A Blogiversary Link Festival

Welcome to my 282nd post. Ok, I know that doesn't seem so special.

But to be accurate, this must be more like my thousandth post altogether, as this is one of nine blogs I've started in the past five years. Six have been abandoned or deleted before this one was even begun, one year ago today. I've never reached a blogiversary before, so I feel this must be an achievement of sorts: me reaching a second June 20th with the same URL.

And after a year's gone by, I'm sorry to see that my first and all-time favourites, Catherine and Moo-Dog, don't post half so much as they used to when I started---though whenever they do it's still the first place I go to read. Peggy and Mimi, I know you're busy but I'm putting you on that list too: post more and let me know how you're doing! Fortunately Brighid has just come home and I'm looking forward to her photos from her holiday. (Hint!!)

I feel quite smug knowing Radge's real name, Baino's too, while I line up my voodoo dolls here wishing both of them the best of luck job-wise. And I know Grandad's name too, which is on his book that I still haven't finished yet because my family keeps 'borrowing' it. Must be THAT good.

Ken and his stories have kept me going when I often wanted to quit, then Hope found me and feels like a long-lost twin: I could never quit now.

After all these months, only Maxi now knows my secret shame, that even my husband's not privy to, and Elizabeth knows even more than he does (and Truman has photographs? Oh no!) If the reverend knew English Mum had such company in Cavan, he'd be quite shocked.

When I posted a few tributes to Hawaiian gods (and half-naked kahiko hula dancers, admittedly), in the sidebar and then in that often-visited no-pants post, I was afraid that Kuka'ilimoku would be offended by my disrespectful haoli ignorance, but instead he seems to have led me to wonderful Hawaiians I couldn't do without now including Kay, Gigi, Quilly and Thom. Who knew that grumpy-looking naked war gods could be so gosh-darn sweet?

Sylvia, Sandy and Chimera always inspire me and that mightily; Granny Sue soothes my West Virginia cravings (and so does Yeti though he's a bit South of there), and Ashley understands all my staying-home-with-three-kids blues.

Recently Mr. Know-it-all has me writing flash fiction for the first time in my life, the Very Hungry Caterpillar has me writing for kids, and K8 the Gr8 now makes me wonder if I want a tattoo (do they come in 'painless'?) . PJ Lynch and Niamh Sharkey make me wish I could draw better (and I am practicing more) while Rachel inspires me to go hear poetry in Scotland...I'm game for it, but when shall I go?

I'll plan that trip for my second blogiversary, perhaps. Because I might even make it to that, who knows?

And now, all those linkies have me pooped, so I'll put off listing fiction markets until tomorrow. In celebration of the day that's in, I believe I'll spend the rest of my afternoon in search of cake...

Happy weekend everyone, especially to all you Dads out there!