Happiness is one year of Sky Dancing Blog
Posted: October 30, 2011 Filed under: Festivities | Tags: Sky Dancing Blog 26 Comments
One year ago, I began the process of turning my file cabinet into a functioning blog where people could come to discuss a variety of issues in a positive environment. I 
remember how in 2008 the blogosphere turned toxic for Hillary supporters. It took some searching to find safe havens where the name calling was kept to a minimum, the implied misogyny was fully understood, and the company of like minds was appreciated. But, as in the nature of life, things change. Pretty soon, some of the same goosestepping cult of personality type things that chased me off of other blogs left me feeling out of sorts again in blogs that had once been safe havens. I don’t know about you, but I blog and visit blogs for a variety of reasons. I can guarantee you that refereeing pie fights is not one of them. I do not like spectating or fighting them either. I can attend a family reunion or a department meeting for that sort of thing if I thrived on the stress and chaos.
It’s been surprisingly peaceful here at sky dancing as we’ve picked up both readership and other bloggers who are like minded. We seek information; not diatribes and lectures. We seek the ability to share that information in a constructive way that values strong voices and opinions that don’t also require belittling other people in the process of being heard.
I was absolutely sure-at first–that I had just sent myself to blog Siberia one year ago. Instead, the community of people that I have come to admire and care about over the past three or so years keep coming here, throwing logs on the warm fireplace, refilling the kettle on the hearth, and bringing cups of warm, heady stuff to share. For that, I am happy, appreciative, and humbled beyond words. I can point to our Alexa numbers or our Technorati rating–we continue to stay in the top 100 US political blogs— for verification that we are not alone in this and we are doing something right. But, I’d rather point out that a bad day is usually when one fetus fetishists shows up in pending to tell us we should be more in awe of a clump of cells and its importance over our lives or there’s about 20 spambot ads captured in the filter. We dump them all into trash immediately. Usually, only the spambots persist. A good day is when we have a great wonk post on Hillary and we can all come and share in our awe, or a fascinating BB people piece or a barnburning minx diatribe on how our rights are disappearing even as we type our dissent. I can put down my work, pick up a cup of coffee and read the caring voices of our community and think, wow, I’m not the only one!
There are a number of people that really do keep this blog moving. The admin team is amazing. I often wonder what we could do if I had some venture capital and a board of directors with Boston Boomer, Minkoff Minx, and Wonk the Vote sitting there daily. We have some great frontpagers too in various stages of active and process. Then, there’s every one down page that continues to add links and comments and shared experience. I learn something new every day here.
So, it takes a village to raise a blog and we have one great village.
So, besides wishing us all a happy one day birthday where we’ve gone from crawling to standing to walking, I have to also ask for some help. First, please promise me that you’ll visit us daily and add your voice because that’s important. Second, if you can help with the annual bills, please click on the paypal button on the right. We tried the ad thing and that didn’t work so well, so in order to keep the buttons and whistles–like the current design and format–we need a few bucks! The little reminder at the top of the dashboard says the custom formatting will be the first to expire at the end of Novemeber. I believe the domain name will go at about the same time. So, if you have some change, we’d appreciate it so we can keep on keeping on.
Then, sit back and relax as we begin year number two together!!!
peej
Carissa
bostonboomer
ecocatwoman
mablue2
peggysue22
quixote
skydancingguestblogger
Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)
Sky Dancing 
So, it takes a village to raise a blog and we have one great village.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY.to the little blog that could.
SKY DANCING!!!!!
Thank you!!!
🙂 Year Old 🙂 Yea!
Just sent my gift. Happy Birthday, Sky Dancing! Thank you all for the interesting and informative posts and comments. I always enjoy sharing a cup of coffee with you!
Thank you!!! Same here!!!
thank you Dak and the rest.this is the place to be.
I send a lil help too.
Just sent our gift. Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday Sky Dancing!!
I spent the bulk of the ’08 campaign at TaylorMarsh til her true colors emerged, and I used to be a regular an NoQuarter (where I occasionally lurk) and the Confluence (where I still stop by at once a week or so). I stopped posting in those places because of the infighting and name calling as opposed to the disemination of information and thoughtful comments by a wide variety of posters. As much as I learn from the frontpagers (big HUG to all of you), I get nearly as much from the regulars that come here, Woman Voter, foxiladi14, quixote, fiscalliberal, madamb, Peggy Sue, northwestrain, etc (if you are a regular and you aren’t on this list, charge it to my head and not my heart). This blog is proof that this country still has some sane people in it 🙂 Thank you for everything!!
Hillary 2012
BTW – My extra has been going to Hillary’s campaign debt. I’ll start splitting it between there and here from now on. Keep pumping out those posts!!
I know I hold out a hope that the world will bend accordingly and Hillary will challenge the GOP for the presidency. I know that she has said that she isnt running numerous times. And yet I remaian optomistic. I remain that way because of the subtle moves she makes. For example….
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20126833-503544/clinton-justice-dept-didnt-seek-state-dept.s-permission-for-gunwalking-operation/
Hillary 2012
Happy 1st Birthday, Sky Dancers! You are doing a fabulous job. While I rarely comment, I do stop by here several times a day to see what the front pagers and those who comment regularly and otherwise have to say. It is a pleasure to be able to read a blog that provides so much interesting and important information, and where the tone of conversation is always civil. Keep up the excellent work!
Roz in NJ/NYC
I generally lurk, but have been here from the start (followed you from lurking at RD, which is another story) and you and the front pagers have made this a place where one feels welcome. Happy Birthday, or should that be Happy freedom day? Now you get to decide what is worthy of publication, rather than relying on another. Whatever it is, Happy, happy, and thanks for a place where a lurker can feel at home lurking (if that makes sense)
Ditto for me. I’ll call it Happy 1st Anniversary to all you wonderful intelligent independent thinkers!
Happy Birthday!!! I wouldn’t want the internet to be without your voices.
Wow, thank you for all your kind words and your support! It has been a magnificent year, and I’m so proud to be a part of this blog and this community!
Here is to another year…which I am sure will find us busy with campaigns and elections…and lots of crazy talk, but I do look forward to all the conversations we will have.
Cheers!
Happy 1st Birthday Sky Dancing!
I must’ve had a bad year because last October feels more like 5 years ago to me.
No kidding – same with me. My mom always told me that it would get better as one got older. While I loved my mom to bits (I miss her so much) she was way off base here. It doesn’t get easier. You still worry about all those who are coming after – not necessarily for those who are toxic reality show watchers and chronic texting master, but for those who are serious students and need support. Actually those kids – the serious ones, outnumber the ridiculous celebrity worshipping silly ones. The serious ones just do not grab the attention of the celebrity drunk media.
Happy One Year! I remember that post about cleaning out the file cabinet. Beautiful work, everyone. Thank you.
Happy Birthday – and here’s to many more!
Happy Birthday and thanks!
Happy B(log) day dak.
I’m totally astonished. I would have sworn Skydancing was more than a year old. Time flies when you’re having fun! :0)
To many more, Skydancers.
It was around as my file cabinet for awhile. Very few people every came over here, however.
we are all here now!!!! 🙂
(Sigh!)
I’m late to the party, what else is new….
Happy birthday Skydancers! Much love from Communist Old Yurp!!!
Happy First Birthday – may it be one of many, many more to come!!
Happy Birthday and thank you very very much. I’m amazed at the number of articles and the depth of information here – especially appreciate the economics lessons!