I'll take trolls for $200, Alex

This comment was received today:

you're supposed to turn around and award that rockin' girl blogger button to other women. It really is all about you, all the time, isn't it? i think heather and karen need to be told what it means because you are boring as all hell. me me me me me me me. carmen do you ever think of anyone but yourself? your poor children.

Hell, yes, it's all about me.  After all, this blog isn't called Janis to the Screaming Masses, is it, Janis from the Netherlands?  I've got you beat with the worry for my kids - I've often said that I'm their great liability in life. If they can get through with me as a mom, and still be breathing, never mind productive humans, they should have a gravy train life.  It WAS kind of you to give me your opinion - I really do appreciate it.  You do know, though, that by clicking here and telling me how boring I am, you are actually making me money, right?  So if you don't like me, please utilize the little red x in the top right hand corner.  It'd make your life so much less stressful that way.  Plus, you might cheat me out of a latte.

I do have to apologize for not awarding the Blogger button out last night.  In my defense, as weak as it can be, I'm not myself.  (And thank goodness for that, right?  Imagine if I WAS myself - I'm trembling just thinking about it.)  I've had company for a week.  Imagine your house with 8 extra people in it.  Now imagine that you have other family, staying in other houses.  You've made five trips to the airport.  You are getting together with these people, whom you DEARLY LOVE, every day and most nights.  You have three parties in three days.  Two birthday celebrations, church, swimming - you've done almost no exercise and less laundry, but dishes have been your friend.  You've gone to the grocery countless times, and you live with a man who views sleeping as a sin.  Your brain is scattered beyond repair, your little ones are cranky, and your husband wants to do a million and one things while he is off work.  You haven't had time to even think. 

(As an example, one morning I made 80 pancakes.  EIGHTY, people.  They were gone in about 20 minutes.  It was fun to do and I'm glad I had the company and I was so happy to see everyone.  My family is awesome, it really is.)

But I've been away from the blog - from June 28 to now I've only posted four times, and one of those was a draft of my engagement which I had done a while ago and touched up - and not paying full attention.  And, you know, having a life and reading to my kids and playing at the pool and visiting with my stepdaughters and their kids and my sisters in law and The Hubster's Aunts and Cousins and nieces and nephews and walking 12 miles on Wednesday and capoeira class and helping my son pack for camp and printing pictures off at Walgreens at midnight when I was so tired that my eyes couldn't focus, just so visiting family can take the pics with them and eating dinner out and trying to research some stuff for my other blog and meeting with a personal trainer and making a birthday cake and buying birthday presents and taking six kids to the dentist and applying for a job and working on an article, and writing to a friend and you know what? 

My blog.  I pay for it and my time is my own and if you don't like it, bite me.  Go away.

NOW, with that said, any further trolls will be blocked and the comments, along with ips, as well as the referrals, will be posted.  I've had over 3 dozen nasty comments in three weeks.  I've deleted them and blocked them.

________________________________________________

I will nominate some people for the Rockin' Blogger chick award now.  Please do not feel as if I don't mean it, since I am a day late.  I definitely do mean it, and I really think that everyone who puts it out there, day in and day out, really does deserve their own button.

1- Charming Bitch.  I love Shannon. Love her, and have had many heart to heart emails with her about lots of great stuff.  She's an awesome writer, a long distance trucker with a heart of gold.  Her husband is cooler than cool and despite the fact that the two of them have been through a mountain load of trash, they've hung in together and are still crazy about each other.

2- The Fish Pond - Her own description says it all: Life with a family of this size is chaotic at best, so there is plenty of fodder for this blog. I am trying to find my way and find my groove as a mom of four, and as such I really have no social life, so this is it. Indeed, good friend.  She's got four kids and we deal with some of the same situations, although she does handle them better than I do.

3 - Ninja Poodles! - Belinda has about a million animals - horses, prize poodles, and other various four legged critters.  She's also the mother of the cutest little girl ever, outside of mine, of course.  She's wacky and goofy and I always get a kick out of reading her posts.

4 - Mothergoosemouse - Julie rocks.  She's positive and fun and her writing skills are amazing.  I can always count on her to make me think.

5 - IzzyMom - I met Izzy by accident at Blogher last year, when she confused me for someone else.  I'm so glad she did - she's fun and doesn't hesitate to tell it like it is!  And she posted this, which totally made my week:

 

6 - Photography for Fun -  Tammy is my cousin and she takes gorgeous photos.  Really, really stunning shots. 

7 - My Beloved Jenny who has two sites - Three Kid Circus and Big Slice.  She's my rock, my idol and my closest friend.  I call her almost every day with a crisis and she's my calm port in the storm.

8 - Table4five - I admire Elizabeth because of her dedication to paid blogging.  We've chatted on the phone and scarily think quite alike.

9 - Kiwords - Kira has a way with words unlike any I've ever read.  She paints vivid pictures and I feel as if I am really there, experiencing her life as a mom of three boys.

10 - Amazing Shrinking Mom - Mel has lost over 60 pounds.  SIXTY!!!!  She's a font of knowledge and wisdom and she's always full of great tips and ideas.

So, there you have it.  I was awarded twice, and I handed out ten.  I'd love to give out 100 more - in fact, I think all of you deserve one.  Pick it up, post it on your own blog, and most importantly, DON'T forget to give it out to five others!

Comments

[Lynette]

I thought I'd delurk to say I read your blog every day and it is great! Don't let the trolls get you down.

[QueenB]

I can't believe how much time some people have on their hands. I mean how bored do you really have to be to surf the web and give people crap?

[Sarah]

'gain I'll say it. I love reading your blog and agree with Lynette - don't let those trolls get 'cha down!

[Kamrin]

You want me to go met out some a$$ whopins to some trolls with no clue?!? I'll do it for ya! Keep up the great work and continue to inspire those of us who want some happiness. If they ain't got nuttin' nice to say, they can stay under their stank a$$ little bridge! Nuff said!

[Izzy]

Awww...thanks, mama! I'm so very flattered. I think YOU ROCK, too.

Did you hear that, trolls? CARMEN ROCKS!

I better hurry up and pass this on so nobody thinks it's all about me, me, me ;)

[Belinda]

I hadn't heard of this award yet, and already had my blood all angried up on your behalf before I got down to where I saw my own self mentioned...can I just express some major disbelief that anyone has a problem with you, enough so that they'd say nasty things? I have never understood the concept of someone having the luxury of SO much time on their hands that they can waste it on spewing vitriol. What must that be like? (Having that kind of time, not spewing vitriol.)

This reminds me of a story from our very first showdog. Reggie was our first champion, and he finished QUICKLY, with major wins over other dogs. Unfortunately (for them) there was another dog showing at the same time as Reggie, who was repeatedly among the losers at these shows. The owners of this dog took out a FULL PAGE AD in the largest poodle magazine (yes, there are several, quit laughing) basically dissing OUR dog, and talking about how their dog had been "giving away" the wins to inferior dogs because he just wasn't "on" that particular day.

At first I was furious. And then it got funny. And then a longtime dog-show mentor told me, "When you get people talking about you, you KNOW you've made it. Congratulations!"

Could it all simply boil down to jealousy? Yeah. I think a lot of times, it could.

[Heather]

Oh Jeez, Janis from Netherlands, I'm one who gave her the award and I've never (sorta) met someone who is as un-boring and majorly rockin' as Carmen. Pass on by and spend your time elsewhere if you don't agree! And, Carmen, Rock on sister.

[theotherbear]

Poor Janis is just jealous because she can't make 80 pancakes (80 pancakes girl? Good grief!)

[Photography for Fun]

I'm tired just from reading about what you've been up to! Thanks for the nomination! I'm new to the world of blog and having so much fun!

[Elizabeth]

That comment you got is the most ignorant thing I have ever read. Obviously the commenter hasn't spent much time reading this blog-do you ever think of your children? Hello, understatement much? Your children are your LIFE!

Thank you SO MUCH for giving me the award! I could have sworn I sent you an "Elizabeth thinks I ROCK" award badge, but if I didn't, email me and I'll send it right away. Because sweetie, you pink-puffy-heart ROCK!

[CharmingDriver]

Thanks thanks thanks and thanks for the prize!! WOOO @ my rockin self!!

Also, dearest troll, if you need the true mecca of self involvement, please come to my blog. Several of ''your kind'' hang about so you won't even be lonely!11! Ooooooooooh and one more thing: Eat my ass, on behalf of Carmen. KTHXBYE!

[mothergoosemouse]

Eighty pancakes? I think my head just hit the floor. How many boxes of Bisquick does that take, anyway?

Carmen, thank you. You are fabulous and inspirational, and you deserve to keep the rockin' blogger award all to yourself. But it makes me smile that you shared it with me (and some other wonderful ladies whom I love too!).

[Michelle]

Excellent selections.

[Donna]

Carmen,

Please keep writing witty, thoughtful, sad days and bad days and hysterically funny....everythings!

I, too, feel like I am my children's biggest liability...thanks for saying JUST the right things at just the right time!
God Bless you and your keyboard!
Donna

[Monica]

Trolls suck, sorry they're trying to drag you down. :( Hopefully it will pass woith time, but the more popular your blog gets the more they'll show their ugly heads.

It's sad that they get off on that shit.

Personally I think you rule and I've been loving your blog since before you went password protected and through teh password time and now back to an open blog.

[littlemummy]

Crikey, I was given that award a few days ago (thanks, Michelle) but quite frankly I will nominate when I'm good and ready.

[Karen]

Excuse me? Carmen, not only did she insult YOU with that comment. She insulted ME saying I didn't know what the award signified. HELLO! Carmen ROCKS! I know she rocks because I look forward to what she writes and it's one of the first blogs I refresh looking for new posts!
EIGHTY pancakes. Sharing your house with all of those people. Running to the grocery store that many times? Giving up what you love (exercise) to care for others......Pray tell, how is THAT self-centered? Sounds like you're giving yourself to others more than yourself!!!
I'm wondering if Janis from the Netherlands is just secretly jealous because no one gave HER the Rockin' Girl Blogger award! HA!
p.s. it took me a few days to get my nominees out too. It's not like I sit here and blog all day!

[lyns]

just like those who posted above..I just wanted to offer some encouragement... I was under the impression that a blog was supposed to be all about the person who was writing it!!! The name comes from Web log..or an on-line journal...blog.... am I wrong??? Sure, some blogs are for advertising etc...but the ones I read are those people who have couragously allowed us all to enter into a part of thier lives...my blog is a peak into my life...the good, bad, ugly, funny, crazy etc... that's the whole point...its the one place you CAN be self-centered and talk about what YOU want to..YOU, the kids, hubby etc... I think that some don't understand what blogs are all about... thanks for sharing, for writing.... xo lyns

[Suburban Oblivion]

I didn't pass it along either. Party because everyone I read had already gotten it, and partly because frankly, it IS all about me.

[The Parents Zone]

You are right family is important than anything.

That troll must know you are "One Woman Army" 80 Pancakes and you enjoyed it, it tells everything about you.

[Valerie]

Ladies, don't forget that 80 pancakes to a mom of 6 really isn't that much of a stretch...I'm sure she makes about half that on a semi-regular basis just to feed her own brood! :-) No, the real challenge is having other people living in your space for a time.

Bless you, Carmen...I can handle cooking for a crowd, but hosting guests who are sleeping in my home is a big-time stretch of charity.

Yeah, you rock...

[Janelle]

Oooohhh! That just makes my blood boil. I love reading your blog Carmen. She obviously has no clue about what "ROCKIN" is along with all of the other trolls out there. I wish I had half of the energy and ambition you have. You do so much for your family where does she even get the idea that you are self centered? And boreing you are DEFINATELY NOT! I love, love, love your blogs and hope you never stop blogging.

[Renee]

You're children and husband are so lucky to have you! Not alot of women could do all that you do and stay sane! I only have 3 children and the occasional family house guest and that taxes me plenty.Hang in there ...your blog inspires me daily.

[Patois]

What kind of pancakes? 'Cause that makes a difference, you know. (Kidding.)

My first inclination was to pretend I was Janis, but I figured you'd bust me when you found out I wasn't from the Netherlands. I don't even think I can spell Netherlands.

Great post.

[mary mom to 5]

Damn Carmen! I wish you would have thought about JANIS while your family was in town, I mean really what is more important?? JANIS of course! Can we send her some pancakes?

Some people just suck ya know. But most dont and you Carmen, who has helped me realize I am a normal mom AND lost 10 pounds, you ROCK MISSY!!