Four years ago...

OK, so, this post is posting across the Intertubes on Thursday the 24th, but I'm writing it on Tuesday the 22nd-- four years to the day of the first post to this blog.  This post marks post number 812 in the illustrious history of 53 Beers on Tap.

Four years is not five (duh!) and perhaps a more restrospective view is more appropriate for a fifth anniversary.  But four years has a lot of significance too.  It's an Olympiad.  it's a term of a lot of various levels of elected officials' careers.  A newborn in 2008 is attending pre-K now.  So what's gone on in my world over the last four years (plus a few days into the future-- I am going to cheat a little, because it's my damn blog!)

I started writing at age 40; I'm 44 now.

My son graduates high school (in a week) and he was accepted to the college of his choice, Penn State, where he's going to stufy journalism.

My daughter had four ankle sprains, ultimately needing reconstructive surgery and a four-month rehab.  She's back to her soccer and lacrosse now.

I lost 50 pounds, gained back 35, and have lost another 15.

I moved.

I had a car accident.

I met a lot of new friends who I adore very much.

I strengthened bonds with old friends.

I let toxic people leave my life.

I kept the same job.

And that's just a top ten.  Sure I left stuff out.

All during this time, this blog has continued to entertain, amuse, infuriate, annoy, disgust, anger and celebrate you, the readership.  Those who I lovingly call "The Eight" but who I know are many, many more.

My favorites are always those who never know if what I'm writing is meant to be satirical or not.  As models, I write my blog like a local, bloggy version of the Howard Stern Show.  I am provocative because my intent is to be provocative.  Not pro or anti anything, not right wing, left wing, or wingnutty.  Not promoting any agenda at all.  Well, except to exile Ann DeLacy.  She's just horrible.

Perhaps a better analogy is this old commercial for the World Wrestling Federation.  Or the Edgar Allen Poe story "Hop-Frog".  For sometimes the role of this blog is for me to play the jester, and expose the cruelty of the so-called "civilized world".  And there are precisely zero places that celebrate civility so much, yet hypocritize the concept so, as Howard County.

So friends, let's raise a glass (I'll have tonic water with lime) to the next four years of 53 Beers on Tap.  Your 2011 Mobbie award winner remains at your service!!!  Lucky you.

Comments

[columbia20soemthing]

Congratulations!

[wordbones]

MM,

Congrats on four years and eight hundred plus posts. Most blogs flame out within a year. You're a survivor.

Here's to another Olympiad for the Marshmallow Man!

-wb

[Nike Sko]

Nike brand manager, Xu Ying i selskapet i tre år. Når det kommer til merkevarestrategi, har hun blitt understreket at Nike er å skape og lede en kultur. Stolt av henne skoen kultur i Kina har skapt.