Remember my very enthusiastic friend Christy who guest posted for me last week with a story about how she almost sent her male boss pregnancy Spanx through Amazon.com? Well she also happens to be my biggest fan.
I’m serious – she thinks I’m fabulous. And it would be a lie to say that it hasn’t given me just a little bit of an ego boost.
If I could bottle that encouragement and sell it as a perfume for teenage girls, I think I could single handedly do away with eating disorders, “bad reputations” and various other byproducts of low self esteem. At the very least there would be far fewer boyfriends whose chief appeal is the ability to offer “couple” status.
But sub par teenage boyfriends aside, I think EVERYONE needs a Christy. The Christys of the world make us believe that anything is possible and that we are worthy of that possibility. They are wonderful friends and I consider myself very lucky to have one of my own.
Especially when she nominates me for awards.
That’s right – she isn’t all talk. She actually takes her encouragement a step further. The other day she informed me that she nominated me for a Blogger’s Choice ’09 award: Best Humor Blog.
I would never have considered such a thing. This is probably my favorite blog genre, so I’m very familiar with what would be considered “the competition.” Let me tell you – it’s no contest. I certainly find myself amusing (what – like you can’t tell?) but I can’t technically label this site a humor blog.
I’ve written about everything from having children with special needs to pretty handbags I found on Etsy. True – I write quite a few anecdotes that again, I personally find amusing…but I can’t say that I fit into an actual genre. At least I didn’t SEE a Best Whatever Strikes My Fancy on Any Given Day category.
So with my recently enlarged head firmly in place, I decided to try to find the category that best fit my all across the board content, and nominate myself.
Behold:
I am currently one of the top contenders for The Blogitzer (as in The Top 53). Right now the #1 spot is held by Heather Armstrong of Dooce. I’m so going to win this one… And I’m off to a roaring start with two votes (that would be me, and of course Christy).
I know – it’s ridiculous. But I just had to do it. I’ve been working so hard to do something about my passive tendency to let Fate, like a distracted pet owner, lead me aimlessly through life. I need to become master of my own destiny, and ANY tiny, flailing attempt is better than nothing. I’m tired of just being along for the ride. I am no one’s purse puppy, and I refuse to be Fate’s bitch.
Instead, I’m just another underdog. Which actually works for me since I’ve always had a thing for underdogs. Lloyd from Say Anything? Chandler from Friends? McDreamy from Can’t Buy Me Love? Well hel-lo sailor! If that’s the company I’ll be keeping, you’ll hear no complaints from me.
BUT…after taking this public stand against Fate, I have to admit that I felt a little silly. I mean it’s so small fish/big pond. I realize that I have no chance of ever actually winning anything Internet-related with my handful of readers and my severe lack of time for social media in general… But there is something very satisfying about the gesture.
And for me, the combination of silly and self satisfied generally serves as a catalyst for even MORE embarrassing behavior. As in “ten years later, I will manically burn all traces of evidence” kind of embarrassing.
So how’s this for evidence to destroy? I decided to start a website: Underdogs Unite.
It’s for people like me, who have been nominated for something even though it’s unlikely that anyone will ever know.
Have YOU been nominated for something? Well…I’D like to know. And that’s ONE more person at least.
So come visit me at my totally ridiculous, embarrassing, and obviously ironic little underdog support group. It’s an open invitation, so feel free to bring your loser friends.
Why keep sitting in the audience?
Strange things are afoot at the Circle K…
We’re going streaking! Th… W… There’s more coming.
You’re so money and you don’t even know it!
Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!
We’re on a mission from God.
Vote for Pedro!
Nerds! Nerds! Nerds! Nerds!
So who’s with me? Let’s vote for the underdogs! I say our time has finally come!
Because everyone loves an underdog.
And will one of us do the unthinkable and actually WIN one of those damn awards?
We may yet, Mr. Frodo. We may.
(I’m so regretting this in the morning…)
“I am no one’s purse puppy, and I refuse to be Fate’s bitch.”
I love this and I’m going to have to quote you somewhere soon. Seriously, how great is that line??
I love what you said about Christy. It’s true, the world is a better place with Christys in them.
Now, I’m going to go vote for you.
You are so right – Christy is the best! Her positivity is so catching and I love being surrounded by positive people.
I am so going to vote for you.
Okay, I tried voting but the website is giving me a hard time with it. I’ll try again tomorrow…they’re supposed to send an email? Anyway, I won’t forget about it. :)
I’m trying to vote for you – it takes a while to sign up.
My big underdog ‘thing’ at the moment is that I submitted a conference paper (to a VERY big conference where I have no chance) but unfortunately, unless you’re a reviewer on the right panel, you can’t vote me back for that one – so just cross your fingers for me, please?
Checking in from SITS. Wishing you a beautiful week. My best. Zen Cupcake
Popping in from SITS to say hi!
I am blushing so hard right now! So glad you started the Underdog site – and how fitting that of course I am your first follower! Hip hip hooray!
Congrats on the nominations. You are lucky to have a Christy in your corner. I’ll be an underdog with you (except for the nomination thingy).
Christy rocks because she recognizes that YOU rock. Off to vote …
Love the whole idea. Always been a fan of the underdog. I’m following you on Underdogs Unite…although of course not in a stalkerish kind of way.
Much love from NJ,
Sue
xoxo
Wow, that perfume would be a bigger seller than Love’s Baby Soft in the jr. high / high school market. (Is that still around? Note: stop making myself sound old in comments.)
Congrats on the nominations! I’ll try to vote for you!!
YEY- underdogs unite-
I’m 5 feet tall- I’ve always been the underdog,
last picked for dodgeball!
I’m going to the site!
I think your blog is awesome. Why is everyone so obsessed with Dooce? I tried reading her blog, but it just didn’t hold my attention. But your blog? HILARIOUS.
Good luck!
As I’ve said to anyone is within listening distance, your blog rocks and Dooce can suck it!!
I voted for you in both catagories.
I love your creative mind and sense of humor.
Big hug…
Remember me when you’re super famous!
Also, I forgot to mention how much I also love Christy and her big smile and positive spirit.
Everyone should have a Christy!
:)
I don’t call it underdogs—I call it a loser’s club. I even wrote a blog post about it, but I guess you didn’t see it, cause I don’t get much attention on my blog either…
Sigh…
So, I will try to vote for you.
I never get nominated for anything—and I have been blogging for three and a half years.
But then, I am the loser president, so there!
I need a Christy.
Trying to sign up, I don’t understand why they need to make it so hard to vote!
Best of luck!
You’ll never be the underdog if you meet each day like Miss Polly – in your PARTY SHOES. This is an inside joke. Kate could never watch the Underdog show without racing to put on her black patent leather party shoes so she could look like Miss Polly. Maybe there’s a deep philosophical meaning behind the show. If you feel great about yourself (i.e. Killer Shoes) you’ll never be the underdog.
I love your mom’s comment. And I’m sure that these people have “a christy in their corner” — I miss you and Anastasia – I need to get myself down to VA soon!
Seriously, you are going to kick Dooce’s ass….I can see it coming already!
Congrats on the nomination, I’ll go vote for you!!