Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Blog Anniversary



The traditional gift for a first year anniversary is paper, isn't it?

Hopefully the postman will deliver my box of cash today. It's been on back-order forever!

I can't believe it's been a year since I made my first post on this blog. Time really flies, doesn't it?





This time last year, I was preparing to head to Australia for their Mardi Gras on the Pink Flight with Kathy Griffin. I had just figured out (with the help of my friend Maggie) how to create a blog and upload photos, something I wanted to do throughout my trip in order to share my adventure with my friends while I was off traveling alone.



Blogging turned out to be one of my favorite parts of that trip...as it continues to be for me daily when I'm not traveling.

As I prepared to write this entry, I re-read many of my old posts over the past year. It really triggered a wide range of emotions that took me immediately back to some of those special days. Happy, sad, reflective, silly...like looking at a digital life-scrapbook.





Blogging, like keeping a personal journal, really has been a fun way to retain memories that, with my soggy declining brain matter, otherwise might have slipped away along with so many other special moments in my life.







Without the blog, I might have forgotten all about swearing Nana and "the Creeks", the mysterious world of creepy dolls in museums, disgruntled house plants, the spiders of Australia (well, I'll never forget those!), Frank passing away, my night with Marilyn Monroe, my trip to Hobbiton, the calm of Rarotonga, plus all of my friends and family here and in Atlanta, Asheville and Ohio.









The blog has also helped me to keep creative, continue writing on a daily basis and take a more focused interest in photography, something I always really enjoyed and have started to pursue professionally. Because of that, I have been fortunate enough to sell a couple of magazine articles and even headed back to school to learn more about how to take better pictures.







So, although this blog doesn't pay the bills...some of the creative energy put into it just might one day.

At least that is my hope.

But what's most important to me is that this blog has helped me stay in touch with the wide variety of people I've met along the way. Some of you for just a brief period of time and others I've known for many years...decades even.












I know that you all have busy lives and that you won't always have the time to drop what you're doing so that you can catch up on the randomness that is my life these days. But, do know that it means a lot to me when you do.









I hope that you've enjoyed it when you stopped by and that, if nothing else, it's brought a smile to your face on days when you've needed one.

If so...then, that makes it all worth it for me.

Thanks so much for stopping by, for your support and for your friendship.



It will be interesting to see what the next year brings...

12 comments:

Brad said...

Happy anniversary buddy. Cheers to you for always giving us a great read and taking us along for the ride.

***clink***

Joel Hoskins said...

What a sweet soul you are, Ken. Thank you for sharing your life with us, and for all you've done for me over the years. Happy Blog-iversary!

Vampire Hours said...

Thanks Brad! And thank YOU for following along all this time too. As John Gielgud says in "Arthur"...

"I look forward to your next syllable with great eagerness."

Your comments always bring a smile to my face.

Vampire Hours said...

You are most welcome Joel. Without your support, I'd likely be blogging from a "lovely" studio apartment in the ghettos of LA.

Not that there's anything wrong with that...

Lo said...

Happy Anniversary!

Vampire Hours said...

Thanks Lo!

gonoles84 said...

I always wondered when that picture of us before "Wicked" was going to rear it's head. Fabulous work on the blog....I may not comment everyday, but I certainly read it everyday.

Vampire Hours said...

I figured it was a wicked-good time to post that photo. It's always a pleasure to see your pithy (Oh Mith? Yeth?)comments here on the blog. You're very entertaining, mister.

Anonymous said...

happy anniversary! i've often come to your site and read with fascination all the cool things you are doing. i get so jealous sometimes! good for you that you are able to spend your time doing something you enjoy so much. i never post comments on anything though. not my thing. BUT cheers to you and keep on truckin'!
renee

Vampire Hours said...

Thank you Renee...so nice to hear from you and glad that you stop by once in a while to check in. You're always welcome!

Sissy said...

“A journey is best measured in friends rather than miles” ~~ Tom Cahill

Thanks for allowing us to tag along...and we have many more journeys to make together!

Much love to you Kenderson!

Vampire Hours said...

Always a pleasure to have you along on any journey, Sissy! We need to take another roadtrip soon.