I had mentioned, back when I had moved over to my new online home, that there were things that I wanted to do differently with this ballooning blog and the community that came with it. For a while now, it’s been a lot of me posting this picture or that post and you dutifully reading. And I know you’re reading because the stats tell me so. But before I moved, I had no real idea how many of you there actually were. Comments were my only real way of tracking interest. Then I learned a few skills and discovered that, sweet barking cheese*, there’s a lot of you.

But save for a few of you, the quantity of comments have been, well, let’s be honest, anemic. Too many veggies, not enough protein? I know you’re there. I see you. But I thought to myself, how can I convince people to participate more? What possible incentive would they have?

The answer was instant – if you give it, they will come.

Also, I am not above bribery.

DSC_0587-2

That, dear readers, is a Dear Label bento box lunch kit. It’s a larger, flatter model than the one you’ve seen me use. It’s accompanied by a rice mold, come foil cups, some sauce bottles, some green plastic dividers…

…and copious gratitude. This is one of a few ‘thank you’ contests I’ll be doing over the next few months. Thanks for reading. Thanks for stopping by. Thanks for making me want to do things like this.

But there’s a catch. Yes, to enter the contest, you have to comment. But not just any generic, OH HAI variety of comment. No, my puppetsreaders. You’re going to have to work for it just a little bit.

Haiku. English 5-7-5. Topics have to be spring, food, or spring food. Post it. One winner will be chosen through a panel of impartial judges.

Now, as with all contests, there are rules, though we’re pretty basic about them.

Rule # 1: Any one who knows me personally is automatically not eligible. That’s out of fairness’ sake. You know who you are. But fret not, you will probably get them from me as gifts without having to compose any poetry at all. Maybe.

Rule #2: No purchase necessary and void where prohibited. You may not offer to purchase the above kit. You may not bribe me with gift certificates or massages or long walks along the beach (that’s JJ’s job). I may not be above bribing you into commenting, but commenting with bribes is unseemly…and will get you disqualified.
Rule #3: Originality is a balm to my soul. Plagiarism is a giant no no. We live in an Internet world and I read a lot of haiku. I will know. Oh, I will know. And it will break my heart, which I don’t think you want to do, right?

You have until Thursday, April 3, 2008 to compose and post your entry in the comments below. A winner will be chosen the following weekend.

The light is green. You are go. Good luck and good writing!

(So I clicked ‘publish’ and then had one of those scary doubting moments…gosh, I hope they actually comment…)

(next day - oh nice. You guys make my heart sing. Though I can see that this is already going to be a tough one.)

*sweet barking cheese is an exclamatory statement promoted/originated by photographer Kyle Cassidy, for whom I have great respect and admiration. The man has mad skills. And he’s always in a good mood. He loves life and is grateful for it. And it is that, and his photography, which I want to emulate.


TIMES UP. CHILLINS!  Winner to be announced soonish…