It must be kismet. Fate, if you’re not familiar with the term.
I spent most of yesterday sick as a dog and curled up in bed, having eaten something I shouldn’t have the night before when I was traveling back to Brookings from Spearfish. I thought it might be the Chinese I ordered after I got home, but my wife is convinced that it was the gas station sandwich I grabbed for Lunch during the 6 1/2 hour drive home. And a couple days later, I notice my likely gas station cuisine induced illness had distracted me from an important milestone. This website – South Dakota War College – in a universe where most blogs hardly last more than two years has managed to fully achieve 19 years of age.
When I wrote my first post, I was 38 years old with six kids, one of which was a newborn. Now, I’m that much older, the father of seven, with most out of the house; two married, one in the middle of law school, one a Legislative Assistant in Congress, one learning how to drive submarines in the Navy, and the last child’s graduation in sight in a couple of years. Maybe I’m close to minimizing the number of boomerang kids, but I won’t count on it.
It’s still hard to wrap my head around it that I’ve been around 19 years. Literally, it’s like an employment career… with the worst salary and benefits ever. Come join the world of blogging! Be avoided on the street! Your friends and enemies alike will throw rocks! Get the tar beaten out of you on-line for years to come!
Sounds attractive, doesn’t it?
There are times when writing/posting gets to be a chore, and there are times when words just flow. In an environment where just about all of the websites who were around when I started are gone, and those that came after have dropped off, I’m not sure why I’m one of the last ones standing. But here I am after 19 years.
When I started writing, it was for the goal of making state politics better, and I don’t know that the goal has changed all that much, because it’s a constantly a moving target.
Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to find and some candidates and elected officials who were and are worth believing in, because they have found a way to be both inspirational and aspirational as they try to find solutions for their fellow South Dakotan. There’s also those who you think are ok, but turn out to be schmucks. Of course, you have those that you know to be awful, and leave you shaking your head in disbelief that their voters don’t get it.
But hopefully we can find come across more champions of their fellow men and women who are guided by their values and sense of the common good, as opposed to the cookie cutter candidates whose bullet points are all nearly identical, because their values come less from themselves than they do from what they read on facebook.
I’m starting to make this overly long when I have other things I need to get done tonight. But suffice it to say, I appreciate you, my readers, and thank you for the 19 years to date. We’ll see if I can keep this up for another 19!
and a musical note from Joe Jackson about remaining Nineteen forever!
Don’t let the out-of-state name-callers get you down, Mr. PP. People love you because you’re a swell fellow.
On this… grudznick and I agree. For nineteen years, I have read your blog. I am in awe that you could tolerate us for that long.
congratulations! time sure flies.
Congratulations on 19 years!
Outlasting the Out of State Name caller blog who’s owner could not take it anymore and called it quits.
Lar is likely in a padded room institutionalized by now.
Precinct Overlord Mr. Zitterich who helped Mr. H move on has found a new home on the South Dakota Politics facebook page sharing his lengthy, lengthy and lengthy words of wisdom.
Mr. Doeden (Not A Republican) after facing the music will become the new SD QAnon Coalition Coordinator. Will he be the herder of cats he thinks he is? Time will tell.
Pat, Congrats on your work anniversary! I have read it from the beginning! Just think if you would have charged a small fee, you would be rich. That is my advice as you enter your next year. I would pay! Thanks for many years of great political discussions!
I think your focus is to be commended, but not the detriment of entrepreneurs and tinkerers like me who fail by design. 😀
I’m not trying to get anyone elected as a career, and my goal here is to scratch a couple of itches; meeting some standard for civic responsibility, and creative philosophical writing.
Just think, in a couple of years DWC will be able to go to the bar and have a beer!
Thanks for recognizing some value in what I write, or at least for giving into to others who do.
🙂
without Pat, how would we even know that C. Woods has a thriving strategy group?
So it’s time to start planning a 20 year anniversary party!
Congrats and thanks for all you do!
Congrats Pat…
Thank you Pat. You’ve done great work and been a great friend to many. Looking forward to your 25th anniversary
Congratulations, Pat! Local Politics maybe isn’t “better”, but it sure is a hella lot more interesting since you started. And a few very good people have been elected and some clinkers have been outed. Well done!
Congrats! This is truly a milestone worth celebrating!
Congratulations. I have always enjoyed your fresh views and insightfulness. I found your site by accident, when the Argus Leader was doing nothing, but being a cheerleader for the liberals instead of being just a reporter of news. I now noticed that the AL is no longer relevant, since they didn’t understand the business side of their business. Again thanks and keep up the great reporting, by shining the light in the dark recess of politics.
Thanks for all you do Pat. I’ve been reading since early 2006 and you’ve continued to produce insightful posts and generate interesting discussions.
Thank you, Pat for your work and your conscientious focus over the years reporting on South Dakota politics. The Republican Party in South Dakota is much more “diverse” than is often assumed. You have been very faithful in reporting the issues as they arise in the Party.