I feel like I wasn’t that great a guest blogger this week. What with the unexpected road trip, wasn’t really at the top of my game. Never quite got over feeling like the person who arrives at a party wearing the wrong clothes but I really appreciated the gig. Thanks to Doug J and John for so kindly inviting me. And thanks to the Balloon Juice Commentariat for (mostly) being so nice. Sharing space with the roster of incredible writers here and this rocking community has been the high point in all my years of blogging.
So a fond farewell and I’ll leave you as I started, with a pet post. Dad and Mom’s other two cats were quite miffed that I didn’t post their photos and demand I rectify this glaring omission. So here’s Pickles:
Pickles is the fat cat in the family. Not quite Tunch fat, but close. She’s the dainty one. Quiet. Undemanding. Well behaved. Kind of like Lily. After Phoebe died, she and I bonded in our grief. We had some long talks about how much we missed her and after that Pickles stopped hiding from me. She now waits on the bed and deigns to allow a skritch behind the ears.
Jack on the other hand is the problem child:
He’s the feline equivalent of Rosie. Bossy, destructive and sprays inside the house when he’s pissed off. He pretends he’s tough but he’s really a big wuss. He started as an outdoor cat but the folks finally transitioned him indoors to cut down on the vet bills. It was getting expensive to have him stitched up every time he lost a fight. Which was always. He still mostly ignores me except when he has to step over me to get to Mom’s lap. But he’s a good old boy in his own way and we love him.
And with that I’ll be fading back into obscurity. If you find you’re missing me, you can always find me in my little hideaway at The Impolitic or catch me on Twitter.
David Fud
You shouldn’t feel that you “weren’t that great a blogger”, because I for one really enjoyed your posts and intend to follow you to your hideaway.
Thanks for sharing! Glad to get to briefly see what you are about.
Keith G
Beautiful kitties – and I enjoyed your 2 cents. This was an uneven week here at BJ. Lots of static that I stayed away from, but I appreciated your efforts. Thanks.
gogol's wife
I enjoyed your posts. I am a very sporadic commenter but a faithful reader! Great cats.
gogol's wife
Oh, and love with Republicans isn’t so bad.
a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)
Thanks for joining in and of course thanks for the kittehs.
SIA
It’s always good to hear new voices and I’ve enjoyed yours, Libby. Hope you’ll come back when you can.
And it has been a strange week everywhere.
ETA pretteh kitteh!
ciaran
its been nice reading you. i may check out your site. thanks.
Anne Laurie
Libby, I should’ve said this earlier, but Thank You! for some very interesting posts, for not letting the usual gang of idiots put you off, and for introducing me to your blog!
Unless Cole has changed his policies, you still have the keys to the back door, so you don’t have to be a stranger… :}
bystander
Thanks for all your efforts. Even if they felt sub-par to you as a writer, they didn’t feel sub-par to me as a reader. Enjoyed them all. Sending my very best wishes…
MazeDancer
You were an excellent addition. Enjoyed your perspective.
kdaug
Oh, hush, Libby. You did fine.
Yutsano
@kdaug:
This ad infinitum. Your posts were cogent and topical, not to mention quite enjoyable. I’m just happy you survived the fray relaively intact.
Oh and KITTEH!!
Citizen_X
Who are all you damned kids that DougJ invited over? We’re a quiet neighborhood, I tell you, a quiet neighborhood here. He didn’t tell any of us he was going to be having all these strange people running all over the place while he was gone. The hell he was thinking? Gonna have a word with that feller when he gets back. Now git off my lawn, dang it!
scav
Anyone that can stagger to the end of a week here with any amount of grace and forward momentum, let alone a sense of humor, done fine. Level of local disaster, chaos and clutter appears about normal best I can tell.
stuckinred
I can’t find my bluebird,
I’d listen to my bluebird sing
but I, I can’t find my bluebird
Suffern ACE
The offer to be your companion of convenience if the marine doesn’t work out is still there.
JGabriel
Libby Spencer @ Top:
Well, Libby, what were you thinking? With half a Hitler mustache like that (just to Godwin the thread), of course he was gonna be a problem. He looks like he’s about to raise his little left paw in the air and shout HEIL!
And, of course we enjoyed your visit to the front page too.
.
Jewish Steel
Yeah, I thought you fit in quite nicely but with a distinct voice. I hope you post here again.
Gozer
The abuse just means you’re part of the (dysfunctional) family.
Josie
Enjoyed your posts, Libby, and your kitties. I love calico cats and Pickles looks like a dear. I’m sure Jack is quite nice too, when you get to know him. Come back and introduce a civil tone to the place whenever you can.
SiubhanDuinne
Libby, I really enjoyed your posts (and KITTEHS!!) and hope you comment often and return as guest FP-er whenever you can.
Those cats have an overabundance of attitude, just saying’.
Just Some Fuckhead
I think you were great, Libby. It’s nice to be able to read a post and comment and not worry about wading through half a ton of faux outrage and hippy punching.
Kathy
Great job Libby, loved your posts.
piratedan
I’m sorry Libby but that’s a terrible attempt to hog the last brownie, better luck next time ;-)
Linda Featheringill
I enjoyed your visit. Come back again. Soon.
[Thanks for all the fish?]
Bruce S
“Bossy, destructive and sprays inside the house when he’s pissed off. He pretends he’s tough but he’s really a big wuss.”
My God. You have a Republican actually living in your house? If he paid for your dinner, that would be one thing. But you paying for his? Madness.
Riggsveda
You did good, kid. I liked reading you a lot, and learned some, too.
arguingwithsignposts
Ftfy
arguingwithsignposts
And i’ll 28th the well-wishes. Good job. Hope you come back.
ETA:
probably too long for a tagline, but does sound like an apt description of our host. ;)
Libby Spencer
Thanks so much for the encouragement everybody. I’ve always loved this place and I really enjoyed the gig. Of course I’ll still be lurking here daily, as always, and popping into comments as time allows.
Anne Laurie, I do appear to still have the keys, and I would be more than thrilled to post here on my off weeks when I have time to properly follow the news cycle but I’m much too shy to enter the house again without an invite and this one expired today. But I really appreciate the support. Thanks.
Bruce S
arguingwithsignposts – are you humor impaired? Apparently.
Yutsano
Am I crazy or did a comment just disappear?
elftx
Enjoyed your posts and now have a link to your blog..thanks !!!
13th Generation
You were great. So much better than ABL, and I wish it were the other way round, you being a permanent fixture, she merely a guest.
Oh well, you made a bad week better.
Elie
I think that you did quite nicely and welcome you (for my part) to BJ —
No reflection on you that my comments are up and down depending on what is going on schedule wise… sometimes — in fact, many times I lurk and watch the commentary flow… there are so many just great commenters here — I just enjoy reading them and laughing and learning without necessarily making my own commments…
Keep it up… I enjoyed your contributions
MikeJ
I’m so old I remember when Johnny Carson would go on vacation and Gary Shandling would fill in. I look forward to It’s Libby Spencer Show and the mockumentary of backstage life for a blogger (“hey now!).
WaterGirl
Libby, I thought your posts were great. I agreed with all the nice things that have been said already, but this comment really captured my thoughts perfectly:
Lojasmo
@13th gen #33
Kindly STFU. Thanks.
Jewish Steel
It’s a shame about our neighborhood. We’re starting to get those hoodies hanging around.
13th Generation
@Lojasmo
Wasn’t talking to you. Now YOU STFU.
Elie
@33 —
We LIKE ABL…
You are free to not read her, or comment or stay away. YOU are free to choose. Free.
Give us the right to choose as well. Or, as 37 says: STFU
Thanks and have a good night
Corner Stone
@Elie: And you’re free to go fuck yourself.
Anya
Libby, thanks for sharing with us your wisdom. Your posts were great.
I am sorry we gave you a hard time about your conservative friends. I hope John invites you again to post here.
Corner Stone
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/11/opinion/11krugman.html?_r=1&smid=tw-NytimesKrugman&seid=auto
Ash Can
Before this thread goes completely to hell, I just want to say, Libby, you were a swell FPer, and don’t be a stranger!
Uncle Clarence Thomas
.
.
@44 Corner Stone
Psychologists know that very smart people make the best rationalizers.
Balloonbaggers know that President Obama is a very smart person.
.
.
Elie
Cornerstone, Tombstone, Gallstone or whatever —
Backatcha
Luc
Libby, thanks for your posts. A little bit “less apocalypse” than usual was a nice change.
ABL
Libby-
The abuse is frat boy stupidity from attention-seeking trolls, and that you were subject to it means you nailed your first week on the blog. I look forward to reading more of your posts.
harlana
Well, this is way late, but thanks Libby, enjoyed your posts. I second ABL’s comment. Oh, and, kittehs! yeh!
Nemesis
I see murder in the eyes of those felines. Be ever cautious.