Da Count-This One's For You

I want to thank everyone for the kind wishes yesterday. In addition to being my birthday it was also my first blogiversary. I gave myself the blog as my birthday present last year. I was desperately in need of some sort of creative outlet that was also cheap (i.e. free). What a year it's been! I don't think I really imagined what it might have been like. A little over a year ago, Snavy basically said, 'Ok, here's a blog we're going to do together, for fun.' She set the thing up and Insane Asylime was born. I was instantly addicted. I didn't really expect, even when I started this one, that it would go much beyond my few crazy fellow Blog Hijackers who I knew from Yahoo! Trivia. Susie, Logo, Breazy...you guys ROCK! Idiot, ya rock but ya gotta post, dude!

I started reading the folks Snavy pre-installed into the IA blogroll and found Brian, who has become a dear friend and who also encouraged me a lot when I said I was thinking of starting HOL, both with his specific urging for me to do my thing and by his own wonderful writing. I also discovered James, who is an amazing writer and who was so kind to leave such encouraging comments in the early days. The guy also blew me away by paying close enough attention to completely smoke the competition on the first 'Limer/Limeade' quiz way back in the beginning. These two guys were my first regular non-Yahoo! blog buddies and they've stayed for the ride so far and I just want to give them a special thanks for that.

Now, I hope the rest of you will forgive me for not specifically naming you all, I mean no slight to anyone. You see that list over on the side? Each one of you has become a part of this world of mine. You've expanded it exponentially by sharing your lives with me and sharing mine. You've exposed me to some places, people, ideas, music, books, art, and so many other things I would have missed had we not intersected in this vast internet. You've taught me things that have enriched me, challenged me to be a better person, encouraged me, laughed with me, sparked my creativity. You've touched me when you've shared the deepest parts of yourselves. May I thank each one of you and say I hope I've been able to return at least some of that to each of you.

A lot of you I discovered because you first said hello to me. A few of you I discovered first and you were kind enough to welcome me. Either way, thanks for the warm reception. It's been a wonderful first year thanks to all of you. Big hugs to each of you!

And if you are a lurker, please take the time to say hello, just this once, so I can greet you as well.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

P.S.

Snavy and Logo wrote another Limer/Limeade quiz and posted it at the Hijacked Blog. They did a great job. It's hilarious! I'd be willing to reward high scorers with a chance to determine a future post here...interview, topic, PG-rated pictures, if anyone is interested.