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Happy Anniversary — MC Reality Online hits one year mark!

Last week on August 25th, this online column cum blog reached its one-year anniversary! I was so crazy-busy last week that I missed the actual anniversary … but I’m celebrating it on Friday night (September 4) under the light of the full Harvest Moon (sounds appropriate, doesn’t it — celebrating at harvest time?). I plan to have a martini (or two) and toast my little Internet endeavor.

All I ever wanted to be — from the time I was old enough to remember — was a writer. By reading my work … each one of you make me one. Really can’t thank you enough.

Reading in my Beacon Hill apartment the year I decided I was going to become a columnist come hell or high water.  I got damn near burned up before I nearly drowned but I'm on dry land, now.  Big thanks to Brian for capturing the moment, for believing in me when I didn't believe in myself. XO ad infinitum

Reading in my Beacon Hill apartment the year I decided I was going to become a columnist come hell or high water. I got damn near burned up before I nearly drowned but I'm on dry land, now. Big thanks to Brian for capturing the moment, for believing in me when I didn't believe in myself. XO ad infinitum

Some fast facts:

• I launched MC’s Reality Online in August 2008, just one month after the debut of my book — Sideways in Sarasota. Because both anniversaries fall so closely together … and since several people have asked me in the days of Sarasota News & Books closing, where they could buy a copy of my book — I’m also celebrating my book (oh, good — another reason for a martini on Friday night) and offering an anniversary price via my own website of $13 (taxes and shipping included; signed copy). Just click on the hypelinked words Sideways in Sarasota above and you’ll be directed to information to buy, if you’re interested. Also, Sideways is available at Circle Books on St. Armands Circle.

• Since September ’08, the number of unique readers who visit the site each month has grown from 377 to 1,225. Guess it’s a tortoise – slow and steady growth. But what matters to me is that a lot of you keep coming back to read more. SO appreciated!
• MC Reality Online readers donated $1,943 to All Faith’s Food Bank in my 2008 drive. Stay tuned for news about the 2009 drive.
• MC’s Reality Online averages 26,000 hits per month.
• 938 of you have posted a comment at one time or another – I invite you to continue to use this site as a place for dialogue.
• I instituted advertising on the site in summer ’09 and have already sold several ads and the advertisers have received a pretty darn good return-on-investment in terms of hits to their own sites, etc. BIG thanks to those advertisers who have already supported my site and my writing by choosing to advertise here!
• I have to thank David Martin of Brighter Technologies, Inc. He’s my all-things-web guru and keeps me going when I can’t figure things out. If you need a great web guru, check him out and tell him MC referred you.
• My first blog ever – MC enters the blogosphere.
• In the year that I’ve been blogging, I’ve been asked to speak as a local blogger on a media panel , in a classroom and as an occasional guest panelist on WEDU’s political roundtable television program — Florida This Week, with moderator Rob Lorei.
• And BEST OF ALL, the folks who read this blog – um, that’s ALL OF YOU – were super, super kind to vote me as Creative Loafing Best of the Suncoast Best Local Blogger in the 2008 Reader Poll, and in Sarasota Magazine’s Best of 2009 Reader Poll as one of the best local bloggers. THANK you so much for helping me spread the word about my blog, achieve some street cred as a blogger, and most importantly, give me more reasons to ask bartenders all across Sarasota to “Shake me another ‘tini, baby!”
• And, lastly, if you like what you read here and want to help me snag another year as Best Local Columnist and/or Best Local Blogger in Creative Loafing’s annual Best of the Suncoast Readers Poll – you can vote for me in either or both categories – online right here! I sure would appreciate it!

Mostly, though, thanks for reading – for taking the time to visit this site, agree, disagree, encourage, chastise … I love being able to stay connected to readers even though I don’t have a weekly print column. It’s been a great year.

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Posted on September 2nd, 2009Comments RSS Feed
10 Responses to Happy Anniversary — MC Reality Online hits one year mark!
  1. MC: We’d all be poorer without your observations. Congrats! on your first anniversary, and many fine returns to us all. If I could express one request: more poetry, please. But not less of anything else. Stay and strive and become a beacon for the many in our community who write. s/Stan Zimmerman

  2. Stan the Man — heck, I’m honored that your reading. Really appreciate that and the kind words. I’ll post a poem for you soon. All best and Happy Labor Day. MC

  3. Congrats MC.It has really been a pleasure reading your blogs and discussing your views with all the readers.I am quite sure all of us have gained valuable info from your insights and observations.Your honesty is refreshing and we are all very lucky to have you here in Sarasota…..Continued success and good wishes ,Steve:-)

  4. Thanks Steve — you’ve been reading the blog from the beginning and often sharing your thoughts — good wishes right back to you!

  5. To put it succinctly, tres cool..

  6. JWP — merci beaucoup!

  7. You have brought a lot of insight, thought-provoking ideas and issues to the forefront here in Sarasota.Keep up the great work and writing.

  8. Thanks, Siesta Surfer — I appreciate you reading and taking the time to comment! Now, go catch a wave!

  9. Your keen observations reached all the way up here to Mpls. and reinforced many of the experiences I had while working in Sarasota. I was SO busy working down there, but a handshake or a smiling affirmation or an offered up cup of coffee would have made a day. Everyone seemed to be too busy though – getting ready for a party, if ya know what I mean! Your weekly article provided that understanding, and I thank you for extending it every 7 days!

  10. Karen — thank YOU for reading me since my Pelican days! I’m so glad to think I have a reader way out/up there in Minneapolis! Thanks for your very kind words … come back anytime! MC

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