Welcome to the first Commentathon*. The master list follows below. Check back daily to see the progress as we try to leave 1000 comments collectively over a single week. We currently have 67 participants pledging to leave 2737 comments during the week. Which makes me think that we'll meet this goal! I will update this post with individual goal and collective goal updates every evening. Therefore, email me your comment points each day whenever you finish reading blogs for the day (thetowncriers@gmail.com). If you are not on this list and wish to be added, send me an email before 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, June 17th. After that, the list is closed until the next Commentathon. Spread the word about the Commentathon on your blog by linking to this post so people can see the update daily.

Visit and comment on the blogs you read every day, but send a little extra love to these 67 bloggers below. You'll find a wide-range of blogs: from the very very new to ones that have been around for years. From those who have just started trying to those who have been through 5 IVF cycles. There are those who are still in the trenches and those who are holding children after adoption. It's a wide, wide, range of people and I hope you find new blogs to read and enjoy from this list.

And don't forget to send me your secret odes for Secret Ode Day (posting June 21st)... (did you really think I'd let a day pass without putting in a plug for Secret Ode Day?)

• Stirrup Queens and Sperm Palace Jesters (Melissa) Goal: 70 24 (M) 49 (T) 6 (W) 38 (TH) 6 (F) 26 (SA) 14 (SUN) 163 (Total)
• Flutter of Hope (Dianne) Goal: 50 ___ (M) ___ (T) ___ (W) 30 (TH) ___ (F) 20 (SA) ___ (SUN) 50 (Total)
• Jenn's Journal (Jenn) Goal: 35 6 (M) 6 (T) 7 (W) 10 (TH) 5 (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) 34 (Total)
• My Dusty Ovaries (Leah) Goal: 65 41 (M) 30 (T) 10 (W) ___ (TH) 56 (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Third Time Lucky (Caro) Goal: 50 16 (M) 31 (T) 17 (W) 21 (TH) 8 (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Happiness Lost (Mindy) Goal: 25 ___ (M) 27 (T) 31 (W) ___ (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• The Twinkies (Stacie) Goal: 50 ___ (M) ___ (T) 22 (W) 39 (TH) 1 (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• The Mama Wannabe (Jen) Goal: 30 8 (M) 6 (T) 10 (W) 9 (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Child Bearing Hips (Cece) Goal: 35 32 (M) 16 (T) 29 (W) ___ (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Our Forever Family (Ivy) Goal: 35 12 (M) ___ (T) ___ (W) ___ (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Serenity Now! (Serenity) Goal: 50 30 (M) 28 (T) 25 (W) 26 (TH) 17 (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Rotten Eggs (Aunt Sassy) Goal: 50 8 (M) 12 (T) 8 (W) 9 (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• My Many Blessings (Tina) Goal: 50 14 (M) 22 (T) 4 (W) 26 (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Inconceivable Journey (Jenna) Goal: 20 12 (M) 26 (T) ___ (W) 32 (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Of Course You'll Get Pregnant (Sara) Goal: 50 11 (M) 9 (T) 10 (W) 8 (TH) 9 (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• My Grasp at Sanity (Nichole) Goal: 40 10 (M) 12 (T) 16 (W) ___ (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• The Journey From Here (Carole) Goal: 50 ___ (M) 21 (T) 16 (W) 9 (TH) 4 (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Jonesing for a Baby (Michelle) Goal: 35 8 (M) 4 (T) 5 (W) 4 (TH) 2 (F) 8 (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Karaoke Diva (KD) Goal: 35 6 (M) 8 (T) 6 (W) 3 (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• It Could Take Three Months (Ms. C) Goal: 70 16 (M) 18 (T) ___ (W) ___ (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Fertilize Me (Farah) Goal: 50 19 (M) 20 (T) 13 (W) 18 (TH) 12 (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• A Cop, A Nurse, Three Dogs, and Maybe Baby (Sami) Goal: 20 ___ (M) ___ (T) 6 (W) ___ (TH) 16 (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Seed Dispersal Mechanisms (Furrow) Goal: 25 ___ (M) 13 (T) ___ (W) 16 (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Lunar Dreams (Natalie) Goal: 60 9 (M) 8 (T) ___ (W) ___ (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• My Journey (M) Goal: 50 10 (M) ___ (T) ___ (W) ___ (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Southern Infertility (Samantha) Goal: 20 25 (M) 21 (T) 17 (W) 13 (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• No Matter How Small (Aurelia) Goal: 100 20 (M) ___ (T) ___ (W) ___ (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Fertility Blog (Rachel) Goal: 25 13 (M) 5 (T) ___ (W) 9 (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• The Hardest Quest (Gil) Goal: 50 16 (M) ___ (T) ___ (W) ___ (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Changing Expectations (CE) Goal: 50 17 (M) 18 (T) 20 (W) 16 (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Our Own Creation (Allison) Goal: 25 5 (M) 2 (T) 11 (W) ___ (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Well, Now That We're Here (Mandolyn) Goal: 35 ___ (M) 6 (T) 10 (W) ___ (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Coming2Terms (Pamela Jeanne) Goal: 21 ___ (M) ___ (T) ___ (W) 34 (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Vicious Cycle of Cycles (Erin) Goal: 35 10 (M) ___ (T) 11 (W) 7 (TH) 9 (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Diary of a Miscarriage (Rachel) Goal: 40 20 (M) 8 (T) ___ (W) 8 (TH) 25 (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Outlandish Notions (Sharah) Goal: 25 ___ (M) ___ (T) 22 (W) ___ (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Are We There Yet? (Teamwinks) Goal: 35 ___ (M) ___ (T) ___ (W) ___ (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• In and Out of Luck (I&OoL) Goal: 20 4 (M) ___ (T) ___ (W) ___ (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Wishing It Would Get Easier (Forever Hopeful) Goal: 30 16 (M) ___ (T) ___ (W) ___ (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Still Trying After All Those Pills (Ultimate Journey) Goal: 35 16 (M) 25 (T) 11 (W) 16 (TH) 19 (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Looking for 2 Lines (LJ) Goal: 40 1 (M) 26 (T) 36 (W) 28 (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Fertile Hope (Trish) Goal: 30 8 (M) 12 (T) 6 (W) 12 (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Blurb This (Chicklet) Goal: 25 4 (M) 8 (T) 8 (W) 6 (TH) 3 (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Sticky Bun (Sticky Bun) Goal: 50 ___ (M) 41 (T) ___ (W) ___ (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Weebles Wobblog (Bestlight) Goal: 50 14 (M) 15 (T) 8 (W) 9 (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• The Girl and the Olive (Olivegirl) Goal: 20 4 (M) ___ (T) ___ (W) ___ (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Fatty Pants (Fattypants) Goal: 50 ___ (M) 20 (T) ___ (W) 14 (TH) 7 (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Perpetually Waiting (Meghan) Goal: 25 14 (M) 18 (T) 3 (W) ___ (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Nearly Dawn... (Nearly Dawn) Goal: 50 18 (M) 18 (T) 19 (W) ___ (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Love, Hope, and Faith (Chris) Goal: 50 5 (M) 10 (T) 7 (W) 6 (TH) 15 (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Not How I Planned It (Laura) Goal: 21 3 (M) ___ (T) 15 (W) ___ (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Nuts in May (May) Goal: 25 7 (M) 10 (T) 5 (W) 5 (TH) 6 (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Beaten But Not Bowed (Drowned Girl) Goal: 50 8 (M) 3 (T) 2 (W) 6 (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Life in the Little Difficult (Allison) Goal: 20 5 (M) 6 (T) ___ (W) ___ (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Still Passing Open Windows (Carylnn) Goal: 35 5 (M) ___ (T) ___ (W) 18 (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Hormonal Disaster (Needles) Goal: 35 ___ (M) 8 (T) ___ (W) 14 (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Infertile Fantasies (Bea) Goal: 70 ___ (M) ___ (T) ___ (W) ___ (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• A Sibling for Celia (Shelby) Goal: 50 ___ (M) 20 (T) ___ (W) 17 (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Oscar Wants a Playmate (Jackie) Goal: 70 21 (M) 8 (T) 11 (W) 11 (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• A Somewhat Ordinary Life (Somewhat Ordinary) Goal: 60 18 (M) ___ (T) ___ (W) ___ (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• Upon Awakening (KarenO) Goal: 70 20 (M) 31 (T) 34 (W) 30 (TH) 21 (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• My Perky Ovaries (Karen) Goal: 35 14 (M) 36 (T) ___ (W) 27 (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• My Journey Towards My Little Miracle (Sunny) Goal: 60 16 (M) 12 (T) ___ (W) ___ (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• PCOS Baby (Erin) Goal: 50 8 (M) 6 (T) 13 (W) 10 (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• The Sweet Life (Vee) Goal: 30 10 (M) 7 (T) 10 (W) 4 (TH) 5 (F) 5 (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• What to Expect When You're Not Expecting (Kirby) Goal: 10 ___ (M) ___ (T) ___ (W) ___ (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)
• MLO Knitting (MLO) Goal: 10 ___ (M) 4 (T) 1 (W) 4 (TH) ___ (F) ___ (SA) ___ (SUN) _____ (Total)

Total Collective Comment Points:2791 (as of Friday night)
How many days it took us to reach our goal: Under two... (we had over 600 on the first day!)

Directions Reposted:

Keep track of how many comments you leave from June 18th--June 24th (7 days--if you'll be gone any of these days, use the 25th, 26th, or 27th as "make-up" days). This is how to tally your comments:

• Every comment you leave on another person's blog** equal one point.
• Every time someone leaves a comment on your blog and you click over to their blog and return the favour by leaving a comment, you get two points.

So, for example, if you pledged that you would leave 10 comments/points a day, you could leave 6 comments on blogs you like to read or new blogs that you've found on the participant list. And you could return 2 comments for people who left comments on your blog, making 10 comments/points total for the day (6+2+2=10). So...yes, I ask for a comment total, but it's really a "points" total since there are two types of comments you can leave: new ones (one point) and return ones (two points).

Keep track during the day on a scrap of paper and email me (thetowncriers@gmail.com) a total at the end of the day each day (this is obviously done on an honour system). I will update your total and how close we are collectively to leaving 1000 comments in a single week daily. The highest commentors will be announced and awarded on the 29th during the blog roundup. Collectively, we will make the world feel like a better place for at least a week by spreading the love around and letting people know that people are reading their words.



* I figure we'll hold these at least once a year, but in case everyone needs a pick-me-up mid-year, I'll just name them consecutively rather than by year.

** Infertility and pregnancy loss is a simplistic name that encompasses any blog related to infertility, treatments, living child-free, adoption, GBLT assisted reproduction, donor gametes, secondary infertility, pregnancy loss, pregnancy-after-infertility, and parenting-after-infertility
(as well as any other categories I inadvertently left off the list).