Today is my one year blogiversary, and what a long strange trip it has been. One year, 255 posts and 610 thoughtful comments. Two hundred and fifty-five posts would mean that, on average, I’m writing some drivel five days out of every week. No wonder my dishes aren’t done. These pages have been visited here 25,000 times. Twenty-five thousand! I’m strangely embarrassed that anyone thinks that I might actually have something to say, or finds me entertaining enough to come back. It’s amazing to me that something I intended to do for family and friends would have generated that amount of interest. I’ve been interviewed for a book on blogging and by a northern newspaper and I’ve started a blogroll of other Nunavut bloggers. In the last ten days (since I installed some counters) I’ve had 358 different visitors, from some 229 different places in 24 countries
(Canada, USA, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Egypt, Sweden, Malaysia, France, Denmark, Ukraine, Japan, Romania, Belize, Singapore, Estonia, Netherlands, Spain, Venezuela, China, Belgium, South Korea and Papua New Guinea)! To those who came looking for good construction advice I’m sorry. To the guy that came looking for crack cocaine, email me when you’ve got some and I’ll send a friend right over.
I’ll blame it on my insecurities but I waffle between pride and embarrassment that some people that I find to be truly exceptional writers come here. Nuthatch, Whippoorwill, larry, pohanginapete, Debbie Lee and others are inspirational and I may just get back to work on that play one of these days. I hope you don’t mind but if I do I’ll be emailing it to you for criticism if I ever finish it. It is also a source of pride that I have met many people here, who I consider friends. Friends I’ve never met face to face to be sure, but people who are supportive, who can put up with differences in thought and opinions, and who are just plain fun to hang out with. I hope that we all get a chance to sit down for that cup of tea, coffee, hot chocolate, warm milk, mate or what ever your choice of non-alcoholic beverage is. Do I risk listing you? Cindy, Anita, Duncan, Mike, Karen, Dave, Troutgrrl, John, Charlie, Pamela, Carl, Tony G., Robin Andrea, Jennifer & Ian, Jesse, the aforementioned, and on and on.
I was trying to figure out how to celebrate this “milestone” and ended up deciding to go back to the beginning and offer you a post from each month in the last year. I think it was Rurality where I first saw the idea. So if you’re new to the place here’s a sampling, and if you’ve been here since the beginning here’s a trip back.
May 2005 – Crew Stories
June 2005 – The Floe Edge
July 2005 — Toolagak
August 2005 – Night falls
September 2005 – A meme, a meme!
October 2005 – Like an Old Friend.
November 2005 – Remembrance Day
December 2005 – Christmas in the High Arctic, continued.
January 2006 — What’s in a name?
February 2006 — Photocopy Boy
March 2006 – How to make a flooring transition.
April 2006 – Suddenly there came a tapping.
May 2006 — DWN
It occurred to me, as I went back and read these post, that I enjoy my writing back at the beginning more than I enjoy the later stuff, ah innocence.
So there you have it, a year of my life, or parts of it at least. Some history, some family, a bunch of birds, and some construction crew stories that’ll make you want to lay down that hammer. If you’re new here, why don’t you wander around awhile, it will cost you nothing except some time. And whether you’ve just arrived or are a seasoned vetern of the House thanks for stopping in. Either way, leave a comment and say hello. Oh, and if you want someone to blame for all of this, just remember it’s my blog-mom, nuthatch’s fault.
Comments
15 responses
Nicely said Clare. Especially the friendship angle, exactly what this old timer in OZ feels too. Cheers!
Happy Blogiversary, Clare! Here’s to another year of good blogging.
Happy Blogiversary Clare!! I’d never read The Floe Edge before–fantastic story. And I never knew that sea ice was different from, and safer than freshwater ice. Makes the outing sound a little less scary. One day, one day, when money and time converges, I will visit the Arctic, the only region of Canada I’ve never seen. Having a friend in Arctic Bay makes it just that much more likely I’ll get there, and have that cup of coffee.
Happy Blogiversary, Clare! I have so enjoyed getting to see the Arctic through your eyes. I’m honored to be listed among your friends.
I went back and looked at a year’s worth of my posts a while back. As you say, the innocence of the beginning. I think I seem more guarded now, even when I am attempting to write about things that are personal. Interesting observation. I’d love to see a discussion of why that is, and if it is true for everyone.
Congratulations, Clare.
Congratulations, Claire!
This world of blogs and bloggers is just great, isn’t it! We are grateful to you for helping us make connections with other northern bloggers and for giving us a great view of Arctic Bay.
We’ll put in for the tea!
I’m so glad I happened on your blog through Dharma Bums, Clare. I’ve enjoyed your adventures and stories; fun with Travis; the joy and awe of Hilary’s arrival; the wonders of building in the Arctic; midnight suns, ravens and house hares; your wisdom and your knowledge. Happy Blogiversary and here’s to many more! (Best to Leah and a huge thanks to nuthatch.)
Son, I’m damn proud of you, sharing your unique world with your unique voice. Blog on (bites knuckles) I’m getting a little verklempt. Talk amongst yourselves…
how time flies
My blog-child is a year old today! Don’t know how I inspired this one, I don’t even like the cold. But I’m sure glad I did. Congrats,
Clare–Congratulations on the anniversary. “The House” is a wonderful place and I always look forward to visiting. Best wishes for the next year and more.
Thanks everyone, sorry you couldn’t be here for the cake. Someday soon I hope.
And obviously I didn’t see as much Saturday Night Live as I thought I had. Verklempt.
Qujanamik blog-Aanana.
Congratulations and all that! I just passed my anniversary, and I’m as surprised as anyone.
You have a quality establishment here. That’s why the world is flocking to it.
Thanks for providing it.
Happy Blogaversary and many more, Clare. I sincerely look forward to the day we can finally talk in person, possibly over some polar bear meat or blubber on crackers.
Regarding your current writing, you’re definitely taking your recent work too lightly. I found your recent series of true crime stories to be gripping.
Happy Blogaversary and many more. Get a dog and you won’t have many dirty dishes.
I look forward to your posting and check for simularities of our home towns. I also look forward to another year of reading your blog.
Wonderful, Clare. Many happy returns (which is what I’ll be doing to your blog). Now I’m going to warm up with a nice cup of tea and some good thoughts about my friends heading into warmer weather on the other side of the world. :^)
Hey Clare! Congratulations! And thanks for making a list of your wonderful writing so easy to review. I’ve enjoyed my treks north to your place here and I’ll be back for many many more.