August 1, 2007
this is a pitch, but I was NOT paid to write it
On Monday morning, my cell phone rang. When I answered it . . .
No, let’s go back. On Monday morning, I was in the condiments aisle at SuperTarget, trying to find garlic in a little jar. The boys were with me and were biding their time until they could go look at toys, but they had been doing that for a while so they were ready to roll. While I was standing there, my cell phone rang.
No, I need to go back further. Over the weekend, at BlogHer, I lost my voice. It was a combination of too many drinks and too many loud places and too much talking, but I was barely croaking along on Monday. Also, I was coughing a lot, which might indicate that the whole thing was illness related and not conference related.
So there I am, looking for garlic with the boys, hissing at them in a whisper to STAND STILL, when my cell phone rings. And I answer it, even though it’s not a number I know because you NEVER KNOW who MIGHT be calling and I would hate to miss some free shoes or a free pedicure or George Clooney.
It was none of those things, sadly. Instead, it was the editor of a Very Big Magazine, who wanted to talk to me about doing some writing for them. In the condiment aisle at SuperTarget, with the kids and no voice.
I said sure, let’s talk. And I gently herded the boys to the Lego aisle and talked to the nice editor, who told me very precisely what I need to do to apply to write for her and asked if I could get all these things to her by the end of the week.
Of course, I said. I can do that. No problem.
And then she reminded me to talk about this web site in my letter of application, about how it came to be and what I write about, because she wanted the other people who make decisions about who to hire to SEE the site and get a sense of my voice.
And at that point, my voice said DAMMIT because I was still locked out of my site and unable to post. And my emergency stop-gap redirect to WordPress.com had left me without any archives and only three posts, two of which were about my drinking.
I already owned the domain name, so I quite literally RACED home to get set up with a hosting service. And then I panicked because WHAT IF I LOSE ALL MY ARCHIVES IN THE MOVE TO THE NEW SERVER? Also, how do I move my template? And WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING HERE?
Here’s the point of the story, though: the very lovely Karen Rani of Swank Web Style heard that I was freaking out, IM’d me, and in like three hours yesterday afternoon moved EVERYTHING from Blogger to WordPress, at BlueHost. And now I want to reach through the computer and kiss her on the mouth because she has solved what was for me an unsolvable problem.
Welcome to the new improved NOT BLOGGER-BASED Friday Playdate! The archives are all here; feel free to poke around. I have to go write a letter persuading some people to let me write for them. I think I’ll be fine as long as they don’t expect too much in the way of computer skilz from me.
Thank you, Karen. You’re the best.
Posted by Susan @ 9:08 am • Uncategorized
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August 1st, 2007 at 10:06 am, kerflop Says:
Hooray! Welcome to your “big girl pannies” blog. You know, you have your big girl panties now. Get it? Hello?
It was nice to meet you. I want your hairstyle. Badly.
August 1st, 2007 at 12:16 pm, Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah Says:
Karen DOES rock.
August 1st, 2007 at 2:46 pm, dani Says:
Thank goodness - was clicking all over the internet searching for where you’d landed. This phrase: “had left me without any archives and only three posts, two of which were about my drinking” made my day. Thanks to Karen!
August 1st, 2007 at 5:06 pm, Leah Says:
A paid gig! Hooray! Archives! Hooray! *diving in*
August 1st, 2007 at 5:07 pm, Leah Says:
Also, yes, Karen has some kind of secret radar. When you have a problem, she hears a little blip in her head and races over to help.
August 1st, 2007 at 7:39 pm, Karen Says:
I’m really glad you didn’t tell me all of that before because Dear God I would have panicked in a horrible, horrible way.
I’m glad to have helped.
August 1st, 2007 at 8:08 pm, Kyran Says:
Those phone calls are the absolute best. Even with the accompanying nausea and faintness. Visualizing acceptance, fame and lots and lots of money coming your way.
I know you are pitching with the lord.
August 1st, 2007 at 11:22 pm, Jen Says:
You are such a tease. Hope you get the gig with the Very Big Magazine!
I like the new digs! Congratulations!
August 1st, 2007 at 11:33 pm, jeanie Says:
Welcome to your new home - looks nice, and very similar to your old one - but bigger.
August 1st, 2007 at 11:48 pm, Sheri Says:
Good for you! And, thank god the mamazine button made the mighty move. Phew!
August 2nd, 2007 at 6:37 am, chris Says:
Yes, Karen is awesome isn’t she?!?!
It would have been a pity if the VERY Big magazine thought you were nothing more than a chain-smoking alcoholic.
August 2nd, 2007 at 8:02 am, M&Co. Says:
Hurrah! That is wonderful. And I like the new diggs. Sort of like the old place but better.
August 2nd, 2007 at 8:11 am, Jonathon Morgan Says:
Congrats on the move (and the call!) — I’m fairly certain the technical trainwreck involved would’ve sent me into fits.
August 2nd, 2007 at 8:56 am, OMSH Says:
I’m so glad. This is EXACTLY what Kerflop and I did at Blogher. There is a remarkable look of bliss on the face of everyone who dropped their shackles and set their blogs free to self-hosted, WordPress blogs.
You will want to lick the plugin forum at WordPress. Lick it. So sugary sweet.
Way to go Karen *smooch*
August 2nd, 2007 at 8:56 am, Cmommy Says:
Congrats on all the good news!! Let us know when you publish
August 2nd, 2007 at 10:32 am, Caren Says:
Congrats Susan!!!
August 2nd, 2007 at 11:57 am, Kari Says:
Oh, yay you for Very Big Magazine. Best of luck.
And yay Karen for life-saving efforts.
August 2nd, 2007 at 12:32 pm, Liz Says:
Was wondering where you got to - I was thinking ‘hmm, it’s Thursday and STILL no post - how hungover is she?’ LOL
Congrats on the new digs and the new writing gig (crossing fingers).
August 2nd, 2007 at 2:15 pm, Busy Mom Says:
yay for Karen!! Looks great here!
August 2nd, 2007 at 3:23 pm, Susie Sunshine Says:
Congratulations! If you ever need a letter of recommendation on your professional awesomeness or ability to accessorize you know where to find me!
PS. Domains scare me A LOT. I actually hear “Lions, and tigers, and bears (DOMAINS!)” in my head.
August 2nd, 2007 at 4:28 pm, gorillabuns Says:
love the new site.
personally, i am quite scared to get big girl panties:)
August 2nd, 2007 at 6:49 pm, undercovermutha Says:
Whoo hoo and thank the Lord that you gave Blogger the finger!
August 4th, 2007 at 3:08 pm, jenB Says:
tee hee big girl panties. as if you wear any.
August 6th, 2007 at 11:28 pm, Meagan Francis Says:
How exciting! It was nice to meet you at BlogHer, by the way…I realized after we met that, although I nodded and smiled and thought to myself how much I loved your hair, I don’t think I ever actually said a word to you, which on my end was a combination of meeting so many people that I was just completely and utterly overwhelmed by that point, but…now, considering your vocal problems, it was probably a good thing I didn’t force you to talk!
August 7th, 2007 at 8:52 am, Liz Says:
Very prettiful, as if to expect anything less ;o)