Fresh Air Lover is one year old today!!!

One year ago today I created this blog. It’s been a surprising year. I’ve met some of the coolest people there are and I’ve discovered that some people are fucked up beyond all comprehension. But I wouldn’t trade in those experiences for anything because that’s what life is all about, huh?

Some of you have supported me more than friends I’ve known for decades. I’ve been happy, sad, pathetic, jealous, bored, stupid, loving, and anything else you can think of. As for my love life, strange but I’m right back where I was last year, except I’m walking with no illusions. I had them last year.

I’ve quit smoking, started working out, and have lost weight. I’m getting noticed the way I used to in my early 20s. I’ve found the confidence to know that I am quite beautiful. I am constantly learning what my limits are, how much of myself I will compromise for another. I finally am at a place where my self-worth is strong enough to know that I deserve everything I want and I will not settle for something less. This blog has helped with me that.

But it took a while to get started…

For those first few months I didn’t know what I wanted to write and only had one reader. I almost gave it up. But, I stuck with it even though I knew what I was posting was trite and wasn’t the best stuff out there. The Happy Bunny’s? The Gary Glitter picture? If anyone of you were reading during that horrible time in the evolution of Fresh Air Lover, than I want to say thank you for staying with me.

And then February came and I read my whole blog. Sheesh, I was embarrassed by it. There was hardly a sign of me. The real me. It wasn’t real life, it was fluff. I decided to make this blog something I would be proud of. I made a promise to myself that I would totally honest about life. Every part of it. Even if my stomach hurt from how personal a particular post was. I wrote about my personal life because I knew that I’m not the only person that’s ever felt pain or shame or humiliation or joy. And the blog has turned into a form of therapy for me. I’m so proud of what I’m doing with this blog and where I want to go with it. I’ve found I need this blog. It’s my release from whatever is on my mind or going on in my life. It’s my medium to say the things my conscience won’t let me say out loud sometimes.

Well, it also turns out that when I started being honest more people read the blog. I still can’t believe that all of you read what I write. I’m so grateful and I love you all. It’s awesome.

So now, a look back at the first year of Fresh Air Lover so grab a cub of coffee and get comfortable because there are lots of memories….

1. I told stories of my childhood and hijinks with my sister.
2. I recalled stories of some of the most ridiculous dates one could ever sit through.
3. There were some strange occurrences in Philly.
4. All of the work stories. Too many to link and most are ongoing areas of aggravation and irritation.
5. My Friday Public Service Announcements that I didn’t keep up with.
6. I’ve been through some painful and scary moments this past year, but I made it through.
7. You all met Stella Marie.
8. I was with the Pilot, broke up with the Pilot, had a weird night with the pilot, fell for someone else but it didn’t work out, met someone else but there was no spark, and have come full circle back to the Pilot.
9. I’ve told you some personal tidbits about myself.
10. I’ve had a naked picture of my breast stolen off of this blog and posted on someone else’s. And I didn’t kill him. (I have since taken the picture off this blog)
11. And some absolutely ridiculous, but funny, things have happened to me.
12. Some of my favorite posts are the ones I researched and that had a lesson to be taught.
13. I took Lozo’s advice and got drunk and blogged.
14. I’ve talked to or met HotDrWife, Laurie, Sage, Liz, Judy, Tanique, and J personally. And they are awesome. This year I’d like get to know more of you personally.
15. I’ve created two other blogs, The Home Cook and Coquettishly, and hope to make them as successful as this blog in the coming year. I’m still waiting for more questions…foot tapping.
16. I have joined MySpace and have it reaffirmed my belief that most people out there are fucking degenerates. If you want to laugh, go read my profile where I state who I’d like to meet. Believe me, I had to specify those things.

I want lots of comments, so come out all of you lurkers. It would also be cool to find out how you found my blog.

Thank you all so much for everything.