it! That's my team. I'm going to be reading and rooting for all five of them to make it through NaBloPoMo, and I hope one of them wins the 'I fuck like a girl' T-shirt.

I've never been tagged for a meme before, and I've certainly never created one, but I would encourage all my readers who aren't doing NaBloPoMo themselves to go browsing the list of participants, put together a fantasy team of their own and read/root for the next 29 days. It's a helluva lot easier than actually posting each day, and you're sure to find some great new writers beyond your usual social circle or comfort zone.

Good luck, bloggers!