Friday, July 12, 2013

Overwhelmed...

The past couple of days have been nothing short of overwhelming, and I don't mean it in the negative sense of the word. The amount of readers, comments, Facebook "likes," and e-mails that have happened amazes me. I guess I didn't realize that as many people would see this article and respond in some way or another.

It started on Wednesday morning when I walked into the QFC near our home. I was going to go in to buy a paper or two. :) I fully expected to have to leaf through the pages to find the story...so you can imagine the look on my face when I saw my own face staring back at me from the front page...ABOVE THE FOLD!


For a brief moment, I panicked! Why? Well, it goes back to that whole question..."What are people going to think about this story, and better yet...what are they going to think about ME?" So I quickly scooped up three papers and grabbed a couple of Full Throttle Energy Drinks and paid to get out the door! As I walked to the car my heart was pounding, I still couldn't believe that my story and my face was on the front page of the paper. I also couldn't believe that it looked like the title of my story was "Prison Officers Ordered Reinstated!" Ha! :)

Well after I was able to breathe normally, I made my way to the QFC where I normally shop. Luckily they had more papers there, and the self checkout lanes were open! **phew** After this I made my way back home...and I began to call, text and Facebook everyone I knew! :)

It wasn't long before I noticed the page views here on my blog just blowing up! Over the course of 24 hours I had over 2000 views! I also started getting comments on here, e-mails and Facebook messages. For most of the day I didn't know whether to laugh, cry or throw up. I'm happy to report that I did quite a bit of the first...a tiny bit of the second (all good tears, I promise), and I managed to NOT throw up! :)

I can't thank all of you enough. For those of you who left me comments on here, I wish there was a way I could comment back that you would receive notification that I responded. I also wish those of you who posted under "Anonymous" would have put your first name on there so I could respond directly to you! :) I tried to answer all the e-mails and Facebook messages in a timely manner. I hope you all received my comments! :)

I think the best part of all of this was looking at the comments at the bottom of the article on the Herald's web page. Before my article came out Andrea, the reporter, warned me about the negative comments that were probably going to be left there. I assured her that I've dealt with ignorance my entire life, and I've learned to take the comments borne from it in stride. Now I'm not going to lie, some of the comments made me laugh out loud. And one in particular made me laugh heartily and share the comment with Michael. Now let me just say this, I do not agree or disagree with this comment, I'm just saying that the entire thing made me laugh.
"Irregardless of orientation, these guys figured it out. How to have one working and one at home, that is.
Brian takes care of it all. Wimminz, listen up! You wanna stay home, then keep the home, fix my dinner, care for the yard, be sure the car gets it's oil changed. Yup, that is how couples with only one working===can work well. This guy is not entitled, does not eat bon-bons and watch TV all day, but does his part.
More couples with one stay-at-home need to look at this model.
Just sayin'"
                                           ~The Geezer

Come on...can you tell me that some of the things in there didn't make you laugh? I wonder who this person is, and I wonder what truly goes through their mind! The thing I realize about negative comments is that most people don't have the, pardon my language, balls to sign their own names. My name, and life has been put out there for all to see, and if you want to criticize, while it is your right, you shouldn't be afraid to put your name on it. That is merely my humble opinion.

But all that being said, to date, there are 18 comments on the Herald's site, some negative and some positive. But those 18 comments are dwarfed by the amount of love and support that I've received from all of you who chose to come here and read more about me. When I started this blog a few years ago I honestly didn't think it would be more than a place for me to "journal." I have to say, I'm quite pleased with everything right now.

I love receiving comments on my posts, and just so you know...when I respond for some reason it won't notify you that I responded :-/. So check back, because I do my best to respond to every comment left. I love the back and forth on Facebook as well! Those comments are much easier to respond to! :) And of course...e-mails and the comments you can leave on the "contact me" page! Those I respond to ASAP! :)

Now lets get on to some business, shall we? I have a little contest going on right now! Did you know that?


That's right!! :) Go ahead and click on the banner at the top of this page, or even on the page link on the right hand side and it will take you to the Recipe Contest page! :) There I have a link to a video as well as all the rules and information you'll need to enter! :) I'm excited about this contest! I love coming up with recipes on the fly, and even more amazed when they actually turn out! :) So come on, enter! Whip up a great recipe that features Chicken Breasts, and take a picture of the final dish, and type up and submit an ingredient list and step-by-step instructions! :)

Now I'm also ready to release my latest Kitchen Tips video! :) Here it is!!

The REAL Housewife of Snohomish County
REAL Housewife's Kitchen Tips: Episode 3

 

 
 
Again, I just want to thank all of you for your support and comments! It's never easy to put your story out there for fear of how it will be taken. But you've made this a great experience. I hope you continue to come back to my blog and read every post I've put up! If you haven't checked them out yet, I've posted on our travels to London and Paris as well as Hawaii, Vancouver and Tofino! :) And as always...leave me comments, send me e-mails, Facebook me! I love getting questions and comments and I love the interactions!
 
Until next time...Keep Cooking!

4 comments:

  1. This is a brilliant, brilliant, BRILLIANT blog! A friend of mine just introduced me to it after I posted on Facebook what to cook for dinner. Being a "housewife," I completely identified with this! Thank you for creating this blog. I can't wait to see/read more. :)

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    1. Sean, thanks so much for your comments!! I always love hearing that other men can identify with my plight! LOL I'm so dramatic lol

      I read a few of your posts tonight and I definitely need to sit down and read more! Welcome to my blog! I hope you continue to enjoy it!!
      ~Brian

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    2. Brian, MUCH obliged! :) Unfortunately I don't write on my blog as much as I should, but once in a great while I'll type out a doozy (or what I feel, in my disillusion, is a doozy). But I appreciate that you'd give it a look-see. Thank you.

      I love the angle of your "housewife" theme. Why hadn't I thought of it first?! See, now I'M being dramatic. It happens to the best of us.

      Cheers!

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  2. Keith asked me if you learned this garlic tip from me, I said "nope, I learned it from
    Brian." :-) Love you babe

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