Monday, January 19, 2009

Sitting at the Popular Table

You know how over there on my sidebar I have a list of blogs that I follow? Well, some of them are people that I know personally, either here in OK, or around the country. Several of them are people I met, either online or in person, back in the Caringbridge days. In fact, I have several more CB links I should add over there, when I'm not so lazy busy. Most of them, however, are people I don't know at all, except through their blogs.

One of the first blogs I ever started following was this one. I've been reading her blog religiously for probably four or five years. We have very little in common as far as our daily lives go, considering she has seven kids and I only have three, and she has the patience to home school and I ..... uh .... do NOT. But, she still cracks me up with pretty much everything she writes.

Through her blog, I found this blog. Oh, probably two years ago or so is when I started following along. And I really don't have much in common with her, either, considering she's a total fashionista and my idea of haute couture are my good jeans from JC Penney. But she's funny, and enjoyable, and bonus points, lives in Oklahoma. So I felt connected and continued to read and now I'm totally hooked on what she has to say.

Through her blog, I recently discovered this blog. And although I've only been reading a short time, so I have no idea if we have anything in common, she already cracks me up. I was actually sad a few weeks ago when she took a brief blogging break to ... oh, I don't know .... do some minor thing like have a baby. Yep, that's how selfish I am .... she was busy birthing a child, and all I could think about was how much I missed her updates and when would she be coming back?

Anyway, these are just three examples of blogs I follow regularly. Blogs of women who are fabulous writers --- who in fact, are paid to write and give advice, and who have advertisers on their site, and who go to blogging conventions, and speak publicly and what have you ... all kinds of cool stuff. And on a regular basis, I sit back and am entertained/touched/prodded/impressed/pickyouradverb by them and their writing. At some point, I've left comments on these three blogs and all three ladies have taken the time to reply, which thrilled me. I realize that probably makes me sound all fan-club-y and pathetic, but it's true. I'm grateful they share their lives with me, even if it's vicariously through the internet and that makes me almost a little stalker-y creepish. Yes, I realize I'm one of hundreds, probably thousands, of people who enjoy these blogs every day .... and that's ok. I'm happy to just follow along.

So imagine my surprise when I got an e-mail from this one a few days ago. An e-mail (are you ready for this?) inviting me TO HER HOME for brunch, and champagne, to celebrate the inauguration of Barack Obama. I know!!! One of my favorite bloggers, inviting me to her home?? With other bloggery friends of hers??? Can you even imagine how much total AWESOMENESS that would be?!? So I did the only logical thing I could do --- e-mailed her back and said there must have been some mistake. I mean, she doesn't even know me, and not only that, I'm (shhhhhhhhhhh) Republican. So although I certainly had fantasies about meeting them all and becoming BFFs and exchanging texts and hanging out at Starbucks for witty blogging banter on a regular basis, I figured it was a computer glitch and the invitation was sent in error ....

Then! She e-mailed back and said nope, it wasn't an error, and I was really invited. Holy cow, I almost wet myself!!

So I've spent the past few days thinking about what I'm going to wear because dudes, seriously. She, like, gives fashion advice on the internet. I don't think my favorite boots from Goodwill and the sweatshirt I bought in Alaska are going to cut it. And thinking about what I can possibly say to impress these women that I am a rational, intelligent person, and not some bumbling fool who loses her head when nervous or under pressure. (Which, ok, I have been known to do, thank you very much.) And thinking about what intelligent things I can possibly say about our new president. Who I didn't vote for, but she promised she wouldn't hold that against me.**

Basically, I'm nervous as hell I'm going to be out of my league.

Blaine, being the helpful pillar of common sense he always is, told me to pull my head out of my butt and that they'd like me just fine. What could go wrong, after all? What could go wrong? What could go WRONG???? Do you REMEMBER who you're talking to????

So, I've thought about it. And come up with an entire list of things that could possibly go wrong.

1. I get lost on the way to her house and have to call for directions, establishing myself as the biggest moron on the planet -- it's not like Oklahoma City is that hard to navigate.

2. I find her house ok, but hit another car in the driveway. Given my recent driving situation, we all know this is a real possibility.

3. I get out of the car, trip going up her sidewalk, and break my leg. Embarrassing, but totally could happen. If it does, I will crawl into the bushes and lie there until brunch is over rather than risk the humiliation.

4. I knock on the front door, and when Susan opens it to let me in, I trip and fall on her. I've seen pictures of her on her website and guesstimate that I outweigh her by about fifty pounds. If I landed on her, I would snap her like a twig.

5. I will not drink enough mimosas and be thought of as a party-pooper.

6. I will drink too many mimosas and be thought of as an obnoxious lush.

7. I will spill my mimosa in any part of her house. (Note to self: research ingredients in mimosas, and also best home remedy for cleaning. Then carry bottle of cleaning remedy in purse to party.)

8. I will make an ass out of myself by calling all her super-cool blogging friends by the wrong names.

9. I will be the only person there who has never been to a Blogher conference and is therefore officially the lamest blogger-guest ever.

10. I will drop the baby and break it.

11. I will go to the bathroom and come out with my skirt tucked in my pantyhose. (Note to self: do not wear skirt.)

12. I will forget to take my McCain/Palin button off my coat. (Kidding, I never wore the button.)

13. I will have an allergic reaction to some kind of food that is being served, and have to ransack the guest bathroom for children's benedryl to avert breathing crisis.

OK, see? I'm not even allergic to any foods! I'm worried about stuff that cannot possibly happen. (Except for the broken leg or the spilled mimosa. Those things could TOTALLY happen.) Yes, definitely, number seven probably has the highest degree of likelihood.

But you know what? I'm just going to go and have a good time. If these ladies are even half as cool in person as they are online, it will be fabulous. And I'm going to enjoy myself, skirt tucked in my pantyhose and all.

To be specific, however, let me give you a little information off of the blog:

"The very kind people at Quaker Oatmeal are sponsoring 11 house parties across the country, including mine. But they’re doing more than just hosting parties — Quaker is partnering with Share Our Strength, a network of food banks that target children, to help Mr. Obama keep his promise to end childhood hunger in America by 2015. Through February 28, you can go to the Quaker Start With Substance website and enter the UPC from any Quaker hot cereal; for every UPC entered, Quaker will donate one bowl of oatmeal to Share our Strength, up to one million bowls of oatmeal."

So see? That's pretty awesome. A chance for me to rub elbows with the popular people, and help out a worthy cause at the same time. I've already entered the upc code from every box in my pantry .... I hope you'll do the same.

And wish me luck tomorrow that I don't break my leg walking up the sidewalk.

**For the record, I have nothing against Obama personally.*** I just worry in America's zest to elect a black president, we elected the WRONG black president. It is my sincere hope that I am proven as wrong, as wrong can be.

***That is Blaine's job, Mr. "Pessimistic for the Next Four, Good Heavens, Don't Let it be Eight Years".

30 comments:

Coachdad said...

That is incredible. To be able to share a special day like tomorrow with people you admire and read on a daily basis should be awesome. I am sure it will go great for you. If not, it will be fun to read about it!

Anonymous said...

You are going to have a great time!Truly. I'll be there in spirit :-)

jbaj said...

You are not out of your league!! You rank up there with the best of them with your writing. You got me started on Notes From the Trenches which I absolutely love and Gorillabuns is one of my new favorites too.

Enjoy your day!

Kathryn said...

Have a lovely time! Just check your nostrils before getting out of the fan. Not that I would ever have forgotten to do that. Ever. Really.

Becky said...

Oooh! I am so excited for you! I've been reading Chris and Susan's blogs for a long time and I would love a chance to meet either of them.

Have a great time! I can't wait to hear all about it!

Natalie said...

Totally cool! I read both Chris' and Susan's blogs, too (found them thru you, in fact) and actually was on the turkey hotline with Susan as Thanksgiving approached and my bird wasn't thawed. Susan saved Thanksgiving!

I wish I lived in Oklahoma. I want to play with the popular girls, too! Except that I'd have nothing to wear.

Musings from Me said...

I think this is awesome. You should go and feel proud of who you are. I love the idea of Quaker's campaign. I wasn't an Obama supporter either. We'll see how the next 4 years go!

Anonymous said...

I just wanted to say that I Love Your Blog :-) I've been following along since Kendrie's caringbridge page.

Sherri
www.caringbridge.org/oh/kara

Anonymous said...

For the record, I agree with your "for the record" statement about Obama. Have a great time!

Anonymous said...

Mimosa = champagne + orange juice = mmmmmmmmm.

Go...have fun...stop worrying...they will love you, even if your skirt is tucked into your pantyhose!

J-Quell'n said...

First off Kristie, I am so JEALOUS of those people...they get to meet you! And how cute are you with your list of worries? Secondly, its almost like you took the thoughts directly from my mind about our new president. I'm still trying to reconcile within myself how so many people I know voted for Mr. Obama based solely on his skin color. True, it makes history, but so did many other thins that weren't good for our country. Like you, I seriously hope that he proves me wrong, and I will pray every day for him and Mr. Biden.

But seriously? I only live in Lawton...

That's not too stalker-ish is it? :)

Anonymous said...

i knew there had to be a reason i love to read about you! i couldn't agree more with your closing words! i cannot believe you didn't tell us what you were going to wear... i'm dying to know! be sure to check your teeth after you eat, nothing more embarrassing than getting in the car to leave and you look in the mirror and there it is... starring back at you :) enjoy!

J-Quell'n said...

That was, "things" and not "thins"...must have girl scout cookies on the brain!

Eternal Lizdom said...

Very cool!

And in my world- YOU are one of the popular bloggers already!

Unknown said...

sister, leave the drink spillage to me and don't worry about dropping the baby. the girls have already broken him a few times.

can't wait to meet you today!

Anonymous said...

Kristie, I have every confidence that you will represent all of us UNCOOL conservatives with nothing but total class and total cool! You go, girl! And, for the record, I'm afraid I'm with Blaine - to me, politicians are politicians, regardless of their ethnicity, therefore - I expect LITTLE, if any change....and what change I do think we'll get probably won't be for the better. But, I'm trying to stay positive and open-minded.......

vgsmom said...

That is so amazing! Come back and let us all live vicariously through you and your wonderful description of the event.

Mamasita said...

Okay, I'm not smart or creative enough to think of anything that was not already said here, so ditto everything. :-)

I can kind of imagine what you must be feeling though. For some strange reason, I dreamed that I saw you broke down on the side of the road and I stopped to give you a ride. I was then telling everyone in my car that 'It's Kristie! It's Kristie!' and I took you to Sonic and got you a DDP with rabbit pellet ice. I woke up all excited that I saw you, and then realized it wasn't real. :-(

At least you meeting your "blog idols" will actually happen in real life.

Anonymous said...

Liz says it perfectly. Though, I did take the liberty to change one of her words:

"Kristie, I have every confidence that you will represent all of us SUPER COOL conservatives with nothing but total class and total cool!"

Anonymous said...

Now you need to wrangle a visit to the Pioneer Womans' ranch and y'all can discuss photography.

Do a great job representin' for us Republican peeps, 'kay?

dena said...

Hey Kristie......have fun today:) I will be thinking of you and cant wait to hear about it. I am sure you will do a conservative sista proud today:)You go girl....break a leg.........errrrrrrr......did i just say that........LOL. Dena

Anonymous said...

It's a great country. We can all vote for whomever we want and express our opinions openly. I am sure I don't have to tell you that so many voted for Obama because they believe he is the hope for our future, no matter the color of his skin. I love you blog - have a great time today. All parties coming together - I like that idea!

karen said...

Kristie as someone who had the pleasure to meet you, whether you wanted to meet me or not. You will do fine.

I also agree with what you said about our new president, or soon to be. I also agree totally with Blaine. I just pray it will be better than what I think it will be. We need a president, not a pop star or a socialist country. Ok said to much...

Patti in NJ said...

I did vote for Obama, neither because of the color of his skin, nor in spite of it. I voted for him because he inspires me. He inspires my children, and he inspires their friends. And if people of any age are inspired - to assist those in need, to lend a hand or to share whatever talents one may have - then we all benefit. So, come along with us! We're all in this together! :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Kristie,

I'm a longtime lurker and have enjoyed your blog very much. I too have thought that you and I could be friends except that we're so opposite - you hate Los Angeles (where I live)/I hate the country and suburbs; you're republican/I'm a democrat; you loved Twilight/it's been 4 weeks and I'm barely on chapter 7; you have 3 kids/I have one (although mine is the same age as your oldest and I see many similarities). Save for those differences and many more I imagine, I think we could be great friends!

Anyway, I just wanted to say that I enjoy your blog and will continue to read it because you are so funny! In regards to your Barack Obama comment I would really like to know who you think would have been the RIGHT person to be the first African-American president?

Anonymous said...

Hi Kristie,

I'm a longtime lurker and have enjoyed your blog very much. I too have thought that you and I could be friends except that we're so opposite - you hate Los Angeles (where I live)/I hate the country and suburbs; you're republican/I'm a democrat; you loved Twilight/it's been 4 weeks and I'm barely on chapter 7; you have 3 kids/I have one (although mine is the same age as your oldest and I see many similarities). Save for those differences and many more I imagine, I think we could be great friends!

Anyway, I just wanted to say that I enjoy your blog and will continue to read it because you are so funny! In regards to your Barack Obama comment I would really like to know who you think would have been the RIGHT person to be the first African-American president?

thanks,
Cynthia

(sorry for the duplicate post - I've never left a comment before and I don't have a blog, so I didn't realize how it would appear)

Anonymous said...

I do not personally know anyone that voted for Obama because of his skin color.

Anonymous said...

I think we got the right guy. I guess we'll know for sure in a few years.

Dixie in CA

Anonymous said...

This has absolutely NOTHING to do with your post but "Mamasita" reminded me of something.....a local gas station in my area sells bagged PELLET ICE!! And do you know what I did?? I turned off my icemaker, filled the ice collector thingy with the pellet ice and waahlaaaaah, everytime I put my glass up to the ice dispenser I think of you!!! My family thinks I'm CRAZY, but I know you will appreciate my cleverness!!!
~Debbie~
Hoover, AL

Anonymous said...

Colin Powell???