Belated happy birthday, Ocean!


December 18, 2010 was my blog's 7th birthday! I cannot believe I forgot about it! Not that there's a need to celebrate it or anything. Haha! It's just that every single year, I never miss it. But for this last, that is! Tsk. I'm sorry, blog!

Yes, I've been blogging for seven years. Those who've continued to read this blog through the years know that I have made a lot of friends through this blog, so many great persons, some who have stayed in my life and some I have lost contact with along the way, some I have met in person and some I have only known and continue to know through their own blogs. Some of my blog-friends have discontinued, deleted or terminated, or just plain started to ignore their blogs. And, that's sad. The feeling is very like that of losing a friend or a friend you have been sharing things with and learning so many things from decides to cut you off his/her life!

I always feel sad whenever one of my blog-friends decide to pull the plug on their blogs. But, I can't blame them really. Not one of them. What with the busy world and, like I said in the previous entry, the micro-blogging age that we are in! Even I, myself, barely have the time and diligence to maintain this blog! But, I just can't give it up. Even if one of the primary reasons is sentimentality. Yes, I'm sentimental like that!

I'm thankful that I still have this blog up until now. Aside from my journal notes (on paper), this blog helps me come to terms with the changes around me and in my life. Going back to my old entries makes me know myself better. Have I become cooler? Have I become more interesting? I don't know. Maybe I was cooler and more interesting back then. And, this blog stands as the keeper of and witness to those times and versions of me past and gone by.

I started this blog so I can teach myself to be more free and more daring in writing and expressing myself. I remember when I started this blog, I actually wanted to keep my anonymity. Until I made a stupid albeit funny mistake of posting a picture of myself along with an entry. That was the time I first met Ala Paredes, who was the one who got me to start blogging, and I was so excited that I posted our picture together! And then, I realized that I wasn't supposed to do that, that I wasn't supposed to post anything that would give away who I really am. But, as they always say, what's done is done. So, from there on, I continued to blog not just as BabyPink, but as Diane to those who actually knew me. And, I realized, too, that nobody really cares about that! Haha! And, that made me more comfortable blogging!

I remember that one of the earliest readers of this blog was my friend, Balbonics. Actually, at that time, for a while we were reading each other's blog without knowing our real identities! And, it was funny because it was during a semester when we were classmates in almost all our subjects! Haha! And, there were Anj and Toni! I found their blogs and found them both interesting and I became a regular reader of their blogs and they of mine as we exchanged comments. Until I discovered that they're actually the same Anj and Toni that my friends were very close friends with! Such a small world, right?

There were, of course, the BisDak bloggers, the Peyups bloggers, the Rice Bowl Journal bloggers, and the Pinoy Teacher Network bloggers. Up until today, I've remained in contact with some of them. I used to be quite active in these groups, but eventually I became less and less active because of being busy and lazy at times. Those were fun times, though! I'd spent hours after hours hopping from one blog to another and from forum to forum!

And, how can I not mention Jim Paredes? His blog was the first blog I ever visited. And, I got to know him a little better through that blog. I left comments. And, whenever he dropped a line or two here, I felt like I was in blog-heaven! And, I'll never forget the time he tagged me to answer a music survey blog tag! I was ecstatic! Haha! I know he will laugh if he reads this. But, I'd like him to know that those times were pure bliss and some of my most unforgettable times as a blogger!

From Sir Jim, I move to Ala! She's the one responsible for this blog's amazing design. She introduced me to blogging when she mentioned in a reply message in Friendster that her father has a blog. It was an APO fan girl message that I sent to her and she was kind enough to reply to. And, it was through her father's blog that I found hers, which I found fascinatingly entertaining and personal. I felt like I wanted to have something like that and have an avenue to practice that kind of free-flow writing. Like I mentioned earlier, she was the reason I started blogging. And, I will forever be thankful to her for that and, of course, for this design, which is oftentimes, if not always, described to be very Diane! :)

I also remember the times when Blogger didn't have its own comment system yet, so we had to put up our own comment boxes from other websites. I remember I used Haloscan. It was actually easier to comment using that service and even when Blogger offered the comment page, I didn't want to get rid of my Haloscan comment box. And then, I found out that it automatically deletes comments when they reach more than a hundred as it can only hold a hundred comments! I was so disappointed as many of the comments on many of my entries disappeared forever! I miss those days when the number of comments would reach up to 30+ or even 50+! Ah, good times! Of course, I'd say that I do not necessarily blog so people would comment on my entries, I mean I don't really care or mind much if nobody bothered to comment, but I would readily admit that seeing comments is very encouraging and makes me want to blog all the more. Knowing that some people actually take time to read my entries and comment or share their ideas about it makes blogging, to me, more fun and enriching.

Oh, and another blog experience that I will never forget is when this blog was featured in Inquirer's YOU Blog Features (I've forgotten the exact name of that section). That made me float on blog-air, I was so happy! I remember that when the questionnaire that I needed to answer for the Q&A part of the feature was sent to me, I was wide-eyed with excitement! Still another was when I was named BisDak Blogger of the Month (I forgot what year that was, but I remember it was for the month of March). I was very humbled by such an honor afforded me because the BisDak blogging group was composed of so many great writers from different fields and walks of life, so many of them I admired and looked up to big time! It was overwhelming, I remember I couldn't believe it at that time. I couldn't even believe I was nominated. Really! Those experiences made me want to do better as a blogger. But, I also didn't really want the pressure to get to me! Hehe:)

So, this blog and I go way back! It has served its purpose and much more. And, I sure hope to make it better in the coming days, months, and maybe years still. The time may come when I'll outgrow blogging and stop it altogether, but I know that that time is definitely not now. And, I don't see it coming any time soon. *winks!*

To everyone who reads this blog, I thank you with all my heart! YOU are the reason why this blog continues to live! :)

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To go back to this blog's archives or previous entries, please click on the topmost icon on the left sidebar, the Into the Ocean icon (the one with the mermaid). Again, thank you! :)

Comments

nessreen said…
Pad-drug!! I've been reading your blog for about 5 years now, I think I should get a reward!! (Awardan ako. Haha) Igira a pmbilangn so ragun na pka-realize akn a kapkaloks akn.

So mabrook to your blog! And many more years, inshAllah!

I'm still blogging, more anonymously now, and with disabled comments, and with a new platform, kasi hindi ko ma-take ang drama from my old blog. Haha. Visit me!

http://dianaactual.tumblr.com

I'll be there for one year, then maybe I'll go back to my blogger. Not sure.
BabyPink said…
Pade-draaaaaggggg!!!!

Salamat sa patuloy na pagbabasa. Saken mambo na apiya makapirapolo ka makazambi-sambi sa blog na thondogen ko seka on den! Di ako ngka den khapalagoyan, oli, ka fan ako ngka man! So tig iran a istoker ba! Haha! :)

Salamat ka miyambaal ka peman sa bago ka dii ako den oto dii-mag-withdrawal! Hehe:) Nah. apiya ako ron di phaka-comment. Importante na pekhabatiya ta so mga pamikiran ka ago so mga baterplai! Si apo o ka! Haha! :)

Love you, Druggie! *hugs!*
Alien said…
Alien, happy birthday to "The Ocean of My Being"!! Ka-anniversary nya ang TM namin ni Kulay, matanda nga lang ng 8 years ang TM.. hahahaha! One day, ipapabasa ko kina Goby ang mga blogs mo. I hope maging katulad ka rin nilang magaling sumulat. More Powers!! Lovelove!!
Hevah said…
Ma'am D. Hail you and your blog! Now more than ever, I am so proud that your blog found it's way in my life. Funny how history can bring the feeling of fulfillment even in the simplest manner. More power to your ocean and I look forward to more years of blogging! Happy Anniversary!
chepie said…
happy anniversary!!! yes, i was one of those who pulled out her blog due to "personal" reasons but i'm back!!! thanks to you for the inspiration. :)

love you Ket!!! keep writing. you are very good at it. :)
Anonymous said…
congratulations for a blog well done! :) cheers, E2!

-Doc MEJ (via Facebook)
BabyPink said…
Thank you, thank you, everyone, for the kind words! I appreciate them. You, guys, inspire me to keep blogging! :)
bing said…
hello, babypink! belated merry christmas and a happy new year! :-)

it is actually the design of your blog that first caught my attention. then i started reading, and you are one interesting blogger.

like you, it makes me feel sad (and bad) when a friend blogger decides to end his or her blogging. parang ang feeling e maghihiwalay na o mawawalay..

up to now, i miss them.. but i am glad that you are still here, blogging away! cheers!
BabyPink said…
Awww, thank you, Miss Bing! Yes, I still miss my other blogger friends whom I've lost contact with. Sayang eh, 'no? And, I sure am glad that you, too, are still there. :)

*hugs!*
Zhazhinggay said…
Ma'am D! You're the best teacher and the best writer! I'm so lucky to have you as teacher. I have been reading your blog for a long time now and you really inspire me. Happy birthday to The Ocean of My Being!
bee said…
Happy Anniversary, Ocean. Although I started to follow your blog just this 2010, I am glad to have come across you.

Yes, it is hard to pull one's plug, I know 'coz I did (a few times) buts thats just the way it is. A cycle of life. hehe.. drama.

Anyway, keep on wriying, Babypink :)
BabyPink said…
@Z: Aaaawww, thank you. Thank you for those very nice words. I am the teacher that I am because of my students. By the way, why don't you start your own blog? If you haven't started yet, that is. :)

@Dee: 'Yung iba ko naman kasing blogger friends, when they decided to discontinue their blogs, they never started new ones. They really pulled the plug. Im glad, though, that some, like you, have started anew. I hope you keep yours going this time. :)
BabyPink said…
wow! your blog is already 7 yo mam di?! great! belated happy birthday too, pink ocean :D

-AR (via Multiply)

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My reply:
Yes, A. 7 na years na gyud since I started blogging. Hehe:) Thanks. :)
scarlet's walk said…
blog hopping from bee!

wow, 7 years of blogging! happy 7! and i super like your blog templates. i'm so inggit! hope tumagal din ako gaya mo!

started following you and looking forward to your posts! =)

God bless.
BabyPink said…
Uy, salamat! Visited your blog, too. It's nice. :)

I hope to get to update more often this year. :)
Jim said…
7 years is quite a commitment to blogging and to some level of introspection. Congrats! It can only be good for the soul.
BabyPink said…
Thank you, Sir Jim! It is indeed good for the soul! :)

Blogging is made better having examples as committed as you. Mabuhay kayo at ang inyong blog! :)
toni said…
Oooh happy blog birthday! From me, Master and Little Master <3
Anonymous said…
Awwww, you still kept the old layout! I havent seen it in so long. Happy birthday to your blog :-)

-Ala Paredes (via Twitter)
BabyPink said…
@Toni: Thank you, thank you! Also to Master and Little Master Timmy! :)

@Ala: Yup. yup! Kept it. How can I change it? Not going to happen! Besides, I don't think I can find a layout better than that. :)
Anonymous said…
hi maam D. I think I'm going to revive my blogs too after reading this post. Hehe. Anyway, I'm wondering if you'd like to join this contest. http://www.coolbuster.net/2011/01/coolbusternet-extrabloganza-contest.html
Frankly, I want you to join and more than that, TO WIN;)
hehe. happy anniversary!
-NSC
BabyPink said…
Hi there! Thank you so much. Please do keep bloggong. It's nice. :)

I'll try to check that contest out. Thanks again. :)
cross eyed bear said…
So silly that we only met twice no. Tapos nung bumalik ka ng marawi wala na akong field dun. Sayang nga e.

I miss blogging! Kaso parang ang effort na nya. Hehe! Though i would like to think i dont get to do it as much because i am doing much more. Hehe, excuses excuses!

Happy blogging!
BabyPink said…
I know, right? Hehe:) Nakaka-relate ako diyan sa excuses mo. I use the same excuses, eh. :)

Hope to read more of you this year! :)

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