nobody asked…

May 7, 2005, a day that shall live in apathy, Winston Rand cautiously put his toes in the vast cold waters of the Blog Sea. Out-Of-The-Box Experience, the inaugural post, started with a tentative “ I am excited AND scared to death…” and concluded with the smart-assed “… what the hell…here goes!” A full week later, May 14, the second post also dealt with the mechanics of this new experience, but pointed to where this journey would go - “… some serious regurgitation.” Then on May 21 came the first two real posts.

May 21, 2005, on his fourth posting, and the first to really give a glimpse of who this mystery man, Winston Rand, really is, came the first of what would be many close encounters of the oddest kind, the first comment on May 28. It is said you never forget your first time, and that iridescent experience hammered the point home. The commenter was a chic babe female blogger lady chic named PaulaO, who whispered these sweet nothings in Winston’s ear:

How ’bout them Vols!!??

Saw a bumper sticker a long time ago:
Beat the rush - Hate Bama early.

Those tender comments endeared Paula to Winston for all time. Indeed, he found Paula to be the most knowledgeable and generous blogger using WordPress running on a Dreamhost server and living in Western North Carolina. Paula, Winston sends along his undying gratitude and says “Check is in the mail…”

There are so many things that could be said on this first anniversary, things that could bore you in the ways to which Winston has you accustomed. Winston was thinking of an indepth exploration of his intellectual development that has paralleled the global adoption of his writings as must read material for thinking individuals everywhere. Or perhaps an analysis of the writing that has been displayed here for the past year, searching out his one defining magnum opus. Or perhaps an enumeration of other blogs that Winston views as best in class. All worthy subjects indeed. For the future, perhaps. But not this special day. Today Winston extends heartfelt thanks to a few very special people who helped and encouraged him from before the beginning. Without these people goading him on with punishing lines like “You’re not smart enough to do a blog!”, these fabled annals would not have come to pass. No significance should be attached to the order in which these individuals are executed mentioned.

PaulaO, previously mentioned as the first commenter, has continued to offer free help and assistance and advice on WordPress and other less pressing matters. Her offerings are worth every penny they cost!

In the months leading up to starting nobody asked…, Winston did what any totally baffled neophyte would do - wring his hands, pound the wall, and cry a lot. In between those moments, he toured the blog world, reading everything he could find, examining the options, the looks, the feels, all in an effort to identify how he was to blog, who to use for hosting, what the site should look like. During that process, several bloggers were contacted for input and opinion to help shape the embryonic beginnings of Winston’s new folly. Amazingly, all who were contacted came through with a reply, all eager to come to the aide of a newbie who dared intrude on the their space and time with such trivial questions. This generous response forged a strong resolve for Winston to aid and abet all beginners who might come his way seeking help. He reports not being much bothered by this. Perhaps newbies take one quick disgusted look at Winston’s work and flee, seeking help elsewhere. Nevertheless, his resolve is intact, should anyone dare to ask…

One of the first sites to which Winston was drawn, one he still frequents though it spins in a slightly offset parallel universe, is Equivocality. Jeff, a young Canadian, uses his weblog as a diary, tracking the perils and pleasures, the pits and the passions, of living and loving and learning. Jeff has recently changed the look of his site, and it is not as pleasing to Winston as the rich gray grid previously employed, but the content remains at a very high level. Jeff’s photographic talents, which are considerable, are frequently displayed along with his love of cats. Thanks go out to Jeff!

Early on, Winston identified Frank Paynter (who we all know as the Sandhill guy, though his new site is listics) as one of the gurus who have travelled this road long enough to be responsible for the ruts that define where those who follow will go. Frank was most generous with his comments and time in the critical early stages of Winston’s effort. Winston does not wish to be Frank, or even be like Frank, but does continue to learn from Frank and stands quietly in awe, eyes cast down, as he passes this way. Thank you Frank!

While Frank augmented Winston’s knowledge of the mechanics and tools of blogging, Ronni Bennett of Time Goes By was instrumental in helping Winston’s understanding of the protocols, the etiquette, the rules of the road. While he may not always have been a straight “A” student, Winston acknowledges with thanks the instruction and assistance Ronni provided. Thank you Ronni!

There were many others who have been helpful in one way or another in making this first year a fun packed learning experience, some with their direct assistance, some from whom we learn by observing what they do, and others simply by their presence.That list would be long, but here are a few individuals Winston specifically wishes to thank and acknowledge:

• Ann, the Nashville half of Mason-Dixon Knitting
• CGHill aka Chaz of Dustbury fame, who recently celebrated his 10th anniversary, and who continues to churn out some of the best writing to be found in the blogosphere.Ten years! Just imagine that…
• The Body Electric herself, Mary Godwin, for critique and feedback that has made Winston think, and hopefully made him better.
• Everybody’s favorite, Tamar, for being her. And for being big enough to disagree without being disagreeable.

If anyone really read all this and got this far, thank you too! There would be no blogs without readers, or if there were, they would not really matter but would simply be intellectual masturbation in the privacy of our own minds. Of course, some of it is anyway. A hearty thanks to all who read and all who comment here. Please come back and sit a spell when time permits. There’s always something different, occasionally interesting, and not too often boring…