The Whirled turns 19 today

 

Today, July 27, 2025, this Whirled turns nineteen. That's right: I've been hobby-blogging on this platform for nineteen years, spewing many hundreds of thousands of words, as well as tons of tawdry graphics to accompany those words. And I have to say, it's been fun for the most part. At the very least, I'm keeping myself entertained with it.

I've observed the Whirled birthday/anniversary/blogaversary every year, sometimes with a brief mention and other times offering a more extended rumination about the history and purpose of this endeavor. Regarding said history and purpose, the latter of which has evolved over the years, I have said pretty much everything that I think needs to be said, and don't feel compelled to say it all again. But for anyone who's curious, this page tells it all.

Some say blogs are passé, but they've been saying that for years and that hasn't discouraged me. And so I'm going to keep this old Whirled spinning as long as I can.

I'm not going all out to celebrate my nearly two decades of blogging; I plan to spend a quiet evening at home with my fur babies (just like every other night). However, if you want to help me celebrate, I have a helpful suggestion.

If this were a 19th wedding anniversary, the traditional gift would be something in bronze, such as jewelry or cookware, "symbolizing strength and durability in a marriage." The traditional gemstone for the 19th wedding anny is aquamarine, and the flower is the chrysanthemum. But I don't need jewelry or cookware or flowers, and besides, this is a blogaversary we're celebrating.

The one gift that is appropriate any time for any occasion or non-occasion is money, and frankly, it is needed now more than ever. Here are some ways to give it:

• New(er): Venmo -- username @Connie-Schmidt-42. Here is a direct link to the Venmo page.
• New(er): PayPal -- Here is a direct link to my PayPal page.
• Old but still good: You can click on the "Donate" icon that currently appears on the right-hand side of every page of this blog on the Web version. There's also a donation link at the end of many of my older blog posts. In the case of both the icon and the links on the older posts, as well as the link in this sentence, this is also a PayPal link, but it references the email account RevRon -- which is cool, because it all ultimately goes to the same place.

NOTE: If you are donating by PayPal, please specify that your contribution is for "friends and family," which will waive PayPal's substantial transaction fee.

Whether you can donate or not, thank you for visiting this Whirled. And I will be back soon with more substantial content.