It is something that happens about as frequently as a Presidential election or a leap year. We are talking the passage of not just months—but years—before the old is finally replaced with the new. But unlike the election or Feb. 29 when a pre-defined set of time passes before the event occurs, the change I am addressing is unpredictable.

I am alluding to my blog header.

Prior to this weekend, I have only used four blog headers over the course of 13 years. If you count the 11.5 years since I migrated from Blogger to WordPress, I have utilized just three. As I mentioned above, I don’t publish a new header with a set amount of time in mind that it will grace Don’t Blink. Rather, a header usually runs its course once a significant life event transpires—usually a job change.

You see, in the past I featured headers that reflected the employer I was working for. Obviously, once I moved on from one university it was necessary to update the most prominent real estate on my blog. With my newest header, which I will discuss in just a moment, I strayed from tradition.

But before we get there, let’s go down memory lane. I don’t have my first ever header file from my blogger site (it featured me wearing a sombrero and flexing) but that is for the better. Instead, the first one you get to see is the header that graced Don’t Blink when my WordPress site was launched in 2012. It features me against the backdrop of Washington-Grizzly Stadium where I spent many Saturdays in the press box when I worked for the University of Montana. When my brother saw this retro header a couple days ago, he thought it looked awful. Glen scoffed, “It looks like you created it.” Well, that’s because I did 😂.

This header made its debut in 2012 when I launched this current WordPress site.

When I started working at Coastal Carolina University, I needed a new header that reflected my new gig and the different part of the country I was living in. CCU designer Jonathan Ady not only created the header but he shot the photography too. That’s me with a dreamy beach scene on the left and CCU’s Singleton Hall on the right.

Jonathan Ady created the blog header I used during my CCU era.

Upon my announcement that I had accepted a job with WSU, my friend and CCU videographer Geoff Insch made my next header. He cropped me from the backyard photo shoot my Coug-clad family participated in shortly after I accepted the WSU offer. He then combined my image with a crimson background.

In 2020, this header designed by Geoff Insch replaced my CCU-themed one.

Although I didn’t change out my WSU header until three weeks into my employment with Eastern Washington University, you know what they say about better late than never. My childhood friend Kip Johnson graciously volunteered to create what you see currently at the top of my site. For the first time in over a decade, my header doesn’t reflect the school I am working for. But this isn’t me shortchanging EWU. Rather, it is just me being more mature. My blog is not associated with my employer and I owe it to EWU not to muddy those waters by creating any type of confusion. Thanks, Kip, for doing a fantastic job.

My newest header was designed by Kip Johnson.

How many of these headers do you remember? If you are a longtime reader and remember all four, THANK YOU for your loyal readership. By the way, I think Vegas is taking bets on what year I will transition to my sixth header. You better get in the action now! Don’t Blink.