I started my blogging adventure as a contributor to some once well known blogs of note. The one I participated in for over a year is now in the galactic bit-bucket, but I still keep tabs on that blog's founder as he fiddles away in the world that is SecondLife.
I wouldn't say I formally started blogging as long ago as some in the Midland/Odessa area, but it is approaching 5 years since I started reading/writing blogs in one way or another. I also cringe when I realize I will have had an email address for 20 years starting this summer.
I never really got into the "personal-blog" thing, though on occasion I do some "personal-blog" things like post pictures of my dogs. My life can be complicated enough without relating the story to everyone on God's green earth, I enjoy my semi-anonymity. As some have noted, it is VERY difficult to keep up a blog...and it is twice is hard when you spend your time writing for some other blogs. You tend to put your effort into the one, and not the other.
In my case, I will spend most of my effort over at Jessica's Well, and when I think about it, I'll post a picture of one of my dogs over here.