Blegging, Soft-Sell Style [Sticky; UPDATEDx4]

8Mar/1117

Blegging, Soft-Sell Style [Sticky; UPDATEDx4]

I hate to bleg right now, knowing that most folks are pretty strapped financially, but I've not been paid for much of the work that I should have been over the past couple of months, and I've got some stuff coming up. In fact, I'll be doing some more work this morning, hoping to get paid for it at some point, so any of you contributors who want to jump in, please do. Some of you have been missed.

And I know that there are people out there who deserve your support as much as I do . . . people like Jeff Goldstein, who's having a March fundraiser, or Jeff Dunetz, aka Yid with Lid, or Ric Locke, who does marvelous work and receives little attention for it. But if you read this blog on a regular basis, and you'd like to help me out, I'd appreciate it a great deal.

Daughter Girl is getting braces, and I've got to come up with $1450 down payment (total cost expected to be in the vicinity of $4000 after application of my wife's dental benefit), and I still have to pay for internet service this month. Oh, and food. Plus, I've had only a couple of beers since the Super Bowl, though that might make an excellent Lenten sacrifice, by way of making a virtue of necessity.

Anyway, as I say, I hate to ask, and I certainly understand if you're not able. It's hard times, and we all have to pick and choose. Come what may, I'm glad you visit. That's really the most important thing.

UPDATE: Aaaaand now the car blows up. Guy at Steve's Citgo tells Mary, "We can junk it for ya." Making this post sticky.

UPDATEx2: Okay, Brad at Steve's now calls back and says that he took a closer look and thinks that we can get the car fixed for around $150. That's a big turn-around.

Also, I want to thank the several people who've contributed. You know who you are, and I'm going to be writing you email thanks, soon. Two of you have been especially generous, contributing $300 of the $400 that readers have donated, but all of you are appreciated. I understand what it's like to give within limited means, and you have my gratitude.

UPDATEx3: Repairs cost $400, including tune-up.

UPDATEx4: Jeepers, an Instalanche. But before any of you hit the tip jar, I think it's only right to inform you that I committed a terrible indiscretion today, so you should factor that. And though I'm terribly grateful for your consideration, Michelle Malkin has established a site and a collection to aid tracking down her missing cousin, Marizela Perez, and has some good news (perhaps) as well. I'm willing to think that could just possibly be more important, just as Japanese relief is, and all of us have to pick and choose where best to bestow our charity.

In other words, it's probably not here.

I'd like to mention, as well, that Glenn didn't merely link, but donated generously, and that's much appreciated.

Many thanks to William Jacobson, and for the kind words as well, and there other people whom you know and whom you likely don't who've been . . . munificent, and I expect they all have, within their means. I would like to list them all, but I see I have some email writing to do, and I have the decency (at least) to ask permission, because I know that some of them would much prefer to donate anonymously.

Dan Collins

Dan Collins is a dude who blogs. He used to blog elsewhere. Now he blogs here.

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Comments (17) Trackbacks (4) ( subscribe to comments on this post )

Mike
March 8th, 2011 - 08:42

Wish I was able to help out. But having been unemployed for the last few months and living off of savings and a small inheritance, I don’t see it in the cards. Also, in April, I have to start taking treatments for Hepatitis C. Just found out a few months back that I contracted it about thirty some years ago, probably from my immunization shots when I joined the service. (Thank goodness for the VA.)

Mike

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- Dan Collins
  March 8th, 2011 - 08:57
  
  Ugh! Well, you’re in my prayers, then. :-)
  
  Wish I could help you, too.
  
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- Nance
  March 18th, 2011 - 22:25
  
  So sorry to hear that, Mike. Look up the research, mostly out of Germany, on milk thistle extract, and the great results up to and including complete remission, of hep C with high dose usage. It is a natural remedy which has considerable liver benefits, and could really make a difference for you in addition to whatever the VA puts you on. The real problem with hep C longterm, or any of the hepatitis’s, is the potential to lead to liver cancer down the road, so throw everything at it that you can, and best of luck.
  
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meep
March 9th, 2011 - 04:26

Dan, I know the donate button is to the side, but I think you should put a live link in this post as well. Don’t make people look for it.

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- Enoch_Root
  March 9th, 2011 - 09:25
  
  Actuarial Marketing. Very nice!
  
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  - meep
    March 10th, 2011 - 10:25
    
    I won’t charge for advice this time.
    
    That’s my donation. ;)
    
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    - Dan Collins
      March 10th, 2011 - 18:49
      
      You and the other contributors have already given a great deal to me.
      
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Charles
March 17th, 2011 - 18:20

Couldn’t braces wait if you are that strapped?

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- Dan Collins
  March 17th, 2011 - 18:32
  
  If it were up to me, that would have been the case, Charles. But my wife had to pay in quite a bit to her dental plan prior to our starting, and the daughter waited, and between the two of them they decided that it had to be done, so she could be out of them by the time she graduated high school.
  
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Curmudgeon Geographer
March 17th, 2011 - 18:46

Citgo, huh? Aren’t they deeply affiliated with Venezuela and Hugo Chavez?

Just sayin’.

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- Dan Collins
  March 17th, 2011 - 18:54
  
  They are, alas, but that was the place she was able to coast into. I know the owner, too, and he runs an honest crew of mechanics.
  
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Treven Edwards
March 17th, 2011 - 18:47

You still doing the adjunct thing at St. Mikes? I left Plattsburgh State for Minot State (wife’s promotion within the Border Patrol). Glad to be away from commie NY and pretentious Burlington. Of course, I’m writing this from semi-pretentious Bozeman during my Spring Break. I’ll try and hit you up next payday. My kid’ll need braces soon, too.

Q: How come all the conservative/libertarian English folks I meet are all adjunct faculty?

Treven H.A. Edwards
Dept. of English
Minot State University

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- Dan Collins
  March 17th, 2011 - 18:52
  
  No, but thanks for asking. They cut virtually all the adjuncts after the markets collapsed.
  
  I imagine the reason that we’re mostly adjuncts is that we’re disagreeable, you know? ;-P Much obliged, and glad to hear you’re doing well.
  
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survcon63
March 17th, 2011 - 20:41

Just dropped you some lettuce. My daughter’s braces were 5 grand. Ouch.
I don’t visit very often, but your reputation is sterling.
Good luck…

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- Dan Collins
  March 17th, 2011 - 20:49
  
  Thanks very much. You can expect a longer thank you email soon, but it’s much appreciated, especially as you understand too just how expensive a daughter can be. At least, as far as I know, I’m not expected to gather a dowry. Am I?
  
  Nowadays, a trousseau is an ongoing concern.
  
  And thanks also for your kind words. I hope I will give you reasons to visit more often.
  
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Chris Wysocki
March 18th, 2011 - 10:37

Hi Dan,

Just dropped you a modest contribution. Every little bit helps, or so they tell me. I’m currently doing the braces thing for my daughter too. The Doc put us on an annual installment plan w/ no interest which really helped out with the cash flow.

Would it be impolite to ask for a blogroll linkback in exchange? Thankfully those are free (at least until Net Neutrality kicks in, then who knows…)

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- Dan Collins
  March 18th, 2011 - 11:04
  
  Would it be . . .? Heck, no. And you’re added, and put on my reader, and I’ll friend you next time I’m on Facebook (though I seldom go for fear of what I might find there).
  
  And thank you.
  
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