Things I’ve Learned In A Year of Letters & Lists

Guys, it’s my one year blogiversary! (In lieu of flowers, please send JP Licks’ ice cream cakes with stupid things in icing on them. On second thought, don’t; they might not mail well.)

I’ve written 42 (this makes 43) blog posts in a year, 20 letters, 21 lists, and one hybrid. So, just like Project Runway makes more ad money by airing ridiculous compilation shows, here’s my list of what I’ve learned in a year of writing letters and lists.

1. People tend to like letters more than lists, as evidenced by the all-time most read post, Dear Flour Bakery, and the runner up, Dear People Who Think I’m Crazy (which I’m gonna convince myself is not because there is a huge pool of people who think I’m crazy).
2. Is it too late to change this to a letter? Like maybe, “Dear People Who Read The blog”?
3. The most popular list was about why kids are awesome, probably because people were genuinely like, do tell. In all honesty, I could very easily write an equally long (cough, cough, much longer) list about why kids are not awesome. (#1: Buh bye, sleeping in.)
4. I get more comments when I beg pathetically for comments, but still can’t get 25 comments on one post.
5. I will send a gift to the 25th unique commenter on this post. Must suggest a letter or list topic. (Is this pathetic enough?)
6. The gift will be awesome. (Now?)
7. Sometimes it’s okay to pad the lists.
8. You think you’ll be able to blog once or twice a week, easy. It’s not easy.
9. Sometimes you can right wrongs with a strongly worded letter and it feels so good.
10. Sometimes people are just awesome at customer service and life and those people are Joanne Chang.
11. No one wants to read a letter to Twisted Sister, even if it’s really more of a Festivus-inspired airing of grievances.
12. It’s better when you can @ someone on Twitter, otherwise you’re left with the unconsummated anger I still feel towards T-Force.
13. I don’t have as many angry letters to write as I thought I did.
14. Because some people are so responsive to my angry letters, I think twice about writing them to people who quickly right their wrongs, like SweetGreens (hair in bowl) or Spirit Airlines (nicest pilots ever).
15. Lists are still the most fun thing to write.

Here’s to another year of sporadic blogging and unenthusiastic commenting!