Friday, March 16, 2007

Happy blogiversary to me

Today is St. Urho's Day, an invented holiday created by a Minnesotan in honor of a fictional saint who drove all the grasshoppers out of Finland. A teacher at my hometown high school celebrated it every year to honor his Finnish heritage. You can even send St. Urho's Day e-cards. My wife's family background is partially Irish, so we're naturally more into St. Patrick's Day (and always get shamrock shakes every year), but kudos to St. Urho and his fans. I just think it's kind of wild that someone can create an entire holiday. (Likewise, Sweetest Day in October was originated by a candy company that wanted to create an excuse to get people to buy more candy.)

Today also happens to be the one-year blogiversary of this blog. (There is dispute in the blogosphere over whether it should be spelled "blogoversary" or even "bloggoversary," but "blogiversary" seems to have the highest usage.) At first I wasn't sure I would have enough ideas to be blogging regularly, but I was surprised how often a bloggable thought comes across. Plenty of material for two or three posts a week, though lots of things have disappeared into the ether because I didn't post on it in timely enough a fashion. Blogging has eaten up a lot more time than I ever anticipated (more in reading other people's blogs than posting on my own). I'm trying to be more disciplined these days. But I like it. It's fun and generally more valuable than not. And I've recently drawn my wife into blogging - she has started posting more regularly on our family blog.

At any rate, I'm celebrating my blogiversary with a new template, just to freshen up the look a bit. Also, in many cultures, if it's your birthday you don't receive gifts from others but instead are the gift-giver. So in honor of the blogiversary of The Suburban Christian blog, I'd like to give out a few copies of my book The Suburban Christian. I have five copies sitting here that I'll send out for free to the first five people that contact me, whether by blog comment or e-mail or whatever. No obligation - my only request is that you really read it (rather than resell it on Amazon or eBay) and, if you're so inspired and inclined, to blog about it on your own blog, or whatever other medium might be appropriate to you. Hope you find it helpful!

So thanks again to everyone who reads or visits this blog. It's been fun to have the interaction and virtual community in this small corner of the blogosphere.

19 comments:

Llama Momma said...

Happy Blogiversary!

I've enjoyed lurking on your blog for a few months now, but the enticement of a free book has lured me out of the closet! I've currently got "The Suburban Christian" on my amazon wish list. I'd love a copy, and will definitely read it and blog about it.

Al Hsu said...

Hey, Llama Momma - congrats on being the first! Early bird gets the book. If you e-mail me your snail mail address (I'm at ahsu at ivpress dot com) I'll get a copy in the mail to you.

Lara said...

Nice template. And I learned about two holidays I wouldn't have otherwise known about (a blogiversary? I can't wait to celebrate my own).

Happy Blogiversary

Llama Momma said...

Thanks, Al! That RSS feed really pays off...

Ken Liu said...

hello al. i've been meaning to get your book for a while now. i'd be great to get one from the author himself!

Al Hsu said...

No problem, Ken. Just send your snail mail address to the e-mail address I mention in the comment above.

john alan turner said...

Al,
If you send me yours, I'll send you mine.

L.L. Barkat said...

oh, terrific! I thought I was too late! But maybe I'll still count as one of the five since your own comments here and an extra of Llama mommas don't count. (I've been wanting your book, but it was unavailable at the library, and I'm currently compacting not to buy anything new.) Of course you know I blog about everything, so...

L.L. Barkat said...

Oh, and in my great excitement I forgot to say "Happy Birthday" to the birthday boy.

Happy Birthday.

And I like the new look.

Al Hsu said...

L.L., yep, you get one. What's your snail mail address? I received an e-mail from one other person that isn't represented in the comments. And actually, John Alan, I'm happy to send you one, but I can't figure out from your screen name what your own book might be. E-mail me, and we can talk swap. I'm also unclear as to whether a musing mom wanted one as well. So, I guess where we're at is that there is still one more available, to the next person who actually gets me a snail mail address.

L.L. Barkat said...

Oh, thanks, Al! I'm hurrying to get you that address. And, hey, I promise I'll send you one of mine too. :)

Craver Vii said...

Sheesh! We're almost twins! (My own one-year blogiversary was last Saturday.)

Congratulations! Your post have been worth reading.

I can't ask you for a free book, since I already have one, but if you don't mind, I may stop by some time for your John Hancock.

Anonymous said...

Al -- Happy Blogiversary. I just bought your book a couple of weeks ago, and am looking forward to digging in deep.

It's been a gift just reading your thoughts here. Looking forward to another great year.

Al Hsu said...

Okay, the five free copies are all spoken for. Thanks for playing. If anybody else is interested in buying a copy directly from me, I sell them for $10 each, which is a third off of the retail price of $15, plus $1.59 for USPS media mail. Cheaper than Amazon! Just Paypal me $11.59 at the aforementioned e-mail address, and I'll get a personally signed copy on the way to you.

Al Hsu said...

And thanks to Craver, Charity and all the others out there who have already gotten the book. Your support is much appreciated! Hope you all enjoy the book.

Unknown said...

Happy Blogiversary, Al! Your blog is always some of my time well spent.

Jennwith2ns said...

Belatedly, I say, Happy Blogiversary! (Although it seems to me that with the albeit fickle rules of English pronunciation, spelling it that way--which unquestionably looks best--should mean it's pronounced "Blojiversary.")

Also, perhaps you could start a holiday called "St. Ahsu's Day."

I don't know. It seems not unlike "Urho" to me . . .

Anonymous said...

Well done, Al. A great new look and always a good read. Richest blessings for another year!

Llama Momma said...

Al --

I just resent my email! Hopefully you'll get this one.

Thanks again!