08 May 2008

No one needs an editor like an editor.

Many thanks to a good friend who pointed out the (now corrected) egregious typo in yesterday's post welcoming new readers. Nothing like a professional wordsmith greeting thousands of new visitors with a fourth-grade mistake in her first line! It's oh-so-very-true that no one needs an editor like an editor.

I have to say that I have never felt this popular in my life. I was seriously geeky in high school (played oboe in wind ensemble and youth orchestra, presided over the French club, worked at the local candy store/ice cream shop, never drank anything stronger than Diet Coke . . . you know the type). I'm still geeky, but I feel like a popular geek. So many nice people are sending me e-mails and inviting me to be friends on Facebook and leaving me comments. I'm really flattered. And it's also going to take me a while to get back to people. So if you've sent me a message or an friend request or an invitation to play Scrabulous, be patient. I'll respond. But it might not be today or this week.

I have a 20-minute commute to work in greater Boston, mostly on the freeway. Anyone who has driven in greater Boston will appreciate the fact that the drivers on my commute often cause me to question the decency of humanity. All of the amazing support I've gotten over the years I've had my blog and in the past couple of days from the CNN article are a reminder that most people are nice, good folks. It's comforting.

There's got to be a transition here, but I'm not yet caffeinated enough to make it. In the realm of the no-longer-popular, bye-bye Jason Castro on Idol. America got that one right. We're on our way to Battle of the Davids. Will Cook or Archuleta triumph? Vegas-style odds have them in an dead heat.

EDITED TO ADD: Good lord, I am like a caricature of myself. The same eagle-eyed friend alerted me to a typo (now corrected) in today's posting. I'm good at my job, I really am. I promise. I swear!

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Stacey -
Good for you! Your blog is great and you deserve the recognition for it. I'm glad to know your real name. I've always called you Richelle because you remind me of a girl I knew in high school. That's funny.
Have a great day.

Anonymous said...

Hi Snick! I, too, found your blog via the story on CNN, and just wanted to say I'm just blown away by your bravery in sharing your story on Ye Olde Internets, with perfect strangers.

I have a small confession - I spent most of yesterday afternoon reading the entire archive of your blog (I swear to God I'm not a stalker lol - I'm just one of those people who will stay up until 4am because she just has to finish a book - I just couldn't put your blog down! :)).

And if it's any consolation, pretty much every time you told a story where you doubted yourself or wished you could be a better mom, I have thought to myself, "Girl, I have done exactly what you have done - you are so not alone in this figuring-out-how-to-mom thing!"

I also have a quick idea for you, but I'll send you an email about it because it's too long to post here. Anyway, thanks for sharing, and I look forward to reading more about all of you!!

Holly said...

Another CNN'r over here!

I am going to check our your archives for sure, but wanted to leave a comment right away. Thanks for putting your life out there for others to experience...

AND, as for Idol? Well, I'm all for David Cook, but he would do much better off NOT winning and having free reign with recording deals. Thanks heavens Castro is gone. OMG!

Anonymous said...

Yeah I so predicted the David vs. David finale.
I'm hoping for COOK! His voice is so ....McAwesome.

Erin said...

I am another one who made my way over from the CNN story. I applaud how brave you have been and your kiddoes are just adorable!

I hear you about the drivers on your commute. I live in neighboring CT (only 10 minutes from MA in fact) and I have to say that MA drivers (those native to MA) are the worst. I have relatives who live outside Boston and I HATE driving up there.

susan said...

I'm an English professor, and have any number of stories to share from the past few months to let you know that English professors also need editors. I don't think that's going to put any crimp in your readership!

Anonymous said...

Boston drivers are NUTS. I know because my partner is one. I cover my eyes sometimes when he's driving.

Becky said...

With so many friends on facebook, you'll never get anything done at work again! Jason Castro never should have stayed on the show this long. Now he can get back to smoking pot and playing hackey sack. I always cringe whenever I make errors on my blog since it's all about pointing out other people's mistakes!

S said...

When we lived in Weymouth, we never ever drove into town. Thank goodness the T just about went everywhere. Once, I was forced to take my husband to Brighams and Womens hospital via car and that was a harrowing experience. Of course, it was a luxury when we road with friends into town! The T, bless the T, was a compromise, for sure. Those who have experienced it know what I mean. I miss Boston, just not the winters!

mek said...

Well, I can't believe it took Lee this long to tell me you have a blog! He is my source for updates on how you and the twins are doing - cute picture of them on CNN.

Rachel said...

How awesome that you are getting so much traffic. Someday I will say I knew you when. I didn't notice any typos, but I have been known to spell words wrong when writing on the board.

moo said...

Will you still love us non-CNN readers, now that you are well and truly famous?

W&MGrad said...

I'm also a new reader (having found you while wasting my lunch hour away at CNN.com. I have to admit that I clicked down from the beginning of your blug on up--and I got very little work done yesterday.

You are an amazingly strong woman and you and your twins are in my prayers!

Anonymous said...

I, too, was linked up to your blog through the story on cnn. My boss would shame me, but miraculously I was able to load the page without our web filters at work blocking the site. I got sucked in and actually read every post for the past year and half. Your story especially peaked my interest because my best friend’s dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last summer ( right after my birthday and I found out my other dear friend has a brain tumor the size of a golf ball). It was an emotional month, and reading your stories has given me a lot of insight on what my best friend might be going though—and more so how I can help her when the inevitable day comes. You both are unbelievably strong, and inspiring.
Your children are simply adorable and I think you have probably helped more people than you will realize. Thank you for that.

And,in case you were wondering, my friend with the tumor is doing well and had a 13 hour sugury with the miracle workers at Cleveland Clinic to remove 98%, and my best friend’s dad is doing as well as can be expected. He had surgery for the jaundice yesterday…. Everyone is in good spirits.

Thank you again, I hope to keep reading. (perhaps even start blogging myself!)

Arwen said...

I am also an editor but I think that people should have some leeway on their blogs. This isn't work, it's a blog. It should be sort of stream of conscience. I feel that I get paid to catch OTHER people's errors not my own So i'LL tYpE aLl fUnKy if i Want. Be free. Consider it part of the whole leaving the perfection at work thing.

Aimee said...

I totally agree with arwen. Look at it this way: your mistakes didn't cost any money. No reprinting, no wasted paper/supplies.

Allow yourself all the freebies you need. :-)

Unknown said...

I live in West Roxbury! I can't believe you are in my city! I am totally feeling you on the driving around here thing...

:) CA

Sarah said...

That's what editing is for, girl! I never catch it while I'm writing it, or even re-reading it. It's always after it's been posted for the world to see that I notice an unfortunate substitution of something like "shat" for "hat".

Susan in CA said...

Hi Stacey,

I found you via CNN. I didn't wash any dishes or even fix supper last night as I read your archives. I'm only half way through but enjoying them immensely. Please don't doubt yourself as a good mother. We've all been there. Sometimes a little one pops up that doesn't like to sleep!

This is in reference to an old post re: healthy snacks. I just returned to the library: The Snack Factor Diet by Keri Glassman.http://www.amazon.com/Snack-Factor-Diet-Secret-Weight/dp/0307351769/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1210296858&sr=8-1
It has neat information and lots of ideas for healthy snacks.

Best wishes for a great weekend!

Anonymous said...

nothing wrong with a typo or two - this is not school! dont worry about it!

Sandi said...

Ha! I used to be an editor and then an English teacher, and I make typos all the time. It's very difficult to catch your own mistakes.

Debz said...

I found your blog as many others have - from the CNN article. I sat that evening (not even paying attention to the red sox on tv) and read the entire thing. I wish I was half the person you are. I have never had to face any real struggles, have lost no one very close to me and cannot even begin to imagine how I would/will get through it. I can only hope I manage half as well as you have. Even when you are doubting yourself you still seem to carry yourself with more grace and dignity then anyone I know. I am honored to "know" you and hope to get to really know you more and better in the future.

Julia said...

Is it ok that I am laughing, a little, at the curse of the typos?
And yes, the drivers. The drivers. 'Nough said.
But look at you, miss popular! Another blogger actually sent me the article last week, but I was so swamped, I didn't even find a second to come over and congratulate you. Bad, bad blogger. No latte. Cleaning out the reader. I swear I WILL catch up!

Kristin.... said...

I found you first thru Tulip and Turnip and have read several posts. Then the CNN article, which I flagged for my husband to read, because he read some of your posts and cried with me (sssh, don't tell him I said that). So, I'll keep reading! And inviting you to be my friend on Facebook. :)