Late to the party, as usual. That's me. Someone else may well post another entry on the 10 millionth visitor to BlogCritics.org, but for now, it looks like I'm one of the last to do so.

I remember the birth of BlogCritics three years ago. I also remember thinking, "I'm so not doing that!" I didn't think there'd be much I could contribute to the group and thought of myself as being very much outside the "cabal." I went on about my business and thought that was the end of the subject.

Yeah, well, the guess who had the last laugh? I got sucked in. It was just a matter of time. While I don't provide all the technically rich commentary on music that some of our writers do, nor do I try to outwrite the last political opinion piece, I do offer up my views on CD's, books, and DVD's as a normal, every day, "I'm just an average Joan" sort of way. And, I like it. A lot. It's a milestone in my life, being a part of something so dynamic and creative.

When it came time for extra hands to help on the editing front, I raised mine. Why? Because I'm a nitpicker of sorts. I'm the kind of person who goes to a website (for example, a photography printing services site) and notices the thirty-two typos in their copy. I'd have fun doing this, right? Actually, yes.

The extra bonus has been getting to know some of the people who work behind the scenes to make BlogCritics the mighty content source that it has become.

Recently, when I had spinal surgery, I found myself perusing the flurry of emails from the editing group as inspiration to get my behind out of the hospital and get home so I could get back to work. Things haven't gone as well in the recovery phase as I'd like, but these folks make me smile and laugh on a regular basis and that's good medicine on every level. Once again, my milestone of being released from the hospital was tied in, albeit oddly, to my involvement with BlogCritics.

Yesterday, I'd spent the entire day with doctors and xray technicians. I was supposed to finish up the day with a concert, but when life hands you lemons (like being stuck in a doc's office all day), you make lemonade. My lemonade was being able to exchange emails with the editorial staff as we hit the big 10 million mark. Sure, it wasn't a concert, but it was exciting. The only bad part was my wireless connection was intermittent. Things came in dribs and drabs.

In the end, I had the emails and the giddiness of the moment in my gmail inbox. The excitement made me forget some of my pain and frustration of the day.

I may have come to the party late - both today and in the early BlogCritics history - but I'm here and so very happy to be a part of it all.

Ten million hits is a major milestone.

Congratulations to all the editors, writers, and readers! Thanks to each and every single one of you for playing a role in a remarkable event!

Below you will find other posts on the celebration and links to products Amazon associated with blogging and spinal surgery.

Over 10,000,000 Served
Ten Million and Counting
Blogcritics: Looking Back At 10,000,000
Some of the Best Posts on BlogCritics
BlogCritics and Me
BlogCritics Reaches 10 Million Unique Visitors
BlogCritics For Me