Happy Blog-day To Me And A Gift For You

18 Jun 2008 at 10:31

Import

Today is another in the long list of holidays that only I celebrate and then get sullen and resentful about not receiving gifts. A year ago today I posted my first little ramble about progressive rock, fraternity life and The Decemberists. Now, 365 days and 371 posts later here we are. In the spirit of retrospective introspection (or introspective retrospection) that these occasions call for, here are my top 10 favorite posts from year one of afreeman.org.

To celebrate my first anniversary as a blogger I’d like to give my readers a gift, though I’m still waiting for my Father’s Day present. Regular readers should know that I tack a song onto most posts that I write. I’ve put together a mix CD of some of my favorites – the soundtrack to afreeman.org, if you will. I’m going to give away a few of these hand-made CD’s to you, my loyal readers.All you’ve got to do to win is tell me which post you’ve read here that turned your crank the most. The one that keeps you coming back in the vain hope that I may be able to write that good again. For example, Dr. O’C’s favorite is Apolitical Friday: Baby Bliss (she comes back because I badger her until she does). What is yours?

To enter, leave a comment with the title. Next Wednesday I’ll draw a few (depending on how many blank CDs I have around) entrants and send out your prize. Easy peasy. And hey, if you’re still lurking around on the banks of the comment stream what better opportunity to hop in as a commenter? The water’s fine.

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24 Comments

by Not Afraid To Use It

18 Jun 2008 at 11:15

Of your favorites, I love Braggin’ Rights and He Made Me.

What keeps me coming back? The fact that you love groovy music and that you know a thing or ten about science. That you are an exapat. That my daughter just looked at your blog, saw a picture of Zach and asked “Is that Baby Zach?”

It isn’t any one particular post. I found you via Wordless Wednesday and for as much as many “experienced” bloggers hate those types of memes, I credit it for having hooked me up with one of my favorite bloggers and his fab family.

As for what keeps me coming back, it has been a combination of your photos, your personality, and your writing. I am sorry to say that it wasn’t one specific thing. However, when we had the 10 Things I Hate About You quotefest in your comment section, that’s when I knew there was no turning back.

Not Afraid To Use It’s last blog post..And You Can Be My Cowgirl
by Nichole

18 Jun 2008 at 11:48

My favorite Chris posts are the ones where you get all sweet and sentimental. You know, the ones with feeling. “All Come to Look for America” was lovely and sweet. “Words from Winnipeg” was touching. But my favorite by far is “Good Morning Son, I Am a Bird.” That was such a fun day.
by Busy Dad Mumbles

18 Jun 2008 at 13:00

Happy Blog-anniversary to you, Happy blog-aversary to you, Happy blog-aversary, to Chris, where ever you are now in the world, Happy Blog versary toooooooooooo yoooooooou!

One of my all time favorites was back during football season when you bet with the Vol Abroad! Too funny, I was worried about the British Bulldawg at the time. Toping the list is still my alltime favorite or Braggin Rights.
by Jason

18 Jun 2008 at 13:20

I’ve always enjoyed the compromising pictures of you. You know, such as the photo of you wearing a Georgia Bulldogs manssiere (otherwise known as a “bro”).

The music’s pretty cool too. Not everything is always my taste, but I’ve learned about a few people/bands that I wouldn’t have known about otherwise.

Above all else, though, its clear that you enjoy updating and maintaining your site, and that enthusiasm usually comes through in the writing. Makes it fun to read and keep coming back!
by CDV

18 Jun 2008 at 15:06

Just to be clear, effusive praise isn’t a requirement for entry. But hey, I’ll take it.
by boyhowdy

18 Jun 2008 at 16:23

I came to your blog fairly recently, Chris, so I can’t speak to a year’s worth of posts (oh, if only there was time to tackle the archives of all my favorite bloggers!)

The video you tacked on to the end of Good Morning Son, I Am A Bird, made me cry — we have no TV, so I’d not have seen it anywhere else. I have probably watched it a dozen times or more since then, and I continue to do so framed in the words of your post, because it sure as hell fits there better than in the usual YouTube frame.

But your recent post on science researchers and the need to give them some sort of in-house communication/clarity/teaching support made me think all day. And that’s saying something, in this crazy world of short attention spans.

boyhowdy’s last blog post..Covered in Folk: Bob Marley (Xavier Rudd, Magnet, Luka Bloom, Kings of Convenience, 8 more!)
by The Right Blue

18 Jun 2008 at 17:09

Well, I loved the animal rights one, and also the evolution v. ID one (which you didn’t list here). Happy Blog-iversary. Onward & upward. ;-}

Bobbie

The Right Blue’s last blog post..WW #38 – The Survivor
by Angel

18 Jun 2008 at 21:19

Happy blog anniversary!!

It’s almost impossible to pick a favorite post on blogs that I love. So far, I think it might be “All come to look for America” or “Good morning, Son, I Am A Bird”.

While you said praise isn’t mandatory, I just want you to know that I read a lot of blogs. A lot. But very few make me go back to the beginning and read from start. Yours was one of them because you write with feeling. We’ve discussed it before on one of our other favorite sites. I don’t like sterile writing.

Also, you show your intelligence without making others feel stupid. When you talk science, which I know absolutely nothing about, you write in terms and phrases we can all grasp. That’s not easy.

I absolutely love the way you celebrate your family in your posts.

Oh, and I love the music!

Things like that are why I keep coming back. And I’m not even telling you this to get a cd! There are people here who have known you far longer, and it would be fine if they get music from you.

I just like the blog.
by Nathan B.

18 Jun 2008 at 23:28

I’m not liking the move to Oz, because your happiness will cut back on the ranting CDV posts that I enjoy!
by courtney

18 Jun 2008 at 23:55

I’m going to have to go with your interview of me. I’m narcissistic like that.

Fingers crossed for that CD! I need new music.

courtney’s last blog post..Picnics and Dysfunction
by Jessica K

19 Jun 2008 at 00:54

Hmm, I was going to say my favorite post was “All Come to Look for America” because I love to hear how happy couples got their start, but I just read “Words From Winnipeg.” That was from before I started reading here, and it was really touching. I think I may have liked it better.
As for why I keep coming back, you were one of the first blogs I read on a regular basis. I feel like we have become “friends” over the past months, and I have truly enjoyed watching your relationship with Zach evolve. I also feel like I can learn something from you, even though I’m sure I come across as a moron sometimes.
Anyway, Happy Bloggoversary!

Jessica K’s last blog post..Self Portrait…
by Vixen

19 Jun 2008 at 05:10

I couldn’t pick just one thing I enjoy about your posts, I enjoy them all. Especially the “smart” ones that make me learn something I never knew before.

Congrats on the blogoversary!

Vixen’s last blog post..Inside my screwed up mind
by Maggie, dammit

19 Jun 2008 at 07:47

I, of course, choose the animal rights post. Because I’m in it.

Did I win?

Happy Blogversary!

Maggie, dammit’s last blog post..A pair of sunglasses is a marriage is a blog award. Or something.
by Jamie

19 Jun 2008 at 12:45

I thing my favorite was “Back to the Bus Leagues” – one of the very first. It captured the wonderful sadness of baseball – America’s only redeeming sport. I am pretty sure we never went to a baseball game – although my memory is shot (not so good for a historian) – but I still associate you with baseball due to may afternoons of watching the crappy Braves on TBS at your house (we didn’t have cable). So I became a Braves fan – which worked out, as they are often good enough to entertain, but usually never win enough of the big games to be arrogant. TBS stopped showing the Braves this year (after I signed up for cable for the first time in my life)–bastards. Anyway, the post contained two of my favoriate CDV tropes – nostalgia and rants.
by Trish

19 Jun 2008 at 12:58

I like them all. I’ve really enjoyed reading your blog, and am particularly enjoying the Moving to Australia posts and hearing your take on how things are in this beautiful country of mine.

But I’m going to pick In a West End town because I was also fourteen in 1985, I like the Pet Shop Boys, and next year is my 20 year reunion.

Congratulations!

Trish’s last blog post..Wants and Needs. Ways and Means.
by SSG

19 Jun 2008 at 16:54

Basically, i think it’s all shit, but the ones I dislike the least are probably the one about cockroaches, the one about a singer who loved your ass, the one about you playing music to unborn baby ZDV, the one where you said byebye, freecycle, the one about ZDV swimming, the one about paris, the one about sinead getting into the VIP zone, man, what can I say, they’re all shit. hot shit. YEAAAAHHHHH

SSG’s last blog post..Isolated tribe spotted in Brazil
by arizaphale

19 Jun 2008 at 20:51

I have a soft spot for the one I came in on. Oh fuck, I’ve forgotten what it’s called…hang on…’You and Me and the Devil Makes Three’……getting Zach to sleep and George Clooney in ‘Brother Where Art Thou?’ You completely roped me in some days later with Alice’s Restaurant (hadn’t heard it in years), changed my radio habits with your music posts, introduced me to the SSG and challenged my mind with Science Tuesdays. But my fave bit in your blog is reading all the comments.
Especially Nathan.

arizaphale’s last blog post..Theme Thursday: Childhood
by CDV

19 Jun 2008 at 21:07

For all you Nathan fans, he wrote a guest post for me back in January from inside the Iowa caucuses.

And he probably has less hair than me.
by Sherrie

20 Jun 2008 at 00:15

Bragging Rights for me! I found you through WW but then I read Bragging Rights, almost peed, and knew that I would be hooked with the use of that plastic fish!

I also love that you can write something funny and offbeat right next to something serious and your blog has a point without seeming preachy. You’ve combined the everyday with science, its pure geek love!

I went though and read your other offerings, which is why it took me a few days to decide, but I cant help it, Bragging Rights it will always be!
by Not Afraid To Use It

20 Jun 2008 at 03:15

Hey Chris! Your husband is playing Lakewood on Saturday. Of course that is the day I fly back to NoVa. Off to go and pout.

Not Afraid To Use It’s last blog post..WW: Cowgirl Adventures (Fun At the GYN)
by Ryan

20 Jun 2008 at 04:41

The post that always stuck with me was “Aluminum, tastes like fear”…the ambience of it, more than any other post, from anybody, reminds me of a certain time in my life, a time in which the memories are more than welcome…

If I didn’t comment on that particular post @ the time, I’m a bastard; but if I did, well, that makes me a hero, I believe.

What in the WORLD am I talking about?

Regardless, happy blog-day, sir!
by CDV

20 Jun 2008 at 10:50

NATUI, I thought you were drunk commenting there for a while – couldn’t figure out what the hell you were on about. Then I realized that I’m just a bit slow…
by Andrew

22 Jun 2008 at 01:10

Happy blog-day and congrats on one year!

My favorite post: Braggin’ Rights where you took Zach to the Water Babbies class and had to deal with all the other dads and how “amazing” their kids were. Cracked me up.

Oh, and I really liked the one where you said I was a blogger whose opinions you respected. That was a good one.

Andrew’s last blog post..Seeing Ted Leo tonight
by suzer

25 Jun 2008 at 12:28

Happy blog bday Chris, from another Expat in Adelaide.

Suzer

suzer’s last blog post..Top Tips for Expat Transitions