My Love, Let Me Share It

Yesterday I got tagged by the enormously talented Allison Winn Scotch and I've been tasked to name the bloggers who "when you reflect on them, you get a sense of pride and joy... of knowing them and being blessed by them."  Instead of arguing with her that my posts are normally filled with profanity, mockery, and puerile humor, I'm just going to accept the compliment and play along because she's someone I really respect.

This would be a lot easier to accomplish if I'd update my links list already - I could cut and paste and be done before you know it because I dig everyone on my computer's bookmarks list.  Then I could spend the rest of this entry describing all the tattoos I saw at the public pool yesterday or why I'm completely obsessed with Big Brother 8.  (Alas, I'm not that organized.)  (Nor do I have that kind of time.)  (And Jameka, how is exclaiming, 'God is gangsta!' not totally blasphemous?)

I could direct you to the five blogs I refresh seventeen times a day, specifically those belonging to Susie, Martha, Amy, Quinn, and Melissa, but I've recommended each of them more times than I can remember and at this point I suspect you guys are all, "Yeah, we KNOW they rock, alright?"  Or I could send you to the various LOLcat, celebrity gossip, and Big Brother update sites I read, except these are less "inspiring" and more "capable of sucking away an entire afternoon."

So, I'm tagging some of the ladies I met when I crashed the BlogHer cocktail reception this weekend.  Not only do these gals inspire the whole pride/joy/blessing business, but they're damn fun, particularly after swimming in a vat of gin.

The Cheeky Lotus - Team Mamapop represents!  Lena didn't even flinch when my opening line to her was, "What the fuck is going on with your house?"  See?  That's what happens when your writing is engaging to the point I can't wait to read what's next.  (It's also why you shouldn't leave me hanging on whether or not your home sold when you leave for the weekend to attend a blogging conference.)  I read all her blogs religiously and recommend you do the same.  I promise you won't be sorry.   

Joy Unexpected - I've been following Yvonne for years because I love her humor and her honesty.  She's even more delightful (and cute!) in person than she is online.  This is neatly evidenced by the fact she smiled the whole time I was shoving her and shouting "Shut up!" - my standard vehicle of enthusiastic expression after two drinks - never once reminding me she has a neck injury.  Also, she throws a damn fine party... cheeseburgers?  Genius. 

Suburban Turmoil - Friendly to the extent that I almost didn't hate her for being so lovely.  (Almost.)  Then she opened her mouth and was all clever and articulate, thus making the hate impossible.  Her blog makes me feel smarter for having read it and now I wish I hadn't officially boycotted BlogHer so we could have spent more time together. 

Mommy Needs Coffee -  You'd think I'd run from any sort of blog with "Mommy" in the title, wouldn't you?  But there's a huge difference between "Mommybloggers" and mothers with blogs and Jenn's an excellent example of the latter.  We totally clicked upon meeting and now she and I have Something Planned once I finish my manuscript - details to come when we get closer to that point. 

No Pasa Nada -  Claims to have accosted me about my political affiliations, of which I have no recollection.  I only remember smiling, laughing, and admiring her truly magnificent hair.  Regardless, her blog is fantastic and so worth reading.  But she makes me wonder - with this kind of self-awareness and wit at 23, how much more is she going to be able to have accomplished by the time she's my age?  Oh, yeah, she'll probably be running the country - maybe that's why she wanted to know how I vote?

Again, this is only a partial list of the inspiring folks I talked to on Saturday.  Honestly, I met so many funny, interesting people that I regret having crashed the party in a shirt with wine stains on it.

I've got to crank out some pages now since I played hooky at the pool yesterday.  I won't be blogging for a few days while I catch up, so please use use the comments section to discuss the blogs/bloggers you dig the most. 

(Or name the best Big Brother update sites - 'cause I'm down for that, too.)

Comments

[Morticcia]

Hey showtime after dark does get good, and should be better as the houseguest count dwindles. My husband and I are sucked in watching it off our TIVO just about every night. Though it helps if you're doing something (like knitting).

Jen, love the books. Was afraid to comment since I've obtained yours from the library. I was concerned you might hate on me for not supported your starbucks latte/cab ride to your temp job by buying them, but I just got to the point in BLBA where you wax fondly about public libraries so I'm darin' to speak out!

Oh, Ann Coulter is a liar. A damned dirty liar, too. :-P

[kerry]

http://www.jokersupdates.com/

This is a good BB site.... that way you can carefully monitor how much amber really does cry!

Is it me or does BB need a competition where someone earns the chance to hit Jessica in the voicebox with a 2 by 4? I seriously think my ears bleed each and every time she speaks.

Love your books and I am TOTALLY DOWN for a BB thingy :)

Kerry

[Quinn]

I read you, you read me. It's a literary circle of life. Thanks ever so for the nice comment.

Quinn

[Anna]

Best Big Brother site:
Househappenings.com

The guy who writes it is articulate and uses correct grammar and punctuation(this is a big deal to me--call me crazy if you must).

Jen:
Both books are hilarious. Coming to RI any time soon?

[Julie]

I think you need a link just for blogs concerning TV shows like BB8. It's nice to know I am not the only woman watching the show. I started to feel like a total loser when my boyfriend asked me how I could watch a show where people cry every moment.

Some advice forget the Showtime After Dark show. The condensed shows every Sun, Tues, and Thurs are so much better. Watching the Showtime show is like watching paint dry. (don't try)

For all the reality shows I love realityblurred.com.

[Charity]

Great post. Though one of my favorites has to be the pictures from the photo booth of BlogHer. Fletch's face in the last one is priceless! And I made sure to email Nike to say that I would not buy from them until they repeal their sponsorship of that disgusting man, Michael Vick. Love the books!!

[Charity]

Great post. Though one of my favorites has to be the pictures from the photo booth of BlogHer. Fletch's face in the last one is priceless! And I made sure to email Nike to say that I would not buy from them until they repeal their sponsorship of that disgusting man, Michael Vick. Love the books!!

[Jenn]

Holy Crap! Not only did I get to hang with THE Jen, but get kicked out of a party with her, slip her husband my room key AND got linked by her. I. May. Faint.

Cannot wait to get our project underway.

Thanks for the fun, the talks and the laughter. You are more rockalicious in person! (And who would have ever thought that was possible?)

[mel]

hi jen,

thank you (again) for the link -- it's much appreciated! i'm a regular reader of your site and am thrilled to count you as a reader on mine.

all the best, melissa morris

[LawyerMama]

Crap! I'm delurking here because I had no friggin idea you were at the cocktail party. I've been obsessively stalking your blog since I read your books.

Damn. it.

Lawyer Mama
(Not *just* a mommyblogger, I swear.)

[Geege]

Ahhhhh Big Brother. I am SUCH a fan. Next year I think Jen should be the one who interviews the house guests after they get voted out. A couple bottles of wine and some REAL questions ... How fun would that be??

[elsisi]

I new you were awesome after reading BLBA, but now I know you are SUPER awesome cause you love BB8! My entire family thinks I'm mental cause I watch that show, but really, they just don't get it like we do. It takes a "special" kind of person to get the genius of reality TV (and I mean special in as "really great", not special as in "rides the short bus every day" kind of special).

Lost in Mississippi, elsisi

[Heather B.]

I asked your political affiliation and then I said "damn, I forgot my book". Not, Hi! How are you? Shall I curtsy?

You were pretty awesome in the flesh and I had to send your picture to all of my friends because I got to hang out with you and eat some fries. Pretty cool.

Next time I'm in Chicago, we're hanging out again and I can assure you I'm not all that witty or self aware. I actually get drunk and fall down a lot. It's really precious.

(oh, let me know where to send the check for the compliments. Or did you want it put in a paypal account or something)

[Aimee]

I am new to this whole blogging thing, and boy am I going to be busy because I just put every one of the blogs you listed in my favorites and I plan to read them tonight. Thanks for sharing!!

[Max]

I'm guessing ya'll already know about this spot: www.televisionwithoutpity.com

They do excellent recaps and the forums are hysterical

[Kristabella]

Other BB fans! I love it!

I agree that http://www.jokersupdates.com is one of the best.

I found this one too, which does a bit of everything, but also is a blog, so has comments, for when you want to chat with other lunatics, I mean fanatics.

http://bb8dish.blogspot.com/

[tunie]

You have to read www.jokersupdates.com - go to the forums section. There are forums on everything under the sun, but their primary focus is Big Brother.

[Sues]

I check here everyday (sad, yes)

http://www.sirlinksalot.net/bigbrother8.html

[Max]

I just finished reading Bitter Is The New Black and I am officially a fan. I was cracking up to the point of snorting on the fabulous transit system here in NYC. Well done on helping me blend in with the crazies. I'm about to order your second book right after I finish here.

Now I have yet another reason to love you. You watch BB8. Awesome. IMHO, Nick and his nasty pornstache need to get the hell off my tv, stat! He sucks nearly as much as Kail.

As for Jameka and God's gangsta tendancies, I need her to shut up. Don't mix your religion with my entertainment.

[Texie]

Hey Jen! Wish I hadn't missed the caption contest. I just had eye surgery, so I haven't been on the computer much.

I have weaned myself off Big Brother, but apparently my husband has developed a secret addiction. He was just telling me about a site last night where they have tons of sceencaps. Lots of closeups of bikini-clad girls' crotches, I imagine. It is: http://www.mortystv.com/ I hadn't heard of it before.

May I also humbly direct you to my own kick-ass, hot pink, streamers on the handlebars, banana-seated, oooOOOgaahhh-honking blog?

http://southermother.blogspot.com/

God is Gangsta,
Texie

[Suburban Turmoil]

Aw shucks. Well, I wanted to hate you for being an author goddess whose books I actually SEE in STORES!, but since you let Susie Sunshine puke her guts out in your guest bathroom, I had a soft spot for you before we even met.

I have some great pics on Flickr of the big busted party, tagged partyin2306. It was great meeting you and the husband!

[Nikki]

Um, realitybbq.com is hands-down my fav BB site! They have screen caps and live feed updates. Ahh......

[Carrisa]

I nearly shat myself when I saw you at the cocktail party the other night. Now I'm kicking myself for not asking for a photo of us together. You and Fletch are even better looking in person.

With that being said... am I a total bitch for wanting Nick to go home? I mean I like him and all but I don't like the affect he is having on Daniele. And her b/f at home must be heartbroken. He needs to go now while she can still save her relationship.

This doesn't mean I like Kail. Because I don't really. It would just make good game sense to get Nick out now.

Oh and I want Eric and Jessica to hook up. I didn't like her at first because her voice is annoying. But now I dig her. And BB After Dark is the shiz.

And so is Yvonne.

[sweetney]

sniff, next year, man. sorry i missed it (but especially sorry i missed you!)...

[Jocelyn]

The Best Big Brother 8 Website EVER!!!

http://www.aldav.com/bb3.html

...and please tell me that you have Showtime so that you can watch Big Brother After Dark!?

[Y]

When you shoved me, it felt good, because I knew they were Shoves of Love.

Also, I think we need to start a Big Brother Email thingy, because all last night, I kept thinking "Oh, I wonder what JEN thinks of this!" ESPECIALLY when Jameka said "God is Gansta."

(Really? Does he flash gang signs? Does he do drive bys?)

I'm so glad we got to meet. I loved you and your husband.