August 2, 2007
Skeet’s Stuff is one year old!
A year ago today I wrote my first blog post ever. It was on a free blog at blogspot.com and I originally called my blog Skeet’s Cluttered Life. I quickly realized that was too cumbersome and limiting, so I adopted the name that I carry now. I was embarrassed and more than a little uncomfortable with the idea of putting my toughts out in cyberspace for all the world to see, so I didn’t let even let my closest friends know that I had a blog for several months. As the months passed and my world did not implode I began sharing my url with a few people. Finally, in November of last year, I announced my blog on a message board I’ve been going to for many years. That was the same day that I enabled comments for the first time. I was a nervous wreck for days, expecting ridicule and scorn to crash my blog and probably become so overwhelming as to shut down the entire internet. That didn’t happen. I found, instead, that people were interested in what I had to say and that they wanted to start dialogs and share their own stories with me. Strangers became regular visitors who became friends. I can’t put a number on the new friends I’ve made through Skeet’s Stuff - several hundred, I’m sure, not counting the occasional visitors that I haven’t had a chance to get to really know. Blogging opened a lot of doors to me, but it is the one to these friendships that I treasure the most.
In late November of last year I did my first sponsored post. I had several friends who were blogging for bucks and decided I wanted a piece of that action. A few months later I became active on a message board for posties (bloggers who write sponsored posts through PayPerPost,) and that board also served as the medium that first introduced me to most of my new blogging friends. The money that I make through my blog is much needed and appreciated, but the people I’ve met are the greatest of all benefits.
Mahalo to all of you who welcomed me to this strange world of blogging. A special mahalo to those of you who have helped me learn the technical aspects of doing what we do. I’ve been a frustrating pupil for some of you, I know, and I appreciate you sticking with me and bailing me out when I’ve gotten in over my head. I send my warmest aloha to each of you, my friends. Aloha kakou - may there be love and friendship between us. Aloha ‘oe - may you be loved.
Technorati Tags: aloha, blogging, blogs, friendship
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August 2nd, 2007 at 4:59 pm, Marj Says:
Happy Anniversary! I also had and still have some of those feelings about being social with my blog and participating in forums, but I have met some great people through blogging. I just wish I had more time to devote to blogging.
August 2nd, 2007 at 5:49 pm, MLTan Says:
Happy anniversary! I started blogging a month ago and I feel exactly the same way when I announced my blog (and I am on blogspot too :)) Hope my blog will be doing as well as yours. Anyway, you have been tagged (a gift for your blog’s anniversary :P) Check out for details here
August 2nd, 2007 at 7:50 pm, Kat Says:
Happy anniversary Skeet!
August 2nd, 2007 at 10:57 pm, pelf Says:
Happy Anniversary and CHEERS to many more years down the road! =)
August 2nd, 2007 at 11:15 pm, Joana Says:
Congratulations on a very successful year of blogging skeet!
May you have many more.
August 3rd, 2007 at 4:45 am, Vanda Says:
Congrats Skeet, I always look forward to reading your entries. Hugs.
August 3rd, 2007 at 2:09 pm, Corrin Says:
Happy Anniversary! I just realized that I’ve been blogging for five years, and I don’t think my parents knew about any of my blogging till about two months ago. Haha.
August 3rd, 2007 at 4:36 pm, jo hutson Says:
Congrats! A whole year! I just hope I don’t mess around and burn down my blog before I reach a year! I’ve been pretty secretive about my blog too, my friends and family already think I’m weird. Jo
August 4th, 2007 at 9:07 am, skeet Says:
Mahalo, Marj. Blogging was a huge leap for me but now I can’t imagine not doing it, kwim?
August 4th, 2007 at 9:09 am, skeet Says:
Mahalo MLT! A new blogger! Welcome to the craziness ~ I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
I’ve already done that meme, but thanks for thinking of me!
August 4th, 2007 at 9:10 am, skeet Says:
Mahalo, Ms. Kat! My year of blogging has taken me to some interesting places. Glad I met you in one of them!
August 4th, 2007 at 9:12 am, skeet Says:
Mahalo, Pelf! I’m having a hard time now remembering what life was like before blogging, lol! I did have a life back then, didn’t I?
August 4th, 2007 at 9:13 am, skeet Says:
Mahalo Joana! You’re one of the blessings blogging has brought into my life!
August 4th, 2007 at 9:13 am, skeet Says:
Aw, mahalo, Vanda! Sure wish you’d rev up your blog again!
August 4th, 2007 at 9:15 am, skeet Says:
Mahalo, Corrin! I still haven’t shared my blog with most of my family. I don’t exactly talk bad about them, but it would be harder to talk openly if I felt like they were sitting on the side, judging, kwim?
August 4th, 2007 at 9:17 am, skeet Says:
Mahalo, Jo! I still worry that I’m going to break my blog, or maybe even the whole blogosphere, when I screw up. Hasn’t happened yet, but it could, you know!
August 6th, 2007 at 4:35 pm, Jackie Says:
You have a great blog, Skeet. I’m so new to blogging (since March of this year) and I’m loving it. I’m not real crazy about blogspot (how do so many people get their own customizations/layouts I wonder?), but it’s a start. I love reading your stuff.
Jackie
August 31st, 2007 at 4:54 pm, Shannon Says:
That’s so cool! A whole year! I’ve been doing one of my since this spring, but I don’t think I’ve quite accomplished the well written blog like you have. I aspire to do so!
Actually, I found your blog through a post on payu2blog’s new forum! LOL I really love how you work those into your blog posts! I never imagined a paid post being so interesting. I see people condemn it, but you do it in such a way that it’s unobtrusive to your content! So, not only are you a wonderful blogger, but you’re also an asset to the “paid to” sites!
I’d like to invite you to my blogs, as a friend. One was started fairly recently, but I like how it’s going. I’d love feedback from you, or a critique, if you feel inclined.
If not, I’d still like you to visit!
My first is Shannon’s Blog (catchy title huh?) http://wvaclaylady.blogspot.com
The second is WAHM Whimsies
http://wahmwhimsies.blogspot.com
And the third is One of a Kind Art
http://ooakart.blogspot.com
I just have to say again how happy I am to have found your blog, and I plan to visit as often as I can!
Take care,
Shannon
August 31st, 2007 at 11:46 pm, skeet Says:
I love doing contextual links, Shannon. They’re so easy to work in most of the time, though I have one comin gup that I’m still thinking about (a man’s name, for pity’s sake!)
I’ll be visiting your blogs and expecting to find great things. Don’t pressure yourself. If it ain’t fun, don’t do it!