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Letters To Louise

Dear Louise,

OK, so remember how I told you about Angie, the really nice young woman I met when she was out here for the BlogHer convention last summer? Well, I know you'll find this hard to believe, but she's asked me to be a semi-sort-of-regular guest blogger (is that an oxymoron?) at her newly-refurbished site, and let me tell ya, I am freaked out of my mind over the fact that I said yes!

I mean, she has like a bazillion readers already, and they're all young and cool and hip.  And well, although I certainly have readily-discernable hips, we dinosaurs aren't young by any stretch of the imagination, and I haven't been cool in years thanks to "natural causes" y'know.

Oh my, oh my. What have I gotten myself into??!

I think the number one reason I’ve never been a blogger is that it’s so darn public. Plus, it’s already such a crowded field, what would I add to the mix? Many more insightful opinionistas out there, and far too many navel-gazing “what I had for lunch”ers. Politics? Not for me. Grumbling and complaining about stuff?  Not my style - life’s too short!

I write, of course, (although you’d never know it from the number of times you hear from me now that you’ve gone and moved away down-under!) and for the longest time I’ve been saying that I really ought to commit some of our family stories to paper for posterity and the edification of future grandchildren. But writing for the internet? That is so not me! Talking to you like this is one thing, but going public with all kinds of personal stuff? Toooo scary!

Besides, she said she’d like the entries to be sort of short. Yeah, right! Definitely doesn’t know me well enough to realize that logorrhea is my specialty. Simultaneously wordy, verbose and redundant? That’s me, baby! This month of advising students on application essays may have done me some good in that regard though. Pithy, concise, and to-the-point might not be outside the realm of possibility after all.

I’ve pretty much decided I’ll give it a try, but how in the world should I introduce myself? Angie has referred to me as sort of a “grandmother in training”. I really like that.  It’s the reason I started reading her blog and a couple of other young-mom-and-dad ones. When and if either of my beloved sons decide to procreate, there’ll be none of this “back in my day” stuff, nossir!

Hmm…Maybe I’ll just plunge right in and not do any intro at all -- just let the various pieces of "me" unfold gradually. That feels OK. But would you mind if I sort of run my ideas by you from time to time? Like (gasp!) every single frickin’ Wednesday??

Man, does this mean that from now on when I leave comments around on other blogs I'll get to have my name lit up in neon at the bottom with a link to Fluid Pudding Wednesdays?  Wheee :-)

Love,

Carroll

Posted by: Carroll on 11/29/2006 10:57:53 AM , 41 comments
Submitted by Carroll at 11/29/2006 10:22:30 AM
    OMG! It worked!! I'm having heart palpitations already.
Submitted by Birdie at 11/29/2006 10:25:51 AM
    Dear Carroll,

    I ain't Louise, but I LOVE your letter! I'm going to be an official member of Carroll's Wednesday Wench Club. Ha!

    I'll link to you at Beauty Dish in a few minutes, sweetie.

    Love,
    Birdie
Submitted by Carroll at 11/29/2006 10:25:56 AM
    Hahahaha, but of course *that* didn't work! Angie, any way I can delete my own duplicate comment??

    (Dinosaur, I tell ya)
Submitted by Carroll at 11/29/2006 10:49:26 AM
    Even more hilarious is that apparently I *did* successfully delete my own duplicate comment -- and have no idea which of the panicked button-pushing processes I stumbled through is the one that actually worked -- and now I can't for the life of me get that last one to go away so these bumblings are truly laid bare for all y'all's amusement.

    Verily, a dinosaur. With two left feet!
Submitted by Effie at 11/29/2006 11:14:55 AM
    Woowoo! Wednesday rocks too!
    This week has been awesome!
Submitted by Aurora at 11/29/2006 11:25:05 AM
    Hi Carol,
    I'm not young either, and have never been hip, not even when I was young! but I love your letter and will be checking back Wednesdays for sure!!
Submitted by Aurora at 11/29/2006 11:26:11 AM
    Ok, and see how NOT hip I am?! I spelled your name wrong!!! ARGG!!!

    That's Caroll, with TWO l's!!! sorry!!!
Submitted by Aurora at 11/29/2006 11:27:46 AM
    Ok, hanging my head in absolute shame. I'll never be able to comment again, and it was my first time!

    No only wrong with the l's, but in the second message, wrong with the r's, again!!!

    Ok, will you all believe me if I say it's because I'm trying to spell things using only the one set of alphabet letters from my daughter's magnet set... there is only one of each letter....
    ACK.
Submitted by Meg at 11/29/2006 11:38:06 AM
    I like Caroll.

    And I am young and cool and hip.

    -Meg
Submitted by Karaoke Diva at 11/29/2006 11:40:29 AM
    Carroll, you'll make a fine buckethead-in-training. Welcome!
Submitted by Meghan at 11/29/2006 12:09:21 PM
    Welcome, Carroll!

    I am young, (but not terribly cool or hip,) and I love you already.

    (But maybe the mark of being cool and hip is thinking you are not cool and hip? Right? Maybe?)
Submitted by Betsy at 11/29/2006 12:16:39 PM
    Hi Carroll! I'm a grandmom in training too. Got both boys married off, but still no sign of grandbabies yet. **sigh**

    Looking forward to reading you on Wednesdays.
Submitted by Natasha at 11/29/2006 12:21:01 PM
    Hi Carroll - I found this site for the first time this morning and your letter makes me want to stay! Great first article, cant wait to read more!
Submitted by surcie at 11/29/2006 12:21:12 PM
    Hey, Caroll! I'm semi-young (38), somewhat cool, and sometimes hip. (More than likely, I'm hip by association.) Just wanted to say, have no fear--you sound great already!
Submitted by Carroll at 11/29/2006 12:23:31 PM
    Aww, you guys are sweet to make me feel so welcome. Thanks!

    Aurora, no worries about the name -- I'll answer to anything. In fact, (good idea -- thank you for this!) I think there's a post in my future about having to live with such a "unique" spelling.

    Effie, Meg, Karaoke & Meghan, big hugs to you all for your kindness.

    And Birdie, extra-special hugs to you my fine feathered friend. The "Wednesday Wench Club", eh? But, come on! We need to welcome the menfolk too, right?? Any suggestions for a more inclusive appellation? Chocolate Tuesdays, and Bacon Thursdays are already spoken for (more's the pity)

    Hmmm...(putting thinking cap on)

    Let us ponder.
Submitted by Carroll at 11/29/2006 12:29:28 PM
    Holy cow, you folks are fast! (Or my fingers are too cold to type efficiently here this morning)

    Betsy, you're one ahead of me. I'm still available as a mother-in-law (woo hoo -- another post for the future! You guys are gonna make this gig easy after all :)

    Natasha, welcome! You'll love it around here. I predict it might get a little crazy from time to time, but crazy in a good way. It's a very fun place :-)

    And Surcie, I'm truly honored. I think you've been around Fluid Pudding a lot longer than I have, and you know how high the bar is at this place. Thank you!

    OK, I have some actual work to get done, so that's it for now. But hey, I'm only really a blogger if I check back compulsively to read the comments every, oh, five minutes or so, right?

    (Gasp! Me, a blogger? Who'd a thought it?!)
Submitted by Louise at 11/29/2006 1:18:04 PM

    Dear Carroll
    I AM Louise.
    The aforementioned Louise!
    And even though it is Thursday for me (because as you know I live in New Zealand and we lead the world) I'm going to be a fully signed up card carrying member of Wednesday's Wench Club......as Birdie so delicately put it ;)
    Congrats on an your fantastic blog launch!
    We have waited too long for this moment

    Louise
Submitted by Louise at 11/29/2006 1:22:07 PM
    And I already learnt a new word.

    Cavatina

    As in Carroll's Cavatina.

    Dire Straits. Excellent choice!

Submitted by Kelly at 11/29/2006 1:47:29 PM
    Well Wilhelmina is out then... This is fun! More, more!
Submitted by jchrisrock at 11/29/2006 2:26:11 PM
    Love the letter, Carroll! I especially love the fact that you used the word logorrhea.

    And if I might also address the mysterious Louise--You lucky lady. New Zealand is just about the best country ever. My wife and I hiked the Milford years ago. A foggy picture of McKinnon Pass hangs over me as I type, always.
Submitted by barbie2be at 11/29/2006 2:48:02 PM
    yay, carroll is in blog land finally!
Submitted by Wandering Willow at 11/29/2006 3:44:25 PM
    Woo hoo, Carroll, Carroll Bo Barroll Bo Nana Fana Fo Farroll! etc. So good to have you in our ranks! I think its OK to have a Wednesday Wench Club, because you can be the official Wednesday Wench, and we can be your humble servants. Or fans perhaps.

    Maybe Louise can have an important post in some capacity, since your first post is addressed to her AND because she lives in the most glorious land on earth AND she doesn't have her own blog either.

    You can be Chief Executive Wench and she can be your Vice Wench. Just a suggestion.

    with love,
    Bonnie
    www.bonniewillow.com
Submitted by toes at 11/29/2006 3:55:48 PM
    Yeah Carroll!!!

    Welcome GIT!!! Don't worry about the "young and cool and hip" - heck there are plenty of us out there that wear those labels in unique ways! Take me for example:

    1) I helped God invent the recipe for dirt,
    2) As for "cool", it IS Minnesota afterall...I believe the windchill will be below zero tonight...now THAT'S "cool"!!!, and
    3) Hip?? I got plenty o' "hip"...in fact...I got two of em...anyone want some???

    Congrats on your move to the land of the bloggers...best of luck "kiddo"!

    toes~
Submitted by Louise at 11/29/2006 4:28:28 PM

    Vice Wench!! Hehe.
Submitted by Carroll at 11/29/2006 4:46:51 PM
    Kelly, I *loved* Wilhelmina! May even step back into that persona from time to time. Schizophrenia has its place, right?

    J. Chris -- thanks! You're right. Louise is a woman of much mystery, and her whole country totally rocks!

    Bonnie, Barbie, Toes -- many hugs to you all.

    And Louise, yes indeed -- it suits you to perfection! You are hereby officially appointed :-)
Submitted by pharmgirl at 11/29/2006 5:19:52 PM
    Not young, not hip, but happy you're here.

    2 for 2 FP, congrats!
Submitted by KellyR2 at 11/29/2006 6:50:34 PM
    Carroll, I'm young, but I can't promise to be hip. Thanks to 3 kids so far, I do have more hip than before though! You seem like a wonderful grandmother in training!
Submitted by blackbird at 11/29/2006 7:45:53 PM
    Carroll -

    Just so you know,
    I am neither young nor cool - and I won't discuss hips.
    talk to me.
Submitted by Phil at 11/29/2006 7:51:08 PM
    27 comments! 27 comments, she gets, on her first blog post. I've run a blog for 4 years, and I'm still waiting for my 27th comment.

    Glad you're OUT, Carroll. It's been too long coming.
Submitted by WIll at 11/29/2006 8:17:06 PM
    WooooHoooo! Carroll's out of the closet!!!!! (No not THAT way...She's married fer Pete's sake!LOL!)

    Congratulations Carroll! We've been waiting for this moment for a long time...And relish it with you! Can't wait to see what next Wednesday holds!
Submitted by Carroll at 11/29/2006 8:45:20 PM
    Yay, finally! The guys are here!! Well some of them, anyway. (Pacing around, impatiently waiting for Shrexy and Flat to show up :)

    Oh my goodness, this is fun. Angie, you really had no idea what you were getting into, didja? I tell you, it's a bunch of degenerates I hang around with ;-) I heard Tom Selleck (swoon!) even popped in earlier today but he doesn't seem to have stuck around for the party (more's the pity)

    Pharmgirl, thanks so much for the warm welcome :)

    KellyR2, I thank you too!

    And Blackbird, it's official -- this is the very last mention you will hear from me about hips!

    Will, right you are about the married part -- and happily so, going on around 39 years already. (Blessings being counted as we speak) And with that, one more piece of "the puzzle that is Carroll" falls into place :)

    Phil (of the currently cold and snowy Seattle area) I'd best remind you that numbers can lie. Oh, I know I know...you're a numbers guy. You know all about "creative" accounting. But it's really not fair to look at this particular "bottom line" (now quit that -- I said no more about the hips, remember!) without acknowledging that I've written almost half these comments my ownself. It's just that I've had so much more practice commenting than blogging. That, and I'm still just a little slap-happy/giddy from all the excitement. Maybe I'll calm down a bit before next week though. Maybe ;)
Submitted by Birdie at 11/29/2006 8:58:53 PM
    Wenches and Warriors?

    Carroll's Crusaders? (Ugh. Too quasi-religious.)

    I'm thinking! I'm thinking!!

    signed,
    Birdie, who does not have a hot 'n hairy chest like Tom S.
Submitted by margalit at 11/29/2006 11:10:06 PM
    Caroll,

    I'm old and hip and definately in the realm of grandmotherhood, but my kids are still in high school so we're hoping that won't happen anytime soon.

    Welcome to Wednesdays. I'll be back just to read someone in my age group. There's not a lot of us in the blogosphere, ya'know.
Submitted by Louise at 11/30/2006 2:03:28 AM

    Thankyou so much Angie for the birth of Miss Wednesday!
    Her adoring public have had to make do with offerings in comments until now.

    I'm sure the minute you met her in person there was an instant connection and you felt like old friends.
    That's the Carroll-effect.

    What you may not fully appreciate is just how touched she was by your account of that meeting and THE stick figure drawing you created.
    I tell ya, it created (and continues to do so) *serious* warm fuzzies.

    The hoof is mended now but that big heart is still fully evident and in constant use.

Submitted by Rick at 11/30/2006 12:25:00 PM
    High time, Sister Carroll. I'll mark my calendar for Wednesdays.
    [My "confirm" code is "buckethead" You must have seen me coming.]
Submitted by Carroll at 11/30/2006 8:47:00 PM
    Aww, Louise. That warmed the cockles of this very same heart, oh yes indeed it did :)

    And Rick, yay, you found me!!!! :-) Don't get your hopes up for too much action around here. All I'm really aiming for is just not to make too much of a fool of myself in front of these good people. Thanks a bunch for stopping by!
Submitted by Tuck at 12/1/2006 10:08:21 AM
    Hey, I'm only a couple of days late, but I'll be checking back in every Wednesday. This is definitely a crowd I can hang with, being old, cool/hot/cool/hot and hippy. And I vote for the Wenches and Warriors Wednesday!
Submitted by Carroll at 12/2/2006 1:39:34 PM
    Hi Tuck -- pleased to meet you. Stop back any time :-)
Submitted by Flatline at 12/2/2006 8:25:38 PM
    Dang! Well I'll be danged......
Submitted by Carroll at 12/3/2006 11:35:38 AM
    FLAT!!!!

    :-D

    Yee Haw!!!!!

    And y'know? "Danged" is about what it feels like happened to me too. I think for sure I must've been soundly danged. Why the heck else would we be sitting here looking at my name on a blog link?

    Mind you, I still have no clue how to get my name to actually *link* to this when I comment at other folks' places. Crawling out of this tar pit ain't too easy with hooves the size of mine ;-)

    Glad you found me, Flat! :)
Submitted by faith at 12/3/2006 10:49:29 PM
    I'm sure that 99% of Angela's readers are young and hip...but then there are those like me, old and hippy who still remember what it was like to be young (never cool). Welcome
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