AJ's Jugglers: Bat

As I said, I'm Miss Bat. I've been apart of Squidoo since September 2007. I come with a web design background and I've found that creating lenses on Squidoo is a lot more fun and much faster then sitting around coding HTML!

In July 2008 I was made a part of the Giant Squids programme. It's been worth all the effort, as I've got some truly awesome lenses and feel quite accomplished to have reached 50 lenses before I'd even been on Squidoo for a full year!

This year I've been encouraged to try for the Giant 100 programme. While it looks like a lot of work, starting with just 60 lenses, I'm going to give it a shot. 40 lenses in two months can't be that hard, can it?

My first goal is to reach 100 lenses. I will not, however, beat myself up if I do not reach 100 lenses by 9/30. Pace is the trick, as they say, and whatever I produce in the next two months will be reward in and of its self!

What this means is I have to make 40 lenses from scratch in roughly 70 days. A little daunting and just a bit more then overwhelming when you look at it. But breaking it down into pieces and focusing on topics that excite me will certainly help. I've got a lot of WIP lenses raring to go and a few ideas up my sleeves.

In order to get into the spirit of Squidoo and be apart of the "give and take" that is encouraged, I've joined the Jolly Judicious Jetsetters-2 group. I was assigned to aj2008's group, AJ's Jugglers. I think there's an even mix of us going for Giant and Giant 100.

Overall, this experience is more about learning, sharing, encouragement, and growing! Go team!

August 1st: Well, the challenge officially began at 12:01am EST! I worked hard for two weeks and managed to complete 17 lenses! That's a lot of lenses! Two of them were published before the August 1st start (one was this lens, the one you're reading right now. The other was an accident. Oops!) But still, 15 to start the challenge with is a good foot forward! 23 lenses to go before 100!

August 2nd: Created and published #78 in less than 12 hours. I hope this momentum keeps going.

August 3rd: #79! Another created in less than 12 hours! Now to tackle all the WIP lenses I've stacked up.

August 5th: Tackled #80, which tells a personal story lens about my Breast Reduction Surgery at 16. I think it's a good lens for a milestone like 80. Also, my lens The Goonies House was featured on The Giant Squid Community Showcase blog for being the first lens posted on the Jolly Judicious Jetsetters-2 plexo on August 1st! Thanks rms!

August 6th: Finally finished one of my WIP, bringing me to #81.

August 7th: Just in time, one of my favorite musicians reveals his new side project, leading to a perfect topic for my next lens. #82 completed!

August 8th: We're exactly a week into the competition! 23 lenses completed, 21 for the competition alone. That's a LOT of lenses! #83 is about a bit of pop trivia that has always amused me. And yes, I've not only seen a $2 bill but I spent it!

August 9th: The Goonies House was awarded a purple star! I accomplished my secondary goal! Thank you so much for honoring my lens!

August 10th: #84 is published. 16 to go before 100!

August 12th: #85 is proof you can take a day trip and turn it into a lens in less than six hours! And #86 is proof you can see a news story and make a lens about it in 30 minutes. I'm on a roll today!

August 13th: Was surprised by the news that aj2008 nominated my Breast Reduction Surgery lens to the Squidoo Lens Reviews blog. Am very very flattered! Thank you so much! Also produced and published #87, which I think is one of my best lenses yet.

August 17th: Published lenses #88-95 tonight! That leaves only FIVE to go!

August 21st: Published #96, just in time for everyone gearing up for Halloween. Four to go!

August 23rd: Just in time for Samudra's 1st birthday, I published lens #97, which is all about his birth and first year of life!

August 25th: Published #98! Two to go!

August 27th: Published #99, about my dad's backyard pumpkin patch. Vote for it in the Giant Squid Community Fair Summer 2009!

August 28th: Published my 100th lens today, a tribute to my favorite local pizza chain! Wow! I finished my goal in less than a month! Now to apply for Giant 100 status!

August 30th: I received my second purple star today, for my Backyard Pumpkin Patch lens! Thank you so much for honoring my lens!

September 4th: Published #101 today, as well as applied for Giant 100 Status! And today is my 2nd Squidaversary! 2 whole years on Squidoo!

September 8th: Published #102, on hot Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgård and #103 on Heteropoda davidbowie, the new endangered spider named for musician David Bowie.

September 12th: #104 is another Squidboo lens, on the classic Count Dracula costume.

September 13th: Published #105, my first attempt at a "gift shopping" lens. Just in time for Christmas, I guess.

September 14th: Holy cow! I received my third purple star for my Gifts for True Blood Fans lens! Thank you so much for honoring my lens!

September 15th: #106 is on the books! Another Squidboo costume lens. I'm really an expert at those now!

September 20th: Well, although I'm well over my goal of 100, I published #107 tonight. A lensography for all my lenses about The Lost Boys.

September 21st: I guess I'm going to try and make an even 50 for the competition. I don't know why, just sounds like a good round number. #108 is published!

September 22nd: SquidLit finally worked again, so I made a lens on Dave Navarro's book. #109 is published!

September 23rd: #110 and #111 are on the books! Wow, I can honestly say I never thought I'd get to 100 lenses, let alone 110 or even 111!

September 27th: #112 has just been published. That's 50 lenses I've made in 2 and a half months!

September 30th: That's it, folks! The September 2009 challenge is over!

Through out the Giant Squid Challenge for September 2009, I have had the honor of having three of my lenses be selected for Purple Stars!

August 9th, 2009: The Goonies House

August 30th, 2009: Backyard Pumpkin Patch

September 14th, 2009: Gifts for True Blood Fans

Thanks for the recognition of my hard work! I truly appreciate it and am humbled to have receive such a reward on my lenses!