The radio interview went really well. If you are bored, confined to bed in a body cast or just have nothing better to do, you can listen to the interview here. I had a blast and while I have to confess to chuckling over the irony that my fairly anti-blogging husband was involved in a blogging interview, he was a good sport about it.
I also met and got re-acquainted with some lovely people.
One was a professor of mine way back in the day. I’m going to speak to her journalism students on Wednesday and I couldn’t be more excited. (Hi, USU bloggity students who are reading this for your class assignment!) I am very fond of internet journalism classes. For those who haven’t been here for long, part of the reason this blog is what it is is due to a similar class held at Bemidji State University. We took a mutual shine to one another. Go, BSU!
I also got to “meet” the very anonymous author of the huge blogging hit from Salt Lake, “Seriously, so blessed!”. Since starting up in June it has gotten more hits than many bloggers get in an entire year or five. It’s a satire blog (meaning, it pokes good natured fun at) that follows the life of the FICTIONAL Mormon mommy blogger, “TAMN”. TAMN is short for Tiffany/Amber/Megan/Nicole and she’s just too cute to believe and preggers with twins!!! She loves DIeT cOKe!! ExCKlamAtiON PoINtS!!!! CAPS!!!! EmOTicONs!!!! MiSSPeLlngS! ANd DiFFeRAnT fOnT SIzeS!!!!!!!!!!
(No. TAMN was NOT based on me. Pinkie swear!!!!!!!!!!)
I think that her sidebars kill me more than anything.
You don’t have to be a Mormon to “get” this site, trust me. You will recognize at least ONE mommy blog you know of on TAMN’S site.
In real life, the author of TAMN is a 25-year-old graduate student with a 6 month old and I really like her. We’ve emailed quite a bit and she is just lovely. And, no. I absolutely will never push her to say anything about her real life. Anonymity is crucial to some people in the blogosphere and I respect her decision. There is a lot of fugliness on the interent. I did tell her that if we’re still email friends in two years I MAY ask her to tell me her first initial for my birthday, but ya know…that’s totally up to her.
Heh.
You should click over and browse. You’ll crack up and probably be a lot less confused about the rest of this blog post. (Apparently, there is music that starts playing when the site loads, so make sure your speakers aren’t up too loud! My internet goes to damn slow to ever load the player so I had no idea.)
One of my favorite things about Seriously, so blessed! Is the merchandise. Some of the best shirts, like, EVER.
So, you can imagine my squee of delight when I popped open my mailbox and found the best pregnancy gift, like, EVER!
It’s so great, I think that I’m just going to do my tummy growth documentation in the same shirt. Here I am at 7 weeks. I’m not too big yet, but my tummy is definitely bigger than it was.
So, I’d like to say a super awsesome thank you,
Dear TAMN!!!!!!!
Thanks so much for your super awesome gift to adorn the awesomeness that is my womb in the coming months! It was so totally rad of you. Wasn’t the interview thingie on the radio soooooooo cool? Your voice is a pretty as you must be. It wafted over the phone and gave me a big hug of specialness. It was like listening to a rainbow!!!!!
Your emails have been so super comforting and a blessing because DUDE!!! How fab is it to have a fellow gestating blogger to talk to about things like how the world just doesn’t understand fetal need for things like tanning sessions and vats of Diet Coke?! Ignore the haters, sistah. They’re just jealous haters cuz they don’t look as cute preggers as we do. For serious. Those are the petty type of Pregger Women that pass noxious gas while you and I mearly have sweet smelling fluffies.
SO CAN’T WAIT TO TALK AGAIN, TAMNrs!!!!
Kisses and golden ponies!!!!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoox
LL!!!!!!
P.S. I totally squeed over the photo you sent me of your newest Pedi dedicated to little ole moi! The BFF4EVAH in rhinestones on your toenails was sooooooooo sweet of you. But dude, I am your friend and so I have to tell you that the color of toenail polsih you picked really clashed with your skin tone. Don’t let it get you down!!!!!! You have to go through the trials to get the blessings, so this is an opportunity for growth!!!!!!!!! Remember who you are!!!! A special blessing that is too shiek for words!!!! For reals.
Stumble it!
Filed under: 
Woohoo, had to use my bookmark to get it-it didn’t like the refresh method.
That shirt is the coolest ever for showing burgeoning belly.
Call me a geek, but I’ve been waiting for that link to show up. Probably should refrain from drinking anything while listening, too.
Did you get any comments eaten? I had 4 notices. (Takes head, bangs against desk).
I love the shirt. I am totally wearing it with the tiara a reader named Tom sent me. hee!
The interview was fun but I really tried to be restrained so you probably won’t be snorting anything at your screen.
I didn’t swear or say “Boobies” even one time (pats self on back)
However, I DID say, “Blessed”. Which I NEVER say. I totally blame TAMN for THAT one.
And just so I get no email, there is nothing wrong with saying “blessed”, it’s just that even in my church going days I would find another way to phrase it.
The word was bandied about so much that hour I couldn’t help myself, dammit.
dude..i’ve been reading this blog on and off for the past several months. i can’t remember where i found the link. i luff it!!
Wow. I had no idea there was a blog written in your “honour.” That’s a lot of bitterness. I mean, I’ve read blogs about hating Obama, and Palin, and the green movement, and rainbows and unicorns…but some innocent person like you? (Well, maybe not innocent, per se. But definitely NICE…: ) ) People are so lame sometimes.
How amazing you got to meet TAMN. Her blog makes me feel like she’s laughing AT ME PERSONALLY, so I don’t frequent it. Still, any time I’m there, I usually laugh.
Okay first of all, just out of curiosity I went to the seriously so blessed blog, and I think I might have woken my sleeping baby. What’s with the loud music? I guess it goes along with the whole “mommy blog parody” thing.
I really enjoyed your interview!! I listened to the entire thing. It’s neat to put a voice with a typeset.
Also, I had a question, for your opinion: One person (I think your husband) said that once you put something out there on the internet, it’s there and it can’t be taken away. You could be interviewing for a job 10 years later and it’s still there. Well, what about blogs that are pretty much anonymous. I don’t think I have EVER put my full name on any blog-associated thing. Only twice have I used my full name, and that was not online but rather to mail something to bloggy friends I met online. Do you think a future employer could find my Texan Mama blog by searching with my real name? I would think that the two would never match up, but maybe I don’t know the power of search engines. Anytime I have ever signed up for anything using my tx.mama.4@gmail.com email address, I have always used Texan Mama as my name, nothing else.
What do you think?
Coolio – A new blog to read, your podcast to listen to, and merchandise to check out..
1) Lots of chocolate – check
2) Jammies on – check
3) Kids at school – check check
4) laptop charged – check
Looks like my day is all planned for manana, yo.
Texan Mama,
I’m of the opinion that it will take a bit of detective work. I recently was approached to participate in an article about foreclosures because of what I wrote at BlogHer. The journalist changed her mind when I said “No last name.” I don’t want a prospective employer to Google my name and see that my finances were so screwed up that I lost my house in 2008.
I give Loralee and a lot of people out there serious props for using their full names. I’m just not that comfortable-yet.
BTW, I listened to the whole thing, too. (I’m an NPR junkie, so it was right up my alley). It was really cool to get the host’s perspective on it as a newbie to the blog concept. Nancy gave me hope that when I return to college, I can earn some credit for being a blogger!
Loralee, what you said is SO true: if someone you read and enjoy has someone in their blog roll or mentions another blogger, odds are great that you will enjoy them as well. Lotus mentioned you a couple of weeks ago, and you’ve rapidly become one of my daily ‘must check’ bloggers.
Oh, and I never even got to the comment page before that post made it-I just got the error message I’d mentioned on Twitter.
so llc
if we could find a way to turn this blogging stuff into a TV series–maybe the fox network?
how about a reality blogging show
MUSIC! OH MY POOR EARS!!
Seriously chick, she better be good for me to turn off my speakers…
Only for you. Only for you.
Oh my heck! TAMN is so funny! I spent hours on her sight the other nite and I loved her so much that I bought a shirt. Mine says, ‘My life is a KICK A Fairy Tale’!
Being a Non-Mormon living in a completely Mormon town, her blog just confirmed all of the stuff I have been wondering about. Also, I believe that there is something in the water here and I’m turning Mormon. I somehow discovered the word HECK, bought an Escalade, plastered vinyl clings to my walls and spur of the moment cut my hair!
And I feel a Diet Coke craving coming on.
Wow. I feel stupid.
I went to that site and SOOOO did not get that it was satire. All I got was “how in the HELL is this site popular? This is the most annoying crap I have ever fucking read!”
Heh. I am, clearly, awesome. And quick.
That IS the best preggo shirt ever. Supa cute!
Hi Loralee. I tried to leave you a comment yesterday, but my lame internet filtering server (which whom I have a very love-hate relationship) started blocking after I “submit comment”ed. We’ll see how this goes.
I found you listening to that NPR broadcast on-line. (I am a TAMN fan.) So I checked out this site, and really enjoyed it. You are a crack-up. I also appreciate your honest expression of feelings regarding, well EVERYTHING, but especially the death of your son. We don’t tend to discuss that very well in our culture (meaning American) and sometimes want to gloss over it in our religion as “part of the plan” (to semi-quote TAMN) And you know, I believe that, but I also believe that there is nothing faithless about mourning. We’re commanded to do it. Anyway, I see you as a very strong woman.
I’ll be sure to keep checking in.
oooh, I’m lame. I typed my website with an @ instead of a dot. Now it’s right. What can I say, I am NOT a morning type of gal.
I’m glad to hear that the interview went well. I’ll have to set aside to time to listen to it.
That shirt is great. I don’t think I could pull it off though.
Your belly looks so carn cute! And, I see that the shirt is pink! Do you you think that you might be having a girl this time? When I was pregnant with Anthony, I knew from the start that he was a boy. Wow, what if it is twins!?!
LOVING that shirt! Will *try* to listen to the interview :)
snort! Oh Lor, you do a great!!! impression of TAMNrs! Loved it!
I totally almost bought that shirt from her site. She completely cracks me up! I’m so jealous you got to meet her. When I read she was doing the same NPR show you were I realized you would get to talk to her and my mom and I laughed and laughed. We love Seriously, So Blessed. BTW, I’m up again, and we need to play. I’ll call you.
Last time Annie was pregnant (Lo, those many years ago) she got to be so big we started refering to her belly as “The Speed Bump”, because it kept getting in the way and really slowed things down, so to speak.
Anyone who could come up with a maternity shirt that hilarious is aokay in my book. :)
You know what is a blessing? Your blog.
That is all.
Wow, I had no idea how to pronounce your last name. I was thinking “Ko-ate.”
Totally awesome shirt. :)
That was a fun radio program, thanks for doing it and sharing it.
P.S. I also thought your name was Ko-ate.
Camille:
I do SOOOOO many things on this blog that get laughed at over there and I laugh right along because, well, it’s damn funny. And true, but that’s ok with me. It’s in good fun and I gotta be able to laugh at myself.
And? I try to be nice but I’m also human. I make mistakes all the time. Goof up, hurt people, piss people off. There are actually quite a few people out there who hate my ever living guts. Some deservedly, some not, and some who blew things way out of proportion and refuse to get over it.
It’s the fugly downside of life and you just do the best you can, try to make wrongs right if possible and if you cant or people won’t accept it, just move on and learn from it.
Texan Mama:
Honestly? You’re fine. I highly doubt that anyone could find you without a LOT of work and probably breaking some laws.
I just know that I am not disciplined or organized enough to be an anonymous blogger. I wouldn’t be able to keep the area I live in a secret and since my name is Loralee and there aren’t that many of us out there…well…it is what it is.
I DO wish that my name wasn’t in my url, but we can’t have everything.
Robin @ Party of Five
Dude, I think that the chocolate is the key component, here. :)
Suzanne:
It’s how I’ve found some of my favorite blogs out there. It doesn’t always work but it’s a really good place to start.
tjk:
I shudder when I hear my voice recorded, I’d probably pass out and die on video.
Kelley:
Ok, do you know what is funny (or sad, depending on your point of view) My internet is so damn slow that I am always through the post before her player even loads. HEH. But THANK YOU for sacrificing your ears for me, pet. You’re the awesomest. ;P
Connie @ Young:
I love that you of all people fell head over heels with that site. Heh. And I bet your hair looks amazing. I always have a Diet Coke craving but right now I also have a flat tire and can’t go anywhere. BOO.
Miss Britt:
Eh, even if you got it it’s not for everyone, so don’t stress it. Hang out in Utah for awhile and you would totally get it. (But you still may not find it funny.)
Mina:
Thanks for coming on over from SSB. The mourning process is really complicated. I think a good deal of my problem is that for a long time I threw myself into my PTA Presidency and worked myself to death to avoid things. And then…well….I didn’t handle it well. I put a lot of pressure on myself to mourn or be a certain way and I think that it made it all a lot worse.
Jim
Dude. Everything you comment on cracks me the freak up. (Just in case you didn’t know!)
Julie
Because I am a twin, I have always said “NO NO NO NO!I DO NOT WANT TWINS!” However, as I don’t think that I can do another pregnancy after this twins might not be so bad. I do cop to wanting a girl, but after 3 boys, I am not even going to try and guess what it is I’m having.
Angella:
It was so funny I snorted when I saw it.
heather hales DESIGNS:
Why, THANK you. TAMN and I have some things in common so it wasn’t all that hard. (Unfortunately!) Heh.
hairyshoefairy:
I would love to go play. Give me a ring or shoot me an email.
lceel:
Probably the most accurate pregnant nickname of all time.
Mr. Lady:
It’s true. Those shirts are my favorite things.
Rhi:
Have I told you lately that I love and adore you? Because I do.
Falwyn:
Oh, yes. My last name is often mispronounced and misspelled. I got ATM cards addressed to “Loralee GOAT” one time. Le sigh….
Sra:
It was fun to record. I could talk about blogging forever.
You sounded great! I really enjoyed the interview. You made some good points too. The section where you guys are talking about Dooce and how she is a real anomaly in the blogging world in terms of actually being able to support her family is a point that probably needs to be made repeatedly. It’s amazing how many people start to discover blogs, learn about the advertising aspects and think they’ll be rich. I’m one of those bloggers that you mentioned, the kind that just sit there and blog for years on end and will never attain the level of fame that Dooce (or even you) have achieved. I’m not controversial or interesting or flamboyant or ANYTHING enough to become that type of blogger. And that’s okay.
And I thought it was interesting the professor that was talking about requiring Twitter and Facebook use. That is so progressive compared to the many, many, many college professors I know. That’s awesome, I wish I knew how to promote that attitude of tech adoption more.
Wouldn’t it be cool if you and TAMN were BOTH having twins? (evil laugh…)
I LOVE the shirt & congrats on the radio.
I tried to listen to your interview live (because that would have made me cool), but did you know that UPR is not broadcast in Salt Lake?? Does that make sense to you?? Logan, yes. Provo, yes. Washington FREAKING City, yes. Salt Lake, the FREAKIN state capital?? Nope. So I tried to listen online and I couldn’t get it to work through iTunes or Windows Media Player, but I did listen to the stupid announcer guy tell me that I was listening to Utah Public Radio over and over and over…. It was magical!
Jill – GlossyVeneer:
It can get really disheartening for people, I think. I think that these stories about Dooce and the TAMN’s of the world are great, but it just isn’t the norm. The norm is you work your ass off day after day and keep plugging away at it. Sometimes it works and catches a good readership and sometimes it doesn’t. And you have to make it Ok either way.
I think if I had had ANY clue about blogging I would have been discouraged and quit, but I didn’t know that people outside of friends and family “READ” blogs until my blog was found by the English Department at BSU. I didn’t know what to expect.
I’m really excited to talk to this class. I took the same one from the same professor years ago and she has been a part of the internet since the wee baby years. It was as fun class but nowhere near as interesting as it would be now with what is available on the net.
Aunt Amy:
I would laugh my ass off. I would actually love to have fraternal twins but the chances of that are pretty slim, so I will just keep thinking pink and hope that my sister is wrong and that something female CAN come from my husband. :D
JoLynn:
Thank you! I have to admit, it is one of my favorite new things, ever.
Britt:
BWAH HA HA HA HA HA! Not that I’m laughing AT you or anything, it’s just the imagery here is pretty funny. THAT is hilarious. I had no idea or I would have qualified it in my post. However, the whole thing was pretty rushed and I was frazzled.
Did the link at least work for you?
I. Seriously. Want. That. Shirt. Of course, it may raise a few eyebrows and cause a few questions in that I’m not even pregnant yet…..
DANG! I was hoping when I started reading that this was an announcement! (And see how much I love you? I didn’t curse just for you!)
now why didn’t i have a t-shirt like that when i was roly-poly? it rocks.
hurray for your first belly shot… so cute.
That is SUCH an awesome shirt! I love it!
A fellow Salt Lake blogger delurking here. I heard the NPR story and have enjoyed looking through your archives.
Can I be your newest fan? I am hooked after five posts. I will check back often!
I heart that shirt!
I am looking for some idea and stumble upon your posting :) decide to wish you Thanks. Eugene
I am just dying over Eugene’s post. No offense Eugene, but I wanted to wish LL “thanks” also ;)
~Brook
You in that shirt? LOOOOOVE.
You look even MORE hot with that little baby belly. Just sayin.
That is the best shirt ever. everrrr. (worthy of the extra r’s that I threw in there.)
Thanks for coming to Nancy’s class on Wednesday, I haven’t el-oh-el’d that much in class in such a long time (slash EVER)!
Thanks for coming to Nancy’s class on Wednesday. I haven’t el-oh-el’d that much in a college class in forever… slash EVER!