Wednesday, May 13, 2009

The folks you meet

The other day on my personal blog I wrote about my people. About the folks you meet who are instant connections, who fit, who just get it, get you. I was talking about face-to-face people, but I've found in my three years or so of blogging that my people are out there in the ether, too, churning out words I can relate to, being hilarious and insightful and smart and dirty and just my people.

A couple of months ago I found another one. They crop up like that, out of the blue, in unexpected ways, from a link or a post or a tweet. And there you are, connecting with someone you'd have never met otherwise, whose words resonate and whose personality shines through the screen.

Coincidentally, I pulled Here in Franklin out of the virtual hat to review today. I'd already been getting to know her, but today gave me a welcome opportunity to go back over the months of her blog and read it all.

She uses one of my favorite standard Wordpress themes. It's clean, uncluttered, and easy on the eyes. But I really hate the click to see more option in the archives. It's just so much work. I'm exhausted now. And if you can figure out how, Franklin, I'd add a search feature. That aside, she's got the About page nailed, the archives dropped, and her sidebars neat and tidy. Well done.

As LB illustrated in yesterday's review, boring blogs abound. But here's a writer who can make the most mundane, everyday thing (how much more everyday can you get than McDonald's?) interesting. She's southern, which wins her points from me, since I'm all southern fried. And Franklin is funny, y'all. She even has a sense of humor about cancer. She writes beautifully and confidently about silly, flippant things. No, really. Look at that grammar (which is fine, even though she rails against it -- and semi-colons are your friends). Admire the spelling. Revel in the gorgeous, well-constrained paragraphs.

She smart (she auditioned for Jeopardy, which just makes her my favorite person ever). She's not a natural housekeeper (me, neither). She's well-traveled. And I just pretty much agree with her (I can even forgive her the dog thing).

The only complaint I have -- which isn't a complaint, not really -- is that we don't get a lot of guts here. Oh, Franklin's entertaining and a stand-out writer and funny as hell, but she doesn't give us the inside scoop. Maybe it's because she's not anonymous. Understandable. But I am left wanting just a smidge more. A little more heart and soul.

Still, even without it, I fucking love you.

42 comments:

  1. I love Here In Franklin too!

    I guess I put an exclamation on that because I really meant it.

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  2. Me too. It's hard not to love her. She's like my next door neighbor that I bug when I'm bored. I can't help it, she's so inviting and chill.

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  3. I imagine that she's fun to be around. Her words are pretty.

    On a side note, Kool Aid?

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  4. Sorry, that should have read 'Pervert Kool Aid?'.

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  5. Calamity--I've had people comment on my writing for years in my career. But I don't think I've ever been as gratified as I am today. I think because all that other stuff is work. My blog is fun--what I do for me. So thank you for the kind words. You made my day.

    BB and Rass--come have a beer.

    GoK--If you're referring to my sometime commenter Kool Aid, he's local curmudgeon.

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  6. Does Pervert Kool Aid come with "whipped cream" or something?

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  7. And Rass, you're exactly right. Here in Franklin's vibe is all "come sit next to me, need a drink?"

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  8. hif: No, I wasn't. Sorry, I shouldn't do inside jokes.

    Cal: I see you've already had a cup.

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  9. I like her blog, I like it a lot.

    I am not a fan of dogs either. But I can say, If I found a bat in my bra, I would totally name it Teat and make it my pet.

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  10. I'm a big fan of her blog also. She's fabulous. I'm so happy she got an awesome review!

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  11. How could she not get a good review? I mean, really, there is nothing to complain about.

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  12. In the mid 70's Bra Teet was the name DC comics was going to give to a Batman sidekick.


    I love this blog and I love the author. As you may or may not know I hate people so that is saying loads.

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  13. Oh, we know Chris, we know.

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  14. Look, don't say "loads" around Keywork. You're just asking for trouble.

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  15. And by 'trouble', she means 'semen'.

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  16. Someday, a random fistfight will break out in the office and things will be awesome.

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  17. What a treat to have one of my favorite blogger friends reviewed.

    This one is gold.

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  18. I cannot believe I've never read her blog. Ever. Wow. It's really good.

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  19. HIF:

    I've had people "comment" on my writing all my life, too, if by "comment" you mean leave big red bleeding ink gashes all over it.

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  20. My grammar sucks. I dont spell very well. And I put commas all over the place.

    And honestly, I dont care. I agree that its the words that make it worth reading.
    Although, I do understand that if there are a lot of errors it sometimes does take away from the reading experience.

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  21. Wow, I just read the first page of this blog. SOLD. What a terrific storyteller! I'm so glad she sent in for a review.

    Next time someone submits a boring, self-glorifying blog, just link to Here in Franklin and say, "Do this." I know I want my blog to be more like hers.

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  22. Sarah,

    I'm quite sure he intends it as a compliment.

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  23. "I do understand that if there are a lot of errors it sometimes does take away from the reading experience" ... which is why I have a job.

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  24. LB, I'm gonna agree with you. Isnt Filthy slut always a compliment?

    I know Cal, and thats why I didnt bitch and complain about my review. I get it. I just dont know that I care enough to fix all of it. A little here, a little there. Good enough for me.

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  25. LB--
    "big red bleeding ink gashes" -- yep, that pretty much covers it.

    Again, thank all y'all for the nice comments. I've been reading many of your blogs for a while now. My reader keep growing and growing.

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  26. Hers is one of those blogs that when my reader is way too full, I still read it, no matter what. It's always worth it.

    Plus, the header is generally pretty killer.

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  27. I meant it as a compliment, of course.

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  28. She's a keeper. I don't remember how I found her, but it might have something to do with the Blues.

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  29. If this comment goes through I want everyone to bake pumpkin muffins for our lovely Dirty Pirate Hooker for figuring out my BlackBerry.
    It will be kismet if it does, because HIF is one of my favorite bloggers. I could not agree with you more Cal. Perfect review!

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  30. She's fantastic. Well deserved.

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  31. Pumpkin muffins for everyone! That's a Walken-worthy treat for sure. Thanks for the love, MG

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  32. MG, thank you. I love that you recognize my need for pumpkin muffins. I'll bake them, if you give me the damn recipe.

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  33. Yeah, I don't read this blog and I have no idea why. I really need to, its very good.

    Beef Curtain, I'm glad I fixed your comment problem. Yay! See you on Friday, woman!

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  34. I call my left nut pumpkin muffin.

    Just putting it out there.

    Not really looking for a response.

    Something to think about.

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  35. The other one is poncho

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  36. Julie Fisher5/16/2009 8:58 AM

    Here in Franklin is indeed just like her blog--what you see is what you get. She's a party, a riot, a bright, bright girl, AND a tremendous soul.

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  37. I read the suggested posts and I don't get how you can love this. Butter and pickles on a chicken sandwich? This is worthy of an "I Love You"? And not a single person disagreed? Quite disappointing from this loyal fan's point of view.

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  38. I usually don't comment on blogs that are reviewed here - who am I to judge? Anyway, I do like this blog in general. There's only 1 other IFLY blog I've liked in the reviews I've seen so far. In general, reviews here are rather subjective and the reviewers make no bones about it.

    The reviewers don't always agree. As far as everyone else agreeing is concerned, that happens nearly every time. A little disappointing because I find it hard to believe that so many people can all share an opinion with precisely the same ferocity. But then again I have very little faith in humanity and the internet even less so. I'm just here for the pop culture and sex talk.

    < /rant>

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  39. Pamajama--if you don't like it, don't read it. Sorry you were disappointed. And for the record, my rating wasn't an "I love you," it was an "I FUCKING love you."

    Thanny--you and your comments (and your pic) crack me up. Carry on.

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Grow a pair.