A year of ranting and rolling

Can you believe it?

One hundred and eighty-odd posts later and here we are – looking back on a year of blogging.

I started Rant and Roll because I love to write and because I am easily destroyed by issues that either break my heart or force steam out of my ears.

My amazing friend Sherie encouraged me to write down my rants, mostly due to the fact that she would absolutely kill herself laughing any time I was on the warpath, orating and gesticulating widely (like the modern day – severely pissed off – Pericles that I can be.)

And so I did.

At first all of my posts really were rants – calling out injustices, lamenting social ills, and waxing long on my huge beef with institutionalized sexism.

Pfft. If it’s not cutting at least 50 lbs, I can’t even be bothered.

But then, little, by little, my small corner of the internet began to evolve.

Sure, I still wrote about issues near and dear to my heart (I don’t think I could stop even if I tried.)

However, I also started to write about other things – my relationship with the brilliant man whom I share my heart and home; our kitty cat who rules the roost; and my travels both near and far, new and old.

Ms. Nymeria cuddling with Mr. M.

I began sharing pieces of fiction and poems.

My tricky relationship with the fashion industry has been well documented (as have the very good and very bad pieces I’ve stumbled across whilst playing dress-up on my lunch breaks.)

I’ve written about my past struggles with eating disorders and an experience from my youth that has left me scarred, but not broken.

I’ve written about my rocky relationship with hockey and my slow-building courtship with soccer.

CONCACAF action.

In April I was Freshly Pressed and it was pretty much the COOLEST THING EVER.

There were days that I was so tired coming home from work that I cried.

But I also drooled on the metro.

I made pea soup and I cooked breakfast for dinner.

I hiked a mountain in California, and came third in my third ever half-marathon.

Beautiful Haystack Mt.

I was a Tough Mudder.

All that mud covered a crap load of bruises and cuts!

I took on the “I don’t watch TV” crowd.

I laughed a lot.

It has been simply smashing.

So what have I learned from this brilliant experience? What do I take away from three hundred and sixty-five days of blogging?

Well, the first thing is that I am darn proud of my little R&R.

On day one I swore to myself that I would write three times a week, no excuses.

At first it was hard – I wanted each piece to be INTELLIGENT, and THOUGHT PROVOKING.

High brow or die! FIRE AT WILL COMMANDER.

But then I just started to sit back and let it flow. I made sure not to force any one post into being something that it wasn’t – that it couldn’t be.

Looking back, there were some weeks where I wrote four, even five posts – not because I felt like I had to, but because I was inspired, and passionate, and excited, and so so happy to feel my fingers a-tap-tapping, flying across the keyboard, just trying to keep up to the pace of my frantic thoughts that were just spilling out of my head, onto the desk, and all over the floor.

I’ve learned that pictures and media are a good way of adding colour to your blog (no pun intended).

Palm trees at night, a visual delight.

(Or just to drive home the point of how truly bonkers you really are.)

I’ve learned that spam bots will leave comments that leave me breathless from laughter, and that real life people will leave comments that melt my heart into a puddle of mush.

(This is a good thing.)

But it the end, what I first and foremost take away from this crazy year of blogging is the opportunity to make my way through the remarkable WordPress community, read some outstanding blogs, and get to know some truly phenomenal people.

To all of my brilliant and beautiful blog friends, I wouldn’t want to do this without you.

You make me laugh at your fantastic wit.

You make me cry with your profound prose.

You make me fall in love with your children and your pets.

You make me jealous of all your amazing fashion pieces, and your delicate eyes for mixing and patching different patterns and palates.

You make me run faster, and work out harder.

You make me marvel at your art, your photography, your writing.

You make me want to be a better blogger.

You make me want to be better.

So thank you. Thank you all.

Here’s to another year of blogging.

Till next time champs!

So everyone buckle up – here come the terrible twos.

Published by

Vanessa Woznow

Writer, runner, ranter, reader. I write about all things.

42 thoughts on “A year of ranting and rolling”

    1. YOU WANT TANTRUMS? YOU CAN’T HANDLE MY TANTRUMS!!!

      Ahem.

      In all seriousness, I am super glad to have met you and always enjoy reading your posts/insights. You are good people Versi.
      xx

      Reply

  3. Happy blogger-versary Eth! I didn’t know we were the same age (in blog years)!…. I’m very happy I found you. I always enjoy reading your posts, even if I don’t comment or like (if I am pressed for time I read them in via my email…) Hugs and smooches! Here’s to many many more!

    Reply

    1. I am so happy to have found you too! It’s always nice to have someone your age with whom you can relate :) Thank you so much for you lovely note – I look forward to another year of awesome blog friendship!
      xx

      Reply

    1. This may be the best thing anyone has ever said to me. I regret not purchasing my Master’s robes – at least then I would always have a Halloween costume right?

      And thank you so much! :)
      xx

      Reply

  7. Happy blog birthday!!! This is something to celebrate! I’m so grateful you started this blog, that I was able to “meet” you and the friendship we’ve shared. Your blog is a happy rest during my mornings and you’ve brought so many smiles and laughs, I’ve lost count. You’ve accomplished and documented so much over the last year, it’s amazing to look back! :)
    So I raise my mug of coffee to another year of your fab photos, fun rants, heartwarming posts. Love you bunches, Ethel!!

    Reply

    1. Audrey! My sister from another mister :) I feel exactly the same way – I am so lucky to have had the chance to get to know you through your blog. You are such an inspiration and your words never fail to brighten my day. I cannot wait for the day that we actually have the chance to meet up (although the space-time continuum might fall in on itself!)

      Much love!
      xx

      Reply

  8. I am so very happy to have met you. So. Very. Happy.

    Keep dancing, sister (and mudding, and marathoning, and photographing, and cooking, and shopping, and getting new hairdos…. but, most of all, keep writing)!

    Happy Anniversary!

    Reply

    1. I feel the exact same way! I love reading your writing – it is funny, poignant, biting, and brilliant!

      I will keep writing, but you must promise to do the same!
      xx

      Reply

  11. Happy blog anniversary! I’m so proud of you :D
    And thank you for highlighting some posts I missed :)

    Looking forward to many more great posts.

    Reply

  12. Happy one year, Ethel. I’m a newbie to the blogging world, but right from the get-go your blog has been a favorite of mine and an inspiration. You do great things here. Your blog is what mine wants to be when it grows up.

    Looking forward to the next hundred and eighty-odd posts! (And yes, the odd ones are great too!)

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much! This comment put a huge smile on my wacko face. I’m sure that there will be a number of oddball posts in my future.

      I too love reading your blog. I’m glad to have found a fellow Canuck who embraces the funny with the weird!

      Reply

  15. Congrats, my dear blogging friend. I enjoy reading your blog and look forward to new posts…and I’m so glad to have found a fellow writing friend, even though we only talk over WordPress! :)

    Here’s to many more years of blogging.

    Reply

  17. I am so thankful that I happened to spot your Freshly pressed gym rant on the first day I opened WordPress! My life would be less fresh without your bounding spirit and gritty bravery and frankly fruit-loopy goofiness. Here’s to the next year’s bloggy goodness! xx

    Reply

    1. Meep! This makes my heart smile like a nutter. I too am so so glad to have had the opportunity to get to know you and read all about your highland game exploits. You never, ever fail to bring the mad lols and huge grins. To another year!
      xx

      Reply

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