I started this blog in April of 2004, because my friend Wes told me to, and never imagined that anyone else would be interested in reading it.  It was just a diary at first, and then it became a voice, and then it turned into, well, me.  I didn’t have a clue how to go about most of what blogging entailed, and I was greatly helped along the way by someone who is now a good friend, and I want to tell him, “Thank you.”

Remember Blog Explosion?  I found many friends there.

One of the first internet friends I made was a lovely gentleman named Jim Turner, who blogged as Genuine.  As Genuine, Jim is truly the Alpha Daddy of the Blogosphere, for his was the first really popular Daddy Blog.  Jim has encouraged countless numbers of people find personal expression by blogging, and his example inspired other fathers to become bloggers, as well.

Genuine took a break from his personal blog for a while – his business blogs took up so much time, there wasn’t much energy left for his personal blog – but now he’s back.

Yes, Genuine is back.

Jim blogs about his children, his marriage, his work, his problems, and all the ups and downs that being a busy parent in today’s world can entail.  Sometimes his blog is funny; sometimes, his blog is full of advice; sometimes, his blog is heartbreaking.  Whatever his topic, Jim writes from the heart, and his love for his wife and children shines between every line.  He blogs about his mistakes, and his successes, and he lets us see his family play and hug and laugh and cry.  His home’s windows were the first ones in the Blogosphere that I peeked through, and when I got to meet him and Michelle and the kids a few years ago, I felt like I’d known them for ages.

It would make me very happy if you would all step over to Jim’s blog and tell him how glad you are that he’s blogging as Genuine again.  He helped start the blogging community; he was greatly missed; and now, Genuine has returned.

Thank you, Jim, for all you have done for me.  I GENUINELY appreciate it.