That's one small step for man, one giant year for Janetkind

Let the rejoicing begin. Today is the day of all days -- my blogoversary.

Sheesh. What a STUPID word that is to express a year of amazing experiences.

Yeah, anyway, on this very day, one year ago, I put my big toe in the blogocean.

At that time, I had no idea what I was doing. I had read blogs, but I didn't know if I would ever really have anything to SAY in a blog.

Um.

Guess I was wrong about that!

As of this moment, I have written 320 posts, clearly surpassing what I thought was customary and reasonable for a shy, retiring creature like me.

Over this past year:

I have written more haikus than I thought humanly possible.

I have poured out my heart, soul and love for my children and my husband in individual birthday posts.

I have offered up my songs to the internet.

I have exposed the inner crazies of my dysfunctional family and regaled perfect strangers with my now-aversion to eating (or watching OTHERS eat) corn.

I have received and given awards, and done memes ... a word I STILL don't understand (and I will spare you the linkies to those -- you're welcome).

I have answered 44 Fun Monday challenges and hosted twice.

I have told a story that no one outside my intimate circle has ever heard.

I guest posted several places.

I have written about my concrete colon.

I have regaled you with tales of the carpool.

And I have made a boatload of friends. See blogroll to your right -- with the exception of a few "A-list biggies" on there, those are people I hang with, play Scrabulous and Challenge Sudoku with, Facebook-chat with, instant-message with, email with and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on. (Did I not link you? It's not because I don't love you ... it's because this post was getting longer by the second!)

All in all, this has been one of the most satisfying, soul-enriching, happy experiences of my life.

And it wouldn't have been possible without the support of my husband, the unbridled and unedited mirth out of the mouths of babes and this whacky, amazing community of mommy(or whatever)bloggers that I have fallen into and in love with.

I couldn't get more saccharin here if I pulled up that old chestnut "Today is the first day of the rest of my life."

In this case ... Onward, upward, and here's to another year of the crazies.

I love you guys.