Personal – End of Year Wrap-Up

Back in January, I wrote these words:

As of today – the first non-holiday weekday of the new year – I’m going to try to write something every day.  Whether that’s a link to an interesting article I’ve seen lately and my thoughts, a project I’ve finished, a recipe that I’ve made, a show or movie that I’ve watched, a book I’ve read…I’ll talk about that here.  I might even talk about the things going on in my personal life every once in a while – my travel, my family, my friends.  But since this blog isn’t really about them, I won’t be naming them by their real names.

As for me, I really am Maggie Keller.  I’m a librarian, I work for the federal government, and I live in Arlington, Virginia.  I have a cat (Winston, pictured above), and I’m really hoping that I’ll be able to keep this up.

They say the best way to keep your resolutions is to make them public.  Well, this is mine.  I want to be a writer, and I’ve got to start somewhere.

I think I’ve done a pretty good job.  Every weekday that doesn’t happen to be a federal holiday, I’ve written something.  Some of them have been more abbreviated (by necessity or grief), but I’ve managed to get something out there.  I’ve written posts in advance for times when I’m on vacation or know I’m going to be busy.  I’ve had days when I got my post out very late, but I got it out, and that’s what counts.  So let’s take a look at what I’ve done.

By the Numbers:

At least 1966 views from more than 1000 visitors.

128 total comments, of which I’m sure half were mine (I like to respond directly to people who care enough to comment).

Apps – 5 posts, averaging more than 20 views per post!!!
Services – 5 posts
Events – 14 posts
Knitting – 3 posts
Movies – 20 posts
Articles – 3 posts
Personal – 42 posts
Recipes – 39 posts
Travel – 8 posts
Games – 5 posts
Theater – 13 posts
Restaurants – 14 posts
DIY – 5 posts
Books – 40 posts
TV – 18 posts
Sports – 6 posts (2 views per post)

15 posts for Reverb, including 6 for the month of December (you get the final one next week)

Top 5 posts of the Year (by hits):

Recipe – Cheesy Crock-Pot Brussels Sprouts Dip
Movie – Trolls
Apps – Newsblur
Event – Drink the District: Red White & Brew Festival
Movie – Ghostbusters

The 5 posts I’m most proud of are:

Book – Between the World and Me, because it was such an interesting and important book, and I tried to write my review in a way that did justice to the beauty of Coates’ own prose.

Personal – Life is like a Vintage Puzzle, because I came up with the post in my head while I did puzzles with my grandmother, and I was just so pleased at myself for thinking of so many ways that life and puzzles are alike.

Apps – Overdrive, because while it’s not a very popular post, I feel like it’s a useful one that people need to read.  Of course, lots of Library systems updated their Overdrive home pages, so perhaps I need to update my post.

DIY – Fall Wreath, because in addition to being easy to make, it felt easy to write.

Recipe – Bourbon Vanilla Layer Cake, because damn – I made that cake!

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So that’s it.  That’s where I stand at the end of the year.  I didn’t keep my promise to use fake names for everyone, but I did use pseudonyms for those who requested not to be named.  I no longer live in Arlington (hey hey Alexandria!), but I did manage to keep this blog up as planned.  The format is probably going to change a bit in the new year, but I’ll get to that next week.  In the mean time, have a safe and happy new year, and I’ll see you in 2017.