The Long Haul
By Mitch Berg
Today is this blog’s eighth birthday.
I”m not going to engage in much navel-gazing here, except to note that I’ve had this blog going far longer than any given job I’ve ever held. I’ve been doing it since before my kids were teenagers.
It’s been hugely fun, of course; it’s given me a social life, it led me back into tak radio (the first big love of my life) and it’s given me something constant, every day, in a life that usually gravitates toward chaos.
The only real change in eight years (besides a sweeping change in “look and feel” almost seven years ago, long overdue for an update) has been adding my friends Johnny Roosh, Bogus Doug and First Ringer over the past year and a half. And that, too, has been fun.
Anyway, thanks for reading all this time. I’m always amazed at how this blog has gone over, over the years. For almost the first year, my daily visitors went from single digits to maybe 40 a day. From there, it’s grown to over 2,000 unique visitors a day. Some someone’s having fun!
Anyway – thanks!
February 5th, 2010 at 6:47 am
Thank you, Mitch. You are a joy to read and I’ve learned many things from you.
February 5th, 2010 at 8:42 am
As another famous North Dakota celebrity was known to say: “Wunnerful, a Wunnerful! A fine family man!”
Shot in the Dark and Jo’s Attic were my inspirations that got me blogging, over 5 years now. The Attic is closed, but Shot in the Dark continues to plow the road for the rest of us.
February 5th, 2010 at 9:55 am
Congratulations, and thank you!
February 5th, 2010 at 10:11 am
We have to stop meeting like this. Over a pint of Smithwick is much more fun.
February 5th, 2010 at 10:26 am
Congratulations, Mitch. You’ve been a daily visit (usually more) almost since I started reading blogs.
February 5th, 2010 at 10:53 am
Huzzah! STD in the morning is one of the joys of life. (Uh, er, let’s go with SitD.)
February 5th, 2010 at 10:59 am
Here’s to many more years Mitch! Thank you for being the inspiration that got me started blogging, and for taking the time privately to answer so many questions from me. I could never have imagined the directions blogging has taken me either, but I should have expected that anything that started with you would lead to an adventure.
I agree with you on many things, disagree with you on as many others, but always – always – I enjoy reading what you write. You have a wonderful way with words, and your creativity is a delight.
Well done, Mitch. Well done.
February 5th, 2010 at 11:18 am
Nice place you have here, Mitch.
I’m not sure how I found this place originally but it would have been in late ’04 and probably as a result of Hugh mentioning the Northern Alliance. I was pondering starting a blog and wanted to research as many as I could to see how these new-fangled things worked and how various people went about doing it I loved the variety here, was stimulated by the discussions, was intimidated by the sheer volume and depth of the writing. It was an intimidating standard for someone starting out.
I’m glad I still decided to take the plunge, and I’m happy to come by and make this my first stop every day. Mitch, you and the guys are always good reads but I’ve especially come to enjoy the ongoing by-play in the commentary community. There are such great characters here of all stripes and I’d miss anyone if they dropped out…even angryclown. Though some might say that a day without ac is like a day without root canal (and I guess I just did) this place really wouldn’t be the same without him and it’s a credit to Mitch that ac, DG, RickDFL, apathyboy, Disco and charlieq are willing to keep participating here. Oh, okay, and penigma/peev/pb/nomme de jour, too.
As for you others – Kerm, swiftee, Mr D, Speed, Terry, Yoss, MoN and the countless ones I can’t help but leave out – thanks guys, and see you tomorrow!
February 5th, 2010 at 11:22 am
Happy Birthday to you!
You belong in a zoo!
You look like a rowdy
And you wear it real proudly!
Wait … that doesn’t scan … or really rhyme … nevermind. 🙂
Just remember what Jimmy Buffet said, “Years later, I grew older – not up”. Best to you on this day of celebration!
February 5th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
Huzzah!
Looking forward to new series of posts:
Eight Years Ago Today
Thanks for 8 years of infotainment.
February 5th, 2010 at 1:29 pm
Happy-happy BD shotinthedark. Many more to ya!!! Thanks Mitch!!!
February 5th, 2010 at 11:05 pm
Congratulations. That’s one heck of a run. Keep it up.
February 6th, 2010 at 11:56 am
One of the best things I found reading Hugh Hewitt’s blog was the “Northen Alliance” – read you and Powerline at least 3-4 days a week. Thanks for all your hard work!