Wow…that year went by quickly.
About 12 and a half months ago, I got the idea to start a blog about living the celiac life from a dude’s perspective.
And 12 months ago today, I launched GlutenDude.com.
(If I was a dog, my blog would actually be seven years old.)
If you look back at my early posts, I pretty much sucked at blogging.
I was a bit all over the place…kinda like my golf game and my concentration level when I’ve been glutened.
But over the months, I suppose I found my snarky voice and the journey has been nothing short of amazing.
And naturally, I have all of you to thank. A blog is a lonely place without some audience participation and we have built a celiac community here that I now call my second home.
Here are some fun facts about year one…
- Number of posts written: 169
- Visitors: 101,661
- Pages viewed: 190,798
- Comments left by our amazing community: 5,160
- Additional spam comments blocked: 3,857 (bastards)
- Most commented post: Back to the Doctor…Need Your Help (131 comments)
- Least commented post: A whole bunch of them tied at ZERO.
- Number of Countries Reached: 151 (included Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Rwanda)
- Page with the most views: Eat Your Gluten Free Pizza Naked (it helps when Mark Cuban shares your link on Twitter)
- Funny Google keywords where people found my site: i love gluten, gluten free sex, free sex only, channing tatum naked, dana vollmer naked, naked dude, gluten free shit
- No-so-funny Google keywords where people found my site: i hate having celiac disease, why can’t I leave the house with celiac, can you die from celiac, can gluten intolerance kill you, died of celiac
- Number of times Kim Kardashian apologized to me: 0
- The date I thought I would run out of ideas to write about: October 2, 2011
- The date I’ll actually run out of ideas to write about: ???
So what’s next?
That’s a darn good question.
I’d like to take the blog to the next level, reach more people and be an even better celiac advocate. In the next few weeks, I’ll be launching a new design with some added site features.
“What new site features?”, you say.
Another darn good question.
I’ve got some ideas but I would love to hear some of yours.
If you could name one thing that would make this a better site FOR YOU, would what it be?
Thanks in advance.
And thank you for making my blog “our blog”.
One year in the books. Who woulda thunk it??
These are the things I hope never changes:
1. Snarkiness.
2. This is a safe place to vent
3. We feel safe saying that the gluten-free diet “blanks**** (*two words that we were spanked for using earlier so maybe I don’t feel so safe saying it after all..lol)
4. Your ability to validate that this sn’t an easy or simple diet (lifestyle?) to adopt or maintain..
5. It’s okay when the bad days come because someone will understand, offer sympathy, give advice, and put it into perspective.
6. The feeling that it is okay to be here if you are gluten sensitive rather than Celiac (or don’t know).
7. Snarkiness.
One thing I wish was here:
1. Spell Check
Can’t wait to see what you have in store for the next year!
AMEN, Miss Dee!!! Ditto to everything she said.
And, Happy Blog Birthday, Gluten Dude!! I don’t even think you truly know how many of us you have helped with your amazing blog. Keep ’em coming!!
I also like what Diana said.. “If it ain’t broke – don’t fix it”. 😉
Congrats, Gluten Dude! And please keep those posts coming. I’ve been here since close to Day 1. Thankfully, my hubby found your blog shortly after my diagnosis (September 2011). It’s helped me deal with the emotional side of this disease better than anything else. You and all the followers who post comments have comforted me through the stages of grief. I think I’ve finally come to acceptance…but that might change tomorrow. 😉
Through your blog, I’ve learned to stand up for myself and my GF needs because none of us should be ashamed of our disease just because others don’t get it.
And my hubby religiously reads your posts, too. So, like I said, keep ’em comin’!
Happy blog-iversary, Dude! Hope now that your 30 are over, you’re celebrating with a nice stiff drink;)
I’m so glad I found your blog GD! I stumbled upon it last week and keep coming back. Laughed out loud to my laptop so often, my husband just HAD to know what I was reading.
Since I know you know how much this disease affects a spouse, you my appreciate that he actually came and read over my shoulder (which usually would be annoying to both of us!).
He actually laughed, too! I think I may have lured him in by sharing a readers comment about an unfortunate incident at the Gastro, involving a spectrum and a full colon (I know what my hubby like–low-brow poop humor–and that he’d enjoy that story).
But, GD, you also had me teary-eyed, too. This disease can be lonely at times. I have a wonderful, supportive family, but they don’t fully get it. Your post about agreeing to go out to dinner with your Aunt, broke my heart–because for the last 4 years, no one has ever vocalized that situation–and I have been beating myself up, thinking I was the only one. Thank you for sharing.
From the physical pain every day as symptoms persist, to the brain damage (oh, yeah…34 years without a diagnosis has given me permanent brain fog/damamge and a missed diagnosis of ADD), and from being too exhausted to get up and play Hot Wheels with my 2 and 4 year old boys, to losing the last shreds of lady-like dignitiy I may have clung to (oh, some of those tests, I am traumatized for life), this disease that can be too serious at times, not to laugh. It can be a real bummer (no pun intended).
Please keep up the rants, honesty, and humor (loved the movie lines post…my kind of silly and sick humor). Annnndddd…you should even feel free to throw in an expletive if it’s warranted…just keep on doing. It’s appreciated more than you know from a tired, middle-class, 39-year-old woman/mother/wife/human, from a small New England town (which, FYI, breads, batters, and fries EVERYTHING).
Thanks again and Happy One Year Anniversary!
Happy Anniversary Dude.
The one thing that would make this site better for ME would be to include the Channing Tatum naked pictures that have led others to your blog. But I love it just the way it is, so…
Cheers!
You made me LOL. Again. I heart you! And my hubby is okay with that. 😉
I was diagnosed with a wheat allergy the week of my 40th birthday last year. My Celiac test came back negative four months later–four months of not eating wheat. It doesn’t matter–I’m allergic to wheat! And about six other things that make eating an obnoxious adventure.
I appreciate your sharing, the rants, and the supportive comments I see on here all. the. time. What an amazing group of followers you have. When I’ve had quite enough from the people who are supposed to be supportive, I always find a place here where others have and are facing the same struggles. Thank you for giving us that place. And a place to practice our math.
Happy anniversary, GD! I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your blog. You’ve made me laugh on days I didn’t think I could, taught me a bit here and there and made me angry enough to rant along with you. It is encouraging to know we’re not alone. Thanks!
Happy Anniversary, Gluten Dude!
Wouldn’t change a thing!!
Happy birthday Gluten Dude blog! You’re always an inspiration, so don’t ever change! 🙂
Happy blog-iversary! Keep ’em coming Dude! 🙂
You play golf?! Happy Birthday to the Dude.
Congratulations and happy blog birthday! Keep the humor, always!
Happy 1st Blogbirthday!!
I am so glad I found your site and I truly enjoy “the gang” here!
Supportive, funny, REAL people who walk the same rocky path and still maintain a sense of humor. And I have enjoyed getting to know them through their blogs, too! So many talented, caring people in this community.
I’ll say this publicly, as I have told you privately many times:
YOU DO GOOD WORK, so be proud of what you have accomplished. No worries about new ideas/topics coming to you. I used to tell writing students this all the time: Just write about what you know best. Write from the heart. It can never be “wrong” because it’s pure and true and unpsoiled. The words will always come.
Red Smith was asked once if turning out a daily column was a burden. …”Why, no,” dead-panned Red. “You simply sit down at the typewriter, open your veins, and bleed.”
P.S.
I’m with Miss Dee, if you could easily add an edit option, I think it would be a good idea. Some of us have “issues” with creating typos and feel the need to correct them. ( really, it’s a terrible curse) 🙂
……and whatever you do, please do not add any trig or calculus security questions or I’m screwed.
Continued success, kiddo…. and cheers! 😉
It’s your birthday. It’s your birthday. Get dancin’! It’s your birthdaaaay!!!
Or should I say, “Get writin'”?
Focus on the Kardashian apology and add more ‘naked’.
Looking forward to continued snark and new features on your site.
Thank you for sharing this baby with the celiac world!
P.S. I’ve always loved your “Is This Gluten Free” page. Would love to see it expanded somehow.
I agree with everything written above! Your blog is inspirational. I love it here and sometimes when I am at my lowest, I go back and reread posts and comments to feel better and IT WORKS! I follow on facebook and love the ability to like but am addicted to all of the great information on this blog and want to like without wasting a comment that says “YES, I AGREE – YOU ARE AWESOME!” But then again, does anyone ever grow tired of hearing “you are awesome”? Happy anniversary – fantastic work.
Hapy Blogday Dude
I love coming over to your place and hanging out with the good folks here. And I have never once been glutened while having a great time.
I can’t tell you how much help it has been for me coming somewhere I dont have to explain myself, or feel a fraud because no doctor can find evidence. I was wheat free 9 years, of course it is negative. You dont care, and I can proudly (?) say I HAVE CELIAC and know youwill be there.
I read the whole archives and it is a magical resource.
I also have dyslexia, so I am used to spotting typos in my posts…
Brilliant. Just brilliant.
I didn’t realize that when I discovered you online that you were new. I had just been diagnosed and needed to wallow a little and vent. I have laughed at my situation and realized that it is my health we are talking about here! I am not some selfish person wanting to eat too and be considered. Thanks for the place to relax and meet others with a weak GI system, great compassion and great minds.
Khan: I’ve done far worse than kill you. I’ve hurt you. And I wish to go on… hurting you. I shall leave you as you left me, as you left her. Marooned for all eternity, in the center of a dead planet… buried alive. Buried alive.
This is a quote from one of my favorite movies of all time (yeah i know, weird). However i have found a strength in being a GF’er, I can make myself heard, this disease will not control my life and I certainly won’t let it kill me or my hope and ambition in this life. I have found that being a voice in my own in my realm of the world (think philly where i went to college-geno’s/pat’s cheeseteaks and tasty kake…*sigh* to trenton, NJ for work-chambersburg/ old italian district)where wheat products are so thoroughly enjoyed (&@%!!, i just had a warm philly soft pretzel flashback…) that i can talk about living without ever being able to enjoy them again. I talked to alot of people who knew nothing about it gluten intolerance and celiac disease.
I think that you-GD have helped so many people from all over the country, you gave us a voice and we thank you for it.
You have a made a difference.
If you need to sit a couple of blogs out we are here for you, guest blog if you need to. As for a suggestion…have you thought about getting endorsements/advertising from GF companies/products?
Cheers GD,
Jersey Girl
p.s. if you’all have wondered if the security question is valid, it is. I tested it and it punted my comment..
Happy Anniversary. Keep up the good work. I would like to see an occasional guest blog from the rest of the dude family they were all great in the past. That would give you some time to rest.
Granpa Dude
“If is ain’t broke don”t fix it” Congratulations on your first of many blogging years. I love your blog and all the comments. I love the anything goes. Whether it makes me laugh or cry it’s the first email I read. Thank you!
I was diagnosed with celiac in August. I stumbled upon your blog a few weeks ago and you have already helped me so much! So I thank you for starting this blog and especially for your willingness to help others! Congrats on the one year and I look forward to many more!
Thank you…thank you…thank you to the best damn celiac community in the world. I sincerely love you!!
I truly love this “space” you have created … Congrats to the 1 year and hooray on the many more 🙂
And I agree with so many of the sentiments above … and will have to do some thinking on what may be cool to “add” to your site 🙂
Again Congratulations! YOU ROCK! 🙂
well, we love you too, sweets!
I meant to comment on this stat you presented:
“Page with the most views: Eat Your Gluten Free Pizza Naked”
Naked—hm, well, that word probably gets lots of attention–and with good reason! ;).
Just for fun sometime, you should work the word “naked” into your blog titles for a week and watch those ” view stats” soar.
Happy One Year Blogiversary GD! Looking forward to changes or no changes – it’s great either way.
GD, stumbling across your blog is the best thing that has happened to me since I was diagnosed. Happy Anniversary and thank you from the bottom of my heart.
If we could get some dr.s familiar with celiac disease to answer some questions or concerns or whatever, guests speakers I guess, would be cool, but I know that is a stretch.
I agree with everyone else: don’t change a thing!
If you really have to…maybe rotate a column by IrishHeart every once in awhile?
Happy Blogday to you! Congratulations! 😀
Happy Birthday GD!
Suggestions for the year to come (from someone new to this thread):
– edditng mite hulp a wittle
– Maybe a guest “host” occasionally? Someone with a diffeerent perspective or a really juicy story to share? Added benefit is you get time off.
– A little color? This white on white or palest grey is a bit boring (said with love)
– a calculator on the side to help with the math? 🙂
– Odd emoticons, like barfing guys and a hand with a 1 finger salute? Well, maybe not the latter
Congratulations Dude!!!!
Let me say I find this blog (and I believe many will agree) an amazing way of helping each other, either by making fun of the different situations we live because of being celiacs, or listening to everybody’s stories and giving helpful advice.
Will be expecting for those changes to happen, though the blog is great just as it is right now! 🙂
Greetings from Uruguay!!!
Happy blogiversary! Eleven years into gluten-free and multiple allergen-free eating for me, and I’d stopped reading most celiac-related blogs and such. Recipes and perky advice about gluten-free living only depressed me more. But you, Dude…discovering this blog was like finally finding the support group I’d needed all along. I’ve laughed, I’ve cried, and, most of all, finally felt validated in a way I hadn’t before. I wouldn’t change a thing.
And, in response to a previous comment, I like your clean design aesthetic. It looks professional and polished and is easy on the eyes for migraine-suffering people with bad eyes like me. I hope you continue blogging for years to come!
Although I have only been following for a few weeks, you got me hooked! Something you’re doing must be right. 😉
I hope that one day my gluten-free blog will be as successful as yours!
I found my way here three days post-diagnosis, after googling ‘F*** celiac’. You’d be amazed how many hits I got with that!
Which shows my mind space at the time.
Some months later, I’m still feeling like a cripple in the world of food. Nice to have found you and your community, though. So grateful for the time you put into this. You’ve really helped me feel less alone. Thanks and happy Oneth.
Just thought of this for some reason.
(which is weird because I was doing some yard cleanup and not really sitting and pondering life or anything. I was trying to do something outside since the sun finally came out for the first time since Sept. 23. I am not kidding about this.)
But I digress.Cut the chase, Irish and shut yer gob.
Okay, so, if you are Snarky, then, what are all of us?
The Snarketeers?
The Snarkettes?
The Snarkasauruses? (in keeping with the caveman theme?)
Congratulations, Gluten Dude, on the end of a great year and the start of an even better one!
I came across your site while furiously researching Celiac Disease after my young son was diagnosed. As a parent, I can’t bear to see my child (or any child) in pain, so I felt so helpless and overwhelmed by not understanding what he is going through. Thankfully I came across this blog and have gained so much insight from the information you present as well as the comments, and sometimes testimonies, from your readers.
My husband and I decided to adopt a gluten-free “lifestyle” to better help our son, and to reduce the risk of cross-contamination, and I really wouldn’t have known where to start if it wasn’t for sites like this. My apologies on how uneducated I may come off on this subject, but I never had any idea on how many changes would need to be made. (I mean lotion, shampoo etc., etc.,…) I certainly never knew, and can’t imagine how anyone with CD was able to keep it going even ten to fifteen years ago.
Seeing the improvement in my son’s health makes it worth more than anything, so I will continue to follow you on your journey and to seek advice and find inspiration.
Thank you for keeping me educated and uplifted….. You have helped me become a better mom.
Here’s to the year ahead!!!
Hi Stephanie,
It does get easier as you go along and learn the ropes. 🙂
I think you’re a great mom to want to do all you can for your wee one.
A good book you may wish to read is:
Living Gluten Free for Dummies by Danna Korn (very thorough and she writes from a Mom’s perspective)
and
celiac.com has a section entitled: Parents of children with celiac.
Those parents have some great advice!!
If you haven’t already checked that site, you can also go to the COPING section and look at the pinned topic NEWBIE 101. It may offer you more info about cross contamination, reasonable concerns about wheat in topicals, follow up care suggestions, a list of certified GF facilities and some menu ideas. ( I admit, I wrote it —and I know the G Dude does not mind if I point newbies and their moms 🙂 to it. )
He is very gracious about sharing the knowledge in any way he can.
Best wishes to you and your family.
“The Autism Cookbook: 101 Gluten-Free and Dairy Free Recipes” is also a good cookbook to start off with. Most of the recipes in this book are “kid friendly” and easy to prepare. (Many of us with compromised guts have found dairy to be problematic as well.) Once you get used to it, almost almost all recipes can be easily converted including your family favorites.
We’re all here to help.:)
http://www.amazon.com/Autism-Cookbook-Gluten-Free-Dairy-Free-Recipes/dp/1616080191
Sorry to hear about your son Stephanie. I’m glad you found our blog. It’s a great community. If you have any questions, never hesitate to reach out to me.
Thank you all for your kind words! I’m sure I’ll come up with all types of questions as time goes by, and it’s comforting to know I can ask those here. Especially since there seems to be conflicting info everywhere!
IrishHeart, I’m on celiac.com all the time! You’re right, it’s a great place for parents and I’ve found tons of recipes, including one for gf play-dough (which was a big hit at my son’s preschool). Thanks for the book recommendation too, I will definitely check that out.
Miss Dee Meanor, thanks for your suggestion as well! It’s interesting you mention lactose intolerance, because as an infant that’s what our pediatrician thought the problem was, so we switched to hypoallergenic formula. She also said he had reflux so he was put on medication.
Seems I have a lot of reading to do now!
Gluten Dude, I really like that your family is so understanding and supportive. If I could suggest anything for the upcoming year it would be to hear about or from families that have a child with CD, yet still find balance in the home with other children.
The Cecelia’s Marketplace Shopping Guide
(there are versions that are GF, GF and DF, and GF/DF/and SF (soy free) is also handy.
.
It’s my birthday today too! I have updated my blog’s journey
I know I am late with B-day wishes,but I just found you few days ago. 😉 I didn’t read everything yet, but so far I love your style of writing, your sarcastic humor and the topics you post. You simply rock Dude! 🙂
Upsss… And I didn’t write Happy Bday! ahhaha So Happy to you! 😀
Thanks 🙂