A Meanderings and Muses Milestone

Meanderings and Muses tipped the counter with 10,000 visitors this morning. (o.k. - yes, I did have to click a couple times to get it there. I'm not really a very patient person) .

Since I'm one of those people who thinks a little bit of celebration to mark an occasion (any occasion, really) is important and fun, it's only fitting I throw a little mini virtual celebration for this. Don't you think?!

Join me!


10,000 visitors.



Who would have ever guessed?!

Not me.

For real.

You'll remember that it was attending my first Bouchercon, and feeling the need to write about it, that kicked off the Meanderings and Muses blog. You'll remember, I'm sure - since I'm STILL squealing about it - I was over the moon goofy about what a great time I had in Baltimore.

The on-going experience since then of finally meeting people face to face who I've gotten to know over the internet, meeting writers I've admired for a long time, being welcomed into a community that is so special and so full of heart, has been one of the most gratifying experiences ever. The whole experience has extended into this blog. Many mystery/crime fiction writers and fans have already been guests here, with many more lined up for the rest of the year. I thank you all for taking the time to participate.

Meanderings and Muses has 59 posts to date. Some by me, and some by others. The two earliest posts were written by me, but were published originally at other places before M&M was "born." The first at The Stiletto Gang Blogspot at the invitation of my friends Marian & Rhonda of Evelyn David about my smoking. The second at Murderati at the invitation of the lovely JT Ellison about the virtual watercooler of the internet. I am extraordinarily proud of those pieces and will always feel quite honored to have been asked by those women to write them.

The other Meanderings and Muses participants have been writers - published and yet-to-be published, quite well-known writers and soon-to-be well known writers, readers, fans, and friends. We've chatted about hats. We've seen a new president step in. We've talked about Cambridge, and Boone, and girlfriends, and tears, and smoking and quitting, and Donald and Harley Doodle Barley. We've talked about creativity and the importance of red in our lives. We've been to see Willie Nelson in concert, and we've been on vacation at Topsail Island. I've had a revised version of one of my pieces here accepted for a regional anthology, and we've collected a few lovely little peer awards of which I'm quite proud. It's been a journey full of fun and it's been a learning experience. And I've made some mistakes. But you know - I've always been of the mind that if you don't make mistakes then you're probably just not doing anything. So, hopefully, those particular mistakes won't be repeated, which means I can just make new ones, but maybe not too many. And (again, hopefully), you'll understand that they're unintentional and accept my apologies and we can all move on and enjoy the good things.

Meanderings and Muses has become a huge part of my life. A part I'm quite proud of. And to those of you who have encouraged me in my efforts, thank you.

This was all going to be experimental, with concerns about who might actually want to participate and contribute and little niggling worries that no one would want to play. And that no one would drop by to chat. All those things are now things, I guess, I can quit fretting about. 'Course, I'll just find something else to fret about 'cause that's just me. But. The frettin' won't be about Meanderings and Muses. I'm feeling quite safely and happily positive about it. With the help of all of you, I feel it's been accepted and validated. Thank you.

My original goal was to have a guest a month. The response when I started asking people if they would join me was overwhelming, and I ended up with a guest a week. Then it grew to where we've been lucky enough to sometimes have two guests a week. You could just knock me over with a feather when I open my email and it's a note from someone telling me they would enjoy contributing. I love that and welcome each of you.

So. Join me please in this "Virtual Celebration" of who we are today, and the adventure it's been getting here in a few short months.

You folks who are DorothyL members are very much aware of "Virtual Parties." Honeys! I have been to some of the virtual parties thrown at DorothyL and they are amazing. A hoot, a holler, tons of fun, and lots and lots of good food. So, let the party begin. Come on in, have a glass of champage, tell me what this is that you've brought to share - it looks lovely!! Chocolate, you say - you've brought chocolate . . .