Dang man…my blog is officially five years old. Five years old and 12 days to be exact. You might say it’s my blogiversary. Or my Gluten Dudiversary. Or my…ok, I’ll stop.
Seriously…where does the time go? It seems like just yesterday my blog was wearing diapers. And now here we are five years later and my blog is fully potty trained, with still the occasional accident. (You folks are very good at letting me know when I’ve soiled myself.)
Five years ago, I wrote my very first blog post called The Bright Side of Having Celiac Disease, according to my kids and I was off to the races. The fact that my kids wrote my first blog post tells you that I had no idea what I was doing.
Five years later…and I still have no idea what I’m doing. I will be a work in progress til the day I die.
How about we look at some interesting (perhaps to me only) facts about my site at this juncture:
- Number of blog posts written: 620 (holy moly)
- Number of people who have come to my site: 3,125,468
- Number of pages viewed: 6,308,928
- Number of comments left: 30,901 (Seriously…thank you!)
- Top Google search term (besides Gluten Dude): is corona gluten free (no)
- Popular search terms that hopefully shed some truth: are gluten free cheerios safe (not to my liking), is omission beer gluten free (nope), celiac brain fog (not talked about enough), can i drink coffee with celiac disease (yes), what is it like to have celiac disease (quite the journey)
- Other interesting search terms people used to find my site: is semen gluten free (Lots of variations on this one. I assume it took them to THIS page), free sex (huh?), I hate gluten free, help me, are gluten allergies bullshit, celiac cheat days (like there’s such a thing), gluten free idiots (yep…that’s me), I pooped my pants
I frequently ask myself how long I can keep this blog going. Have I said all there is to say about our wonderful little disease? Is it worth some of the angst I receive?
The answer is…I don’t know. I’m at a point where I simply cannot keep up with the emails and private messages I receive asking for guidance. But I do know that I enjoy being one of many strong voices within our community. And as long as that pleasure continues…I will continue.
I cannot thank you all enough for hanging with me.
Next round is on me.
Happy Dudaversary! I totally love all that you do and the fact that you are unafraid to take on the big stuff — like pretend gf Cheerios. Please hang in there. Answering every post/ message personally is secondary to your keeping all of us informed as new stuff comes down the pike. As the self-appointed president of your fan club, I shall repeat what I say to you all the time — You are THEE best! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Thanks Jane…or shall I say El Presidente.
Thanks for providing a place to get encouragement, education, and support! Happy blogiversary!
That’s what it’s all about!
HAPPY FIFTH!
As always thank you for giving us a platform.
Jacqueline
You are quite welcome Jacqueline.
Congrats!!! Thanks for duding the blog for us.
Always happy to dude…
Happy 5th blogaversary!๐๐๐๐
I only found you out a few months ago but I immediately subscribed!!!
And, no, I was not the one searching for g-f semen!!! Lol
Great blog! Love the sarcasm and dark humor (we need this), and love the “tell-it-like-it-is” approach that does not dwell on the “woe-pity-me” party.
We are survivors and fighters in our own way.
I appreciate you having our “backs”!
Congrats!
Always Chantale…always.
Dear Dude,
Happy Anniversary! I am glad to have found you after being diagnosed couple of months ago. Yours was the first blog I found and that I turn to, even though my mom has had CD for over 50 years. Keep being an advocate, but also take time for you! Hugs!
Hugs back Kathy…thank you.
Happy Dude-iversary! I’m so glad you’ve got this blog. It’s one of the non-work emails that I always read. It just helps so much to know none of us are alone. Yours is the best GF blog out there. Thank you.
Just wait until I start doing Udi’s Giveaways!! Yes…I’m kidding.
You’ve helped so many people in their time of need-including me, when I felt alot worse than now. How many blogs can say that? Happy 5th
Very cool Greg…thanks.
You helped me a TON! And thru you I discovered Jennifer Espisto, whose book, blog, and bakery made a HUGE difference in my life too! Many, many, many thanks!
Thank you, Dude, for starting this blog. You’ve provided some entertainment along with all your useful suggestions. Almost (but not quite) as helpful have been the comments by your readers. I’ve gained a lot of useful ideas and hints from them.
You provided a platform, others made use of it and I have gained a lot.
Congratulations! I’ve only been with you for the past three years, but have enjoyed the blog and learned a lot from it in the early days. Your good work is appreciated.
Dick
Massive thanks for informing and entertaining us for 5 years. You are the only gluten free blog that I’ve stayed subscribed to (apologies to any bloggers I’m inadvertently offending here), the mix of information and humour is great – and many many thanks for letting me know that brain fog is a real symptom. Happy 5th anniversary!
Much appreciated Lou.
Happy Anniversary GDude. Your doing great things for people out there just trying to navigate this disease with nothing more than a “Yup, you tested positive for Celiac. Now, go eat a gluten free diet”.
Cheers!