General @ Monday December 19, 2005 03:49 pm by WunderKraut
Several of the sites I frequent have been coming out with their top 10 or top 20 posts of 2005 as a way to wrap up the year.
This being my first year of blogging and given that my readership has expanded in the last 4 months, I thought it would be super fun to go back and pick my favorite posts of 2005.
One day last week I scrolled through every post I had written since this blog began in February of this year. I picked out the best posts. Sounds good, but the problem was that I ended up with 56 posts! So I let is sit for a week and today I opened the list back up and began weeding out posts. That still netted me 27 posts. Ok, it was time for tough love. I axed and cut and chopped and finally came up with 15 posts. But I found a way to sneak a few additional ones in as well. Heh.
2005.
It has been a fun year. There were many important things that happened to this site this year. The first year of a blog is a tumultuous affair. You start out with a readership of “0″ and you begin to build from there. Some of the posts I chose for this list made it on the list because they were “firsts” posts. They were some of the ones that first got noticed by other bloggers. Thus my readership increased. So without further adieu, I give you the top 15 WunderKraut.com posts of 2005, presented in chronological order:
- Spelling errors abound in this blog. I have a hard time with words that sound the same but have a myriad of spellings. Stupid English. Thanks to Loyal Reader #1 Crotalus for being my editor.
- The first two posts to get linked by big named bloggers were The Black Stain and Evil White Males. These posts were written less than a month apart and created the first large infusion of readers.
- The WunderFamily vacation to Northern Virginia. First picture of WunderKraut to be posted. Also, the title of this post is in the running for all time best post title.
- My thoughts on the London Bombings.
- Madi (aka WunderKid 3) taking her first steps. This was especially important and meaningful because she was born with a clubbed foot. Further updates here.
- The launch of WunderKraut v2.0. The current version of this site is actually the fourth version. The first can be found here and was before I began blogging. The first version of the actual blog looked almost exactly like the original, just more bloggish. No known record survives of this layout. Then on the suggestion of Will from WILLisms, I changed to what I called WunderKraut v1.0. Actually, his suggestion was that if I changed the look of the site to be more readable, he would link me on his blog roll. After some time, I grew tired of the boring layout and worked through to the current version.
- My thoughts on going to war with the army you have and then adapting to the conditions in country.
- We are still in the midst of adopting our daughter from China. This past summer we were able to attend an International Adoption Seminar in Atlanta. After that wonderful weekend, I wrote down my thoughts.
- Gary Hart is a horses ass. I said so and Betsy Newmark from Betsy’s Page linked to it. This was right after she was a guest blogger for Michelle Malkin. This post generated HUGE traffic numbers and increased the readership of this blog.
- My thoughts about rebuilding New Orleans. I posted this the day after Katrina hit and just as the extent of the flooding was becoming known. This particular post got linked around a bit and more readers were added.
- My thoughts on being a hero.
- The Great Flamingo War of 2005. While I was away, guest blogger Cullen posted about the medals that we earned in that terrible war.
- Not even into blogging an entire year and I toss up a “What’s the use” post. Ace of Spades called it “The Dark November Of The Blogging Soul”.
- Veterans day. A post dedicated to my Dad.
- More of the Left comparing Bush to Hitler. All my harassing emails to Michelle Malkin paid off. She finally linked me and I got my first Malkin-lanche! Nice way to end the year.
It has been a fun year. Getting to know other bloggers and readers has been one of the unforeseen joys of blogging. I had the chance to meet Cullen in the flesh and he has found a niche in the blogosphere. Also, getting recognized by other big name bloggers is always cool. Thanks to Will at WILLisms for letting me be one of his guest bloggers.
As 2005 approaches its end, I look forward to this upcoming February when I will celebrate my one year blogoversary.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year guys.
7 Responses to “2005. A Year In Review”
I meant to do this when you wrote the original post but I think I forgot:
Ballad of Gary Hart
Words and Music by Tom Paxton
Who’s that running down the alley in the dead of Friday night,
As he zippers up his trousers in the inky, slinky light?
Why, of course, it’s good old Gary, leaping over someone’s fence,
Yes, it’s Gary - Gary Hart - I wouldn’t leave you in suspense.
He likes going out to parties, he likes being in ‘Rolling Stone’,
And he ran things for McGovern, so I guess we should have known.
He likes warm and willing women, he likes being where they are,
He couldn’t sing, he couldn’t dance, but he just had to be a star.
[Cho:]
So he went into the politics game.
Oh he went into the politics game.
Warren Beatty told him, Lookee,
You can get a lot of nookie,
If you get into the politics game.
When he landed in the Senate, Gary started making hay.
Gary started making nearly everything that came his way.
He liked taking a position, but when all was said and done,
Gary’s favorite position was the missionary one.
Kennedy was Gary’s hero and he studied him with care,
How he stood and how he walked and even how he wore his hair.
But the thing that thrilled him most and made him swear he wouldn’t fail,
If he made it to the White House, think of all the chicks he’d nail.
[Cho:]
Well he met her at a party and her name was Donna Rice.
She was Gary’s kind of women, she was pure Miami vice.
She thought he was Gary Collins and could get her on T.V.,
She suggested ‘Monkey Business’, and the rest is history.
They caught him making whoopee and the campaign had to cease.
He came back and tried again, but now he’s gone to find some peace.
He’s gone back to Colorado for a little while, and then,
Just as soon as he gets horny he’ll be coming back again .
[Cho:]
He’ll be running in the politics game.
He’ll be running in the politics game.
Warren Beatty told him, Lookee,
You can get a lot of nookie,
If you get into the politics game.
That’s a riot, Ken.
Congrats on a fine year, Wunder. Have you seen Mr. Snitch’s best of the blog competition? That may be something to consider…
Well, it was great meeting you also, man. I wish I could pick up the damn phone a bit more often. Ah well. Maybe after the new year …
Nice post roundup, WunderKraut. Excellent opportunity for some of us who haven’t read you as long to get to know you a little better.
The pink flamingo post particularly appeals…
On the subject of flamingos, I got your back, Kraut. I’ve been know to kill one on occasion.
If THS hears about that you’re toast, Summers.
She already knows