“To shoot an arrow, you gotta pull it backwards.”
Oh, hi! Didn’t see you there. Not because of my nearsightedness, but because this is the internet and I, literally, could not see you. This page is off to a roaring start, isn’t it?
Welcome to The Captain’s Speech! My name is Paul. I will be the voice inside your head as you read the words I write! Let’s be friends.
This blog was born on June 23, 2013 as a sports blog, but that got boring after two months when I realized I had more I wanted to say, so now I write about anything and everything.
The title of my blog comes from my university days when I was the Captain of my intramural team. I’d give pre-game speeches that didn’t always lead to a win, but always generated a chuckle.
Here are some rapid fire facts about me:
- I love sports.
- My favourite food is pizza.
- I say “serviette” instead of napkin.
- I enjoy conversations about random things.
- I watch wrestling and The Bachelor.
- Some of my favourite songs are: Where The Streets Have No Name by U2; Sleeping Sickness by City & Colour; and Closer To The Edge by 30 Seconds To Mars.
- My favourite colour is blue, I think. No, red. Both.
- I’m not sure if I have a favourite/lucky number, though I seem to favour 2, 19, 22, and 91. Writing that out made me realize I only care about numbers 1, 2, and 9. Ok.
- All of my puns are intended.
- I have a dry sense of humour.
- I’ve never seen Star Wars, Lord of the Rings.
- I prefer non-fiction books.
- I’ve never had tacos,
sushi, or Nutella. - My baseball glove is about 30 years old. I couldn’t imagine wearing a different one.
- At least 10 people have told me I look like Sidney Crosby.
My interests are all over the place, which means this blog is too. If you were to ask me what my blog is about, I wouldn’t know how to answer you. My blog is about me, but you don’t know me, so reading it is the only way to find out.
Many of my posts are written in the middle of the night. I try to make every post sound as if I’m talking, rather than you are reading.
A lot of my posts have jokes in them, so if you don’t like to laugh…uhh I don’t even know how to finish this sentence.
I write about life. I write about sports. I write about me. I write about writing. I write about scenarios in life that no one talks about enough.
Essentially, if a thought pops in my heads, I’ll turn it into a blog post. I like to think I’m constantly coming up with new ideas that will entertain others.
My goal is to make you laugh, think, or cry. Failing that, hopefully you click away from my blog feeling a little bit better than before you got here.
Now then…because I have nowhere else to put it, and because I want to remember the specific dates, here is a list of my blogging accolades which I was somehow deemed worthy of.
ACCOLADES
My blog has been featured three times on Freshly Pressed:
September 6, 2013: I Miss School, Already
March 28, 2014: Watching The Leafs Isn’t Fun Anymore
May 18, 2015: Growing Up Millennial
…and three times on Discover:
January 16, 2017: Digital Diet
July 17, 2017: Reflecting on Four Years of Blogging
November 8, 2017: Roy Halladay
On December 19, 2017, Discover did a Top 10 list of the most popular features of the year. My post “Reflecting on Four Years of Blogging” came in at #4.
Thank you for getting through this About page, which I’ve edited about 81 times. I appreciate it!
Please feel free to leave a comment below.
Your Captain,
Paul
Hello Paul, I came upon your site searching for a symphony audience photo. In your article, Writing for a Larger Audience you have an audience shot attached. Can you tell me where you got this image or who owns it? I would like to use as a background image for an ad I am putting together.
Thank You
John
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Hi John,
Sorry, I replied with the wrong link earlier, I’ve deleted that comment now. Here is the proper link, scroll down to the bottom for the pic: http://blog.atomicreach.com/watchyourlanguage/
Paul
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Thank You!
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“I start sentences with “and” a lot.
I use more commas than I should, but less than a comma-freak would.
I was the Captain of my intramural team in University and gave pre-game speeches before our games. They rarely worked, but were fun to do.”
Your words are ummm, i dunno the better word for cute but if there’s one, then that’s the word I’m looking for haha I really really liked the part where you said “They rarely worked, but were fun to do.” I mean, yeah, who says things have to really work out for you to be happy about them 😉 Good day 🙂
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Thank you very much! Giving those pre-game speeches was like a small stand-up comedy routine. A lot of fun.
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Happy New Year Paul!! 🙂
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Happy New Year! Sorry I’m a bit late. I was at the Winter Classic in Detroit yesterday!
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Sick!!! It’s okay! Better late then never right?! Hope you had fun and enjoyed your New years eve!
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It was amazing! Blog post coming soon. Hope you had a great New years!
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Hello Paul! Since you are a great blogging friend of mine, and today is my blog’s anniversary- I gave you a shout out! Please check it out here:) http://4theloveofsass.wordpress.com/2014/01/04/1-whole-year-of-blogging-bliss-happy-blogiversary-to-me/
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Paul! May I follow you on twitter? If yes, how do I go about finding you?!?
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wooo! Yes! uh I don’t really wanna post it on here but I see you have a link to your twitter on your blog so I’ll follow you and that’s how you’ll find me!
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I assumed you didn’t lol 😛
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back up plan was to post the link and delete it after haha
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Alternatives to the rescue!
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Hi Paul – thank you so much for the follow – that means a lot to me. 😀
Also, I enjoy the read “about” you – I even think I heard you reading it to me. Well done. Hope to see you more often.
cate b
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I came across your blog and really enjoyed it, keep it up!
Thanks for the follow – happy to say you’re officially my 400th follower on WordPress!
Hopefully you enjoy my future posts the same as my “about” page!
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Congrats on the 400! 😀
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I use so many commas that my prof in college once asked, “What is your method when entering commas?”
I answered, “My elementary teacher just told me anywhere I would take a breath, that is all really.”
She looked at me over her glasses, “I read your papers and always worry that you are hyperventilating!”
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Haha that’s great! I was taught the same thing, but apparently many people are impatient when they’re reading. Keep up the comma use!
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Hey there Paul! I’m doing a project where I’m following ten exciting, fresh, and interesting bloggers each day for the month of March 2015, and you’re today’s #1! Feel free to come visit me when you can at http://www.thatssojacob.wordpress.com, and follow if you like what you read. Have a good one!
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Hey Jacob, thanks for the follow! I checked out your blog, looks like you have a great thing going on there! The list on the side of all the countries that have visited your blog is a great idea…one that I might have to steal!
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I plan to call you out on it, Paul! So keep up the good writing. 😉
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haha looking forward to it! Thank you!
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you sound hilarious! 🙂
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haha thank you! Hope I don’t disappoint
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Whattay description ! 🙂
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Thank you!
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Happy Friday! I nominated you- https://toknitorknot1013.wordpress.com/2015/04/10/real-neat/
Have a lovely weekend. 🙂
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Thank you! Have a good weekend!
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Not bad at ll , Captain. And continue with the and.
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Thank you! And sorry. haha
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This is nuts. lol
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Pleased to find your site and meet you.
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Thank you and welcome!
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G’morning from the West Coast 🙂
I’ve nominated you for an award, come take a look!
https://keepaweathereye.wordpress.com/2015/05/07/the-versatile-blogger-award/
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Thank you very much! I’ll probably combine this in a post with another award I got today, but I’ll definitely do it! I would ask how the weather is out there, but it’s always great out west.
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You’re most welcome! Totally fine, looking forward to reading about it :).
Don’t jinx it, it’s been raining on and off here for the last week – this is the first day of solid sunshine in a while 😛
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Wow Paul! Teach me your moves!! 🙂 You go guy! You are the award master!
On a more serious note… ok not really, because seriousness is truly overrated… we absolutely love what you do. Keep ongoing it and we’ll keep following you!
Thanks for keeping the good times going!
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Thank you!
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Hey Paul, quite an awesome & interesting blog! 🙂
And yes, I do love pizza! 😀
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YES! You’re the first person to take me up on my offer to comment about pizza. Thank you!
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Haha…You’re welcome! 🙂
And thank you very much for following!
Look forward to many more interesting posts from you! 🙂
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You’re welcome! I look forward to your posts as well!
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Hey awesome friend! I nominated you for TWO awards!! 🙂
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Woah! Thanks! Though I’m going to respectfully decline creating a post for them since I’ve done a few of these lately, BUT I will answer your 10 questions on your post!
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You’re welcome! No problem! 🙂
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Hi Paul. I enjoyed your posts and I have just read the In your Dreams post and it made my day! I am looking forward to read more of your amazing thoughts. Regards from a newbie
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Thank you so much, that means a lot!
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Hey Paul… I’m about to order pizza. Anchovies or no anchovies? Hurry! The girl on the phone is getting impatient… I have her on “hold”. HAHAHA!!!
Cake AND Pizza. Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm….
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I don’t mind anchovies on pizza! But let’s get it without them this time.
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OKie dokie… I’m watching the Western Conference playoff game… Ducks just scored to tie the game 1-1. How about we have DUCK on our pizza??? GO LIGHTNING!!!
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Duck sounds great! GO LIGHTNING!
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Guess I need to clarify… I’m pulling for the blackhawks cause I want the Tampa Bay Lightning to play them and totally destroy them. HAHA So that is why I am cheering AGAINST the Ducks. And I am not cheering FOR the blackhawks. Now about the pizza. I’m starving, Paul. Hope the delivery boy drives fast.
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Looks like we’re cheering for the same teams. I’m sure he will be there soon!
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I found the widgets!! Yay!! Got the recent posts up there. There is soooo much info that you can put on these, it’s kinda crazy. I looked at yours from the computer today and it is truly awesome!! Thank you for all your help, I really appreciate it!! I look forward to asking you a million questions!! And… I clearly start sentences with the word “and” a lot, I too love pizza, and I also LOOOOVE sports!! So happy that I came upon your blog!!
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No problem! Looks good! Ask as many questions as you like. AND play around with as many widgets as you want too. So glad you found my blog as well! Always happy to find fellow pizza, sports, and “and” enthusiasts!
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Hey Paul!
I really liked your “anything that comes to mind” blog.
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Haha thank you! I appreciate it.
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I gave you a Free-Writing Challenge at my blog 🙂
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Thank you! I’ll check it out.
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Pingback: So many awards! | Gaurav Chaplot
Pingback: Send me some letters on my address | A Touch to Unkahi Batein
I have nominated you for a totally voluntary challenge called Five Photos, Five Stories 🙂 Check it out here
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Thank you!
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Hi Captain. For some reason I was not able to comment on your Under Attack post. The story made me laugh. You sew words together beautifully. Keep it coming.
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Thanks, I really appreciate you saying that!
I’m not sure why you weren’t able to comment though? Did you click on the title and scroll to the bottom of the page to read a reply?
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I am not sure what I did. I think I just kept scrolling down without clicking. I just wanted to share that.
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I see you made it out of the battle alive. Were you successful in slaying the fly?
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The fly ran (flew?) away! The battle seems to be over for now. Thanks for caring!
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You’re lucky. My standard for blogging absence is a week, so one more day and you would have had to drive down here with pizza and a tear-stained note. You like to live dangerously. 😉
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Haha well I am going to Pizza Hut lunch buffet tomorrow. So picking up a pizza and going to Minnesota isn’t out of the question.
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hey, I got an email with your ‘elephant in the room’ post and clicked to like/comment on it and Word Press says it can’t be found. So, I’ll comment here. It was brilliant, clever, perfect. How do you keep doing that, day after day? Do you spend your whole day composing? I would have to. Jeez Louise. So, as if there were an EITR, I fall to my knees. Operative word: fell. Smiley icon.
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Hey! I took it down because I didn’t think it was good haha. But your comment has convinced me to repost it!
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Hi, Paul. Interesting blog. Before reading your explanation for the blog name, I thought this was a play on the movie The King’s Speech. Have you seen it? If you haven’t seen it…then you should.
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Pingback: Awards, Awards Galore! – The Finicky Cynic
Greetings and salutations!
I’ve just nominated you for the Blogger Recognition Award. You can read more about the nerve wracking burden it entails here:
https://pen2needle.wordpress.com/2015/10/23/glory-and-shame-the-blogger-recognition-award/
Congratulations! 🙂
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Thank you!!
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Hi! You write really well! Great blog! 🙂
Oh, and I love pizza. (Thin Crust, to be specific! 😀 )
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Hey! Thank you! I’m a fan of your writing as well from the posts I’ve read. Glad you love pizza, you’ll fit right in here!
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Ha! Ha! Thank you! 🙂
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Hi Paul ^^ thanks for the follow
and aslo…
I LOVE PIZZA A LOT
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Hi! No problem, welcome to wordpress!
Haha pizza is the best!!
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Thank you! It really is, isn’t it. ^^ My pizza recipe is like GOLD.
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Sounds like a potential blog topic! I’m getting hungry just thinking of pizza..
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I thought that too, but I’m debating on whether I wana share or keep it as my very own secret recipe. 😛
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Hi Paul! I’ve nominated you for the Starlight Blogger Award. This award is intended to “celebrate the creative bloggers who have truly inspired… others through their beautiful and original content, imagery, art, abilities, and wonderful personalities.” You can see your nomination here: https://authenticallyaurora.wordpress.com/2015/12/03/starlight-blogger-award/ 🙂
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Thank you, Aurora!
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Well I appreciated the conversation Paul. You’re definitely talking to me. And that works for me because I like talking to people. 🙂 Nice to meet you.
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Nice to meet you too!
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Hey, you haven’t posted a while, how are things shaking?
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Hey! Just haven’t had anything to write about lately!
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Hi Paul! I’ve nominated you for the One Lovely Blog Award! If you’d like to accept it, the link to the post is right here –> https://thoughtsofatrainwreckedpineapple.wordpress.com/2016/02/05/mine-is-one-lovely-blog-award/
Have a nice day now!
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Thank you!
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Hey Paul, from a fellow pizza lover in Melbourne. Nice to find your blog and meet you. Looking forward to sharing the journey, if not the pizza!
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Nice to meet you! We can split a pizza.
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Yes please! One large one, with the lot.
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Thank you for following my blog!
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No problem, and thank you following mine!
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Hi Paul, I wanted to thank you for reading my poem, “Penge.” I’ve awfully enjoyed reading some of your words, too. Best wishes, MBH
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It was a wonderful poem, Mark! Thanks for taking the time to read my blog.
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Hi Paul thank you so much for stopping by my Blog and for deciding to Follow! I just had a brief visit on your Blog I will come back again I went through your about page 😉 and decided to follow back 🙂
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Hi Carolina! Thanks for the follow. I, too, will be back to your blog to read more. Happy Friday!
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Thank you Paul your visit would be nice! I am an artist designer I love to express my creativity in many ways through design, watercolor painting, Photography, digital Art and also poetry…Looking forward to your posts!
also I am inviting you to my Meet and Greet event http://yesterdayafter.com/2016/03/31/week-5-meet-and-greet-fridays/
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Awesome! I’ll check it out!
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Hey Paul, thanks for the visit. Looking forward to going through more of your stuff, digging what I’ve read so far 🙂
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Thank you! I look forward to reading more of your work, too.
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Hey Paul… Would you be interested in doing a guest post for my blog?
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I’d be happy to! Thanks for asking. Is there anything specific you want me to write about, or a format to follow? Let me know!
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Great! Just answer the question, what is one experience that has helped shape the person you are today? That can take any form you’d like. And, if you don’t mind, throw in some info about yourself so I can do a short bio at the beginning of the post (job, education, favorite movie, favorite book… anything you think the general public might need to know). You can email it all to me at peckapalooza@gmail.com. Thanks for doing this!
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Sounds good! I should have something for you within a few days!
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Hey! I haven’t forgotten about this..just haven’t had time lately. Hope to have it done soon!
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Hi Paul! I’ve nominated you for the Sunshine Blogger Award! 😀
I know you’re drowning in awards and fan mail and guest post requests and such as are the burdens of all-stars like yourself, but should you choose to accept it, here’s the post:
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You’re too kind. Thanks, Aurora!
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Hi Paul! You’re the kind of a writer I look up to. I love the way you deliver your writings. I hope I can be as good as you. Thank you for inspiring. By the way, I have open letters to which was inspired of course, because of you. I hope you don’t mind. Thanks so much for inspiring me Paul! xoxox
By the way, here’s the link of my initial post or should I say experiment? 😀
https://luckilylenny.wordpress.com/2016/10/10/letter-to-il-let/
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Wow, what a lovely comment. Thank you so much! You’ve made my day. I don’t mind at all that you’re writing letters too! I was hoping others would. I’ll take a look. Thanks again 🙂
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Thank you so much Captain! 🙂
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Hi Captain!
I’ve nominated you for the 3-day quote challenge. Please accept 🙂
TT
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I need to check your about section, your wordings are deep (I’m not sure, but maybe because you’re English it’s an edge).. You do write very well.. Keep it up..
Oh by the way I love pizza (sauce sriratcha), but I prefer pasta.. 😂
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Lol if by English you mean Canadian then yes. I like pizza and pasta lol
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Wah, I’m correct.. 😂 keep writing..
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