Chapter 89.7: Nostalgia and Wandering

It's funny the things that can jog your memory. I was musing the other day about blogging and it occurred to me that this blog was coming up — indeed has passed — a milestone, a birthday. It was seven years ago that I started this blog. Seven years and two weeks now.

I was a different person way back in 2004. I wasn't yet a dad, though I very much wanted to be. I was barely making ends meet, which is the same as now, but I was still working in New Jersey and driving to work each day (remember when gas was less than $3 a gallon?) and supplementing my salary with a few umpiring gigs. They were fun but basically covered beer money for a week at best.

But one thing that has remained the same is writing. It is part of who I am and always has been, since the days I'd walk to kindergarten making up stories along the way.

I learned about this free blogging software and thought, why not? I didn't know about building a "platform" for myself as a writer. I'll admit I thought it might help me get noticed, but I knew then that it was difficult to be heard amid the maelstrom. It didn't bring in any money then and it doesn't now. (Note to self: disable google ads; they don't work for me.) But, like baseball, it's fun for me. I enjoy it and I'll do it for as long as I'm physically able.

So my blog is seven. Ta da! It still doesn't have a focus and I'm almost in need of a refill to my coffee cup. In just a few seconds I'll wander back down the hall to do just that. Along the way, I might spend a few seconds to think of what I could do in the next year of blogging here and at my other virtual rest stops. What will you blog about today?

Chapter 83.1: Time Passes

A couple weeks ago, an anniversary passed without notice. It wasn't important in any great sense. No parties were deserved. No parades planned. Barely a word was really necessary. But this blog turned five.

Life has been busy for me lately. Those who know me and my family understand why. The parties on that end were deserved, and parades of a different sort took place. As for words — nothing really quite captures the feelings. And blogs aren't the answer to such issues.

But still, it's true that I enjoy sharing the occasional thoughts or words here with the world of mostly strangers, and especially with those few, precious friends who stop by and leave word of their visit.

So happy fifth "blogoversary." And I'll see you as the spring and summer get even warmer.

Chapter 82.5: Spring Cleaning

It's cold and breezy still, but the sun is shining and my mood isn't as dark as it was last night. Amazing what a couple of sleeping babies and cups of coffee can do to a person.

Anyway, I have had a lot of things on my mind lately, one of the least of which is this blog, which I cherish but have been neglecting lately. So I decided to give it a little bit of a makeover — nothing too earth shattering (there really are not many template choices when one has a free blog) — and mark a milestone.

Recently, I crossed over the 500 post mark. I'm not quite sure which one it was (though I'm thinking it might have to do with dirty diapers). But since I have a few posts in the hopper and others that are actually notes for myself (who knows what evil lurks in the post lists of man...), it's possible that this one is #500.

I've also added a followers list. I don't expect too many, but as that little woman in the Poltergeist movie said: "All are welcome. All are welcome."

In the grand scheme of things, 500 blog posts is not much of an accomplishment. I may, however, try to do something to mark my five-year "blogoversary," which is a few months away.

Anyway, enjoy your weekend. There's a lot of work still to do.