Happy Blogiversary to Me!

Today, January 10, 2007, is the one year anniversary of the first post I made to this blog. Being a male, sticking with anything for an entire year is fairly impressive, so I am going to take the day to bask in the warm glow of my own accomplishment. As my brother-in-law said, the most common Hebert family position is arm akimbo, patting oneself on the back, saying "Damn, I sure am a good person!". So get ready, this is one long patting-myself-on-the-back post. Because damn, I sure am a good person!

Looking back over the archives and the year that's passed, I'm very happy with the decision to start this blog. I've written more words in this past year than I did in the decade before it, and I've rediscovered my love for the art form (can you call writing about peeing "art"?). That was my main, number one goal, to write something every day (or close to it anyway), to see if I still loved it as much as I remembered from the past.

I've never kept a journal of any sort before, and I'm surprised at how much it can deepen your understanding of and appreciation for the everyday events that happen to you. I'm more aware now, I take more notice of the people and things around me. That's been a nice bonus.

I think the blog was funnier when it first started. I suspect in part that's because I had a ready treasure trove of good stories saved up from the past ten years (like Mo75), which I could whip out when I didn't have anything new. After the first six months or so I'd used those all up, slowing the posting pace.

Then, of course, I decided to start talking about religion and politics. I think that was a good decision from a personal standpoint ... Being more real is a good thing, over all, and one of my psychowhatever problems has long been avoidance. So from that perspective, I'm glad I did it. However, I do think there was a price to pay in terms of how funny and relevant to the topic of "A Nerd Living in the Country" the blog is, and that after all is what made me start the whole thing. I'm not quite sure what to do about that. I'll probably try to increase the ratio of fun to serious posts, but not abandon the deeper subjects completely.

I think the most honest post I've made so far was in talking about my dad's death. That's probably the best "real" writing I've done so far, and it still makes me think when I read it.

In terms of humor, my favorite posts are the aforementioned "Mo75", and the more recent "Turkey Pickling" episode. If it still makes me laugh reading it, months later, then I feel pretty good about it.

However, I still think the best, most creative piece I've written so far is the "Oatmeal Festival" travelogue. My favorite bit from that whole slideshow is "No, really. They dive-bombed us with oatmeal. I am not making this up." I'm laughing right now, re-reading it -- how's THAT for hubris!

I thank all of you who have been so supportive over the past year, reading and commenting on this blog. My family, especially my brother Johnny and sister Denise, have been unstinting in their support, and I really appreciate that. My cousin Jill and my Aunt Sharon have also been frequent visitors -- thank you both.

And of course there's Annie, my amazing wife who has taught me more about living, making your dreams a reality, and engaging in the world around you with your whole heart than anyone I've ever known before. I love you, Annie, thank you for believing in me. I don't think either HeroMachine or this blog would have ever happened without you.

Finally, thanks to everyone who's come by to visit, from those whom I've never met like Rob in Indiana to Allen to that hawk guy from Croatia, through to my nephews, nieces, and other brothers and sisters and cousins and aunts and uncles and in-laws. I appreciate your support, and hope you've had fun reading this Nerd's Country Journal throughout the last twelve months.

I look forward to keeping up the pace of the postings in 2007, and hopefully finding more humor and relevance in every day. Thanks for visiting, and I hope to be engaging enough to keep you around for a while longer.