Forgot my blog birthday

My blog had a birthday and I forgot it.  I posted my first blog post back in July, 2008.  July 2009 had already come and gone and I didn’t even think about it being a significant day….but it was.

There have been 115 postings to Real Texas Blog, and I have written all of them.  There was one interview, but I wrote that too.

The postings average about two a week.   Real Texas Blog has a significant number of subscribers who receive content in their in-box free of charge.

In looking back at some past postings, Wendell Baucom said his favorite post was “My Dog’s a Health Nut.”  Also, Rusty – Law West of the Guadalupe commented on that post about his Blue Lacy dogs and the fact that they are the State Dog of Texas.  Learned something new there from Rusty and the Blue Lacy dogs are pretty smart characters.

The My Dog’s a Health Nut story came after I had spent a little too much time out on my dock which is located right on the water in the crystal clear Spring Creek.  I was out there being a little too Texan (the wife’s observation) and got to watching my dog Bowie eating algea.  That dog will eat nearly anything and you can re-read the post at your leisure.

It wasn’t too long after I got started blogging that the national elections were over and  I wrote a post titled “Screw You Blue States.”  That post got Real Texas Blog a lot of publicity, both good and bad.  It also generated 120 or so comments from readers and links back from other blogs who either wanted to see who the nut was that put that kind of writing up, or they wanted to follow me and secede as soon as possible.  ‘Course, some of the readers just liked the video music on that post. I liked it too.  God Bless Ray Wylie Hubbard.

Blog reader Sammie took on all critics who dared disparage Texas or Texans after the Screw You Blue States post.

Several folks commented that they enjoyed my observation of  Funerals in Real Texas about the funeral of my good friend Larry Joyce.    I talked with Larry’s mom and she had received a copy of that post and appreciated it.  I also re-made a new friend in Cowboy Church pastor Kevin Weatherby.  He writes a lot of devotionals enjoyed by many of his readers.

Sandy Havenhill Ashley commented that she sure did like my Real Texas Manspace photos.  She will get to see them in person later on as I have a “Real Texas Roast” planned for October sometime.  I was just waiting for the weather to cool down some before sending out invitations and notices.  We’re gonna ‘roast’ two friends, Mike Elkins and Bill Farr.  If there were ever two guys that needed roasting, it is them.  That is assuming we can get everybody to agree on a date.  Mainly it’s just a party, but we intend to make it into an annual event.

John Singletary wrote in and said he always enjoyed my postings and Ramona’s postings on Real Texas Blog.   Jesse and Iris Guinn like Ramona’s Real Texas recipes.  The Guinn’s stopped by and had a bowl of chili with us last weekend here at Sherwood Ranch.  They live in Conroe.

All in all, I had a good time during the first year and have learned a lot about the inner workings of the internet, how to social bookmark articles, and yes, now I’m on Facebook (lots of good friends there), Twitter (nearly 1,000 followers), have an iPhone, do Gmail, Google Docs, Google Reader, and I’m just a heck of a lot more internet wise.  I’m actually wireless all the way from the house down to the dock.

I don’t try to write when I’m out there because I tend to lose concentration, think my ideas are a lot better than they actually are, and occasionally start singing….loudly along with my dog howling as backup.  Don’t know what causes that.

I’ve moved from sitting totally at a desk and computer to having a laptop sitting and watching  So You Think You Can Dance and researching projects.  I was on the computer the other morning early and received a Skype message.  It was from Ramona who was sitting right next to me.  We both just looked at each other and laughed.  Yes, she did it as a joke, but we have come a long ways in one year.  I have watched her Skype her tech guy from India and it is instant communication to the other side of the world.  At no cost.  Pretty amazing.

Where Do I go from here?

Well, you’ll have to stay tuned because in the next month or so, we’ll be rolling out some pretty good stuff.  I’ve already had a lot of interest in the up-and-coming membership site and I really haven’t even tried to market it at all.  It’s called Real Texas Almanac and it’s full of good Texas related content.

Real Texas Almanac will be delivered twice a month and more on holidays.  It’s what I call an “interactive magazine.”  It’s interactive because it includes photos, audio tracks, and videos.  The content has  ‘interactive’ links and you just click on the link and it takes you to another site like YouTube or back to Real Texas Blog.  It makes reading fun and more important…interesting and enjoyable.

Yes, you will be able to print out a copy of Real Texas Almanac, but to enjoy the interactive part, you’ll need to open it on your computer….or smartphone.  Yes, I’ve got one….no I don’t know how to work it yet.

We will also have a full copy of Real Texas Recipes available in some format, just haven’t decided on how to present it.  I am really excited about that.  It will be delivered either digitally, or hardback.  Yes, it will include lots of goodies from Ramona’s kitchen, several of Walter Horton’s recipes, Dale Sellman’s  beans and ribs, Connie’s Jalapeno Jelly, B.T. Curry’s good stuff, and of course, my Christmas tamales YouTube video and brisket tips.  If you have a good ole’ Texas recipe or favorite, send it to me and I’ll give you credit.

I also have a couple of Ebooks written – Of Course They are About Texas – and they will be available also.   Also have a fiction work in progress.  I usually get a lot more done in the wintertime.  I stay inside more and don’t spend as much time at the manspace down by the Spring Creek.

I’ll tell ya’ll more about all that as we get closer to the release date.  You will have ringside seats as it all unfolds.

In the meantime, Happy Birthday to Real Texas blog.  Maybe I’ll remember that important date next July.

David in Real Texas

Older, wiser, up-to-date

Tagged as: Texas, texas cooking, texas entertainment, Texas Humor, Texas Lifestyle, texas secession