Footnote 1: Of first month celebrations, 5,000 hits and Versatile Blogger Awards
It’s The Background Story‘s first month, and we hit our target of 5,000 hits! We don’t know how that happened, but somehow it did.
The past month has been an amazing journey for us. We launched The Background Story on Oct. 22, just a few weeks ago, yet it feels like we’ve been doing this for a long time now. Technically, that is true. The photographers in our team have been taking photos and the writers have been dabbling in creative writing for years. On top of that, the blog took six months (or maybe even more) to plan. For some reason, things just didn’t work out for us; something was always in our way. But perhaps, things do happen for a reason, because when it was time for us to officially start the blog, things just fell into place like puzzle pieces coming together.
Of course, it wasn’t always easy. We discovered that it took a lot of effort. Blogging is more than posting an entry and going offline after. Blogging is about meeting people, connecting with them, and building relationships. We didn’t mind the extra effort, though — and we still don’t — because it allowed us to virtually meet amazing people oozing with talent, wit and creativity. š
But it got better for us because these people whose work we admire appreciate the work that we do. We’ve been nominated twice for the Versatile Blogger Award in the same day, and we want to celebrate our blog’s first month by paying it forward.
The Rules: Rule 1 ā Thank the person(s) who nominated you for the award.
We’ve been nominated by Angry Pear. This blog, simply put, is hilarious. It’s a comic blog about a grumpy pear (yes, a pear) who complains about the littlest things in her life. They’re all random but very true.
We’ve been nominated, too, by A Gap in the Clouds. This poetry blog has lots of lovely poems with great rhythm. All they need is a melody and they could be songs you hear on the radio.
Check out Angry Pear and A Gap in the Clouds. They are two of our favorite blogs. š
Rule 2 ā List seven things people may not know about you:
1) We are a team of two photographers and two writers.
2) We’re all 80s babies. We’re part of the class of ’98. We still get horrified that the phrase “fifteen years ago” now conjures vivid teenage memories in our minds. Weren’t we teenagers just yesterday? Apparently, not.
3) We all have strong roots in the sciences but we prefer to fly on our artistic wings.
4) C isn’t moved by Adele‘s music, and sometimes, she wonders why because she usually likes ballads.
5) A lives near a beautiful beach but she doesn’t enjoy going on boat rides. She prefers to ride on her yellow bike along the shore instead.
6) L has an extensive GIF collection featuring almost all emotions and reactions imaginable. And oh, she also has an extensive GIF collection featuring Cillian Murphy and Tom Hiddleston.
7) M is very particular about toilets. He can go anywhere in the world as long as there is a functioning toilet nearby. This means he hasn’t been on a hardcore camping trip yet, and he doesn’t think he will ever join one for precisely that reason.
Rule 3 ā Nominate 15 blogs you think should receive this award.
Here are our favorite blogs which we believe deserve the recognition. They cover a variety of topics, but they are all wonderful! In alphabetical order:
1,000 Awesome Things – humor
Ayakashi Memoirs – poetry and photography
Becoming Herself – poetry
Belfastdavid – poetry
I Wrote This for You – poetry and photography
Iron Wulf – travel
Journey Into Poetry – poetry
Lakwatsero – travel
Live, Nerd, Repeat – humor
Mimo’s 365 – photography
Poetry and Ice Cream – poetry
Seasonings – poetry
Sole Sisters – travel
The Kayumanggi Trails – travel
The Purple Doll – food
Okay, so that’s it for now! Hope to see you all again when our blog hits its first birthday next year! š
Footnotes and Margins 
Thank you so much for the nomination, I am truly touched and honoured. Unfortunately, I am unable to accept due to time contraints at this time. I’ll be sure to check out all the listed blogs š
It’s okay! š We love your blog, so it had to be in the list no matter what! ^_^
Aww thank you ā¤
Thank you for including me here, Background Story! And congratulations on your great 1st month. It’s nice to know a little more about you all. What fun!!!
And I had to chuckle about those 15 years since you were teens seeming like such a short time ago. It’s funny but that never changes, no matter how old you get. I just hit 65 and it STILL only seems like yesterday since my teens. Time becomes meaningless, when the memories are so vivid – and we never really age on the inside.
So glad to have “met” you all, and thanks again!
Our pleasure, Betty! Your poems are lovely and interesting, given how they are written over the years.
ā and we never really age on the inside.
Oh, it’s starting to be true for me. I think I’m forever stuck in my early 20s. When I was a child, I asked my dad how he felt about growing old. He said that in his mind, he felt no different from 25. š I couldn’t understand it, then. But I do now.
Wow! Thank you! It’s an honor to have been mentioned here since I just started mine this month. More power to you!
Yes, it’s a new blog but it’s off to a great start! š
Congratulations on a successful 1st month! You deserve it š
I have a problem though with being a late commenter on your blog as the first few commenters would have always posted some of the things I want to say! ^^
And thank you so much for including http://thepurpledoll.net on the list. I feel honored that although my blog is not as artistic and inspiring as the others on the list, you still found my gastronomical adventures interesting.
Btw, I didn’t have the slightest idea that your blog is made up of 4 different, but all very talented people! I was thinking that maybe there were 2 of you — 1 photographer and 1 writer. But anyway, it’d be nice if I knew who I was always talking to.. Haha.. ^^
Again, thank you and congratulations! Looking forward to your 2nd, 3rd, 4th… nth month in the blogsphere. š
Your blog is always updated with news on great deals and informative reviews so it’s a must-visit. (=
You’ve been talking to only me, L. The others, like A and M, don’t comment using this account. C does, but she leaves comments on other blogs. (=
Anyway, thank you and here’s to many more months and years of blogging to all of us! ^_^
Congratulations and thank you for saying what you’ve said.
Thank you, Martin! š
Congrats!
š
Well done – I have thoroughly enjoyed being among those 5,000 hits š
Thank you too.
I am delighted and honoured.
And I agree with you – one of the real pleasures of this blogging thing is the people we meet and the relationships we build.
I just wonder – I know by the initials which of you is involved in particular blogs. Would you consider adding an initial when you comment on mine?
Now I am going to close my eyes, get on a yellow bike and ride along the shore š
David
Surely! Mostly it’s just L or C, because we handle the technical side of blogging, but you’ve been mostly talking to me, L. š Or at least, about Alice, the UK, Ireland and Cillian Murphy. š
A and M don’t log in. š Wait, I think M does, but hardly. And he doesn’t comment. š
Wow. Thanks for the award. I’ll have to start on a new post… post-haste. Sorry for the pun. I get carried away sometimes. š
I love puns. They’re very punny!
I know that was a bad one, but I tried. š
Thank you for this. I feel humbled.
I always look forward to your posts every day!
And well done for 5000 hits!
Christine
Thanks and I hope you’re feeling better now! š
Thank you!! I am truly touched! I loved reading what you wrote about yourselves š I look forward to following you on your blogging journey…
Thank you. We love your blog as well. It’s full of stunning photos. š
Thank you! I am honoured to be included on your list. 5,000 hits is brilliant, and well-deserved; you have a great blog.
Btw, I’m totally with M on the toilets thing.
BH
You have a great blog, and you really have a way with words. You deserve to be in everyone’s fave lists! š