We passed our 2nd blogiversary on the 6th. I didn't even notice.
I must say that, on the whole, they've been a pretty lousy two years. If it weren't for the outlet of this weblog, life would have been pretty intolerable.
Glad you could make it.
For old time's sake, here's my first blog post. I'm pleased to say that there's not much there I'd want to re-word. Here's last year's remembrance, which I wouldn't change either, although I note with some sadness that some friends from then are gone.
I especially miss Gary Utter. I wish Trinity, Last Page, and Media Minded's blogs were still around. But hey. There's lots of new stuff to see too.
Traffic's been remarkable. I long ago stopped mentioning traffic on a regular basis as it seems kinda cheesy, but what the hell, it's been two years, and it's kind of neat to look at the traffic pattern. So for those of you who are curious:
I always look at the "visits" figure. The peak so far was last month, with 180,990, although you can see steady growth from then. Our current average is a bit over 6,000 daily. If you prefer hits, it's about 55,000 hits per day. It's to the point where I can no longer keep up with all the email or the comments--indeed, we'll probably have to implement some sort of required registration just for comments soon.
It's all really rather remarkable. But thanks so much for being a part of this... this... well, whatever this is.
Now if only one of you were an agent or publisher who wants to look at the book!
Dean, you're just a pain in the ass. Trouble is, I have to keep worrying at your blog. Can't leave it alone. Damn.
I miss Gary, too.
Dean,
Congratulations on two years at this! And, you're welcome for the help. Heh.
On the down side, blogdom has you to blame for me... Tee hee.
The last few days I was wondering how Susan was doing. When I go into my address book I see Gary Utter and can't take him off my list. He was so sweet to me and understood how I felt when my rhum. arth. was really hurting me and I could barely type. He told me he had been ill so much in his life and I felt close to him. He sure loved (loves) Susan and was real fond of his cat. When I lost my cat Tasha, he really had compassion for me because my Tasha sat at my side all the time when I was on the computer. Funny, so was his.
I am real happy for you Dean. It has been a real pleasure for me to read your blog the last two years and even make my comments. You have a wonderful caring group and so many have written me.
I was curious as to how it all worked with finding out how many people come by your site, so I enjoyed looking at the graph.
Blog on Mr. Esmay and someday write us a short story from your great imagination. I bet you many other people would join in and agree with me on that request.
Let's see a short story soon, ya here!
You don't really get that many visitors. I just sit here hitting the refresh button all day. ;o)
Congrats on the two years and keep up the good work.
You use CPanel too!:)
Ever been tempted to install PMachine using that thing at the very end of the list?
(Blame my dysfunctional memory.)
Dean:
But thanks so much for being a part of this... this... well, whatever this is.
You're welcome. And what this is, is a gathering place which has become an integral part of my daily life— and of the lives of many, many other folks out there around the world, too.
I first happened upon Dean's World in October 2002. Lurked a few weeks, then made my first post. And haven't looked back since. Like I say, this "whatever it is" has become a part of my daily life.
Dean,
Congrats on the 2 year anniversary. This blog of yours is the reason I started blogging. I remember being on MSNBC for some reason, then linking to a Glenn Reynolds piece, then linking to Instapundit, then linking to a Carnival of the Vanities post where I found an entry by you. Since that day Dean's World has been in my favorites list on all my computers.
It is I who should be thanking you.
You're the next "Matt Drudge". hehe. He had his anniversary the other week and I think he posted pictures of himself in a cowboy hat. Let's see a little one upmanship here.
Happy Birthday, and thank YOU. Your blog has been right at the top of my mandatory morning reading ever since I came across it. Well done, indeed.
Yip! Yip!
Last Page is back.
lastpage.typepad.com
Congratulations! And thank you - for your blogging, your support, your Movable Type expertise - your general cool-ness.
Congrats and happy birthday, Blogfather! Besides owing you for the kind help in setting up my own blog, you and Rosemary's posts are a daily source of rich commentary and information! No doubt one of the best things on the web - keep it up!
Congratulations on two years. You've got a great site here.
Good first post, Dean.
Congratulations, Dean (and Rosemary). :)
Kudos and huzzahs to you, Dean, for a good 2 years, here's hoping for many more...I have enjoyed the provocative subjects and the generally congenial and intelligent debate (even Shep behaved occassionally)...only suggestion I would make is the site needs more photos of Rosemary, say in something skimpy!
Congrats!
Congratulations!
I must say, that as I read the first two paragraphs of this post, I thought it was an intro to a MoveOn.org ad...
Thanks for getting me up on MT way back when.
Dean,
I have spent the last month pouring over the posts from the very beginning of your blog, anything where I could read how Gary Utter (my brother) thought and felt about things. Many things I already knew, but there were some he didn’t always share with us.
When I was a kid, I spent a lot of time lurking around my brother and his friends, just to hear him talk. He was always so much fun to be around, I’m not sure his friends were happy with my lurking, but Gary was always sweet to me, and didn’t seem to mind. Reading the old discussions has almost made me feel like he is still here, and I am still lurking, it has made it just a little easier to make it through the day.
So congratulations on your anniversary and thank you for giving me a place to come and remember my brother, and what a great person he was.