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.

In this nearly one year since I’ve been blogging, there have been a few changes over here.

Having just decided to start blogging for NaBloPoMo 2006, I initially launched with a boring default Blogger template.

I was a new blogger, and I wasn’t even a blog reader. I didn’t understand what all the buzz was about, but I figured I’d give it a shot and see what happened. My initial blog was called “why are you reading this?” since, as I mentioned, I had no idea why blogging was such a big deal.

I quickly tweaked that default template a bit, adding a fitting banner, changing the colors, and making a few design changes. As I was becoming immersed with my own blog, I also began reading quite a few.

By the time NaBloPoMo ended, I was addicted. I certainly understood why people would read about complete strangers lives, and the blog was renamed “playing it by ear.” I’ve toyed with taking it down completely and just using “merry mishaps,” but I kinda like it as a tagline.

Anyway … another redesign took place in January 2007 and stuck around until tonight.

I’ve been wanting to redesign for a while, and the timing seems right. So here it is.

The new lighter and brighter merry mishaps!

It is still a work in progress as I figure out what to do with my blogroll and what else to put into my sidebars, but, I just couldn’t wait any longer!