Gearing up: FOUR YEARS

I'm just over two weeks away from my (holy cow!) four year blogging anniversary. My very first post went up on July 21, 2006.

Whoa!

It doesn't feel that long. Granted, for those first two years, I didn't know much about blogging. Much of that time was spent floundering around, figuring out this new medium of technology and communication. In fact, it was an article in Writer's Digest discussing blogs that convinced me to give it a shot. (The biggest selling point: Even a techno-idiot like me could get one up and running in under 10 minutes.)

Four years later, I can hardly imagine my life without blogging.

I've made many dear friends, some of whom I'm met in real life and others I haven't met but still hold dear. I've learned a ton about myself. About blogging. I've learned how to find other blogs. I've laughed and cried reading others' posts. I feel like a better person in some ways. Wildest of all, I've spoken at a blogging conference. (I'm still basking in the glow of that one.)

According to Feedburner, my little corner of the blogosphere has over 300 subscribers. It has nearly 200 Google Followers. (I remember thinking it would be so cool to reach 100 and break the two-digit barrier!) I don't have a huge blog (I'm no CJane), but I love where mine has gone and is heading, and I appreciate everyone who drops by and takes time to read my ramblings.

Thanks to you all!

To celebrate, I plan to have some kind of fun giveaway/contesty thingy.

("Thingy." Yeah, that's about as specific as I have it so far. As the concept crystallizes, I'll give out more details.)

In the meantime, if you or someone you know would like to sponsor a prize for my 4-year bloggy-versary, please drop me a line! I'd love to have a bunch of fun goodies to give away and for the whole thing (whatever it ends up being) to be a boatload of fun.

I might even break out my knitting needles to make something for one winner. Hmmm . . .

Finally, I've mentioned this on Facebook and Twitter, but might as well do so here, too, because I'm kinda excited about it.

For literally years, I've thought about what it would take to be featured in Utah Valley Magazine, especially after seeing other (much bigger) writers like Brandon Mull get in there. Recently Jeanette Bennett, editor and owner of Utah Valley Magazine asked little 'ol me for an interview. I was kinda pleased. (Read: jumping up and down excited.) We had a great 45-minute chat at her office, and the interview came out in the July/Aug 2010 issue.

While I'm certainly not cover material like Brandon Mull, I did get a 2-page spread, which surprised and tickled me to no end. I'm tempted to frame it and hang on my office wall. ('Cause I'm a geek like that.)

My neighbor Heather Adams took the picture of me. We had a great photo shoot earlier this year for a new bio photo for Band of Sisters, and they used one of the pictures from that shoot. Heather's an awesome photographer, and I love how great she made me look!

You can see the issue online HERE. (I'm on pp 58-59, or on the lower left menu, click on "Ladies Gaga" and turn a page or two.) What's wild is that a friend of mine from my youth theater days is also in the very same issue: Mindy Young, on page 28. We met the summer before our senior years in Lehi's youth production of Joseph. (Mindy played one serious come-hither Potiphar's wife!)

Okay, back to the original point:

• In less than two weeks, on July 21: 4-YEAR BLOGGIVERSARY CELEBRATION!
• Ideas, sponsors, requests: Send 'em on in!