Or rather the button on my sidebar (courtesy of Blogoversary) that as of today I've been blogging here on the House for three long years. Where does the time go? Looking back it seems to have been a fairly uneventful year, although the highlight of the year was a trip home to Roblin with Hilary (my first in over four years) something that, come to think about it, I never finished blogging about (sorry Larry and Brandt, you were going to be in the second post… I still love you). I did become an award winning journalist this year. I also finished a screenplay, which I promptly sent out to several producers and agents in order for them to ignore. Elsewhere on the writing front I had some of my musings on Sovereignty linked to by a Defence think-tank. In March I again hosted I and the Bird (The Quotable Birder).
My old residence burnt down, the one we lived in while be built the House. It was traumatizing for Travis, who still asks hard questions about fire. Oh yeah, I started the Nunies this year. They were rather popular I think and a good way for people to meet some of the northern bloggers, including the winners, Jen of Nunavut and a Journey Northwards. And Dan Rather stayed here at the House. It was a little surreal watching Charlie Wilson's War last night and watching the footage of Dan Rather in Afghanistan thinking about his visiting our little corner of the world as well.
Through out the year I continue to be amazed that the House gets read about 200 times a day, last year there was just over 73,000 visits here, by over 46,000 unique visitors. I count many of the people who visit here, and whose blogs I visit amongst my friends even though I've only met a few of them face to face. And of course I'd be remiss if I didn't point you in the direction of the woman who started me down this blogging path, my inspiration and one of the best bloggers out there (although she could be a better blogger and post more…), my blogmom… Nuthatch of bootstrap analysis. Go there often.
So thanks to all of you who stop by and visit, I enjoy doing this, and I hope that comes through. And I hope you enjoy what you find here, a little insight in to my world in the High Arctic. In keeping with my tradition on past blogoversaries below the fold you'll find a link to a selected post from each month of the past year…
In June of 2007 I reveled in the Sun, waiting for Travis to come back from a weekend on the land with Leah’s parents. In July, 2007 I wrote about a hike in the hills high above an almost sleeping Arctic Bay looking for the Bird not seen. In August Prime Minister Harper visited Nanisivik, to announce that it was to be the location of the new Northern post, so I took the opportunity to write of Ships and Sovereignty. There was still some beautiful weather in September the month that winter arrived in in 2007, and we took the opportunity to hike to Uluksan point, to see the old Qarmat. October found me writing of cats and birding Cape May, a call for bird lovers to boycott the popular birding spot of Cape May New Jersey for their continued support of a feral cat Trap Neuter and Release program, angering some TNR proponents along the way. The post remains my most commented on post ever. This year I seemed to have found my inner curmudgeon and have commented more on issues, November, in the wake of the second death of a northern Member of the RCMP I shared my thoughts on the upcoming change to the Force’s backup policies, and what it will mean to the people on the ground. December sees the dark season in full force and the Christmas Game season also. It also brought about one of those nights. January 2008, saw the Nunies and lots of links. I also had time for some Random Thoughts. February marks the return of the sun as promised, and with it our coldest weather. -40 is just plain wrong. If you’re at all interested in the cost of living up here you might want to check out March’s Grocery Prices post. I kind of like this short True Crime post in April, Notebook tales. Which takes us to the end of the last year, and the month of May 2008 which saw the Nunavut Quest dog team race end here in Arctic Bay, here are some Scenes from a Quest and Scenes from a Quest too.
So there you have a sampling of the past year, three years after I wrote my first post. Hope you enjoy these tidbits. There’s lots more in the archives if these intrigue you, 657 more to be exact. Thanks for stopping by.
Update: 1000 bonus points to the first comment that gets the reference from the title…
Comments
15 responses
Happy blogoversary!
Happy blogosversary! I love reading your writing.
Hurray! You are a much more diligent writer than I am these days, especially when I am on my May hiatus. You’re the coolest, keep it up.
Good job Clare. You have one of my favorite blogs on my sidebar. I thought your blogoversary was around this time. I’m always interested in your take on things. I recall we had a few contrary opinions on the whole sovereignty issue in the past year. But reading you take helped me clarify my own position which is always a good thing. Impressive stats by the way… I’m happy to maintain half of what you pull in. Good work!
Your sister gets the bonus points! the closing on the Wayne and Shuster Show, right?
Congrats! Happy Blogoversary!
Happy Blogiversary (did I spell that right? Is it even possible to spell that right?). I love your blog, it keeps me in touch with the goings-on of Nunavut and Arctic Bay, which I hope to make it back to sometime soon (was originally scheduled to in April and then went to Kimmirut instead, in time for the armed standoff… oops!)
Congrats on this milestone Clare and keep ’em coming! You were the first northern blogger I found out in the wild world and the one I return to the most.
Congrats on the anniversary. Considering how many blogs wither and die on the vine, keeping it going three years is a nice accomplishment on top of everything else.
A lot of northern bloggers might come and go, but I suspect you’re going to be the anchor for the Nunavut blogging community for years to come.
I’ve been wanting to answer my comments but inconsistent connection speeds and pages not loading have been driving me nuts for the past couple of days. Nothing seems to be improving. So…
Thanks Teena from Toronto, and welcome.
Thanks John, I always enjoy heading over to the DC Birding Blog.
Thanks Blogmom. Keep at those migrants. I think though you need a grant to do some banding in the High Arctic.
Thanks Darcy, I always enjoy the back and forth that goes on amongst the Nunavut bloggers, and being part of the Arctic Bay Triad.
Yes, my sister gets the 1000 bonus points, but only because I forgot to include the disclaimer barring employees of Kiggavik B&B and their immediate family. It is the opening line from Wayne and Shuster’s goodbye song. Another 1000 points if you can quote the lyrics – without Googling them.
Thanks Liza.
Nancy, I’m not sure it’s possible to spell it wrong as it is one of those “new” words. Looking forward to you next trip to Arctic Bay.
Thanks gary, and I always enjoy reading about what’s happening down south in Nunavik.
Thanks Craig, first Elder Statesman and now an Anchor… I’m not worthy. BTW it looks like I’ll be down your way mid-November. Coffee?
Happy Blogiversary and many, many more!
Thanks Dave.
Happy Blogday! Thanks for sticking around. Three years in people time is actually closer to eight or nine in blog years, I think.
Wow! Three years! I’m sorry to have discovered The House so late in the game! This is definitely one of my favorite spots.
Love the new header photo too. Gotta look up that post where you explained how to do that! 🙂
Thanks Dave. Hmmm. I wonder what it is in Dog years?
Thank you Kimberlee. The three years has flown by, but I hope it is still early in the game. You’ll find the woodcut technique in the Photoshop category.