How Do You Measure A Year?

I knew it was coming, knew it was coming, and now, WHAM! My blogoversary has snuck up on me.  Yup, today is one year since the “birth” of Mrs Fringe.

I’m in the midst of a dental emergency, and whatever they gave me at the dentist this morning is wearing off, so I’m going to keep this short.  Also without all of the links I had intended to post.  Just go ahead and check out my blog roll.  Really.  Every single blogger on my roll is someone whose words I read, someone I respect, someone with something to say, through words or images, that touches my heart.

English: Toothache 13th century corbel head on...

English: Toothache 13th century corbel head on St.Andrew’s chancel arch http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/771085 suffering with toothache for around 750 years whilst his friend opposite grins unsympathetically http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/771095 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I began Mrs Fringe in the hopes of giving myself a safe place to navel gaze, vent, be honest, and get my writing synapses connecting again.  It has fulfilled every one of these hopes and much, much more.  I didn’t know if anyone would be interested in reading what I had to say, and that was ok.  Did I hope my ramblings would reach a few people?  Of course I did.  Hell, I fantasized about one of those sensational “hit it” blogs that result in legions of followers and a book deal.  I also fantasize about winning the lottery.  But I don’t buy lottery tickets, I blog.  So here we are, one year later.  No legions, no book deal, but the reality is that I have more followers, made more friends, had more great conversations, met more interesting people than I ever thought could/would really happen.

I also completed a manuscript, Wanna Bees–that I’m now querying–and have begun another one.  I submitted a few short stories, wrote a few more.

Mrs Fringe may not be an overnight sensation, but for me, it is a rip roaring success.  Because of you, my readers, my Fringelings,  who have stopped to check out a post and stayed to become a member of Fringeland.  In my opinion, a blog is only as good as its community, and we’ve built a hell of a little community here together.  Thank you, for visiting, for following, for joining in the conversation whether you agree with my opinion or not.  All are respected, all have been respectful, and all are welcome.

I feel honored and humbled by each and every “follow,” each and every person who takes the time to comment. Very few of the people who have become a part of Mrs Fringe are people I know “in real life.”  Hell, even among those few, most are people I’ve met online, through blogging, special needs moms communities, or writing.

In this year, I’ve written 177 posts

Gathered 234 followers

Received 3, 386 comments

Had 11, 675 views

from 91 countries

Been asked to guest blog by people who stumbled upon my blog.

Been Freshly Pressed once

Gotten more joy, support, laughs, tears, and warm fuzzies than I thought possible.

Remembered what it is to be a person, an individual, a woman thinking about the world with something to say.

Last August, one of my posts was chosen for Freshly Pressed.  It was two days after I posted, and I had no clue why I suddenly had all these comments waiting for me.  A new blogger, I had no clue what Freshly Pressed was.  I don’t consider it one of my “best” posts, but being recognized among the WordPress community was, in an overused and abused word, awesome.  I like to think that one day, with more posts under my keyboard and a greater understanding of what I’m doing here, it will happen again.

Confession.  I am a bad blogger.  Good bloggers have a posting schedule and stick to it.  I don’t.  Good bloggers show their readers they care about and respect them by paying for upgrades.  I do care about and respect you, but I haven’t paid for upgrades.  sorry. It’s a budgeting thing.  Good bloggers have one very specific focus, so viewers/readers/followers know right away what type of blog it is, and what they’ll be reading about each time.  Oops. Good bloggers don’t use expletives to get their point across, and certainly never in their titles.  Shit.

Have I said thank you clearly enough?  Muchas gracias.

And now, I’m going to see if I’ve got any pennies left in my bag after today’s shakedown at the dentist.  Maybe someone still sells this.

English: "Cocaine toothache drops", ...

English: “Cocaine toothache drops”, 1885 advertisement of cocaine for dental pain in children. United States. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

26 comments

  1. With you on all of that. Have given up hoping to be FPed which is exhilarating in itself, can’t post to a schedule, won’t write about one topic. It’s one thing boring readers, another boring myself!
    I love to read blogs that let me into the writer’s life – warts and all (like you, Mrs).

    Just keep it up!

    Like

    Reply

    1. (((((Mrs Carmichael)))))

      FPed is a crapshoot. Fun, but a crapshoot.
      Thank YOU for your support, your contributions, and your own, wonderful “being mrscarmichael.”

      ❤

      Like

      Reply

    1. ((((((Hugs))))))
      Everyone should read and follow SnapIn’s The Voice From the Backseat!

      Is it wrong that I am wishing they really did still sell that stuff? Orajel doesn’t work!

      xoxo

      Like

      Reply

      1. thanks 🙂 I had the idea rolling around in my head for a while but never got past an empty cb account and blogspot page with no entries for yearrrrs. the time was right I guess. your new blog last summer gave me the nerve to try! 🙂

        yeah orajel never did much good. I’d try some medicinal whiskey or brandy rubbed into your gum and finish off a shot or two just to make sure. 😉

        Like

        Reply

        1. Medicinal brandy–Now there’s an excellent plan if I’ve ever heard one 😀

          I’m glad Mrs Fringe gave you the shove…errr…gentle nudge you needed, because I ❤ The Voice From the Backseat.

          🙂

          Like

          Reply

  4. Happy Blogosversary mrsfringe! You make this community a hell of a ride and I look forward to many more unupgraded, non scheduled, unthemed fucking posts from you!
    love ya,
    Diana

    Like

    Reply

    1. 😀
      And this is why I ❤ you, Diana!

      Thank you for being you, for sharing your wonderful Talk to Diana, and being a part of this wacky fucking Fringeland!
      xoxo

      Like

      Reply

  8. I am a fringeling. OMG. I love it. Like being a little shiner in a deep blue pool. Calm on the surface until it isn’t. Mrs fringe, tell you what. I am very happy for you. Your stats are impressive and well-deserved and I am honored to see my little avie on your roll thingie. And I love talking to you. The more I know you, the more I respect and admire you and I wish good, good things for you, A–

    mrs fringe. my sweet AW buddy. I shall toast your one year blogiversary with a snifter of rum. . .medicinal purposes, of course. xoxo kkbe

    Like

    Reply

    1. LOL, yes, you are a fringeling now. 🙂 And I feel the same about you and the friendship we’re building.
      Thank you, I’m happy for me too, this blog and the people who have joined me in my little corner of the world have made me very, very happy.

      You’re an excellent writer, soon enough your blog stats will blow mine out of the water, and I’ll be saying I knew you when.

      Now pass the rum. Medicinal. Of course. 😉
      xoxo

      Like

      Reply

  9. Congrats on your first year – I have so enjoyed your blog. You give a real window into the world of Fringeland. It’s a fascinating place, easy to hang out in. I don’t keep schedules either and have no idea what my next post will be about – I should know in about 36-48 hours when I push publish 🙂

    Like

    Reply

  10. So, now what? You’ve conquered the blogosphere? I think things are about to get really interesting…Mrs. Fringe enters her “terrible twos” on a cocaine tooth drops rush…I think that’s worth sticking around for – fer shure ! ! ! ! ! ! !
    Later….

    Like

    Reply

Join the Discussion

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.