It’s A Celebration!

“It’s My One Year Blogoversary Everybody!”
 

Party…Party…Party!
 

Whoa! Has it been one year already? Well, actually my one year blogoversary was a couple of months ago, October 30th to be exact, but I was no where to be found. 🙂
 
Yet, something like this is just too important to miss, don’t ya think?
 

So let’s get this party started, shall we?
 

Hey, do any of you remember this?
 

(Don Barlett/L.A. Times)

Ah, good times, good times.
 

I thought it might be interesting if we took a brief look back at all that’s been accomplished here on my blog over the previous year. What was my objective at the beginning of this blogging adventure? To find out, let’s take a peek and see if I even came close to hitting the mark.
 

Here’s what I said, “My hope is that through my writing I will be able to touch people’s lives and connect with others that will in someway benefit them and not just myself.”
 

Was that a load of crap? Well, I don’t know. Let’s see how I did?
 

It turns out I wrote 56 posts over the entire year. Not bad, since there was a whole lot going on as you well know. I had over 2300 comments, which granted some of them I’m quite sure were my replies in response to yours. But all and all, I couldn’t be happier. It’s always good to know that I am not out there talking to myself since I am of the belief that it’s not very healthy. Am I right Louise Biehel and Kassandra Lamb?
 

I also received a lot of visits from gazillions of spammers. You know, those freaky bots that try to invade your posts. And I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank Akisment for that little configuration because if it wasn’t for them, we bloggers would go nuts. 🙂
 

I’ve had some wonderful guest bloggers in the house, starting with Donna Newton, then Colin Falconer, Natalie Hartford, Angela Peart, Barry Crowther, Tim L. O’Brien, Diane Capri, Bob Mayer, Katherine Owen and Julia Whitmore who shared their valuable knowledge and experience about the craft of writing.
 

And any time one of you would like to take a shot at a guest post on my blog, you have an open invitation to join in. We’d all love to hear from you!
 

Okay, so what else happened?
 

Well, I can’t say that anything earth shattering happened here. It’s not like we’re trying to solve all the problems of the universe or bring about world peace. 🙂
 

But we did have some fun talking about animals, both big and small that included a shark attack, a Gorilla and a cute little puppy that got stuck on a runaway train. We had someone stranded as if they were Tom Hanks at an airport for eight days. Tom Cruise jumped out a window from the tallest building in the world while Jon Bon Jovi fed people from a kitchen with a heart full of soul.
 

There were posts about sports, nature, artists, and food. A bittersweet post about making lemonade out of lemons and a very Sexy green leafy vegetable named Kale. *Shivers*
 

Yet, through it all, I tried to bring the gift of optimism to the forefront. That’s not always easy to do with everything that’s happened over the past year in everyone’s life. But even though I may still be “Hanging On For Dear Life”, as was the title of my first post, I feel a great sense of accomplishment and immense appreciation for all of you. For each week you showed up. Each week you came to support me. And for that I cannot thank you enough!
 
 

So grab yourself some cyber champagne…


 

And let’s “Celebrate good times, come on! It’s a celebration!”

*
 
 

“Happy Blogoversary!”

 
 
So what do you think? Can I “Hang” in there for another year? Was there a post over the past year that you particularly enjoyed? Is there a topic that you would like to see me blog about? And what about you? What’s changed since you started blogging and what has helped you on the road to success?
 
 

Thank you so much for dropping by and for all your wonderful comments!
Karen

 
 

50 thoughts on “It’s A Celebration!

    1. Karen Post author

      Hey Louise! So glad you could make it to the party! Happy Blogoversary! Thanks so much for your support! So glad that I’m not talking to myself. LOL! Now go try one of those truffles Louise. Coleen Patrick and Jennifer Jensen made them. They are delicious. Have fun! 🙂

      Reply
  1. Debra Kristi

    Happy Anniversary! And well done, you. 😀 Can you beleive we’ve all made it a year? Have we figured out what we’re doing yet? LOL. Maybe, maybe not. But I hope we’re enjoying the ride. So glade to be taking it along with you.
    Debra Kristi recently posted..Winning the Weevil WarMy Profile

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    1. Karen Post author

      Hi Debra! Happy Anniversary is right! Whew! I made it! And no, I cannot believe it’s been a year already. It’s crazy, isn’t it Debra? “Have we figured out what we’re doing yet?” Ha, ha, ha, uh, I don’t know. Have we? That’s a tough one. I think I’m just now feeling more comfortable. Does that make sense? For some of us, it takes a while for that to happen. But you’ve done well Debra. I know that you have many fires going at the same time. All I can say is that I’ve enjoyed the ride with you too. That is so sweet of you to say that. Glad you could make it to the party today. Let’s grab a glass of champage and do a little dancing to “Kool and the Gang.” Thanks for coming and for all the support you’ve given me throughout the year Debra. I could do this without you. Now go have fun! 🙂

      Reply
    1. Karen Post author

      Hi Julia! Yes, there is plenty of love here today! So glad you could join the party. So you think I made it? Wow, that’s cool of you to say. Thank you so much for all your support girlfriend. But look at you go! I see that you’re hitting your stride and blogging away. Who’d have thought it a year ago Julia, eh? Way to go! So hey, grab yourself some of that champagne before it runs out and you’ve just gotta try the truffles. They’re delicious! Thanks for coming to the party Julia and have a great time! 🙂

      Reply
    1. Karen Post author

      Hi Serena! Yes, we have a lot in common. HB rules and you know it! Although I did go to Fountain Valley. LOL! Shhh! Don’t tell anyone. It’s been, well, let’s just say I can’t believe where 2012 went. It flew by. But I am so glad that you enjoy my posts Serena. That means so much to me. Thank you so much for all your support. I’ll try to keep them coming. Please do try some of the truffles before you go. I hear they’re pretty good. Take care Serena and have fun! 🙂

      Reply
    1. Karen Post author

      Hey there Rhonda! Oh, I am so glad you enjoy my posts. Although I’m not sure about the brilliant part there Rhonda. Now you’ve got me all flustered and nervous. That’s a lot to live up to you know. Do enjoy yourself while you’re here. So happy you could make it to my party today. Thanks so much for all your support girl. You’re an amazing source of kindness and generosity. Have a great time! And do check out the truffles! 🙂

      Reply
    1. Karen Post author

      Hi Lynette! Oh, I am so glad to see that you are enjoying the party. I hear the truffles are terrific. I’m glad you got some of the champagne before we run out. Yummy! Listen, Kim is calling for a virtual taxi. I’m sure she’ll share. LOL! The good thing is that virtual champagne doesn’t cause a hang-over, so your in the clear. Thank you my dear friend for all your support throughout the year. It was a rough one, but we made it! Big {{Hugs}} to you Lynette! 🙂

      Reply
    1. Karen Post author

      Hi Elizabeth! Yes, can you believe it has been a year already? Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy the party. So glad you helped yourself to the champagne. It seems to be going fast. Thanks for coming by and for all your support! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Patricia

    Congratulations, Karen! Of course you can hang in there another year. Most of we Wana1011’s have hung in there for the duration and that’s good to see.

    I always enjoy your posts so keep ’em coming.

    Patricia Rickrode
    w/a Jansen Schmidt
    Patricia recently posted..To Infinity and Beyond!My Profile

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    1. Karen Post author

      Hi Patricia! So glad you could come to my party! Please help yourself to some cyber champagne. Yay, we made it another year! That’s so nice of you to say Patricia. I’ll try to keep those posts coming. Thank you so much for all your support. 🙂

      Reply
  3. CC MacKenzie

    For some reason the Lemonfest sticks in my mind as does the post about bad behaviour from youngsters in a town? My first anniversary is in April, so you’re well ahead of me.

    I adore you, Karen. I’ve never met a more supportive person of all things writerly. You rock! And here’s to year two!!!
    CC MacKenzie recently posted..SHE’S INCOGNITO!My Profile

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    1. Karen Post author

      Hi Christine! So glad you said the Lemonfest because that’s one of my favorites. Uh, the bad kids, well, that was the “Bomb of Profanity” blog. LoL! Yes, they were bad. Anyway, can’t wait for your first anniversary celebration Christine. You have a lot to celebrate girl. I do hope that your enjoyed the champagne and truffles. Did you see Jenny Hansen and Pat O’Dea Rosen dancing? Wow! Listen, I really appreciate all that you’ve done for me Christine. With all that you’ve been through you’ve been an amazing friend. I can’t thank you enough! {{Hugs!}}

      Reply
  4. Suzanne Stengl

    Happy Blogaversary! I love that cliff shot. well, it’s not a cliff – it’s hanging off a building. totally descriptive of Beginnings. And now you are past beginning and very successfully blogging. Carry on!
    and pass the bottle. Cheers!

    Reply
    1. Karen Post author

      Yes indeed pass the bottle! Hi Suzanne! How are you girl? Yes, I couldn’t pass up that shot when I first noticed it in the L. A. Times. I called them immediately to ask permission to use it. And they said yes. I was so excited. That picture said more than I could say about how I felt when I posted my first blog Suzanne. I’m sure you felt the same way. It’s a huge leap, isn’t it? But now we’re off and running. How is it going for you? Are you getting enough support? Just say the word and I’m on it, okay? Thank you so much for coming today! I hope you had a great time! 🙂

      Reply
  5. Melinda VanLone

    Hooray! Happy blogaversary! I’m raising a glass in your honor. *slurp*

    I wonder when my blogaversary was. I really have no idea. Maybe I should look into that, because it’s an awesome excuse to party. 🙂
    Melinda VanLone recently posted..Is This Art?My Profile

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    1. Karen Post author

      Hooray Melinda! Thanks for coming to my party! I hope you enjoyed the cyber champagne. Kim says that she had to call for a cyber taxi. So please do be careful. Apparently that stuff can sneak up on you. LOL! Yes, when was your blogoversary Melinda? Please do look that up and let us know. Although others have said they missed theirs too and are planning big things for year #2. But with all the chaotic episodes of my life over the past year, I wanted to kick this year off on a more positive note. And a party was just the ticket. So glad your here and have a great time! And thank you so much for all your support throughout the last year Melinda. Counld do it without you! {{Hugs!}} 🙂

      Reply
    1. Karen Post author

      Hi August! Happy Blog-iversary! Aw, thank you August. I’m glad I could inspire people and that I touch your life in some small way. I love to make people happy and to feel good about themselves. That means so much to me girl. Thanks for sharing your favorites. I loved those too. I look forward to your book release party. Oh, that’s tomorrow, isn’t it? I bet you can’t wait. Congratulations August! I wish the very best for you and all the success that’s possible in life! Thanks for coming to my party. Dp have some champagne and truffles. They are delicious by the way. {{Hugs!}} 🙂

      Reply
    1. Karen Post author

      Hi Coleen! Thank you so much for bringing those truffles! They’re almost gone, they were so good! Well, I think you and I were on the same wave length this week Coleen. Opimism is something we have in common. And I think being an optimistic person shows through your writing. And I think through that optimism, we all receive a little peace and a healthy outlook on life. We all deserve it Coleen. Thank you so much for your well wishes and for all your support throughout the previous year. Let’s make 2013 even better, eh? {{Hugs!}} 🙂

      Reply
  6. Lynn Kelley

    Huge congrats, Karen. Your blog posts rock. You’ve accomplished so much and I think you’ll be blogging for the long haul because you’re a natural and your posts are always interesting. I’m looking forward to many more.

    Since I started blogging, everything has changed. I have a 16 month rascal running underfoot, so it’s slowed me down to a snail’s pace. Little stinker is telling me, “eat,” so I better get on the ball here.
    Cheers to you, sweet friend!

    Reply
    1. Karen Post author

      Hi Lynn! Thank you so much for coming to my blogoversary party! This special day would not be complete if not for you Lynn! You have been my constant support throughout everything. I cannot thank you enough for all you’ve done. You kept me sane and gave me hope. I know that you’ve got your hands full with the grandbaby. And from what I hear you have more coming. Oh boy Lynn, this is just the start. I do hope that we’ll still be seeing you around here. You’re gonna be one busy grandma! Congratulations Lynn! Ooh, I do hope you grabbed some of those truffles that Coleen Patrick and Jennifer Jensen brought. They are out of this world! {{Hugs!}} 🙂

      Reply
      1. Lynn Kelley

        Wonderful party, Karen! I’m going to do my darndest to get here for all your posts. Grandbaby is a ton of work, but he cracks me up and is the best medicine in the world! How can anyone be down listening to Toddler Tunes? 🙂
        Lynn Kelley recently posted..Am RechargingMy Profile

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  7. Kim Terry

    Had fun at your party, Karen McFarland! The beauty of the “cyber-Champagne” is that I didn’t have to call a cyber-taxi to haul my tipsy rear-end home. :-))

    “…a load of crap?”? Not so much. (Does sound like a variation of a Miss America speech: “I’d like to end world suffering…. ;-))

    A seriously fun party! Stayed so long that my iPhone battery ran down, forcing me to use my iPad.
    Kim Terry recently posted..ADVANCING TO THE RETREAT, Part 3: Sampling “The Best” of SheratonMy Profile

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    1. Karen Post author

      Hi Kim! I am so glad you had some fun. Watch out for Jenny Hansen and Pat O’dea Rosen. They are showing off on the dance floor. I love the benefits of cyber champagne Kim. Isn’t it great? Tipsy? Oh you really did have a great time! I’ll let you go so that you can re-charge your battery. I am giving you my best Miss America wave Kim! Thank you so much for coming by and for all your support! 🙂

      Reply
    1. Karen Post author

      Hi Karla! Thank you for coming. I do hope you helped yourself to some champagne and truffles! You know Karla, I think the first year is the hardest. There’s so much to learn. You’re feeling your way around the readers. What kind of subjects would they like to read? For me, because I am a new writer, I was developing my writers voice. Which, may I say has helped me so much with my novel writing. And speaking of novel writing, you have an impressive number of books Karla. I especially like your genre. So you’ll hit the sweet spot with your blogging soon. It’s the balancing act that’s the hard part. I wish you all the best! 🙂

      Reply
  8. Jennifer Jensen (@jenjensen2)

    Happy one-year-plus, Karen! (I agree with the others – I’m going to have to do a 2-year party. And I’m jealous of the number of comments you get!)

    This was a lovely retrospective, and yes, you can and should hang in there. It’s all about hanging in there, even if that includes resting on a ledge occasionally. *grin* I’ll break out some dark chocolate truffles to go with your champagne.
    Jennifer Jensen (@jenjensen2) recently posted..The No Good, Very Bad Dangers of an Electric BlanketMy Profile

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    1. Karen Post author

      Hi Jennifer! I am so sorry to hear that you aren’t feeling good. I hope you get well soon! But I’m glad to see that you weren’t too sick to join the party. Ooh, dark chocolate truffles. Now that sounds wonderful Jen! That goes very well indeed with the champagne. I hope you enjoy yourself. Please stay a while and do a little dancing. Thank you so much for all your support over the last year Jennifer. I know that you’ve had some ruff going too. So glad it’s a new year. I thought this was a good way to kick it off to a great start. I look forward to your 2-year party Jen. I will be there. You can count on that! 🙂

      Reply
    1. Karen Post author

      Hi Ginger! It’s my first blogging Anniversary! Are you having a good time? Did you grab yourself some cyber champagne? it’s low calorie Ginger. I looked at the label. Don’t look now. Coleen Patrick brought cookie dough truffles. We’ll be dancing them off with Jenny Hansen. Anyway, thank you so much for all your support! I couldn’t have done this without you girlfriend. I am all about the fun and making someone smile. I promise to do my best and try to keep ’em coming in 2013 Ginger! {{HUgs!}}

      Reply
  9. Marcy Kennedy

    I think the computer ate my first comment. It must prefer comments to cake!

    Happy blogoversary 🙂 I’m glad you didn’t give up on your blog entirely even with all that’s been going on because many of us enjoy your posts. Somehow I let my one year anniversary pass without any fan fare. When my second anniversary hits, I’m going to have to do something to celebrate.
    Marcy Kennedy recently posted..Three Keys to Memorable Similes and MetaphorsMy Profile

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    1. Karen Post author

      Hi Marcy, not to worry, I found you. Ack, your comment went into the spam abyss. But I resurrected you. LOL! Happy Blogoversary! Ah Marcy, you have no idea how close I’ve come to giving up. Last year was the year from hell. But it’s over and we have a brand new year to look forward to. How are you doing? I sent you an email the other day to check on you. You missed your one year anniversary? It would seem that you’re not the only one. Well, now we have something to look forward to. We’ll all be celebrating with you on year #2! It will be something to celebrate. Thank you so much Marcy for all your support! It’s meant so much to me! 🙂

      Reply
    1. Karen Post author

      Hi Jenny! How is baby girl doing? Don’t you come down with it. Yay, Happy Blogiversary to me! Well Jenny, I am a work in progress girlfriend. I am still in the middle of a very long journey. But I want to let you know that I am keeping a journal. So you never know what I might do in the future. If I can ever clear my head enough to write about my journey. But I will take you up on that cup of coffee girl. Make that sooner than later, okay? And don’t you worry, for you, I’ll always make the time! I can’t thank you enough for all your support! {{Hugs!}} 🙂

      Reply
  10. Pat O'Dea Rosen

    Happy Blogging Anniversary. Karen! Yes, you can hang in there for another year because, admit it, you missed your readers and fellow bloggers as much as we missed you.

    Thanks to your post on your battle with West Nile Virus, I apply mosquito repellent before I go to the park. That’s just one way you connected with a reader and improved her life.
    Pat O’Dea Rosen recently posted..PARTING THOUGHTSMy Profile

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    1. Karen Post author

      Hi Pat! Yes, Happy Blogging Anniversary! Did you grab yourself some champagne? Dang, you know me so well. Yes, I missed all you guys horribly. So glad to know that I connect with a reader. I may have just saved a life Pat. Wow, I need to start taking this blogging gig more seriously. LOL! Thank you Pat for all of your support over the last year. I look forward to your every visit. You’ve kept me on my toes girl. But you’ve also been a great source of encouragement. I couldn’t have done it without you! {{Hugs!}} 🙂

      Reply
    1. Karen Post author

      Hi Tim! How are you and the family? Have any new hunting stories? Catch any deer or elk? How is it down at the ranch, I mean heaven? So great to see you Tim. Thank you for all your support over the past year. It’s a key factor to why I haven’t given up. But now that you mention it, where have you been hiding? We want to see more “Static in the Airwaves” Tim! Send me an email if you’d like to brainstorm some blogging ideas. I’d like to know how the book is coming along. Thank you so much Tim for dropping by! 🙂

      Reply
  11. Jennette Marie Powell

    Happy blogaversary, Karen!!! I totally missed mine last year. Maybe I’ll do a two-year blogaversary party this May!

    There is a big RV parked in my company’s home office parking lot. Every time I see it, I think of your blog post about the Walmart manager in ND who had to live in an RV because housing was so scarce there!

    I hope you’re able to keep blogging this year – your posts are always fun and interesting!
    Jennette Marie Powell recently posted..Valentines, Witches, Thrills, and Romance Past and Present! Plus ROW80 Check-inMy Profile

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    1. Karen Post author

      Hi Jennette! You missed your one year blogging anniversary? Say what? I will certainly be looking forward to May! We can’t miss your two-year blogaversary. Nope, not gonna happen girlfriend. He, he, he, oh yes, the Walmart parking lot. Did you know that is still going on? Thanks for all your support over the last year Jennette. It’s meant so much to me. What would we do without our WANA support? Thank you so much Jennette! I will continue to look forward to all of your posts! 🙂

      Reply

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