I started blogging November 1, 2006, for NaBloPoMo. I learned about this month-long daily blog-writing phenomenon only a day before it began, so I didn’t have much time to figure out what I was going to do!

Rewind to October 2006, when I was trying to come up with a domain name. I mainly just needed some server space for a programming class I was taking, but I figured I might as well tie it to a domain in case I ever wanted it for freelance projects. I don’t do much, but I occasionally build sites for friends and family.

There was only a slim chance I’d actually use this new domain as a professional site, but I wanted to find something catchy just in case.

Everything that I came up with, however, was already in use. The registrar offered lots of suggestions, though. They usually weren’t good on their own, but they kept sparking new ideas.

Somehow, I wound up following a path to “happy accidents.”

I kind of see that as my design style … I have a decent eye for what looks good, but I’m not a strong designer. I struggle a bit from the creative end.

Sometimes, I just keep rearranging things until suddenly it works, thus, a happy accident!

This, of course, was already taken. But “merry mishaps” was one of the alternate domain suggestions. That had a nice ring to it. And back then, I remember thinking that sounded like a cute blog name.

Only I wasn’t a blogger. Why would anybody want to read about my boring life?

Well, one month later, I started one anyway. I began posting as “merry.”

I also began reading plenty of blogs at this time. I found myself gravitating more towards some sites. I started exchanging comments with other bloggers. Only then did I begin to see what a community blogging is.

I started to feel weird for not having an obvious pseudonym like “webgrrl” or “crazycatlady. ” Instead, I was using something that could have been my name.

I changed my handle to “merrymishaps” kind of early on, but, it still felt wrong.

When I started out, I wanted to be somewhat anonymous. But it doesn’t make that much of a difference if I tell you my name. It’s only a matter of time before somebody I know stumbles over here, anyway.

So, hello! My name is Lauren.

I may let that sneak into some of my profile information, but I will continue to be “merrymishaps” here and all over the web.