Do you ever run across a phrase or expression that you use in every day conversation, but when met with the task of spelling it out you realize you have no idea how to do so?

This happens to me more than I’d like to admit.

For instance, this one: “Hear, hear.”

I had a moment this morning when no variation of this phrase looked correct and it seemed the only way to determine the answer was to call the creepy Watson robot of Jeopardy fame and ask him: “Hear, hear or Here, here?”

“Hear, hear,” seems strange. Like a call intended to alert you to my auditory abilities. “I hear you! I hear you!”

“Here, here,” is equally strange. Like a grade school, playground cry of, “Pick me, pick me!” Or: “I’m here, notice me – here! Here!” Though that interpretation might be more of my middle child syndrome rearing its ugly head.

It happens.

The point is, instead of living in confusion any longer, I did what people do and Googled it.

Hear, hear is an expression used as a short repeated form of hear him, hear him. It represents a listener’s agreement with the point being made by a speaker. (source)

So there you go. Let the confusion be conquered.

The larger point is, this little grammar lesson has nothing to do with the purpose of this post.

Sorry to put you through this.

Last week I invited you all to join me in a new, collaborative project I’ve termed, “The Colorado Campaign.” In just a few days, response has been outstanding. You guys and your enthusiasm is inspiring.

(A special thanks to Dan Schneider for really taking this project and running with it. He’s rallied the troops like no other.)

A few questions came up this weekend that I thought might benefit the whole group:

(1) Does my submission have to be new work?

No, not at all! If you have some photos or writings from bygone years that you really like, or feel fits into the project, feel free to submit them. Again, anything goes as long as it exemplifies your interpretation of Colorado.

(2) When will these be posted?

I’ve decided to post one submission per week on Fridays. I’ll post a general, intro one this Friday, and then start putting up the guest posts next Friday (March 11). I already have the first guest submission set to go – and a bunch of people signed on to submit something down the road – but would love to get some more on deck. So please send them along any time!

(3) How long will this project continue?

For as long as I keep getting submissions! Right now I’m thinking we’ll try this out for a full year, and gauge participant/reader interest come March 2012. If you guys are still enjoying it, I am more than happy to keep the project rolling. I really want this to run off of your input though, so if something isn’t working or you have an idea to move this ship in a different direction, shout them out to me. I want you guys to own it!

(4) Can I submit multiple entries?

Yes of course! If you send one in, and then a few weeks later, think of another aspect of Colorado you wish to explore and share, send it! If I get multiple entries from the same person all at once, I will likely set them to hit the blog several weeks apart. Otherwise, the general rule is the more you want to participate the better.

(5) What’s the deadline on submissions?

There is no hard and fast deadline on these. You don’t have to contact me and express your interest to participate by the end of this week in order to be included. If, for instance, you’re just not feeling very inspired right now, but then sometime this summer go on an awesome trip into the mountains and think, “This is the epitome of Colorado to me,” send me something about it. Even if you’ve never reached out before that day, that’s OK. Don’t be shy!

What else am I forgetting? What other questions do you guys have?

Don’t forget to e-mail submissions to anya.elise@gmail.com. I’m taking them now. I’m taking them tomorrow. I’m taking them six months from now.

Oh, and if you think you might have a friend or relative who would be interested in this, please invite them to participate. The more the merrier!

I think that’s it for now, so until later…hear, hear!