I never thought I would have reached this number when I first started my blog in January 2012. Some of you have been gracious enough to award me with several blogger awards. I truly thank you for the nominations I received.
Oh the agony and ecstasy of blogging! It always starts with the weekly stress levels searching for inspiration and fresh ideas, quickly followed by those agonisng days of nothing coming to mind, except at the last minute. That's how it's been for weeks now. When I eventually find a topic, I can spend hours doing touch-ups to make sure I've got it right until the last, hesitant moment before I click the 'publish' button. The endless nervousness of hoping someone will read, enjoy and comment makes me feel sick on the best of days. Times 50!!! I'm sure some of you might agree.
I have tried to make Rum Punch Drunk a safe space for people of any background to discuss matters openly and respectfully without anyone being personally attacked. Thanks to you, this has been allowed to happen.
I would also like to say thank you to the staff AngieA and TonyB at Blogcatalog for all the great active discussions, for promoting my blog and providing an excellent forum for bloggers to meet and chat. I appreciate all of you, including those who commented anonymously, those without blogs such as Marcus, Shiloh and Navigator not forgetting to mention Alex who was my guest author, and those who are not blogging at present. Every one of you has contributed to Rum Punch Drunk being what it is today.
Below I have listed some of the blogs that have inspired, supported, and entertained me since I've become part of this online community. Of course, it's impossible for me to include absolutely everyone here, so please don't be offended if I miss anyone out.
Amethyst at: My life with it's pros and cons
Bloggers at: Bloggers
Bonnie Franks at: A Little Unhinged
Christina Monica at: Chequered Hat
Daily Dose of Musings at: Daily Dose of Musings
Dan at: A Brainless Nod
Dennis at: The view from fanling
Donna at: Believe in Yourself
Frank at: Frank King's Blog
Helena at: Channelling Hippocrates
Hotei at: Any More Than A Whisper
Jade at: Poetry Musings
Jamiesmiles at: It's a gay life
Janene at: Moms are from Mars
JerseyL at: Jerseylils2cents
John at: Poet at Jaybern
Jon Whiting at: Speaking My Mind
June O'hara at: The Neurosis Files
Karen at: Baking in A tornados
Kleopatra at: Ideas and Opinions
Melanie at: The Joy of Mothering
Melody at: Growing with God in my Garden
Menopausal Mama at: Menopausal Mama
Michelle at: Fear no more, A day in the life
Nothing Profound at: Aphorism of the Day
Robert at: Mulled Vine
Untony at: Tony's Blog
William at: WilQuote
Yun Yi at: Human Without God
A big THANK-YOU again for your continual support, and I take no shame in humbly asking you all to encourage your family/friends to pop over, have a read, leave a comment or debate whatever's on their minds. They can choose to follow via GFC (Google Friend Connect) subscribe to comments and/or posts.
Do you find blogging easy or difficult?
Do you have any tips or tricks on how I can improve my blog or make it more accessible to others?
I'd love to hear your views, comments or opinions.
Wow, looks like I've got quite the reading list of blogs to catch up on now!
ReplyDeleteYes, you have Neel and they are all good reads. It's just a shame that I couldn't have added many more here. I have only recently come across your blog but I also find it a very good, interesting read, so I also encourage you to keep up the good work, and thanks for your support.
DeleteCongratulations, RPD! As I've said before, I look forward to your blog every week. You come up with such an interesting array of topics, and I always reads the comments left by others because they're so varied and thought-provoking. I hope you are doing something fun to celebrate your 50th post! Thanks for that list of blogs you included...I will definitely check out the ones I'm not familiar with. Again, congratulations on your wonderful blog, and here's to 50 more posts! *glasses clinking :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Helena. Oh yes, there was a big clinking of glasses this end too :)
DeleteI'm sure you'll enjoy all the blogs above, as they have their own unique style.
Aw, shuck! Thanks for including me on your list. I must say you've inspired me, too, with so many interesting views and questions. I wish you continued success. As for whether or not I find blogging easy or difficult? Sometimes it's easy and sometimes it's not. It depends on my level of inspiration as well as drive when I sitdown at the computer. Over the years, I realized if I don't have either one at my disposal at the time, I try again later. Why waste time banging your head for words when you can do other things?
ReplyDeleteThanks Janene, I guess we do have the good day bad day thing when it comes to blogging, and the best thing is to take a break and return to it later, something I'm trying to do instead of stressing out.
DeleteThank you so much for mentioning me. You should be so proud of what you do here. Your posts are always thoughtful and thought provoking.
ReplyDeleteYou are more than welcomed Karen. Thanks.
DeleteLook at all the people you support in return!
ReplyDeleteThanks Melanie. I really enjoy reading so many different blogs and whenever I can, I do my best to leave valuable comments to their posts. I feel this is important because the blogger knows that someone is reading and has something to say on their post.
DeleteThank you very much for mentioning my blog on your list. You have a very inspiring way of expressing ideas, a kind of interrogation directly pointing to its sources and targets. Good shots, this is what I want to say. I wish you and all your readers happy winter holidays and a great many happy and good reads or writes. Here I sign with my google account, but I have two Romanian blogs and three English blogs on wordpress. I am mainly a poet, sometimes trying to express my thoughts in a more prosaic manner.
ReplyDeleteThanks Christina-Monica, I knew that I definitely wanted to mention you but I wasn't sure what blog to link to, so just chose one of them. I find your blogs very interesting to read especially when you relate to all your personal life experiences.
DeleteHappy 50th Post Rum-Punch-Drunk!! How gracious of you to include me in your list. I am delighted you enjoy my blog as I enjoy yours. And Thank You for your always thought-provoking and interesting posts! You are one of my favorite bloggers. BTW, cool banner at the top of this post. I’m going to check out some of these others bloggers on your list. If you only started in January 2012, you have done very well indeed. I started before you and I don’t have nearly that many posts. I am very happy with Blog Catalog, too. Until I joined BC in April, I only had half a dozen followers.
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question, I discovered that blogging became easier (and more enjoyable) for me once I decided to focus my posts primarily on humor, my dogs, art, and occasionally more serious or personal posts. Until then, I was all over the place trying to figure out what I wanted to write about (oh, and I hesitate and re-read and edit my posts before I hit publish too!). Well, I haven’t blogged long enough to know tips to pass on but it seems to me that with 130 followers in less than one year and excellent posts every week, you are doing something very right! I toast a glass of Eggnog spiked with Rum to you and your 50th post! :)
Thanks JerseyLil. I can honestly say I knew nothing about blogging until Jan 2012. I then got some tech help to set up my account and that was it.
DeleteBC is a very good site and I really enjoy the amount of discussions that go on there too. I also enjoy the variety in your blog, and the humor always picks me up, so thanks in return for a good read.
Thanks to you too, friend.
ReplyDeleteIf it were up to me I would not change a thing about your blog. I really feel like you do something important here. It's a pleasure to read, comment on, and share your blog.
I don't usually give as much respect to anonymous people on the internet. I understand many reasons a person would want to remain unknown. Most of those reasons are to get away with things that they don't want people to know their doing. To be very honest most of the time I find anonymity a bit cowardly.
However, you use anonymity in a way I rarely see people online use it. I feel like you use your anonymity to remain neutral, to keep your gender, ethnicity, looks, and other things from influencing opinions. Your not here ranting, calling people out, then cutting them down, while hiding behind a shield. Your not spreading bogus information and trying to hide, hoping no one will find you out.
You take real issues, many of them are very difficult issues to for people to deal with. You present them in a way that makes people consider different views, and you make yourself willing to hear either side of the story in your comments. Your not aggressive with your own opinions, and that makes it very easy for all sorts to interact with you.
I applaud you and what you do with your page. You are one of the people who has inspired me in my own blogging, and yours are some of my favorite comments I've received on my own page.
Thanks for the recognition, but I hope you accept your own in knowing that your opinions and your page are respected by many more than just me.
Happy 50th!!! I hope there are many more to come.
I know what you mean about being anonymous Jon. Some people are very cruel in their approach behind a mask, and do get away with many things. Apart from keeping any work I do completely separate and out from my blog, I wanted people to be able to read what I wrote without thinking that any opinions/views are soley based on things like gender, colour, religion, race etc etc, when in fact, those things may not have had anything to do with it.
DeleteOne of the things that I love about blogging is the many different, varied and interesting views/comments/opinions we all have, that I would not have otherwise come across. It truly has made me think differently on certain issues.
Thank you so much Jon for your kind words and support.
Thank YOU!! I always am inspired by your words, this post being no exception. Ah the dreaded blank page! Been there most certainly! I agree with Jon above, as you know I've asked who you are! I respect your wish to remain anonymous. You are sharing your thoughts as truth. I'm looking forward to reading more in the future!
ReplyDeleteMichelle
Thank you so much Michelle. For now, I'll stick with the avatar and RPD name, don't want to disappoint you :). I will continue to do my best with these posts, and people like you encourage me greatly. Thanks again.
DeleteCongratulations RPD, this sort of mile stone is great to see, especially on a great blog like yours. One thing that gave me tremendous satisfaction is using the Flag Counter widget which allows me to see where the blog is being read, and collect the flags from the Nations too. if you are interested I have a look at my blog which has both revolver maps and flag counter on the visitors page. I have no commercial interest in these sites, I just get a buzz from using them. Have fun and Keep the good work up. Thanks also for all your comments on my blogs.
ReplyDeleteThanks John, and for your support. I'll have a look at the Flag Counter a little later too.
DeleteThanks a lot for listing me RPD glad you find my blog interesting enough :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your 50th post I know its not easy when you lead a busy life! and to come up with topics like yours, one need to make research
and that takes time and a good dose of passion.
Keep up the good work ! and keep on posting and make us stop and think like you always do ! :)
Thanks Hotei. Just hope that the next 50 post will have everyone still interested! I look forward to popping over to you and reading some more of your posts too.
DeleteYou are welcome RPD! Congrats for 50th blog!
ReplyDeleteThanks for put my blog in your list! I too am very grateful for all those who visited and commented my blog (include you). I am too very grateful for Angie&Tony's blog catalog, such a wonderful place to meet wonderful people.
Keep it up and enjoy our blog society!
Thanks Yun Yi. BC is a great place to be too. I also encourage you to also keep up the good work :)
DeleteCongratulations on reaching your milestone! That is truly amazing--50 blog posts in less than a year!! I always find your posts to be thought -provoking and I LOVE how you interact with your readers. You have a sharp mind and you are a very talented writer who gets to the heart of the matter without wasting any time. That's what I like about you--and I love the fact that you are a champion of so many causes and are not afraid to show a softer side when something affects you on a deeper level. I always come away from your blog having learned something--I wouldn't want to see you change a thing. I'm flattered that you would include me in your favorites, when it is you who inspires us all.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much menopausal mama. You have said such nice things which I really and truly appreciate. I'm hoping that 2013 will give me a fresh approach but we'll see what happens.
DeleteCongratulations and thanks for the "link love"!
ReplyDeleteBlogging is an addiction: pleasurable, frustrating, seducing, and probably not good for you, but who cares, right? :)
We all care Robert, and the 'love-link' was a pleasure. You given me some good jokes and lyrics to last a lifetime. Thanks.
DeleteCongratulations and thank you so much for including me in your list. :)
ReplyDeleteThe difficult thing about blogging for me is to find enough time because after having been at university all day I simply lack any inspiration, that's why I post on weekends now. But I love blogging and everything that is connected to it.
I agree with what all the others say, your blog is amazing and I'm looking forward to your posts every week. :)
Thanks Kleopatra. Blogging can be very time consuming especially if you have other priorities. Just had to make sure you were included of course. Keep up the wonderful posts.
DeleteYou might be thanking us for support and for reading, but seriously, thank you for being so dedicated, and generous with your time, as to give us such great posts. You have one of the very few blogs that really get me thinking, and wanting to comment on a topic. I definitely look forward to see what you do in the future. Here's to 50 more, RPD, and thanks a ton for the link back to A Brainless Nod.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dan. I'm glad that you've enjoyed my posts, and I always aim to try and get people to discuss matters, so I'm glad for all the comments I receive. Enjoy this season's treats and I'll be over to yours soon.
DeleteCongratulations Rum Punch, on reaching this milestone! I agree with all you've said, and then some. You have indeed met your goals, and your posts always provide good,fresh, fodder for thought. Thank you for your support as well. Here's a toast to you!
ReplyDeleteThank you Nell. I'm always happy to support blogs that I find interesting, simulating etc, and thanks again for your support.
DeleteCongratulations Rum! :D and thank you so much for the link, I'm so glad that I'm named amongst the people that inspire and support you! A great honor :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that blogging can be so stressful at times. I have just posted my 70th blog post and I constantly worry that no one is finding any of what I say interesting! lol Your posts are thought provoking and fascinating and I'll raise a toast to the next 50!
Wow Jade and congrats for getting to 70 posts. That's an achievement and hard work. I'm sure you have many people reading your blog but you don't it. All those reviews you've been getting, and a play? You are definitely doing something very right indeed. Thanks Jade.
DeleteHappy 50th post anniversary. I am a new reader and fan and I am very happy for you!
ReplyDeleteI look forward to your next 50!
Happy blogging!:-)
Thanks Jackie and a warm welcome to Rum Punch Drunk's blog. I hope you end up being here for the long run. :)
DeleteI shall also be visiting you, and congrats again on the great grandson.
Congrats to you on your blogging half century. (Does that make it a 'cent' or a 'ury'?) You have stimulated some lively discussion and caused some mulling in that time, I can tell you... I look forward to another 50 discussions!
ReplyDeleteThanks Melody, you too have given me some serious thought with your own blog. You go straight to the core and I'm always looking forward to get beaten up by your words (in a good way) :)
DeleteSo many blogs, so little time to read and blog-walk.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your 50th post. I like the AddGlitter touch.
Thanks Zobop, time is tight but I can assure you that they are all good reads.
Deleterpd, congratulations on reaching your half century. It's always a pleasure to drop by here and read all the insightful comments everyone leaves. You're so patient with us, so tolerant and fair-minded, it's no wonder we keep coming back for more. Looking forward to your next half-century of wonderful and stimulating discussions.
ReplyDeleteThanks NP, and I do enjoy your aphorisms too.
DeleteCongratulations RPD on your great accomplishement. I can't think of anything I would suggest you change. I have found every one of your posts that I have read to be practical, well-written, and thought-provoking. It is clear that you work hard to bring relevant content to your readers, week after week. Also, thank you for mentioning my blog and for the comments you have taken the time to make on my posts. Blessings, and happy blogging for 2013.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Frank, you have been very patient with me too. Enjoy the festive season and I'll be visiting again soon.
DeleteGreat Blog ... good blog rumpunch !....keep going
ReplyDeleteThanks Nepsyboy
DeleteFirst time reading you blog and love it. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteWelcome Lanthie, I do hope that you will continue to return and participate in the discussions too. I look forward to it :)
DeleteCongrats, Rum Punch, what an amazing accomplishment. Here's wishing you much more success in 2013! :-)
ReplyDeleteKyle, Thank you so much. I'm so glad to see you back blogging again, and have just commented on your latest post and looking forward to reading more from you. You have some very good articles on fatherhood despite being such a young man, so I hope others will also pop by and check out your blog to see what I mean:
ReplyDeleteFatherly Stuff
You did an excellent job, what a wonderful post you just wrote. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Susana :)
DeleteYou're Welcome. :)
DeleteI just could not let this day go by without stopping by to bring you good cheer & best wishes this holiday season, from me to you. So, I am hoping that the Christmas season will fill your home with joy, your heart with love and your life with laughter. Hope your holiday season is fun and festive my Blogger friend. :)
ReplyDelete--> http://i50.tinypic.com/28s8r5s.jpg
I have been neglecting my Blogger lately. Shame on me. None the less, I am returning with great anticipation of catching up with all the latest on you. Just because I have not been around lately, doesn't mean that I have not been wondering how you are doing. THANK YOU so much for mentioning me & my blog. What a great post. I certainly have a lot of catching up to do around here.
ReplyDeleteStay well, "...I shall be back..." :)
You are more than welcome Daily Dose of Musings. My next post will be in a couple of days, so I hope you come back to have a read. I shall of course be popping over to visit you as usual so looking forward to that. Enjoy the rest of the festive activities :)
DeleteCongrats on hitting the big 50! Keep up the good work and great posts!
ReplyDeleteJust followed on Blog Catalog too as I am also on there.
www.blog.theregularguynyc.com
Thanks for the congrats Phil. I'll be popping over at Blogcatalog later, so see you there and get involved with the discussions there too.
DeleteWow! I've just seen that I've been mentioned here. Thank you so much, RPD.
ReplyDeleteI don't always have the time to comment, but I'm one of those people who often stop by and read. I guess you could call me a 'spectator' or 'lurker'.
I would just like to say to you and to everyone how much I enjoy reading the articles and discussions on this blog. Well done to everyone.
Thanks Navigator. It's good to know that even if you don't comment you still take the time to read my posts. I'm very gratfeful for that. I hope in 2013 you continue to stop by here. Thanks again.
DeleteWhat a thoughtful post :) Well done mate! Here's to the most thoughtful blogger I know. Lol. Happy Holidays!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Lady Womble.
DeleteThank you for this list, I like to read blogs, they inspire me! As for me I find blogging very hard due to my knowledge of English, I have many ideas for new articles and hope my English will improve one day so I will be able to write interesting articles :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's a really good reading list with lots of variety, so I'm glad that you stopped by here and it's a pleasure meeting you Janna.
DeleteI'm sure your English will improve, especially if you continue to read/write more. You can also use the google translate to help but it's always better if you have friends who could assist in checking your articles and give you valuable feedback before you post.
Hope to see you soon.
Time has a way of flitting by before we are even aware sometimes and I am confident that some sweet day you will be celebrating blog post No. 1009 and you will stand in awe at the thought that you were able to find that many things to talk about.
ReplyDeleteYou definitely have a literary gift that attracts, holds attention and provides comfort in the indulgence. That is kind of rare and it is awfully pleasing when encountered.
In some ways, I guess I might be so bold (brash?) as to compare it to a full English Breakfast, complete with bangers and baked beans - - a favorite combination of mine to go along with all the rest of the lovely things on that plate . . . things that excite and comfort and console... things that relax and soothe away the cares of the day.
Keep up the good work my friend and go on and inspire generations!
Thanks for such kind words John, good to meet you here, and I hope you stay around long enough to participate and mingle with everyone when you can.
ReplyDeleteLoved how you compared me with a full English :). I'm a lover of food and wouldn't have it any other way. Oh, double egg, bangers, bacon, beans, mushrooms, tomatoes I could go on forever, so thanks.
Well, let's hope I can get to 1009, you never know but I'll do my best.