It’s my anniversary. I first put cyber pen to paper at WordPress one year ago today.
My sister Lib and I went to Ireland in 2009. I was sending excruciatingly detailed emails of our trip to my family, and someone suggested I start a blog. I think those NOT interested in the travelogue thought this way they could keep their inboxes unsullied. I started out over at Blogspot. For several months I reconstituted notes from our trip. As one familial pundit so eloquently put it, reading about it took 4 times longer than the trip itself. (Some might say cruel as opposed to eloquent, but I digress.) After I typed the last paragraph detailing our fond farewells to the Emerald Isle, I stopped blogging.
Fast forward nearly one year. Once again my long, involved emails on the rant-of-the-week resulted in the suggestions (dare I say desperate pleas?) that I resurrect the blog, and kill the lengthy emails. So I did, this time hoping for a wider audience.
I cast my pearls before swine over at Blogspot for 2 months, and became increasingly frustrated by how hard it was for readers to leave comments. Just in case I got some. Readers, I mean. My cousin Ann said WordPress was more user-friendly. I took a leap of faith, and the rest, as they say, is history.
My first blog was a pithy, 2-line announcement that I had just moved into the WordPress neighborhood. Nobody came over with cookies. For the first month here, I was greatly hampered by the fact that I didn’t know about tags, and couldn’t figure out how to post pictures.
The world was not impressed.
I finally figured out pictures and tags and two months after coming onboard I was Freshly Pressed with the post My Sister-In-Law Is Ruining The U. S. Economy. This extraordinary event finally brought that most elusive of all creatures to my blog, the reader-not-related-by-blood-or-marriage. It also marked the beginning of some very special friendships.
One year in and my stats are all about the fours. I’m not setting the world on fire, but I’m pleased that I’ve just passed:
- 40,000 hits
- 4,000 comments (some not even made by me)
- 4 Freshly Pressed posts
I’m shooting for a new 4 – 400 subscribers. Tell your friends.
The sheer talent of many of the bloggers I have met on WordPress has me in awe. I am privileged to call some of you blogging buddies. These relationships have come to mean a great deal to me.
Here’s to us exchanging ideas, both great and goofy, for years to come! (Raises crystal cyber glass of uber-expensive champagne in salute.)
By the way, if any of you are looking for gift ideas, the usual suggestion for the first anniversary is paper. I prefer mine to be green, contain pictures of dead presidents, and be negotiable.
Peg-o-Leg's Ramblings 
Congratulations! Thanks for all the smiles and chuckles this past year.
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Thank you! I’ve really had a lot of fun with this.
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Congrats! I’ve not been with you for the whole year but I’ve enjoyed my time so far and look forward to many more posts and years 🙂
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Thanks so much for chiming in – I’m delighted to have you!
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Congratulations, Peg! I am very happy to have found your blog (I’m not being tongue-in-cheek for once, either!) Cheers to many more fun years ahead!
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Thanks, Darla. I’m equally happy to have found your blog. Now go soak those Freshly-Pressed-comment-tortured fingers in some warm water.
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I just subscribed 200 more times. Hope that helps. Congrats.
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It helps, but didn’t you think about passing out my blog/business card at your high school reunion?
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Happy Anniversary, Peg! I’m one of those readers “not-related-by-blood-or-marriage” (love that!) and I’m so grateful to Freshly Pressed for recognizing comedic grace and spotlighting it. Your words AND your pictures (I’m a Goofy Girl myself!) are so much fun … thanks for all the smiles, and here’s to many more years of happy blogging and cyber-celebrations galore! (insert sounds of brass band piping up, ticker tape pixel confetti, and cyber-bouquets of clacking keyboards being presented here … party on.)
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Thanks so much, Paula. I’m so happy to have you reading! But I think all that confetti just jammed up my hard drive…
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Happy Anniversary! You know I never got a welcome to wordpress plate of cookies when I moved in last November either, but I’ll let that go since I’ve found such fantastic neighbors here.
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Thanks for being such a great neighbor yourself. Can I borrow a cup of funny?
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I’m running low on funny, but I’ve got plenty of sarcasm to spare. Would you like a big ole slice?
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I noticed the surplus. On you, it looks good.
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Congratulations! I hope to still have something to write about after one year. And if you sometimes felt disconcerted about only having family members read you blog – I am a little disconcerted that my family members WON’T read it! Keep happily blogging….
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I know what you mean with some branches of the family – it’s a little disconcerting. But hey; their loss, right?
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Peg, I feel like I should give you the “THE” for your site. Also I should change the name of my blog to “other ramblings not really nearly as fun as Peg’s ramblings”. You are a setting the WordPress world on fi-ya!
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I like your new blog title, but it’s not really very catchy. Better keep the “THE”. Thanks! 🙂
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Many, many kudos to you for your most excellent blog. And you just answered a question I’ve had. Does a blogger ever get Freshly Pressed more than once? 4 times! Wowza!
Keep those fingers and ideas flying! 🙂
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The FP bribery fees are killer, but worth it as I told my hubby the LAST time we remortgaged.
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happy anniversary, Peg! So happy I found you.
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I’m even more happiest you did!
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On the “tell your friends” front, I had to laugh since I’d actually come here to link yesterday’s entry on TMiYC’s Facebook page. Then I laughed more because I’d read the entry on the phone, thus missing your fabulous image!
My family and friends could appreciate your reasons for starting a blog. When I moved (briefly) to South Korea, I took to writing two letters every week: one with the full, glorious detail, and one that even my brother would actually read. :p
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I frequently notice the lack of editing on some blogs I’ve read where the writer definitely has the ideas and the talent, but goes on and on, way too long. That’s something I’ve tried to learn and practice more, but it’s tough.
Your brother (and mine) were on to something when they preferred the Cliff Notes version of our travels, hmmm?
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Well, Congrats are certainly due! FP’d – four times??? Wowza.
I know what you mean about Blogspot – it’s all ((crickets)) over there. “Read Next Blog, Please..” and you have no filter to manage what you’d like to see. Ya figure Ye Olde Blogger would have caught on by now! WordPress is definately the communal-friendly place to be! Here’s to hoping you hit that next goal…400 subscribers 😀
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It IS more friendly here, isn’t it? I’ve gotten so comfy, sometimes I have to remind myself that there are about 1/2 million other bloggers on WordPress that I DON’T know.
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As your younger sis, I believe I was the one who finally cajoled you into taking your memories-of-Ireland stories and making the humorous romps available to a mass audience!! (I’m sure it had nothing to do with the fact that I was in all of the stories and thus found them fascinating.) By the way, when is Kiwanis sponsoring that travelogue on our trip? Sign me up! 🙂
Happy anniversary!
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I think a coffee-table book is in order, and you’re the designated photog because you got all the great pictures. For those who don’t know (and who care), the photo in my header is from that trip – a special little spot in the west of Ireland that was so moving to us.
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Congrats on the year, Pegoleg. The humor you shared via GG has brought me here today. I am officially following your every post. Only 399 followers left to snag to make it to your goal of 400! Woo hoo!
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Woo hoo! Thanks Lenore. Going out to snag strangers off the street to sign up…
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Peg! I am related through marriage, however I would still read it if I wasn’t!! 🙂 I love your blogs and always look for something to smile about when I get them! Thanks and congrats on a year!
Lisa
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Thanks Lisa! And to think..it was your pre-Christmas diet that really got the ball rolling here. 🙂
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Wow. You’ve had a very productive year. Congrats!!
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Thanks Amy! Those with whom I work might protest the word “productive”, but they’re not into the blog thing.
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Congratulations, sista! I have been enjoying your blog immensely and am living vicariously through your writings and your blogger friends’ comments. I have even subscribed to a few others I found through your blog. Maybe some day I too, will be a blogger. Seems rather daunting, though.
Again, Congrats! Well earned honors 🙂
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Thanks for all your support, Tar. I really appreciate it! Don’t be afraid to explore all the great bloggers around and join in the comment fun – that’s the best part!
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Peg, I feel like this is a good opportunity to thank you for encouraging me to write better. I don’t think you know that you did that, but I was having a sort of Freshly Pressed battle with you. In a discreet sort of way, where I’d see Ramblings on the WP homepage and be simultaneously happy for you and kick myself to do the same. Just so you know, we’re even – and you always get another before I even the score.
So you’re due. 😉
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I wondered what that itchy feeling between my shoulder blades was – you aiming at me! I have no doubt you will end up soaring far and away. Just remember our good times and be kind when you put your old bloggy-mom in Cyber Shady Acres, Jackie.
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Congrat’s to a marvelous writer and special sister. Eventhough we are blood relatives. I would still gravitate to your blog. So many GOOD stories and fun adventures. We will continue to be on call for some of your inspirations!! Love-MK
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Thanks, toad. I’ve been so blessed with my family!
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Wow, Peg! Congratulations! I’m glad I’m subscribed to your “rants.” I always enjoy reading, and I wish you continued success!
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Thanks so much! I’ve been so happy to “meet” so many interesting bloggers like you.
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Sniff…
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Why the sniff? Is it me? Do I smell bad? I KNEW I couldn’t get away with just powder and no shower after the Y today. Damn!
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The sniff was for all the kind and sappy comments supporting your one year anniversary, you goofball! Love ya, T
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Happy Anniversary! Congratulations on all those 4’s! Clearly you are an impressive blogger to have been Freshly Pressed 4 times. I recently picked four pansies and pressed them under my mouse pad – that’s my version of Freshly Pressed!
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But then you’ll take an incredible photo of those 4 pansies and end up with a work of art to cherish forever – that’s just how you roll!
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Congratulations Peg! I am grateful to have found your blog and look forward to each post and picture. You have definitely mastered the art of…….art!! You’ve had quite an impressive first year. I only hope I can come close to your stats at the end of year one. May your cyber pen never run out of ink…
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Thanks so much, Carol. I prefer a cyber pencil, but my tech guy gets mad when I put the computer in the sharpener.
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Congratulations! Impressive first year numbers…hope they get better and better and they will.
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Thank you so much for reading – I appreciate it!
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Congratulations! That is a very impressive year! Here’s to 4-400 more!
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I’m working on a fountain-of-youth drug so I can get 400 more years. I’ll let you know how that works out for me.
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Congratulations on year one. Not only will I tell my friends to subscribe, but I’ll also make more of an effort to make new friends just so I can tell them as well.
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Now, that’s the kind of attitude I’m talkin’ about!
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I’m not sure which is more of an honor. Fresh Pressed 4 times or having relatives who actually will read a blog. May you blow the cyber doors off of next year.
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I have a couple of siblings who are loyal followers. My husband and grown children, however, don’t read it. This leaves me free to talk smack about them all the time, so it’s not a bad thing!
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Congratulations, Big Sis! I’m another of the “Relative Readers” who got you started…. I want you to know that me and all of my fellow inmates at the County Jail read your blog religiously (hmmm, maybe we need more religion…..)
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Thanks, Bill. I’ve had a lot of fun with this. Big shout out to the guys on the yard!
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Congratulations to you! And congratulations to me for following you!
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And congrats to me for following you! It’s all good.
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Congrats!!
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Thanks so much!
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Freshly Pressed 4 times! Congratulations!
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Thanks! One post about taxes stayed on the front page seemed like only about 2 hours before being bumped off by my good friend Big Sheep, so it barely counts. It wasn’t under the humor tag, so I think most thought it was another dry, economic harangue.
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