Five years ago today I was headed to Kelowna with a van full of girls on our way to celebrate the birthday of one of our friends. I ended up sitting next to Amanda and we got to talking, as we are wont to do. She mentioned that she had been reading some blogs and wanted to start one of her own. “What is a blog?”, I asked. She told me that they were basically an online journal. She had been Googling something and had come across A Girl and A Boy, which led to her finding Whoorl and Secret Agent Josephine and, of course, Dooce.
An online journal? I had been writing in journals since I was a preteen and had been trying to figure out a way to share photos and stories of my kids with our family and friends who lived far away. Could this be what I had been looking for? The very next morning (July 16, 2005) I created a free Blogger account. (I deleted my Blogger account after I went self-hosted and used to feel dumb about it until Kris told me that blowing up my site was a sign of a bona fide blogger.)
This is my inaugural post:
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I’m new to the whole concept of “blogging.” I’ve been thinking about doing it as a means to distribute my propaganda. Namely, pictures and information about my kids.
After a night out with the girls last night…
I was inspired to get started. Now, a late night and an early morning (ala those same kids) does not make for an alert mind. I’m trying to see through the bleariness but it likely won’t get better until I have some of my beloved Diet Coke. Those who know me know I like the stuff. Those who know me well know that I don’t go a day without it.
I haven’t read many blogs, but what I’ve seen is that it is just a way for everyone to get their thoughts out there. Last night I started thinking…what do I have to say that people would want to read? Then I realized that we all have many aspects to ourselves, and I haven’t even discovered all of mine yet. Maybe some will come out as I write.
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Maybe some will come out as I write.
Little did I know.
(Look at how LITTLE Graham and Nathan were. Makes me a wee bit nostalgic.)
Five years later and I call Leah, Sarah and Brenda friends. I have stayed at each of their homes and Leah is my BlogHer roommate this year. Funny, this thing called Internet. I’ve made many other friends thanks to this site, far more than I could ever link to, but some of my favorites will be guest posting for me while I’m on vacation next week. Wait for it.
Since going self-hosted with Dutch Blitz I have written 1,344 posts, received 22,252 comments, read an unlimited number of emails, Twitter replies and Facebook responses. You guys have showered me with love and laughter and a plethora of, “ME TOO!” statements. I find myself surrounded by a community that is like none other.
Here is where I give a big Thank You. Thanks for reading, for listening, for commenting and for just being here. I’d speak into the void if I had to, because I cannot help it, but you guys have filled that void.
If you want to help me celebrate five years of ramblings, feel free to say hello. If you need to answer a question, how about your favorite color? I’ll go first.
Hi! My name is Angella and my favorite color is blue. Red is a close second. Since having a girl, pink and purple is on the radar. Ish.
And you?
Hey you! Congrats on the 5 year blogging anniversary … mine is coming up in September!
If you & I hadn’t started blogging, we wouldn’t be friends. Gosh, I can’t imagine that! Although we haven’t yet been able to meet because of a FREAKIN’ HUGE OCEAN that separates us, I know we will one day. If not on this earth, then in heaven!! Woohoo
xx
.-= Hannah´s last blog ..Macaroni Cheese =-.
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Hi Angella.
My favourite colour is blue too. Like how I made my words Canadian? 
.-= Kandi´s last blog ..Blueberries and Ivy =-.
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Angella,
Thought it was finally(!) a good time to say hello and let you know that your blog rocks!
Two favorite colors, sky blue and lush green (after a rain storm).
Congrats on your anniversary!
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Hello, my name is Camilla and I think my favorite color is green. I have been reading your blog a few months now, and I like to read about your family and your kids. That makes me sound like a stalker, but it’s like reading a saga while it’s being written! Plus it has more pictures than a book!
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Hi! My name is Carrie and my favourite colour is green… or purple… depends on the day. I’m also your cousin and without your blog we probably would never have connected. I’m so glad we did!
*waving madly from Central Europe*
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Five years, well done!!! Indeed congrats on being faithful to us and your family to share your life
!
My favorite color is purple, but I sure do like light turquoise and lime green these days!
.-= April´s last blog ..Another Favorite Pic! =-.
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I’ve been a reader for about a year and will be until you quit writing. Hope that doesn’t happen! The internet and blog world sure is lovely.
My favorite color is teal and sage. I’m kind of addicted to sage colored things, mostly for house things.
.-= Laura Radniecki´s last blog ..Wednesday Wonders =-.
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Congrats on 5 years! I wish I had kept all of my many blogs throughout the years. As you said though, I guess that’s a sign of being a blogger. And my favorite color is blue, too.
.-= C @ Kid Things´s last blog ..Sometimes Losing is Winning =-.
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Happy Anniversary! My favourite color used to be black and my favourite phrase was, “I’m not some stupid girl, I hate pink!” Which probably stemmed from the fact that my mother has “intersting” taste and dressed me weird as a kid. I carried that long into teen and early adult years. Then I had children, girls in fact, apparently I think pink is pretty awesome, awesome enough infact that I can even rock it. Who knew? So my favourite color now would have to be pink in moderation.
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Congrats of 5 years blogging!
My name is Kate I like different colors depending on what they are for.
Clothes- navy blue, grey, green
Color in general (ie ipod, phone, etc) red
Paint- green, grey, and yellow
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Happy 5th Anniversary! You have a wonderful way with words and your warm personality always shines through.
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Happy 5 years! That’s a long time my friend, congratulations on what you have made this site, it is something to be proud of. I am glad to call you friend and am so happy that we got to know each other through this wonderful thing called blogging.
And my favourite colours right now (I am fickle) are blue and brown together or pink and brown together.
.-= Kami’s Khlopchyk´s last blog ..Girl time with a little work thrown in =-.
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My favorite color is the much-dissed yellow—specifcally, a bright, slightly orangeish yellow. I also like bright orange.
Happy anniversary, Angella! I’m glad that I can call you friend too, and have hugged you and painted pottery with you and sat on the beach with you.
Hooray for blogging!
.-= bethany actually´s last blog ..Let me ’splain…no- there is too much Let me sum up =-.
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Crazy how much blogging changed your life, hey? Think of all the opportunities, the new friends, the discovered hobbies and talents. Happy Five Years!
(Robin’s egg blue.)
.-= Amanda Brown´s last blog ..The Fog =-.
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Wicked congrats! I feel like I’ve been reading you FOREVAH! (My fave color is yellow. My fave color to WEAR is black.)
.-= sarahviz´s last blog ..Scary- But Fine =-.
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I’m Cindy and my favorite color is green, blue is a close second.
Congrats on 5 years! Woohoo!!
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I love purple… and black.
Blogging truly is amazing, isn’t it?!
.-= Jill – GlossyVeneer´s last blog ..A Missing Part =-.
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I’m Danny. I like blue.
Happy anniversary!
.-= Danny´s last blog ..Stoned =-.
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Happy Blog-a-versary!
.-= Heather´s last blog ..Because they took me to the South of France =-.
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Let’s see, I am pretty sure my favourite colour is green. Almost all hues of green.
Happy anniversary!
.-= Gwen´s last blog ..July 1st- A New Winter =-.
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Hi there! I’m Stephanie, and my favorite color is green
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Wow! Five years! Congrats!!
.-= MO´s last blog ..Fun was had by all- =-.
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I’m so glad you’re in my reader!
I’m Jess, and my favourite colour is blue. I love red, too, and cringe when my daughter chooses EVERYTHING for its purple or pink tones.
.-= daysgoby´s last blog ..driving along in my automobile =-.
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Hi, my name is Chris and my favorite colour is blue (all shades). Closely followed by (light) green and yellow.
Congratulations on your 5 year blogaversary!
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Hi I’m Adele and my favourite colour is red, I can’t believe it’s been five years I think that was my very first girls night out oh how the time flies!
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Hello from England! My name is Sam and my favourite colour is red.
I came across your blog a few months back and am very envious of the scenery where you live! Congratulations on five years.
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Hi I’m Karen, I’m in Alaska, and I love reading what you write. I’m almost brave enough to start writing an honest-to-goodness blog of my own, definitely sometime this year. Too many notes and pictures just randomly stashed here and there – I want to keep them all in one cozy place. Thanks for being so motivating!
.-= kinak´s last blog ..niagra392- Why is it that only when Im in a hurry- I hit every red light AND have to wait for the train that has stopped- blocking all traffic lanes =-.
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Hi. I’m Elizabeth. My 5years is just around the corner and it was reading Christy that got me into this world…
I like blue, though orange on the walls is my new fave…
.-= Elizabeth´s last blog ..What a helpful big sister! =-.
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We started blogging the same year.
My anniversary came and went this past February.
I can thank SAJ for many of my blog finds- I believe including you!
.-= sizzle´s last blog ..In the Om =-.
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How cool is that? Five years is a good solid amount of time (I get such secret satisfaction when someone is all “oh, blogging looks easy/fun/pointless, I could do it too.” And then their blog lasts approximately ten minutes and three posts. Ha!).
.-= Janssen´s last blog ..Due Date =-.
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Congrats on the landmark, aka blogmark (: 5 years WOW some people don’t do anything for 5 years.
My favourite colour is usually purple, but I slide over to both pink and blue depending on my mood.
As a long distance cousin its been fun getting to know you through your blog.
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Just thought I should come out of the woodwork after reading for so long…
My current color obsession is mustard yellow. Deep turquoise and plum are runners-up.
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Congrats on your five year blogging anniversary. What a great accomplishment to celebrate.
Red.
.-= M.Bailey´s last blog ..smartiebailey- so hot ilovesummer =-.
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Angella,
I just love your blog. I check it for updates daily. I laugh out loud so often and anyone else in the room will ask, “what’s so funny?” YOU that’s who! keep it up.
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Congrats lady!
I’m glad to have met you THROUGH OUR BLOGS.
I’m Jen. My favorite color is pink. Black is a close second. AND I KNOW IT’S A “SHADE AND NOT A COLOR” BUT I DON’T CARE.
SEEEEEEEE YOOOOOOOOOOOOU SATUUUUUUUUUUUURDAY!
.-= Jen Wilson´s last blog ..Today I … =-.
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Five years. Wow, that’s awesome Angella. And I’m loving your ‘stats’ that you listed. I’m so glad you write here. It’s wonderful. And the pictures from then and now are wonderful. Happy ‘blogiversary’!! Here’s to many more years of Dutch Blitz-ing!
p.s. I go between greens and blues all the time, especially like that ‘spa’ greenish/blueish color… hmmmm…
.-= Elaine´s last blog ..You Capture – Vehicles =-.
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Congrats! Every once in a while, I think of writing my own blog but never actually do…Maybe one day!
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It’s so crazy how fast time flies. I’ve been blogging forever. (Since I was 12! I’ve had like 7 different blogs–I was a fickle teen.)
My favorite color is turquoise blue. Hee
.-= Sarah´s last blog ..I have a cat =-.
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Happy Blogging Anniversary!!
I fave colour is blue
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Hi my name is Hilary, and my favorite color is green… although, I love pink and orange too! Congrats on your 5 year anniversary. I first learned about blogs only about four months ago, and that is when I found yours. I have loved reading it ever since. At the same time, I started writing. However, I thought my writing would be a fluke, lasting only a few weeks (like most of my other hobbies). I never thought that I would continue to write, enjoy it so much, and get to meet so many wonderful, interesting people!
.-= Hilary´s last blog ..Houseguest hilarity =-.
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PURPLE!!!!
I’m glad to have found you.
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Congratulations on 5 years. I am Suzy, my favorite color is purple, followed by red, and I hate blue.
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Congrats! I’ve been reading for awhile, and I like grey. Thanks for your writing and photos, they are beautiful.
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Happy Anniversary! My favorite color is purple. And I like your determination to be happy.
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Late to the anniversary post but HAPPY Blogging Anniversary Angella! So glad you decided to do it, yours is one of my faves – kiss kiss!
btw – my favorite color is sometimes black, sometimes green.
.-= monstergirlee´s last blog ..You Capture – Vehicles =-.
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Happy blogiversary! My four year one is this October!
It will always be one of the best things I have ever done in my life, because of the awesome people (like you!) that I have met!
xoxo
.-= Kristabella´s last blog ..I’m Sending You Elsewhere =-.
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Wait. If you are 5 years in, that means I’m 5 years in. WHOAH.
(Sorry. Just reading this. In the foggy newborn phase right now.)
.-= whoorl´s last blog ..I Think I’m in Love — Gilligan & O’Malley Nursing Tanks =-.
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