They say it takes a village. No, I don't mean Hillary Clinton who used the term in a book she "wrote" about "community" or "family," or something. I didn't read it, but maybe I should, 'cause Hillary didn't sit around baking cookies and giving Chelsea velcro shoes, oh no, she was working the village. In any case, I mean the blogging village I have come to love so dear. I am glad to reconnect with old friends, find new ones, read funny stuff, write something and send it out into the world (it gives me the illusion of productivity). But it's not all roses and G-2 gel's, it has also brought out some insecurities that surprise me.
I'm such a busybody and I fully admit it: I want to know who's reading my blogs. Do they read one, or all of them? Why don't they comment? (not the "they" who know all about the village, lest I confuse, I mean the readers) The other day I heard someone I know had read my blog--I had no idea. . . this made me a little uncomfortable. I mean, anyone can read them, but it's somehow more comfortable if a stranger reads it than a person, who I actually know. . . I want to know how long they looked at my site--was it just for a second? What took their attention away? Why did they leave? I have horrible images in my mind of people reading my profile and laughing so that somehow I become their latest inside joke--"ohjudy" takes an ironic turn. . . I also want to know who's reading for organizational writing purposes: will this comment offend X ? Will Y appreciate that? It will bring the village closer together--I just know it.
I don't want to come off as a narcissist; I'm not asking for your empty, solicited feedback. People, this is not the time nor the place. I'm just suggesting a roll call. It seems like an appropriate time: Back to school season. So hopefully the smell of freshly sharpened pencils and white paste will inspire you silent anonymous writers and voyeurs to participate. You can post without anyone having to read anything about you. You don't have to have a blog. It's safe. Everyone is doing it. Only one time won't hurt. Just say something, anything. What's your favorite writing utensil? Lipstick color? Anyone?
Bueller...
........Bueller?
lowering the bar, and being awesome.
Posts
55 comments:
Lisa, I read your blog faithfully. I also read your husband's, though when I do, I pretend I wrote it and that I'm your husband, not that guy.
Lisa, I always read your blog. I think it's hysterical. I am a friend of Tina the Sistah. However, I don't live in the same stepfordian community as she. I seriously love that girl. She always makes me want to be a better person. However, we did corrupt her a little when we went to Palm Desert. She wanted to go to church and we dragged her to the swap meet instead. Anyway, she turned me on to your blog to read the entry about her. Since then, I've become a bit of a blog voyeur. This is a fun blog "village" and the posts make me smile. I told Tina that I'm going to start my own blog--my life has been pretty soap opera-ish lately, and I figure I've got some good material. Keep up the good work. Ciao! Jilly
I've read this blog a couple of times. It's pretty good. Needs more sex and intrigue!
I agree with Chris. I've read this blog a couple times. It's pretty good>
HERE!
Don't you folks know how to answer roll call? Not "yo!" not "ya" not "uh-huh." No. "Here!" That's what you say.
Lisa, I SO know what you mean about insecurities. I started as a bit of a lurker, just reading over Guy's shoulder, until we stumbled into this villiage. No more lurking for me, no sir. This is like playing. I love it. But what if someone thinks I'm dumb? What if I make a stupid comment or one that's too long? What about when I'm a comment-ender? And what if old friends think, "sheesh. She's back. I thought we were rid of her when we moved/graduated from high school." Insecurities that I thought I left behind me 10-15 years ago rear their ugly head. It's weird to re-address those, particularly when I thought I was a pretty secure person in a pretty safe place. Strange. And it sounds like I might not be the only one who feels this way. Oh well, blog on fellow villiagers, blog on!
lisa...i'm here
as always,
sister #3
Lisa. My name is Jenny and I read your blog. I am addicted. I check it everyday to see if you've updated it or if new comments have appeared. I do the same thing on your husband's, Cjane's, Gracie J. Brunswick's, Bek's, Wendysue's, and Lorien's. Of those people, I have only met, face-to-face, Stephanie, Lorien, and you & Chris (that one time when we were in the same ward and that other time when I invited myself to your house). I feel wary that I've invaded a circle that's been in existence and also just beyond my reach....yet, I also am hopeful that you don't mind, because you people are MY KIND OF PEOPLE!
I have the same insecurities. Last Sunday, a Beehive, who shall remain nameless, came up to me: "Hi, Jenny!" "Hi, Katie." (oops.) "I read your blog." *gulp* - scanscanscan - did I write anything that I don't want her to read? (YES!!) "Really?" "Yeah. How often do you update it?" "Oh, I don't know...whenever I feel like it." And so now...do I filter my thoughts? Edit my blogs? Create a new one and don't tell anyone about it? What's a girl to do??? It gave me fear of getting (and almost) writer's block.
I wish there were a way to track who looks at my blog. I need that validation. I need comments.
And my favorite lipstick color is Mocha Freeze with Cranberry lip gloss on top.
I just started reading your blog a few days ago. I'm in the same ward as Wendy here in Lincoln.
I also wonder what kind of people are reading my blog and whether or not to censor myself (although I don't have too much to censor). I taught high school before we moved here and a couple of students found my blog. I was a little nervous about that but apparently I wasn't exciting enough to hold their interest and they stopped reading. Hmmm.
Keep writing! Cheers.
Wendy Sue?
Present.
Love ya Lisa, I'm here everyday too! How else can I make it through my crazy day? I'm with Jenny Eckton in checking those same blogs and comments, everyday! And hey, maybe next summer we can plan a blog reunion? How odd would that be?
Lisa, have you signed up for a stat counter? (I use statcounter.com It won't tell you who is visiting, but it tells you how many, how often, how long, what country they are from, their IP address... stuff like that. It is strangely facinating. I have had visiters from over 40 countries. Weird. I want to know who they are too.
Alright, WendySue. "Present" is acceptable, too.
BEST FRIEND, HERE!
(hope that doesn't offend your real best friend(s). you never know in the blogging world...)
Lisa -
I read your blog every Saturday when I get back to civilization for 23 hours. Summer camp is fun, but reading your blog (and all those to which it is linked) is what helps me get through my laundry each weekend.
I hope all is well with you...but I'll be able to check myself in less than two weeks. YEE-HAW!
Chanel
Yes Miss, thats how we reply if my memory is correct (its been a long time) I'm here Lisa, reading your blog and I think its brilliant, Its also great reading all your replys from people who I'm sure you talked about when you were here. "Tina" the sistah, Lorien the lovely mother in law, I'm feeling very foreign though (ok you are all foreign, I'm just being polite). I keep wanting to reply but I feel a bit like a gategrasher at a really fun party. Also what language should I use?? Pavement or sidewalk, buggy or stroller, Autumn or the fall? Do you remember asking the then 4yr old Ryan if he liked the fall, he looked at you like you were a crazy woman,(maybe he had a point!) Anyway Lisa I'm checking in regularly and I want to be in your gang. x
Wow, I was just reading some of these and I noticed that Lorien's comment was really long. Really long. And sort of pointless, you know? What's her deal?
Lisa,
Remember I tried this on 968 at nobody responded? Well, just this weekend at Flaming Gorge I found out that our siblings DO read the family blog, it's just that they don't want us to think they do.
We have serious problems in our family.
Well, anway, for better or worse, I am here.
Chris, please picture me giving you the cyber-finger. No offense to all my other fellow-villiagers.
:)
How's that for short?
Oh Judy...
To everyone who has ever left a comment on Lisa's blog,
I have read all of YOUR blogs too. It is kind of fun to learn more about the people that Lisa talks about. You have made me laugh many times and make we wish for just a nanosecond that I also lived back in Utah. I promise to stop lurking on YOUR blogs and leave comments.
Rebecca
P.S. Now I just need to understand what the connection is. I am not really sure how you know most of these people. I do know Jenny from England-I met you once when I was visiting. Cheers.
Lisa
Here! I read your blog. I'm new to the blogging community - but now that I'm here...I fear I'm here to stay. Your and Chris' blogs have made an addict of me. Christina Davis sent me the links to your sites...though I know who you are...and maybe you don't know who I am. Once upon a time, I was Susan Keller, lowly theatre student to your genius. Once again, the Clarks have inspired me...someday I'll actually do something with this new blog I've created.........someday. For now, keep making me smile.
susan keller...
i soooo know you. but i don't remember what you look like. help me.
Hey Lisa,
I read your blog. This is Kate, the charming, younger sister of one Rebecca aka 'bek'.
Bek turned a bunch of us in our family onto blogs and I saw you comment on hers once, so I followed it and now I'm hooked. I read Chris's blog too, just for the record.
Blast. Susan totally outed me.
Yes, I, Christina Davis, read your blog (and Chris's too), and I find it charming.
No, I don't post comments because I don't think you remember who I am and don't want to be random girl making posts.
All the same, I read and enjoy your blog. So, thanks for writing!
PS pens friends bring home from Asia are the BEST.
Bexi, HERE!
Shoot, girl, you know I read your blog. And now because of this special posting, I am going to track down Christina and Susan! Blog village does it again!
Favorite lipstick: Downtown Brown with Cream & Sugar lipgloss. MaryKay is sunshine to my soul.
Writing utensil: Pens. The good kind. And I think you know what I'm talking about, SOOOONDRA!
oh! i forgot to tell about my pen: Papermate flexgrip, Medium, purple ink. I only have one, and I've had it since I was 14. It's magical - for 14 years, it has never run out of ink.
Also, Cocoa Creme Lip Gloss (another from MK) is great alone.
Lisa,
Lipstick--I know that you used to be a "Wine with Everything" girl in high school but you were a "Real Raisin" girl by the time I knew you. I copied your "Real Raisin" and introduced you to "Fawn Fatale". I am STILL a "Fawn Fatale" girl. Occasionally, I venture into "Twig" by MAC--but only if I can find the right purst that I have stashed it in!
Does anyone else LOVE Juicy Tubes? They have a raspberry color that is wonderful--even if you can't wear pink!
Dean Koonz, here.
Aveda's Mango Juice Lip Glaze (not sticky and yucky, it moisturizes and smells like mint)
Nutregena Moistureshine Tinted Lip Balm w/ spf 20-#10 Glow (has a mild berry smell)
CoverGirl Lipslicks Lipgloss Bronze Goddess (worn it since high school, not available in Canada)
Thank you.
P.S.
Becky Baird, Hi! I hear you're in Vegas! Lili and I will be there first weekend of October to celebrate my 30th.
My name is Dalene and I am a...Oops! Wrong group. Let's start over...Here! I was a lurker on your blog before and didn't comment because I was shy (one does feel a bit like a voyeur). After I did get brave enough to leave a comment on someone else's blog I got called a курятин (hopefully by accident).
But I know what you mean. I started a blog and was shocked to see that over 50 people had visited my profile, but only a few commented, which led me to believe I was boring them to tears or there wasn't too much interest in the random thoughts of a forty-something Mom. Oh well. I find blogging to be a rather exciting justification for not doing yesterday's dishes. And, like Lorien, I have been known to leave long comments. Please forgive.
I have read your blog from time to time when the stars are aligned and the links from other blogs bring me here. It usually goes Suzie Petunia to Kacy to Chris to you. I think you're all clever and I've come to the conclusion that people associated with Provo High School are smart and witty. Timpview, not so much....
I have also followed links away from your blog and discovered that of Stephanie, who is married to my sister's husband's first-wife's brother. (Me--Sarah--Mark--Charity--Christian--Stephanie)
So we're practically family.
Compulsive Writer,
I clicked on your name when I read your comment and it took me right to your profile. That means your comment was interesting enough to have people want to see more.....
I always check peoples profiles to see where they are from and try to get some clue about how they know the person whose blog they commented on. Sadly, most profiles don't give me much.
vouyers, thank you for coming forward--
Jill, you got Tina to skip church one Sunday: impressive.
Christina and Susan, I totally know who you are!!! (and had no idea we were "in contact" as it were)
Thank you for all the lipstick recommendations. They are brilliant and I will be using them. Might I add: Loreal's Mystic Mauve because yes, yes it is. Bexi, I'm gunna need a fix from you soon.
Jenny, you are so funny and I think you should DEFINATELY use your English voice in this forum--a lot of people I know have lived in or been to England and would appreciate it very, very much. (kelley--you're so ironic!) They all love clotted cream and McVitties and such. (and I DO remember when I asked Ryan if he liked Fall and he did think I was crazy, but as I recall, your husband also thought I was on crack--)
I, too, am impressed with the turnout at Provo High, although I never attended (go Southeast Knights!), I've known several who did (right Lorien?!)
statcounter here I come. ..
Courtney got me started on this blogging thing and now I like nothing better than to read into the Clark family wit. Y'all are so funny.
Lisa, you're practically a bulldog! Arf. Actually, just the other day I was thinking about these PHS grads we run into, and what a clever bunch of souls y'all (we? do I presume too much to include myself as one of the clever?) turned out to be. Go dogs.
Insecurity #34 Spelling.
I realized I misspelled "village" twice by trying to stick an i in there. Got it mixed up with "villain", I guess.
PRROPUH!! (Proper)
bek,
I found my way here via The Lo Down. Lorien (on most days) claims me as her friend and is the one who got me started with my current addiction, which is blogging. I would've been a Bulldog, but at the tender age of one I was uprooted and transplanted in the beautiful Willamette Valley (Oregon). But now I'm back and sending my kids to Provo High...does that count?
P.S. Does anyone know how I can find my way back to the intriguing blog on Mormondom? (I forgot how I got there and I cleared my history because I was embarrassed to leave any evidence behind about how much time I spent blogging yesterday.)
http://variousstagesofmormondom.blogspot.com
did that not work? the end of it is: .blogspot.com
Just wanted to add that if you haven't been introduced to Stablio pens, you need to meet them.
Sensor. Fine 0.3.
Not a great color selection, but oh the joy.
PS I'm thrilled to know you remember me!
Yo (accompanied by a cool, casual head nod). I read your blog. But I have to admit that I'm one of those who don't always comment (actually I think this is the first time). Sorry about that. That's not to say I don't like it. I do know what you mean about feeling more comfortable with strangers reading your blog. Through my own writing, people (including my wife of eleven years) are seeing a part of me that they may not have seen before, like that I listen to Air Supply, occasionally, rarely really, only when it happens to come on the radio. I guess people you know finding out more about you is a good thing, though.
oh, judy! i have a new blog.
i like Journey.
HERE! (and tardy as usual!)
Lipsmackers: Dr. Pepper flavored.
And Sharpies. I love Sharpies! (unfortunately my small children do, too.)
Lest anyone become confused... I DO NOT WEAR SHARPIES ON MY LIPS! But if I did I would use a fine-point red Sharpie for lip-liner...
Lisa,
It takes me awhile to get to the blogs sometimes, but darn it, I love it when I do. I'm proud to have you guys as cousins.
I also love pens and school supplies. Every August I feel a need to buy school supplies even though I don't go to school. This year I bought markers and colored pencils. You can't beat the price man!
I still love you for working at Hogi Yogi. I worked at the Wild Burro (in business for about 5 months) as a "drink specialist" and eventually a "singing" waitress (I only sang one Les Mis song okay?) Then I moved on to cleaning bloody dentist tools and throwing away wisdom teeth. (are you offended because I said bloody and you lived in England?) Well anyway, what we do for money.
My favoriate writing instrument is the pin-pricked end of my finger.
So, I always read your blog, but I'm just not so current all the time, but I still love you and your blog. Keep reminding me you have a new one. BTW, Jonnie always reads your blogs.
I always read your blogs, although it usually takes you to remind me that you have posted a new one-I'm just not so "with it" but we all knew that didn't we? I love your blogging, don't stop!
Am I the only Thunderbird here? I assume that Ashley is married to the Provo Neves', which means she's a T-Bird by marriage. (I know Sean & the lovely Anne-Marie.)
Let's see, I met Chris when we worked together as lowly clerks at B&N when you were newly married. I still remember my first day when I answered the phone, "Barnes & Nobles." Chris looked at me and said, "Did you just say 'Barnes & Nobles,' because it's just 'Noble'." And I said, "No, I totally didn't." So the foundation of our friendship is based in a lie.
I love your blog and I'm so excited that there are not one but TWO posts waiting for me post-vacation.
Lately I'm really into those Colorstay lipsticks--put it on at 9am and take it off at 9pm--love, love, love! The Covergirl kind are really great and last forever, although the color never matches the tube and the applicator always has too much product on it. The Revlon are more color true and the applicator goes through a squeegee on the way out which leaves the perfect amount on the brush. However, the Revlon don't last as long (only 8 hrs vs. Covergirl 12.) The Clinique colorstay is crap.
I'll forever be in love with the most perfect lipstick/liner I've ever known, the mythical Wet & Wild 666--only a dollar so you never feel bad about losing it. I've got half a dozen in my different purses and it looks amazing on everyone. Ever noticed that you can only get the lipliner and not the lipstick? I heard a rumor that you can get the 666 lipstick in Canada.
Melanee Hunt Phipps gave me my favorite pen three years ago--a fat silver pen from Victoria's Secret. It looks super chi-chi. I also have a Cross w/ my name on it that I truly love.
(Sorry this was so long.)
Carina,
I think I know who you are....Chris hired me at Barnes and Nobles when I got home from my mission (I worked in music) and I LIVED with Melanie Hunt Phipps (does anyone know her address?) for a while.
I have to say that was one of the more fun jobs I have had. I only worked there for about 6 months...
I may not be a PHS alum, but I DO have some connection....yipee.
OK, just realizing what a sad, incestuous world Provo is. THis is Jen Galan, friend to Carina and Melanee and Jenny and I swear that I have been to parties with the majority of everyone else, and my husband, Waldo, probably made out with some of you at some point during college. But i love the blogs and I check them all the time. I love Stabilo--remember the Stabilo Bros Pink Pearl erasers? Those were awesome. I love MAC O, as well.
Lisa,
All of this talk has encouraged me to come forward as well. I am an avid reader of all your writings. Not just your oh judy blog, but even your personal diaries, that Katie and I would read when visiting you and Chris, after you guys had gone to sleep. And I have some comments to make about those writings as well...but I don't feel this is the time or place. Well, not the time, anyway.
And I know exactly what you mean about insecurities and wanting to know who's reading. I have the same insecurities about people WATCHING me. It started a few weeks ago when somebody commented that I was giving Katie "bedroom eyes" in the middle of church. So what? She had just filled out her sweater and I was taking notice. Mind your own Sunday bidness.
Just so you know, I read faithfully--and by "read faithfully" I mean, skim for info about your funky brother.
I do read faithfully. Side Note: I listened to Maroon 5 yesterday for the first time only because of your blog. So tell your brother that your will do what you can to promote his little project on your very popular blog, but don't totally sell out.
thanks for giving Maroon5 a try. . . I do what I can to promote "his little hobby" (at least he's got that Advertising Degree to fall back on!)
what a useful discussion of lipstick and pens. Who knew?
Lisa,
This comment is late, and you may not ever read it, but I wanted to go on record as an admirer and enjoyer of your blog! I've been a Real Raisin girl for many years. By the way, you look gorgeous in that picture Topher has on his blog. I love the long hair!
Gravy, I'm late. But here. I really don't have time for this, and why I write my own blog is beyond me. NO ONE reads or posts to mine (sob sob) which is really fine, because I'm such a private person.
Post a Comment