Today’s the big day!
Scott-O-Rama.com is one year old! Happy Blog Birthday to me!
Yes, one year ago today I was really, really bored so I decided to check into some web phenomenon that I kept hearing about called blogging. I was already reading a few blogs on the web, Hot Toddy’s Toaster Oven and Whine & Cheese come immediately to mind, but I really didn’t know too much about blogging. I read a comparison review of blog services on PC Magazine that gave TypePad its Editor’s Choice award, so that’s where I started.
Those of you who were with me from the near beginning may remember a very simple 3-column layout with a blue border across the top. I used the tag-line “A Virtual Potluck of All Things Scott” at that time, and the site had very little going for it in terms of design. I wish I had a screenshot of it, but I don’t. Later I switched to a lime green border with some pink accents (including the picture of Fry from Futurama at the right) which stayed all the way until I came up with my very first banner- a version of the PinPal theme I use on my blog today. I was inspired to create it out of jealousy I had over Whine & Cheese’s fancy banners. As time went by, I got creative and started rotating the same PinPal banner over and over again, but with different taglines.
That set-up lasted until the beginning of June when Lisa at E.Webscapes created a fantastic retro theme for my blog. A modified version of that theme is still available in the theme chooser drop-down box in the sidebar. It was a complete redesign and got me hooked on themes for my blog. At the end of June, I moved off of TypePad to go to WordPress, and for my six-month blogoversary I introduced another new theme, Futuristic, designed by Web Divas. That theme is also still available in the sidebar. Later that summer I brought PinPal back in the current default theme for my blog (designed by Becca at E.Webscapes), and in October I designed my first theme by myself for Halloween.
During the year that I’ve been blogging, I’ve had some ups and downs. Readership was very slow at first, so in February of last year I decided I needed to pull a “Shameless February Sweeps Ratings Stunt” and created the now infamous Shirtless Athletes Gallery. It was meant as a joke, but it began bringing so much traffic to my blog, I decided to keep it. In fact, I am the number one search result for “shirtless athletes” on both Yahoo! and Google.
Buckaroo didn’t know about my blog during the first month and a half. Finally on February 21st I came out to him and admitted “Yep! I’m a blogger.” He wasn’t too surprised knowing how much I like to play on the computer, but at first he had no interest in reading my blog. After a couple of weeks he finally took a peek at it, and from then on he was hooked. He used my blogroll to explore new blogs, and in turn their blogrolls to find even more new blogs. His blogroll is now longer than mine. Occasionally he will write something for my blog, although he himself though has no interest in starting a blog of his own.
Other blog “events” that happened over the course of the year include me enlisting the help of the blogosphere to get my friend Barbara to blog, a “burn” by blog review site Blogg’d, a blog war with that no-name author Rob Byrnes which ended with his complete and utter surrender, and some wonderful guest bloggers. Then of course there is the charity work I did for the poor victims of Noassatol. In October I started a new discussion blog called, appropriately enough, Discuss It. I have had a chance to get to know some of you really well by exchanging e-mails and phone calls. Buckaroo and I also made some wonderful new “real world” friends in Ed and Todd.
According to WordPress, this is my 373rd post which averages out to one a day even though there were some dry spells along the way. WordPress also tells me that I’ve had 2,832 comments which blows my mind! Site Meter says I’ve had 406,230 visitors to my blog as of this writing. That’s another stat that absolutely amazes me because it is more people than in the entire community where I grew up (the Quad Cities, Illinois-Iowa). Popular search terms that have brought people to my blog include “that Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr Pepper song,” “monchichi,” “I hanker for a hunk of cheese,” “salad tossing” (oh no wait… that’s Rob Byrnes), and “shirtless” anything.
I am so incredibly honored and humbled when I think about all the success this blog has had, and now one of my readers, Nukapia, has told me that she is nominating me for Best GLBT Blog in the 2006 Bloggies and is encouraging others to do the same. I am so flattered I get misty-eyed just thinking about it. I really owe it all to you, my loyal blog readers, and I’d like to pay you back.
For my blog birthday, I’m going to give you all the gifts. Five lucky readers of Scott-O-Rama will win 500 Blog Explosion credits each. That translates into five hundred guaranteed visitors to your own blog! All you need to do to enter is leave a comment with your name (or nickname) and your Blog Explosion member ID. I will put all the names into a hat and have Buckaroo draw the winners one week from today. Entries (comments) must be received by Wednesday, January 11th at 12:00pm MST- only one entry per person please. If you’re not already a Blog Explosion member, sign up now. It’s free and it will drive traffic to your site.
Again, thank you so much for making Scott-O-Rama a success for me. I appreciate each and every one of you more than you know.
Entries (RSS)
You have my vote scott…and thanks for being a great landlord!!
L
wow! has it really been a year already? happy first blogoversary!
thank you for keeping me entertained this past year. I look forward to many many more years of fun reading!
*smooch*
I found your blog from the rocket thing at BE, so - this is a first visit. (;
Happy Birthday to YOU. (=
Many happy returns. (;
(BE user pandorabox)
Scott, I have certainly enjoyed every visit to your blog. Thanks also for your contributions to the blogging community.
I can’t believe you are already a year old.
You are growing up so fast. 
Of course I have only been a reader for about 6 months when I found you and you turned me on to Dreamhost.
Happy Blog Birthday Scott! I have enjoyed reading your blog and hope you continue to make me laugh.
HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY
happy blog birthday scott!!!
Happy Blog Birthday Scott!!
While I have not been with you from the begining, I do go back and read some archives.
I personally want to thank you for the invite you sent me to wordpress, so now I have my own blog up and running. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Yours is a Blog I definately check out once a day, if not more.
Raising a toast to many more Blog Birthdays!!!
Congratulations on one year blogging! I don’t comment much, but I do have you in my feed reader, so I read your posts nearly every day, and always enjoy them. And Discuss It is fantastic too, I’ve been meaning to leave comments and do some discussing, but I’ve been brain dead lately.
Anyway, congrats.
Congrats on the year… Mine comes up on the 11th.
BE member: guppyman
Happy Blogoversary! Glad I provided at least a little inspiration… I remember the days of the TypePad basic template, I think back then when you were jealous of *my* blog stats… ah, the good ‘ole days… haha! Get a little misty thinking of how S-o-R has grown (and grown and grown and grown!). Congrats! And thanks for the shout-outs, I could use some hits over at my ‘lil ‘ole blog!
Congratulations Scott, I really enjoy your blog…and your photo gallery has introduced me to the joys of French Rugby…..THANK YOU!!!!
Congratulations Scott!! You have done a great deal in your first year and we look forward to many more!
Wow, you’re super generous. I do not wish to enter (as I would feel guilty if I won), but good luck to those who do! Hope you get your Bloggies nomination! *hug*
Happy Blogging Birthday!
I’ve read your blog for a while now but never left a comment. But seeing as you are offering the chance to win something, I thought this was a good reason to break my silence.
Keep up the good work!
Jennifer
(BE id: jenszabo1)
i know i’ve seen you around BE.. in SB & BOTB.. always winning this guy.. just the same, cheers on your birthday!
Happy Birthday!!!
I don’t know if the time for the deadline is over but my BE ID is … Skittles.
Congratulations! Blogging is like Dating. The first year is the hardest. And sometimes the most fun.
Congratulations!! Mine turns a year old this month as well
BE member: hterry
Happy Anniversary.
But that blog war? It ain’t over, bitch!
I love that you posted your birthday blog message at 12:01 a.m.!!! It is one of the many little things that make you and your blog so special! I hope you were sitting at the computer with a glass of champagne or something equally as celebratory. Mazel Tov! Happy Blog Birthday.
Scott/Baby
I’m a sucker for free BlogExplosion credits, so count me in (ID = mamasrant).
And Happy Birthday. I loved the recap. It’s not too often that you find out the who, what and why someone decided to blog, unless you were in from the beginning.
Congrads!
ONLY a year? ONLY A YEAR? You are such an overachiever.
Oh and by the way… rcktmanil is my ID. Just in case!
Love ya Scott (and Buckaroo too!) Thanks for everything. Congrats!!!
Happy 1 year anniversary! Can’t find my BE member ID. Phooey!
oops… this was supposed to be here, not back in July with the burn!:
Well Happy Birthday. Heck, that must mean my blog is getting close to a year old too ’cause we started around the same time…there was a blizzard, I was bored…I can’t believe I lasted a week let alone almost a year. Thanks for some good fun, Ma Nah Ma Nah, and if you’ll excuse me now I suddenly find that I hanker for a hunk of cheese!
and oh all right all right, although I am the diametric opposite of shameless self-promoter…bonniefrogma is my BE ID. If I win I think I might actually break the big 10,000!
Scott rocks! Yay Scott!
(or roughly translated…”gimme credits!”) 
I’ll add my 2 cents - happy blogiversary!! I always enjoy what you have to say and think that you do a terrific job! I especially like the boogie boogie weekend songs!
Happy Birthday.
Surfup23
Happy Birthday to your blog!
I’ve been reading for a few months now. Hope the coming year totally rocks for you! 
Oh yeah, BE id is zengrrl.
Happy Bloggiversary!!!
Love your blog!
Ashar Edith
Congrats on this august occasion. And now to amuse you:
I first had to go to Blog Explosion to try and log in, since I couldn’t even remember whether or not I was already a member (I was). Then I went all over the site trying to figure out what my ID was (I couldn’t). So don’t bother entering me in the contest since even if I won, I wouldn’t know what to do with the credits anyway and they would be wasted.
Still haven’t bothered to try and get the Ipod working either. It’s been over a week.
Happy Blog-day!
My ID is deweydjb but I am still not sure what the credits are for…
Many happy returns of the day. Here’s to many more years of blogging. Have I told you lately how much I love your site!
Happy belated New Years while we are at it.
Love,
RagDoll
Happy Blog Birthday Scott!
This was one of the first blogs I ever started reading, and is still one of my favorites.
But, with shirtless (and sometimes naked!) rugby players it’s not hard to see why…
happy blogiversary! mine was last month. man, that year flies by quickly
BE id: mrsdort (aren’t I creative?)
happy blogiversy…
no, not intrested in the credits… i got enough from you @ botb and will ’steal’ you more till i got 500 as well
keep on blogging… many many more years…
My Blogexplosion ID is SideKickJesse
Happy Blog-o-Birthday, Scott-o-Rama!
Nice way to celebrate–by giving a chance for a gift to us! Very generous of you, dude.
Many happy posts….
congrats on your first year, and may you have many more to come.
Happy Blogiversary to you, Scott!!
-PM
(PureMood on BE)
Happy Blogversary to you!
I am so glad I found your blog. Love it. Love it. :)) I look forward to the next year of Scott
Groovy layout, lovin’ it!
Happy 1st! Just celebrated mine 2 mos. ago.
blogexplosion ID= csmack
Happy Birthday, Mr Expensive-to-rent!
Laters.
Flo.
(BE ID= ballacorkish) (yeah, baby!)
A year already?! Happy BDay!!
Hope this blog will still be around for many more
ibis
(BE id = ibis)
Congratulations on reaching a great milestone! Keep up the good work.
Suzanne
B/E id:keadamna
Congrats Scott! I know I haven’t been around as much as I’d like, but I always enjoy my visits when I’m here! Keep up the great work. Now go out and celebrate!
(BE ID is Denzola)
Hay Scott!! A hardy And most heart felt congraduations on your first birthday of “Scott-O Rama! I have been following your progress for the last several months and must say that I am impresed with your blog!
Having said that; I would like to join in with the many others who have entered!
my blogexplosion handel is “texasbunch”
Best wishes for the many years to come!
I was going to wish you happy birthday BEFORE you offered the credits! Through BE I swing by often. Congrats on your 1 year, and here’s to another!
Leigh (sourbaine)
http://www.mendingresolute.com
http://www.thespinningpen.blogspot.com
http://www.theresolutereader.blogspot.com
Hey dude!
Love the themes. Especially the default one.
My BE member thingy is jshuru
Happy blog birthday! My blog is barely 6 months old.
Hi Scott! Happy Birthday!! I’ve never paid attention to what my blog birthday is… hmmm. Anyway I love your blog and have it on my BlogRolling List.
My BE member id is: emerald05
Happy Birthday and eat lots of cake!!
Emerald
Happy Birthday Scott!! Count me in on the celebration.
melaniej is my BE id.
I have a feeling that I’m going to win.
BE id: hantojin
Happy Birthday! I’m a capricorn myself and my birthday is next week Friday 13th
Scott, you ROCK!
BE = chancer
I’ve been here multiple times but never left a comment, I guess with credits involved I migt as well stop being lazy and leave one
I look forward to reading more on the website for awhile to come.
ADNoland is my member ID for BE>
You have given me some great promotional ideas. My new goal is to be the number one site when people search “topless screenwriters.” They will be disappointed to discover I always blog with my clothes on. Best wishes, JGTH
Happy Blogging Birthday Scott!!!
id:dreamgirl
Happy Blogiversary!
Has the BlogExplosion credits finally wooed me to make a comment? Probably.
My BE ID is earlkits btw.
Take care, until next comment,
Larry
Happy, happy (belated) blog-o-versary!
Wow!
Happy Blog-Day Scott! Mr Popular today, huh? lol..
And Happy New Year, btw.. 2006 will rock.
500 credits?? OK, I’m an attention whore.
‘Chandira’ is my BE ID, how original..
happppy blog-day, scott!! my BE id is suki
It’s crazy it’s been a year eh? I am right behind you in blog days..
my readers will get..uh..some gum? maybe? lol
great way to celebrate hon
occasionalbtch
Wow, a year. Congrats. It’s coming close to a year for me as well.
Though my site isn’t as swanky and cool looking as this. And I certainly don’t get the traffic/readers you get.
Anyways… congrats again.
(BE name Vryce)
[...] Thursday, January 12, 2006 And The Winners Are… Sorry about the delay, but here are the winners of the 1st Annual (?!?) Scott-O-Rama’s Blog Birthday Bash Giveaway: [...]
Pick me! Pick me!
and
Happy Birthday Scott-O-Rama!!
Congrats!
This is so cool. Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday!!! It seems like you’ve been around longer than that!!! I haven’t been around for a while but your blog still rocks
Lynne
I just found out about your blog! I just started blogging and I’m already addicted. Congrats for one year of blogging!