A few months ago, you’ll remember I was shamelessly begging for coffee.  It worked (to a degree–thanks folks! But my addiction is relentless and the supplies get short quickly when you’re up to two pots a day.  I’m kidding about the two pots.)

So here I am AGAIN asking for another handout.  Only this time, instead of coffee [subliminal message: please send STARBUCKS!!!] I’m scrounging for blog money.

I know I should be ashamed of myself.  It’s bad enough in my line of work (which to the naked eye looks a lot more like being a student than actually working) to expect even more philanthropy–but here I am petitioning nonetheless.

But why am I petitioning?  After all, aren’t there free blog tools available? 

Well, that’s an interesting story actually.  I used to use Blogger (a free blogging tool that many of you use) before we came to China, but once we arrived I discovered that the Blogger sites were often blocked by our ISP over here.  Some days you can access blogspot.com web addresses and other days you cannot.  There are ways around this, but for authoring purposes they are not very convenient.

I also looked into WordPress, MSN Spaces, and a few other tools, but found them either not-very user friendly OR simply blocked by our Chinese ISP (this was the case with WordPress for example.)

Anyway, last year I bit the bullet and switched over to Typepad, an easy-to-use blogging tool that has a yearly subscription fee.  Not only was Typepad (curiously) un-blocked but it also proved to be a much better tool overall.  No duh, it should be.  I soon discovered that I could post entire photo albums and make changes to my blog templates, sidebar, etc., in HALF the time it was taking me with Blogger.  It was a one-stop-shopping type deal and I loved it.  So I didn’t really mind the comparatively "hefty" price tag for the service*.

But since then a year has rolled by and now I have to pay the fee again.

And I don’t mind paying it–really I don’t.  After all this is my outlet, my hobby, my therapy, my sense of self worth (ok, that’s taking it a bit far.)  A lot of why I do this IS about me, I realize; it’s self-serving.  I like writing.  I like it that people like reading my writing.  I enjoy sharing about our lives and experiences here in China in a media that suits me.  We have to be good stewards of the things we are given.  But some of it (perhaps a small bit) is NOT totally about me…but about you, dear reader.

I know when the rubber meets the road I will pay the fee as opposed to either a.) switching over all my posts to another free blogging service again (that’s a nightmare!) or b.) retiring the yetispeak altogether to take up other more scholarly pursuits.  Obviously we have funds.  People have been VERY generous with us in assisting us in seeking to follow His pursuits.

But a friend gave me another idea when he commented recently on the blog, "I can’t believe I don’t have to pay to read this stuff…"  He should have never said something like that.  It gives a guy of my demeanor ideas and ideas are a dangerous thing.

It made me wonder just how much people (i.e. you, dear readers) value the yetispeak?  Can a dollar amount be assigned to your appreciation?  Is the writing, dry wit, or tirades of a such a unique quality that you might "drop a tip" on occasion to keep it going?  Or am I just giving in to delusions of grandeur? 

Let me say it wouldn’t cost too much to bankroll me.  It’s only costing me about $7.00/month.

So what do you say?  Anyone out there want to help me to keep the dream alive?  This is not a threat but an opportunity.  If just 12 people gave up two lattes a year and contributed that money to the Yeti’s blog, well, that would cover the entirety of the production costs. Isn’t it a small price to pay for my sanity? 

(Wouldn’t I make a great fund raiser?)

Consider this a pledge drive.  If you want to make a donation or drop a tip, just send me an email and I’ll let you know the where/how to contribute.  If you just want to leave your name in the comments, I can send you an email with the info.  If you wish to scold me for my beggarly ways, that too is possible using the comments below. 

Whatever the case, the yeti goes marching on, for richer or poorer, till death does us part, et blog ad nauseum.  Maybe some of you are now ready to pay me to stop bloggin’, eh?  Ha-ha.

* = hefty in comparison to free