Happy birthday to Q, happy birthday to Q, happy birthday dear my awesome sweetieeeeee, happy birthday to Q! He’s the big 32 today, and I’m thinking of weaning him off my boobs sometime in the next few weeks. There may or may not be a bit of a protest from his perspective.

Virgins!

There were five on the challenge grid and three on the hangout grid for a total of eight awesome newbies we were ecstatic to welcome into the fold. Thanks, guys, for jumping right into the fray of competitive writing or for relaxing by the pool with us on the hangout grid. If you enjoyed your time with us, please spread the word to your blogging writer friends.

Editor’s choice by Erica M

Sara at Moments of Exhilaration won me over in her first week on the grid with a post on free-range, attachment and helicopter parenting. The post was well-researched, balanced and informative. Without realizing until this week that parenting styles are in need of cool nicknames, I can acknowledge I’ve been a de facto attachment and free-range parent for more than 17 years. I’m also a bit of a nomadic hippie, so I appreciate the validation from non-judgmental, educated mothers like Sara. Congrats, Sara, on the win.

Lurker’s favorite by Flood G

Another tough week. I wanna write to the people who made it hard for me to choose and let them know I loved their stuff. A vote will have to suffice, right?

This week goes to Werdyab’s fateful visit to Starbucks. In A Latte of Embarrassment, Amanda’s son demands brownies for breakfast. While in line to order, he fondles her enough to make a TIME magazine cover mom blush, loudly begs her stop hurting him after an accidental head slam and takes candy from a stranger. All this and silent judgement from those in line behind her, too? Makes for a perfect morning and a hilarious post. Amanda’s delivery is a zippy, fun read that proves that even when you give little kids exactly what they want, they can’t resist dabbling in public humiliation.

Congrats, Amanda, on the win.

Lurker’s favorite by Jennifer W

This week my favorite post is Kristin’s of That Unique* Weblog. The moment a mother sees her child experience pain that can’t be easily explained away has got to be excruciating. Then to learn that it is most likely a chronic condition? Worse. Through beautiful, introspective writing Kristin describes what it is like to have a child “hurting on the inside.” I think employing third person narrative really adds to the power of the mother’s initial denial. It also helps illustrate how, as she writes, “The boulder sitting on her chest was easier to bear alone – without having to comfort anyone else.” The last line, the wish for her daughter, had me in tears. Heartfelt, well written, also a great link for more information—Kristin’s post kicked butt. I hope her daughter does the same all of her life.

Congrats, Kristin, on the win.

Lurker’s favorite by the ultimate lurker

Sometimes, life gets in the way of yeah write, and my judges can become unavailable for one good reason or another, so I got to call in an extra lurker (replacing Emma T and/or Jordan H) who prefers to remain anonymous. The better to lurk you with, my dear.

Our anonymous lurker chose Tri Girl’s post on yoga and wine and beer and toga mainly for Tri Girl’s ability to squeeze a lot of humor into very few words. He enjoyed TG’s laughing at herself, something we all know is key to surviving the next chapters of our stories. Congrats, TG, on the win.

Popular vote winner by the entire Interwebs if the entire Interwebs is about 300 people

Congrats, Pish Posh, for pulling out the popular vote just ahead of Amanda at werdyab. Potentially psychotic serial killers will edge out a suburban mom with a tantruming toddler nearly every time, especially when we are all in fear of our personal safety.

Random winner of a week-long ad square in the yeah write sidebar

Random.org chose #46 which, post-voting and as of this writing, belongs to Anna at The Single Mommy Chronicles. Congrats, Anna! Please send me the link and 125×125 graphic for your blog, small business or pet project and the ad square will remain in the sidebar for yeah write #58.

Win-win

The thumbnails are now sorted in the grid from most yellow star votes to the least. In the case of a tie, like if four blogs all got seven votes each, the thumbnails are additionally sorted by page views. Do not be discouraged if your blog has landed near the bottom of the grid; it is always a tight race. The fun lies in getting better exposure for your blog and in the spirit of competition as incentive to improve your writing and blogging skills. It’s a win-win for everybody involved.

Thanks again, everybody, for linking up, for reading, for voting. And for making yeah write the most welcoming spot on the Interwebs for writers who blog and bloggers who write.

Yeah write #58 opens Tuesday.