In Claire's new post, she writes about and links to her friends who have blogs.
None of my friends have blogs. Well, none of my friends in real life have blogs. All my blogging friends have blogs. Funny, that.
Blogging is such a ingrained part of my life now that when I'm with real life friends I'll talk about my blog friends. Like they're real people I know. When I do this, my real life friends all look at me with the exact same expression that says, "Now you've done it. You've totally lost your last marble."
Most of them don't understand that bloggers are real people, who do real things, like get together to go bowling.
I'm not a big phone person. By the end of the day, after talking on the phone all day with clients, the last thing I want to do is get back on the phone with friends. I'm all talked out. But, not by email. I can be a total blabbermouth by email.
My best friend usually doesn't email, she calls. She left me a voice mail awhile back. She said, "Why aren't you calling me back?! You're ditching me!"
Of course that made me laugh so I called her right back and when she answered I said, "I'm not ditching you!"
"You're ditching me!"
"No way!"
"You have a new friend!"
"Nuh uh. No way. You're still my BFF!"
She knows about my blogging addiction and how much time I spend online. And that maybe that's one reason I don't call her back right away. But, she understands and knows you're all sort of real.
Since she's my BFF, of course I have to tell her about my blog friends. Especially the ones who make me laugh. Like Res Publica.
I've said to her a hundred times, "Oh my God. You would love him. He is hysterical!"
She said to me once, "I don't get that Pinko Punko person." I said, "Don't worry. No one does."
My BFF is Fun. Nee. A total laugh riot. The last time we were together, we were in her hotel room looking at photos on her laptop. She brought up the most horrendous photo of me anyone has ever seen and said she was going to make it her screensaver. I then made a wisecrack that got us laughing so hard that tears were flinging from my eyes and she peed her pants.
Maybe you had to be there. But, in a way, you were. Because after we settled down, we started clicking around the blogosphere. I showed her a few of my favorites. "Introduced" her to Jennifer, AG & Company at RoD, Bobness, BOSSY, and all the cobags at Three Bulls!, once again trying to get her hooked on the Internets.
She loves music like I do, so I've told her all about billy pilgrim, Jeddie Ningo and Kevin Wolf.
I told her that I can't believe she doesn't comment on my blog. And that she should comment on my blog. She's quick and funny and would be a commenting BlogiStar in no time.
Although she doesn't quite understand the blogosphere, she does understand my blog addiction because she's got addictions of her own. And she's busy with those addictions. And that's probably a good thing. Because if she started commenting here and clicking around the blogosphere, she'd end up loving all of you. And I know she would hook up with Res. And if that ever happened, those two would drop me like a hot potato.
They would! I know them. They'd totally ditch me!
Totally great post, BG. I definitely feel like a wacko when I mention my bloggy friends to some friends. Though the roommate/BF understands and encourages it. Or at least she comments.
Posted by: Claire | May 22, 2007 at 01:29 PM
Very funny. I feel like Grizzled and my kids only nod when I talk about my internet friends because they know I'm close to the edge.
"Just nod when Mom mentions those *people*!"
"But Dad! They're not reeeeeal!"
"I know... just do it!"
I know one day I'll wake up in straight jacket and will finally be told that none of you are real. At that point, they'll wheel BG into my room and will introduce me to my new roommate.
Posted by: Jennifer | May 22, 2007 at 02:19 PM
Yes, but the more interesting question is if she and Res could actually win a bake-off?!
Posted by: Adorable Girlfriend | May 22, 2007 at 03:15 PM
Sometimes, my friends tell me I'M not real.
I'm beginning to believe them. After all, when have they lied to me before?
Posted by: billy pilgrim | May 22, 2007 at 03:24 PM
Of course we are real. We have a place in cyberspace, what could be more real than that? jojo
Posted by: jojo | May 22, 2007 at 06:05 PM
Think about saying "My dog's blog buddies..." and the looks you'd get. A meatspace friend started a blog for my dog, so I actually do say that.
Posted by: Bunter | May 22, 2007 at 07:07 PM
None of my RL friends have blogs or read a blog circle regularly. They seem so limited now. Is that too judgmental?
Posted by: M.A. Peel | May 22, 2007 at 08:35 PM
Bossy feels the same way and spends a huge amount of time fretting and giggling to herself about things her Blog friends are doing.
Sometimes Bossy feels it's an escape from real interactions - sort of like The Boy In A Plastic Bubble meets You've Got Mail... but most of the time Bossy thinks her Blog relationships are just as valid as anything else tangible... the friendships are very supportive, a laugh riot, fiercely loyal, and a kick in the pants!
Bossy loves BG and can't believe her luck that BG was one of the first people she met at the Virtual Cocktail Party 15 months ago... she'll always be grateful.
Posted by: BOSSY | May 22, 2007 at 11:23 PM
Yet another diss.
We used to bloggo about music but AG has driven a wedge between UC and the blog, or more accurately a wedge between the wedge that was already there. No more poop shoots.
Also, BG, remember when I kicked your ass at RoD guest blogging?. Good times.
Posted by: Pinko Punko | May 23, 2007 at 02:53 AM
Hi Pixelated Friends!
PP, You know what I always remember from Res's old blog? You and Res were in the comment thread going back and forth about some sort of food product. Probably Twinkies. Or Snowballs.
Anyway, you dropped a link in one of your comments to this picture of a lounge chair, that when it was kicked back it looked like a cross. It was from one of those Christian sites, I think.
LOL.
Posted by: blue girl | May 23, 2007 at 07:35 AM
You wanna back that up with proof, Pinko?!
You're just mad that AG exposed you for the piglet you are and refuses to go by your cornhole blog anymore. Well actually AG does but only to live link to her BFF blogger friends like BG.
Cornbag!
Posted by: Adorable Girlfriend | May 23, 2007 at 09:51 AM
Well, in the long run I don't care what other meatspace people think of my meatspace friends, so why would I care what my meatspace friends think of these bloggo dudes? It's all part of Pilgrim's twisted personality, after all, and as long as it doesn't erupt in a savage episode of mime again, they figure it's mostly harmless.
But at the end of the day, I throw some snark at the Sadlies, see What Digby Said and what Atrios Commands, check the General, see what Snag's eating now, dive into the half-assery at the Bullsies and stop by Glue Birl's to see who she has Throne a Thrown at today....
And I say to myself, I have had a helluva good time.
Posted by: billy pilgrim | May 23, 2007 at 09:59 AM
as long as it doesn't erupt in a savage episode of mime again
LOL!
Posted by: blue girl | May 23, 2007 at 10:14 AM
Awww, BG, thanks for the linky love.
Aside from my blogging friends, only those "real" friends I have in the "real" world who have their own blogs tend to comment on mine. Which makes them "not-real" also, thereby straddling two planes of existence.
It's really quite metaphysical if you think about it, which I don't.
Posted by: Kevin Wolf | May 23, 2007 at 10:38 AM
M.A., It's not judgmental at all. We're way cooler than real people.
:)
KW, straddling two planes of existence.
That is so true.
Posted by: blue girl | May 23, 2007 at 11:08 AM
It's funny, I have real-life friends who blog, and others who I know read the blog regularly (because they tell me), and they comment far less than my virtual friends.
You got me thinking about something I heard at a reading the other night -- I may have to post about it.
Posted by: Brando | May 23, 2007 at 04:25 PM
BG, I think we should all get these tees.
Posted by: Claire | May 23, 2007 at 06:12 PM
...and since the universe needs to balance forces, positive with negative, when a blog friend departs, it hurts just as damn much as a real one.
RIP Steve Gilliard.
Posted by: billy pilgrim | June 04, 2007 at 01:55 PM