Curse you Blogger! & Old Stuff Day

http://chrisscalf.deviantart.com/art/OLD-STUFF-Grampasaurus-265554561

Loved this pic; I think it captures both the futile "Get off my lawn!" rage I have at Blogger for not updating any of the links on other blogs that link to mine for my recent post, and of course, for the Old Stuff concept.

For Old Stuff day: the question of which post(s) I'm most proud of is relatively easy.  My two reviews of NOVA this year were tough to write, and in writing them I both matured (well.. a little bit) as a gamer and a blogger, having to own up to my mistakes, face my critics, and doing my best to write an impartial review, especially as a member of the tournament staff.  So here they are:

The fanboy unleashed and repentant:
http://midlifegamingcrisis.blogspot.com/2011/08/back-from-nova-what-rush.html

The impartial review:
http://midlifegamingcrisis.blogspot.com/2011/10/sour-grapes-nova-review-and-soapbox.html
What mattered most to me on this post was TheKingElessar's comment about it being a fair attempt at constructive criticism and fairly written.  TKE has a razor sharp wit and isn't afraid to use it, and the brains to back it up; coming from him I took it as rare and solid praise.

After that - the post I think may deserve a bit more attention addresses something I hold as a core guiding principle -  the importance of creativity and imagination in our lives:
http://midlifegamingcrisis.blogspot.com/2012/01/are-you-pondering-what-im-pondering.html

My most popular posts this year (all time at least) are these - and I haven't the faintest what it is about the first one that gets people here - I'm guessing the pic of Darth Vader with a Tabasco bottle may have something to do with it - but welcome anyway!
http://midlifegamingcrisis.blogspot.com/2011/04/updates-and-forum-y-goodness-tyranid.html
Tyranid Library article 3, now with updated links:
http://midlifegamingcrisis.blogspot.com/2010/11/tyranid-library-part-3.html
Swarmy!
http://midlifegamingcrisis.blogspot.com/2010/11/stuck-on-swarmy.html
Tyranids vs. Stelek's litmus test:
http://midlifegamingcrisis.blogspot.com/2011/05/ytth-litmus-test-and-tyranids.html
And the post I suspect many have found to be useful, given where I've seen it crossposted:
http://midlifegamingcrisis.blogspot.com/2011/07/list-of-lists-etc-2011-tyranid-lists.html

At any rate - my reflection this year is one of bemused frustration.  There have been some killer ups, and pretty rough downs.  Really good times, and days where I haven't left the easy chair in a fugue.  Through it all, I have to smile a little bit.  Starting in a very unfocused way, with only ~65 total posts, closing on 25,000 hits after a little under two years isn't bad.  Thanks for sharing in the journey.  Now get down to your FLGS and pick up those new Tyrannofex/Tervigon and Hive Tyrant models!