Saturday, August 22, 2020

Blogiversary

Most years I forget the anniversary of this blog, but this one is a sort of milestone. Fifteen years have passed since I put up the very first post here at Miss Cellania. And so much has changed in that time.

When I started Miss Cellania, I was a relatively young widow with two small children looking for a creative outlet. Blogging was opening up to everyone at the time, with free platforms and plenty of readers. There was a ton of people making fun stuff to share. I threw my heart into it, and met many fine people virtually, which led to a career of writing internet content. That was so much fun! Then the blogging world contracted as the money went elsewhere, and those other jobs did as well. Social media brought way more people to the internet, but so many of those new users never venture outside social media. I've had to adjust, but I am much older, my kids are grown, my needs are few, the mortgage is now a light at the end of a tunnel, and my mother needs my time, so it's working out okay for now.   

In the last 15 years, I gained (and lost) another husband with five more children. I left radio for the internet. I bought another house and expanded it to a ridiculous size. My kids grew up. There was menopause. I upgraded my computer four times. I still don't use a smartphone. Some of my early blogging friends have given up, some have gone on to greater things, and a few have died. I miss Gene Maudlin (Old Horsetail Snake), Gerard Vlemmings (the Presurfer), and Kevin Gray (Nothing to do with Arbroath).

I still can't believe it's been 15 years. It's been a fun ride so far. 

Politics in the Trump era affected the internet, as people turned to everything online as a medium for anger. That combined with the lack of support for free and fun content made it harder and harder for link bloggers to find anything worth sharing. And then 2020 came, with the coronavirus bringing more struggle, despair, and division. You may or may not have noticed that I am recycling some very old content to fill in the gaps of this blog's entertainment schedule. I have noticed that the dearth of fun stuff is affecting other sites, because several times I have reposted something from 10 or 12 years ago, and it's been picked up and circulated by other sites (sometimes with attribution, mostly not). That shows me how hungry people are for something funny to relieve the stress of modern living.  

So I look forward to a few more years of hanging on to Miss Cellania, mainly for the fun and camaraderie, since it never brought in money.

On this anniversary, I want to thank everyone who comes to visit Miss Cellania, those who comment, whose who share links, those who send me material, and few who've gone above and beyond the call of duty to get me through. I appreciate all of you. You make it worthwhile and then some! 


44 comments:

MarkOfIowa said...

Happy Anniversary, Miss C! I'm guessing I've probably been lurking at least 10 of those years, occasionally commenting, bu at least checking in each day to see what you have found. You have entertained me all of those years, and it has been fun following your life.

Here's to many more years- as long as you enjoy what you do.

Congratulations,
MarkOfIowa

Lilylou said...

Thanks, Miss C! I read you all the time and sometimes do share your content. I appreciate knowing the history of the blog. I started blogging myself almost 15 years ago but have not kept up with it in the way you have. Carry on!

Vireya said...

Happy Blogiversary! Thanks for everything.

WTM said...

Thanks, Miss C. If not for you, a lot of my writing would be living under an overpass.

Doc Rock said...

Congratulations and thank you! I have followed you for many of those years and appreciate your efforts. At 78 I hope to see you go on as long as I do!

SnowMan said...

Happy 15th anniversary, Miss Cellania! I have been a reader, though not consistently (work gets in the way at times) since ... ?? maybe 2008, via the J-Walk Blog. Your blog is the blog I have visited most, and I have shared more postings from it than from the other blogs I check by far.

Thanks for the insights into radio work, the political posts that make me think, the introduction to other blogs and YouTube channels, and thank you especially for all the makes-me-laugh postings.

I can't say it better than MarkOfIowa: Here's to many more years- as long as you enjoy what you do.

-WDitot

Thompson said...

Happiest of anniversaries to you, Miss C! I've so enjoyed your bllog, share it often, and look forward to having you make me laugh and think for years to come!

RedfishJohn said...

Congratulations! I am another who has been with you pretty much since the beginning. Thank you for entertaining us and sharing your life and humor.

Kendra said...

Been with you all the way, enjoy and appreciate all you do. Hope for many more years and wishing you all the best.

Spellucci said...

You are the light of the Internets. I love to visit you in the morning, and throughout the day. Hardly a day goes by that I don't share something with my wife that you put on your site. Thank you for 15 years of joy!

Hught said...

Hopefully this blog will get old enough for me to buy it a beer!

Thanks Miss Cellania

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Happy 15th Blogoversary! Thanks for all you do, and may you continue to blog for many years to come!

xoxoxoBruce said...

See, all these folks and many more love you. Maybe they'll send you stocks, bonds, securities, and Burger King coupons for your birthday in a couple of weeks.

rengroupie said...

I've been reading your blog daily for many years now. After catching up with the news with my morning coffee, I check your page and I always find something to smile about. It's always refreshing. Really, I think you are keeping me sane in this crazy world or ours.

Congrats and wishing you many more years!

hfxer said...

Happy Blogiversary Miss C.
Really enjoy your site and visit almost every day.
On the days I don't check in I always catch up on my next visit, I don't want to miss something great.
Today I checked in and caught up.
Glad I did or I would have missed the "Steamed Hams" post from yesterday.
It is not often that something will actually make me laugh out loud but that post did it.
Hope you enjoy doing this for many more years, Hfxer

Judy Copeland said...

Thank you, Miss Cellania, for your time and humor. I look forward to your excellent blog daily and have for many years. Please keep up the good work. Your look on the funny side helps us so much. Best to you. JudyC

DYP said...

Wow I can't believe it's been that long!
I remember when you got married, bought the house, the addition, saw your young girls grow into young women, all the cats ha!
I've checked your blog for years and it's been a great enjoyment. Happy Blogiversary!
Thank you for all the years of fun--we appreciate you!
And may the next year bring us HOPE for 2021 :)

Chris said...

Happy anniversary. I visit everyday. The internet isn't much fun anymore but you are a bright spot.

Anonymous said...

Congrats Miss C! You are an excellent writer, and have an outstanding sense of humor. Thank you!

Anonymous said...

I've been following you (and Tywkiwdbi) for years now, nearly daily. Always a bright spot--informative or humorous. thanks for what you do.

lu said...

Thank you thank you thank you for the wonderful variety of humor and thinky bits. Hope you enjoy "a few more years" (LOTS, please) of blogging here and at Neatorama.

Richard O'Connor said...

let me add my congratulations to those of your many devoted fans. There are three websites I open every morning: NY Times, Washington Post, and Misscellania. I've been doing this for most of the 15 years you've been posting. Always good for a laugh, even in these dark times, and often good for a different perspective, perhaps a link to another good site. (I too miss Arbroath.) Please keep it up, I need you and I think many others do too. If you ever want to do any kind of crowdfunding, I'll contribute.
I'm a therapist and I write about depression (book: Undoing Depression). Sometimes it gets me down, but you are a dependable lift.
Thank you very very much

Anonymous said...

Many thanks for your content.

greypoet said...

Many years of following your wonderful blog but mostly quietly. (quite a feat for me.) This is a site I started following recently. Great humour, great chuckles.

https://www.facebook.com/Grammas-Old-and-Crabby-393663227901061/?__tn__=kC-R&eid=ARBnSjPslAm895RmjIToyBnzsMxdtKqL6LwQgvrsgaPUwzIXyZtdrGOobOrRzq07xE3a9jpHqHqF9MAd&hc_ref=ARRrNhsWrpyo8nA7Kqjq5uUv9EYdfOCEKdCqxBYGtSyqd3MYMDDz_2YSqRnXh_hOvpk&fref=nf

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! Your selection of the amusing and interesting always charms my day. Thank you for all you do. A

KingRoper said...

Happy Blogversary! I don't comment often, but I do visit here every day. I love the silly memes, the random videos, and especially the links to the interesting and fun articles. Here's to you!

Bunk Strutts said...

Only 15? Dang.

gwdMaine said...

Congratulations Miss C. I seem to remember a time you were thinking of giving it up. Glad you didn't. My day job wouldn't be the same without your blog. And it's OK to take a day off once in a while you know. We'll get by. Keep up the good work.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on 15 years. Guess I've been wandering by for a good ten or more. Hope you keep it going for a good while yet, one has to keep busy. I think someone once said that the only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth :) But don't be shy to take a break every now and again.

Chich

Johnny Wallflower said...

Congratulations! Your blog brings warmth in a time of chill despair.

Anonymous said...

Congrats miss C !
I actually found your blog via the presurfer, already quite some years ago. Groetjes from the Netherlands.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on 15 years, Miss C - I have been a faithful reader of your blog through at least 4 computers of my own.

I also read the Presurfer and Nothing to do with Arbroath to their ends and miss them still. I am so pleased you are not going away any time soon. Thank you for the many years of sharing smiles.

Bilbo said...

Happy anniversary! Your blog makes every day a little bit easier to take, and I always appreciate it. Best wishes from your faithful fan in the wilds of Northern Virginia.

Miss Cellania said...

Thank you, everyone!

laura grace weldon said...

I start the day with you each morning. Thank you for amusing, informing, and enlivening us all this time. Grateful!

Jane said...

Happy anniversary and thanks for all the posts. Yours is one of the first pages I go to every day. Glad you enjoyed the ride and keep it up!

Anonymous said...

Happy Anniversary! I, too, have been a follower for many years and have visited almost daily. You truly are a bright place on the web!

Anonymous said...

Don't know when I first discovered your site but have been reading it daily for many years. Please know how much I enjoy it--take care!

Anonymous said...

Thanks Miss C. Love your blog and I check in every day. Very best wishes from Pembrokeshire in Wales UK

Unknown said...

Love you misscellania..you keep me sane and curious and happy and....

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! This is Amy in Albuquerque (formally Zuni)from the old yahoo group adoption days. I still have two girls in college- my younger just graduated from high school in the spring. It has been a pleasure reading your blog and following your family all these years. This is, I think, my 40th year of teaching. I could use some of your expertise-I am so lost with virtual, remote instruction. Your blog has been a source of education and entertainment for years. I sometimes borrow your content for lessons. Forgive any errors-as a teacher I am closely judged-I can barely keep my eyes open to type this. Please keep Miss Cellania going! We love you.

Lohnaas said...

Miss C., you are the BOMB! You are my first read in the morning (even before the dreadful, real news) and my day is better from then out. Thank you for who you are, what you do, and making me a happier person. Chris

Laughing Squid said...

Happy Anniversary! Thanks for all of the great posts over the years.

Kelly said...

Thank you for sticking around Miss C!!!! I love visiting your site and for me it filled a hole left behind when Kevin from Nothing to do with Arbroath shed his mortal coil. People always wonder where I find some of the silly and unique things that bring them a giggle when things get really dark, but nowadays if it isn't on Twitter, Instagram, or Reddit, it may as well be from the most obscure places on the internet as far as they know. Keep on keeping on!