If you recognize the title of this post, then you are already familiar with Jenny Lawson, aka The Bloggess. I had the opportunity to meet her, briefly, at the Barnes & Noble book signing in Annapolis this weekend. She was larger than life and incredibly funny as she adlibbed before reading a selection from her book, Let's Pretend This Never Happened. There followed a Q & A session and then the book signing. She was gracious and profane at the same time which is an incredible coup to pull off. I bought her book and when I had her sign it I related a short anecdote about my daughter, Olivia. I told her that I admire all of her advocacy and I have a cause of my own (quickly assuring her that I was not trying to recruit her to my cause). I just wanted to share with her that Olivia, now 10, has autism and is still mostly non-verbal. She can read out loud however she just doesn't use her vocabulary to communicate. I told her that we read all the time, including her blog. When we get to a word that I don't want her to use like "motherf*cker", I just cover it up and let her know I'll teach her that one later. Jenny responded sincerely when she told me that I had just made her entire day. Anyway, check out her blog at The Bloggess. You'll be glad you did.


Two Replies to Like Mother Teresa, Only Better

Erik Bates | May 22, 2012
[hidden by author request]

Scott Hardie | May 24, 2012
Like Erik, I have enjoyed the blog on occasion when someone sends me a link. I'm glad she turned out to be just as charming in person.


Web Junkie

Steve West scours the Web searching for interest or absurdity and then shakes his head ruefully when he finds it. Read more »

As The Firm Sang - I'm Radioactive

Brenda is under quarantine now because of an ablation procedure that makes her radioactive. Some stray thyroid tissue is apparently on her oncologist's hit list and he won't be denied. I'm sleeping on the couch for the next three nights and I'm doing the Daddy thing solo for the next three days. Go »

I'd Pick The Kitty

This is supposedly a real newspaper clipping although I can find no reference to which paper it is and is therefore suspicious. I choose to believe it is real so I can enjoy the joke more. Go »

Vacation Week II

Took the girls to a petting zoo where they could not only look at the animals but interact as well. Saw some things of interest to me; an albino peacock (well, I don't know if it was albino but it was all white); petted a llama (their hair is kinda rough); the world's fattest rabbit (big as a poodle!); pigs, cows, horses, donkeys, turkeys & chickens & roosters (oh, my); a beautiful garden of vegetables and flowers; and lots of ducks and geese. Go »

See You At The Pole

At the end of my college career, I walked on the campus of the University of Maryland for the thousandth time. Near the chapel, in front of an administrative building, stood flagpoles bearing the flag of the State of Maryland flying slightly lower than the flag of the United States. Annually, in September, students are encouraged to gather at the flagpole of their school and pray, an event called "See You At The Pole". Go »

Compassion

I haven't posted since the incident in January and used that time to do a lot of soul-searching. A lot of it was fruitless. I told my boss' boss of the circumstances behind my asking for a day off because my boss was vacationing at the time. Go »

And Justice for All

Recent conversation with Brenda: Brenda: Why are you all wet? Me: I knocked a plant off the kitchen counter. Brenda: The plant got you that wet? Go »