So yesterday marked the ten year anniversary of this blog. This one. Right here. Ten years ago, I said “What the heck—nobody’s gonna read it, but might as well.”
Christ, that’s a long time.
In that ten years, I moved—eight times, I think? I have traveled more places than I can easily count, driven across Texas three times, gotten married, gotten divorced, started a webcomic, finished a webcomic, won a Hugo for a webcomic, got an agent, wrote…um…twelve books?…edited thirteen books, sold almost all of the books, painted quite literally thousands of paintings (holy crap, that’s a lot) started a garden, left a garden, started another better garden, bought a house, unbought a house, been depressed, been medicated, been happy, ate canned haggis, sold half a million copies of the Dragonbreath series, had swine flu, back pain, root canals and damaged ankles, had electrodes strapped to my ass for medical reasons, went birding, fell in love, cried a lot, worked at an art supply store, worked on weird crap, adopted cats, was adopted by a beagle, became a meme, read seed catalogs, painted walls, got mad, screamed about politics, screamed about religion, sometimes just screamed, started a podcast, played D&D, started and abandoned untold numbers of projects, got an IUD, contemplated the noble wombat and told tales of defective wildlife and my late grandmother who was probably a demigod.
And you’re still here.
We’ve had some times, haven’t we?
I love you guys. I’m glad you’re here. I have moved too many times in my life and I think some part of me is just from the internet now, rather than being from anywhere geographically located. And if I’m from the internet in general, this blog is my home town. Without you, it would be a lonely town full of tumbleweeds and the distant baying of feral beagles.
My life has changed so much since I started this blog ten years ago that I can honestly say that this blog is one of the only constants through the entire span, other than…um…my parents. And carbon. Carbon hasn’t changed much. Hell, I even learned to like tomatoes and raw fish.
Other than some books and some art, I don’t think I even have any possessions that have lasted that long. Most of my dishes did not survive the moves and none of the clothes would fit anymore. The stained glass lampshade had an encounter with a heavy box. There’s a crown of thorns my stepfather made out of horseshoe nails, but it’s kept in a box with “WARNING: PUNCTURE DAMAGE POSSIBLE” on the sides, since I have never yet figured out how to display the damn thing (and it’s gorgeous, don’t get me wrong.) My ex-husband kept the majority of the furniture. I might still have one good-sized kitchen knife dating more than a decade, but I won’t swear to it.
Oh, an a cow skull. The one cow skull’s been around awhile.
I hope that the next decade is awesome, but perhaps not quite so dramatic. I love my current likfe, and I rather hope it keeps on keepin’ on. However, as long as there is Defective Wildlife in the yard (and Thrush-Bob is still tormenting the cats, yes) and art to be made and paladins to throw into molten hand lotion and a chance of electrodes being strapped to my nether regions for sound medical reasons, I imagine I will keep blogging.
Thank you all for sticking around.
I’ve been following you for an embarrassing number of those years. Worse, I think, is how rarely I actually comment.
Happy blogiversary!
And we’re glad to have you as our um, unique, Mayor that everyone votes for and then wonders about our choice later. 🙂
And I must say, it does say a lot about your journey when you have to qualify the phrase “electrodes strapped to my ass” in fear we would get the wrong impression.
OK, I have to ask… where is the pose about the electrodes. I recognised most of the other Major Life Events, but not that one.
(Lest ye judge, ask which single item on the list you’d most like to read… there, see?)
I meant “post”, not “pose”… grrr…
I haven’t followed your blog for the whole ten years, but I’ve been a silent reader for… five years? Six? Maybe longer, haha. As non-creepily as possible, your blog has been one of my constants in that timespan. 🙂
I hope the next 10 years are happy ones for you!
You ate canned haggis!?!
Happy blogiversary from a relative late-comer.
I’ve been lurking around this blog for a long time for funny stories and to see the various cool paintings you put up (one of which I have promised myself I will eventually buy an original of… just waiting for the right cute animal I guess). So… um… thanks. I’ve probably had many hours of entertainment from this blog over the years, mostly in short bits all built up over time. Here’s to ten more, if that’s not too intimidating.
PS, I had cannned haggis in my cupboard for 4 years before eventually giving it away and never had the courage to eat it, so props to you!
wow, ten years? i know i definitely haven’t been reading for that long, but i have certainly been reading for way too long 😛 I’m eighteen now, and i think i’ve been reading since i was about 13? gosh. i was probably far too young to read your blog, but there you go 🙂 thankyou for many hours of entertainment here and from your art. you’re a truely wonderful contribution to the internet and the world.
Happy blogiversary! Trying to remember how long ago I first stumbled on your blog (at livejournal)… probably at least eight years ago. Still enjoying every post, and it’s been so wonderful to watch things start to come together to you in the last few years. Congratulations!
Wow, I’ve been reading since 2005, shortly after I started up my Livejournal. I first noticed you when Azaezelbunny started making the rounds. Now I also listen to KUEC too. Never lose your wit.
@Tom West One of the electrode posts is here: http://www.redwombatstudio.com/blog/?p=2016
Another is: http://www.redwombatstudio.com/blog/?p=2041
I’ve only been around for two of those years but it has been a pleasure. Here’s to many more!
My son was an infant when I discovered your work, and your blog on livejournal. He is now 10. In the intervening years, I went without internet access at all (dang mountain home in the Ozarks!) for several years.
I was delighted to rediscover your blog when I rejoined civilization, and continue to be delighted and amazed by the way your mind works, and the way you express it.
I too have had *quite* a wild 10 years, and find myself in a pretty good place here at the end of it. May our next ten years be happy, and maybe just a teeny bit more boring than the last!
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