One Year Today, celebrating the one-year anniversary of red Ravine, pen and ink on graph paper, doodle © 2008 by ybonesy. All rights reserved.
QuoinMonkey: I can’t believe it’s been a year since we launched red Ravine!
ybonesy: Me neither. It’s felt more like ten. (laughs) Just kidding. But I am amazed at how much energy it takes and how some days I have the energy and other days I don’t. Fortunately, one thing I’ve learned is, what goes out eventually returns.
QM: Yeah, I know what you mean. The blog has become part of our practice, and just like with any practice, sometimes you get fried and have to refuel. It’s nice to be in it with a partner. When you’re down, I’ve got your back. When I’m down, you’ve got mine. Could you ever imagine doing this on your own?
yb: No way. There’s the daily or near daily posting and maintenance of the blog, and then there’s the whole putting yourself out there part. For me, that exposure is the piece I might not be able to deal with if it weren’t for the fact that you’re out here, too.
QM: That’s so true. Hey, I want to say that I really I appreciate you. Even though we are different people and have different styles, we work well together. And I value our differences.
yb: Thanks, QM. I appreciate you, too. After a year working together so closely, I’ve come to value the time you take with things, the quality you put into everything you do. Now when I do a post, I take more time with it. I look at the spacing and layout and wonder, what would QM think about this visually?
QM: I do that, too. I’ll post something because I think, ybonesy would do it now. And you take risks, which encourages me to take risks in areas I might not otherwise.
yb: One year later I can honestly say, I’m glad we did this. You’re right — it is a practice. It keeps me moving and producing every day, every week. It inspires me creatively. I have to say, it’s even influenced me in terms of getting my writing room together and thinking about my personal style more seriously. What do you think? Are you up for one more year?
QM: (laughs) Yep. One more year, one day at a time. I gain so much from our faithful community of readers. Creatively, the practice of keeping an art and writing community blog going, fuels my individual creative projects. Count me in. What about you? One more year?
yb: Absolutely! I’d miss the blog and our blogging community — and working with you! — if I didn’t have it. Hey, the other question I have is, What two or three things would you like to accomplish in Year 2?
QM: I’d like to integrate red Ravine into the rest of my creative projects, move it to the next level — with our readers out on the Internet, and with my teaching, writing, and art on the ground in Minneapolis. I’d also like to take more public risks in my writing. We know who our readers are – the same people who will be reading our books. So I’d like to take more risks, while still honoring the mission and vision we set for red Ravine. What are your goals?
yb: Similar ones. The integration with the rest of my stuff — that’s key. And taking to the next level both the blog and my own writing and art. Oh, and speaking of taking risks, this might be the year to figure out what to do about our identities. Do I become ybonesy, or does ybonesy become me? Can we be interchangeable, and how do I assuage concerns I have about safety and Internet identity? Lots to figure out.
QM: Yeah, I’ve been thinking about identity, too. Especially as I’ve been moving into the new art and writing studio and want to share what I’ve learned on red Ravine. I’m open to clarity. If we stay as committed as we are now, and continue to treat this work as a practice, the answers will come. We won’t be tossed away.
Congratulations!!!!! 🙂
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Congratulations and best wishes for the next year. You both do a terrific job and have created a beautiful space. Here’s the Year Two…the year of the next level.
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Thank you for the energy and creativity you both bring to this. It is a great space and has brought joy into my writing practice.
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Happy 1st year anniversary! Congrats! D
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Thank you all! (But I want to say, Ya’ll!). We wouldn’t be here without our readers. And the enriching conversations that go on in the comments. You are SO appreciated.
ybonesy, the drawing came out great. It just vibrates off the page. When I reread the conversation, we seem so confident. And so many times, I feel much more insecure inside. Yet we both just keep going. It really does help that we ebb and flow with each other.
I just read the last time we had a conversation on red Ravine last July – A Conversation Between Friends (LINK) when I was there with you in New Mexico. It reminded me of how much more energy I had back then. We were just getting going on the blog.
Then we had to regroup a few months ago and cut back so we didn’t get burned out. Remember those hard conversations we had about whether we wanted to continue? It’s been quite a journey.
Last weekend, I was dragging my butt. Today I am starting to feel excited for the posts we have coming up this week and next. I still can’t believe it’s been a year. Where does the time go?
Hey, I wanted to ask our readers if there is anything they might want more of on red Ravine? More writers, more artists, more practices, more artwork, more book talk? I’m just curious if there’s anything others might want to see.
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Regarding your questions:
“Hey, I wanted to ask our readers if there is anything they might want more of on red Ravine? More writers, more artists, more practices, more artwork, more book talk?”
My response is YES, I want more, more, more, more red Ravine! I absolutely trust your judgment on the mix and balance of writers, artists, practices and book talks.
CONGRATULATIONS on one fine year and thanks, yb & QM, for all that you offer to all of us.
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QuoinMonkey and ybonesy,
Thank-you, again, for your gift to your writing community and the world. I have no doubts that your hard work will come back to you in ways you will be delighted by. You know, showing such integrity during this first year sets you on solid footing for where this is leading you.
I was thinking this morning that we don’t exactly know or choose how this writing thing happens. We show up with the tools and practices we understand, and the rest is given to us. I’m sure a few years ago creating a blog wasn’t even on your radar. Yet you paid attention to the clues on the path, and look what has been created!
I’m pretty much with breathepeace–I trust your judgment. I will say, however, I can never get enough of writer hands signing books. I can never get enough of your posts on authors/aritsts who have persevered–Ann Patchett, Robert Frost, Frida Kahlo.
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yb & QM, I also agree with breathepeace & Teri in that I trust your judgement. redRavine has been a great place for me to visit. I enjoy the mix & admire you both for the commitment to put together such a beautiful blog. I know it must be terribly overwhelming for the two of you at times, but please know that your readers appreciate the devotion that you have bestowed upon us. What a wonderful, insightful, well designed & informative place you have established. Thanks to both of you for opening my world up to things that had been pushed aside for years. I reread the converstion between the 2 of you & it is apparent that you click! It was meant to be! D
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It really has passed by fast!
I was telling QM that some days I feel completely empty of any ideas for a post. It can be a bit panicky when you’ve commited to post on a particular day and then can’t think of a thing to write. It’s the same kind of resistence that comes with most any creative endeavor.
Other days, I’m so filled with ideas that my main problem is picking which one to go with. Feast or famine.
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Your blog is an Aries? I wouldn’t have guessed, ‘though I guess I should have given the name.
Happy birthday, rR!
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Congratulations on 365 consecutive days of Great Effort!
They’re harder to string together than most people think.
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Oh, that’s cool to know that red Ravine is an Aries. I like Aries. My sister and two of my good friends are Aries. Very solid, balanced…you can count on Aries. (Unlike Gemini ; – )
Yeah, it is harder than one would think. I was just looking at some of our posts from this time last year, and QM is right — we had loads of energy back then. In April we did 2, 3 posts a day. Gosh, it’s no wonder we almost burned out!
I think that’s how blogging is. You suddenly have this thing to do, and it’s the novelty of it all and the excitement. I wonder if that’s true for most blogs.
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sam, I had never thought about the Aries thing. Hmmm. Is that a Fire sign?
Thanks for the feedback breathepeace, Teri, and diddy.
Elizabeth, I like counting days. It really drives home the next right step – one day at a time. 8)
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Just to add my thanks for this great and inspiring site… look forward to seeing where you take this next year!
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Ybonesy and Qouinmonkey – reading your daily posts is like recieving a daily gift from friends, not to be missed, and always looked forward to. It takes great heart and energy to have kept up such a terrific site for the whole year as you have done here – just know how much i do appreciate and thank you both! G
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QM & yb,
Happy Birthday!…so now you are out of the crawling stage and walking, sure-footedly across time and space! I am so glad to have been able to be part of the first year, and look forward to many more. After raising a family, with all the hustle and bustle that goes along with those years, and now living alone, this writing community is like extended family to me. You can’t imagine how much it means to me to come home from work; turn on my computer and there you are, with wondrous gifts of art; written, photographic and all full of color!
I agree with all the rest… “I want more, please.” …(it goes with being Oliver, right?) YB, on those feast days, remember to make your list, to pull out on the days when the blank computer page seems so cold and dead white.
Not only do I appreciate the two of you, but all the “regulars,” that blog with us, especially my new friend, D 🙂
QM, Not to worry…you won’t “be tossed away.”
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Shoot, oliverowl, I had a great idea today for a post, meant to write it down, and now I’m not sure I’ll remember what it was. I *really* do need to make that list. I love small, beautiful notepads sold in paper stores. I’m going to have to get myself one and carry it around with me everywhere.
Just know, the “regulars” make our day every time we see a comment!!
QM, I would think that Aries is an earth sign, but that’s just because my Aries friends (and sister) are so grounded. (NOTE: I couldn’t wait for leslie to show up and clarify with a link, so I just now searched on my own. Yes, you’re right. Aries is Fire. Here is a great link: http://horoscopes.aol.com/astrology/zodiac-central/aries)
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lirone, you’re back! How are the new digs? I hope you’ll be able to write from afar.
G., Kudos to you, too, for writing the most wonderful narratives that keep me coming back 🙂 .
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I’m slightly late to the Happy First Year Party.
Is there any of that “food on a stick” left?
Congrats to ya both 😉 H
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Congratulations…standing ovation to you and all that leave their words here!
Looking forward to another year of creativity!
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heather, there IS no late to our parties. And as long as I live in Minnesota, there will always be food on-a-stick at my place! 8)
lirone, thank you. Great to see you here.
gypsy-heart, I hear the sound of two hands clapping. 8)
G., your words are so, so kind. And thank you.
oliverowl, it DOES go with being an Oliver. 8) I’m so glad to have you as a part of our daily conversations. It’s been a real gift to me.
ybonesy, Fire is a good sign for a blog. Energy and passion.
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Way to late to this party for it to be fashionable of me 🙂 *blush*
The blog looks good for its age 🙂 My hearty and sincere congratulations!
I wasn’t here to link you up with a zodiac link, but add this to the mix…
Gemini is an air sign.
With air, fire burns more brightly!
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oliverowl, I had wanted to come back and comment on something you said (#16):
After raising a family, with all the hustle and bustle that goes along with those years, and now living alone, this writing community is like extended family to me. You can’t imagine how much it means to me to come home from work; turn on my computer and there you are…
What I wanted to say was how much I appreciated hearing this. It’s part of the reason ybonesy and I wanted to create a space like this for writers and artists. So many are isolated, living alone, in-between writing groups. We feel so fortunate for the community we have. I’m so glad to hear that some are finding community here as well. Thank you.
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leslie, your blush is becoming. A response to your Gemini air/fire (#22):
what about water?
the moon pulls at us Cancers
grounded in Taurus
😉
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No wonder you’re so affected by the moon. I would have thought YOU to be Earth, too, but yes, Water. It makes so much sense.
We shoud get our charts read: you, me, the blog. 8)
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YB, I think maybe you’re perceiving everything as Earth because everything is relative, and we Geminis tend to lack grounding. 😉
QM, water plus fire depends upon balance. Too much fire, and the water dries up. Too much water and the fire goes out. But just the right amount of each can be nice and steamy.
Wish I had the patience to answer in haiku…
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What Sam said!
I had commented last night, almost that very thing that Sam just said, about water and fire, and hadn’t put my name in the boxes, so it disappeared.
Waters balance Fire.
Water is alive with air.
Air makes Fire shine bright.
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leslie and sam, thank you! That makes total sense — since I am a water sign, ybonesy is air, red Ravine is fire. And I am hoping we are all 3 standing on that earthy Taurus moon, Taurus rising, that grounds my chart. Without the practice, the earth, the ground — there would be no roots. We all need a place to stand. 8)
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QM, I looked up a make-shift chart for red Ravine. I went back to the April 7th post, and didn’t see a timestamp, so I used 9am, with San Francisco (WordPress) as the birthplace. That put the moon in Sagittarius, Mars and Mercury in Pisces, and Venus in Taurus.
But I’m betting that you and YB have more accurate data, You should swing by Cafe Astrology for a free natal chart, AND you can get free compatibility readings while you’re there, too. Then, let us all in on the results. 🙂
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Hey! An Anniversary??? How cool is that? CONGRATULATIONS for such a fantastic creation 🙂 May Year 2 see your Muses taking you to even Higher Highs!
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Aries, that does make sense! The haiku by Leslie, (comment#27). Water, air, fire…what a perfect combination!
And, I am surprised by the many Geminis that visit red Ravine. Sam, you say we lack grounding? Well, I for one, feel grounded. (Well, ok, most of the time!) 🙂 D
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I’m pretty grounded, too, although I certainly wasn’t in my 20s and most my 30s. It’s a kind of recent state, I’d say.
The compatibility readings sound fun. We’ll have to give those a try. I bet it will show we’re pretty compatible.
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<<Another Gemini who loves red Ravine 🙂 Thinking about my own sense of groundedness…I am grounded when I am committed to those things that keep me on earth…gardening, writing, photography, exercise, etc. I tend to come completely unglued when I go too far off course. Interesting, the thing that really disturbs my sense of Self is when I sleep too much.
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Interesting. If we were fancy with HTML, we could do one of those polls where we find out our readers’ astrological signs. (But, alas, we’re not.)
Of the folks who opt to tell us in comments, many of you do seem to be Geminis. Which actually then doubles the amount of Gemini readers we have out there, since we know that for every one of us, there are actually two 8) .
But, what I wanted to also say, Spiritdwel, is that I am also sensitive to too much sleep. It dulls me. I also get this nagging sense that I’ve wasted time. That’s my intellectual self speaking. I know sleep is good for me, and I do get my fair share, but more than 9 hours max, and usually 7 or 8, and I feel sloggish all day. And guilty.
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ybonesy, I can identify with your statement of too much sleep dulling you. Exactly the same with me, and I also hear that inner voice saying “you are wasting time…(almost like a very loud monkey mind!). I am a very early riser and do my very best writing at 4:30 or so, and when I really stick with that, I am at my highest self as far as energy the rest of the day.
I am always interested in knowing others’ astrological signs. You and QM as creators of red Ravine have brought together a wonderful writing community. Thanks again for the hard efforts I know you put into this.
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I would love to do that, get up 4:30, write for two hours before having to start getting the rest of the household — namely, my daughters — ready for the day. But I’ve never tried, and any time I’ve thought of trying, I decide it’s not the right time. Something to aim for, though. I know once I commit to it, I’ll do it.
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My hat goes off to ALL parents. I have furry children! 🙂 But, I teach little ones how to read all day at the school I teach, so this early morning breathing-writing practice seems to get me ready.
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ybonesy, I just happened to remember this evening — Happy 2-year anniversary — 2 years ago today we launched red Ravine on WordPress. I’m grateful for you, yb (and for our readers). Can we make it another year? 8)
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You’re so good at remembering anniversaries. I would have forgotten…and how could I?
Yep, another year. It’s a lot of fun. Hard work, but good reward.
Happy blog-iversary, QM!
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I get that from my Mom. I have a few sentimental bones in the old body. Plus, I think it’s important to have road markers along the way, times when we stop and go – what? 2 years have gone by?! Time goes so fast. Yes, hard work with good reward. Here’s to year 3. 8)
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ybonesy, Rrrrrrroma: I wanted to come back to this post and add a marker since we both noticed — yesterday we hit 500,000 hits! And November is about our 3rd year of actually writing for the blog (official WordPress anniversary in April). Congrats on the work of blogging.
Hey, I also reread this little exchange between us. One of our goals was to integrate the rest of our work into red Ravine, including our identities. Well, you’re out as Roma. We are half way there!
Thanks for being a great blog partner. Here’s to another year.
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Wow, I’m so glad you came back to this post, QM. It’s good to read our conversation, to see our goals. Yeah, setting goals does work. Putting your intentions out there–it’s powerful stuff!
I guess we didn’t write another one of these posts for April 2009. Well, our goals moved forward with us. Let’s make sure to recalibrate for 2010, shall we?
Here’s to you, blog partner. You *are* the best!
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