87,074 and counting.
Aug 24th, 2007 by B.
Dear readers,
I’ve spent years blogging. Six, I think, maybe seven. At first I focused on light, topical stuff… never veering far from the shallow end of the pool. But that’s not me. And while I realize it’s not always wise to put thoughts to keyboard, click submit, and float tiny fragments of yourself and your life through the world wide web, it’s what I’ve done.
This afternoon Jim (who doesn’t really see a point in blogging) asked me to explain the allure. I told him it was a lot like the movie The Wizard Of Oz. That I come to the keyboard a wide-eyed and trusting Dorothy… a little anxious, but with faith I’ll find whatever I’m looking for along the way. That through the years I’d even managed to find a handful of honest to goodness friends to ease on down the road with me. And that Oz… Oz himself… is all of you. The ones who comment, and the who don’t. Your the big, booming voice that sometimes guides me, sometimes frustrates me, but always intrigues me. Yep, you all in small part factor into this surreal and often crazy thing I call ‘life’.
And for the most part I’ve been content to not examine things too closely- to not rock the boat. To continue down the yellow brick road if for no other reason than to see where it leads. But then there are days like today. Days when I catch a glimpse of my page counter and realize that over 87,000 visitors have passed through eurotrippen’s cyber door in the past year and a half. Today alone there were 346 unique visitors with unique IPs; last Friday there were 432… who are all you people??
Maybe it’s finally time to pull back the curtain and have a peek at the almighty Oz? After all, you know me… you know my family, you know favorite books and tv shows and what I miss most about america and why I’m so happy to be here. Hell, if you’ve read for very long at all you probably know more about me than my closest family and friends… So, at the risk of sounding like I’m panhandling for comments– Quid Pro Quo?
Who are you? How’d you find your way here? Why do you read and what keeps you coming back to read again? Do I know you, or have I known you in the past? Inquiring minds want to know. Feel free to leave an anonymous message if it makes you feel better. Name, email address and website url aren’t necessary to submit a comment. Say as much or as little as you’re comfortable with. If you don’t particularly like me, that’s cool, I’m not for everyone… feel free to tell me I’m full of shit if you think I am. It’s all good.
Mostly I’m just curious about all the women & men behind the curtain…
Sincerely,
Dorothy
On this day..
- Obama/Biden : 2008 - 2008
- Clueless in Dresden. - 2007
Hi B!
I, for one, can tell you that the name of your blog absolutely “led me to you!” I was pretty nervous-shy about commenting at first, because you never know how someone will take “your voice” on their site! The whole “wide-open”thing concerning these blogs is mind-boggling when you can show that 87,000+ folks have, cyberly speaking, checked you out. Creepy and cool at the same time!
I’m glad I did comment, because new to Germany, I felt like I had a very special cyber circle of friends developing thanks to all of our blogs… does that help answer a few questions?! Our daughter’s name is Dorothy (”Dollie” for short) so I’m loving your Oz analogy! Well Done!
I can’t believe that over 87000 people have stopped by to read the 3 or so posts that I have here. LOL
I’ve been reading your Blog for a year or so. Found you thru Heisse Scheisse. I come back b/c you always make me laugh! Thx for sharing your thoughts with us!
Yours was one of the first blogs I ever read — and I come back for my daily dose. Why? You’re honest, articulate, informative, warm, and funny. You rock! I’m hoping to meet you when I’m in Germany next month. Any chance of that?! (E-mail me…)
Carol
I read your blog and others like your to see what foreigners think of my homeland. I stick around because your funny. I too put a lot of myself out there at times, especially during April and May during my Mother’s illness. After that I started writing a lot of fluff but now need to get back to the real intent of my blog. I’m in Germany next month too but unfortunately not near you, it would have been nice to meet…ciao
i offer you no enlightenment… you know who i am and why i’m here… but just in case for some reason you don’t know this… you have a very magnetic personality that comes across in what you say and how you say it… it is why, before i ever spoke to you, i was already bonding with you… and before i was your friend, i wanted to be your friend…
next door, across the globe… or in another galaxy… i’d follow you anywhere.
i tried to work in a flying monkey joke… but, alas… i got nuthin.
I found your blog through other expat blogs. I started reading expat blogs in hopes of helping me answer the question as to whether an overseas move was the right decision for my family. I wanted to know about people who were living the life and what it was like and whether they’d do it all again. I think I have found that just like anywhere some are happy and some are not, some days are great and others suck - just like anywhere else. I don’t know where I’m going in the next year, but I’m pretty sure it’s out of Florida. And the biggest secret for now, is that resumes have been sent overseas and now we’ll wait and see.
I keep coming back here because you make me laugh and you are blunt; you’re a mom and sometimes your kids drive you batty and I can relate. Also you travel to cool places and I’m terribly jealous, but I still want to see the pictures. Someday, I hope I can share as much on my blog as you do.
Well, you know me and we’ve even met in person so I have nothing to hide!
When I first started this thing called blogging, I was, like anyone else, looking for people to read/connect with based on shared views, experiences, humor, whatever. Being back in the states after 12 years overseas (Germany/Hungary), I really missed being around people who had also experienced that, who understood that part of my life. So I started reading expat blogs but among them, like any other group, there are some you connect with and some you don’t. Many were very focused on the logistics of being overseas — where things are located, playdates for kids, school questions, the like. Others were focused on specific interest in the context of living abroad — knitting, church, moms’ groups, the like. Yours was more about all aspects of life, and I liked your humor.
I really wish I knew WHY? I suppose it´s at least partially a “yard stick” to measure MY EXPAT-ness! I started a blog several years ago and after a few entires decided: who the hell cares? Some blogs “come off” arrogant and “goofy,” but your blog is full of honest emotion and adventure. AS well, of course, you live where I lived for nearly three years. Our “adventure” is different because YOU have a family to manage in a strange land. Having no children (or wife) but a German partner …. the adventure is naturally quite different. I´ve not read many EXPAT bloggers that I would like to have coffee with, but again you are different. Not sure what I will say, but quite anxious, B, to meet you over a cup of ….
Lee
You & I have sort of known each other through message boards previously….I’ve followed your blog religiously because, as the others have said before, you’re funny, blunt, interesting, & to the point in your blogs. You’re good at it. I really enjoy reading your blogs, I make it a point in my daily routine to stop by & see what you have to say.
We’ve never formally met IRL, altho if ever the opportunity arose to, I’d jump at the chance. Being able to actually meet people you’ve interacted with is a really cool & interesting life experience. You’ve also been tremendously open & welcoming to everyone about telling us about your family, which I find very brave, given how vast & wide the WWW is. I’m not quite sure I feel as brave enough to talk much about me, at least not out in the open, but maybe one day I will be.
Thank you for your daily blogs, you’re an inspiration to many B.
Hey There,
I found your blog on someone else’s blogroll (not sure which, someone posting from Germany or Switzerland) and always enjoy reading your blog. It comes across as honest, something that is not always easy to do but that is what usually makes the best blogs.
I’ve known you since our days at McCombs and all that time you’ve been you. Smart, sassy, brave and funny - A Texas girl to the core. I’ll always follow you for that reason alone. I wish I had the cojones to start my own blog, but all I would do is whine.
Well as you know I found your blog searching “Lionel Richie Elbe” in google. And then had to defend those actions for fear you would never communicate again. ha. Of course I stuck around not only because it’s an entertaining blog from a fellow expat living in Dresden, but also cause we got that high school days in Austin to Dresden Neustadt connection. And I’m a sort of newbie blogger checking out the scene. Hmmm, it is truly the 21st century when the connection of two people living 2 blocks apart is entirely electronic.
I found your blog through other expat blogs. I read yours because a) I used to live in Germany and am very “homesick” to move back and b) your witty and sometimes snarky observations entertain me greatly.
BTW, I also thinking blogging is a lot about communicating, which women tend to be much more focused on then men. Thus I understand why your husband might not understand the allure of blogging.
If/when I finally get back to DE I’ll be sure to join the expat bloggers gatherings. Thanks for all the entertainment!
Ok, this will be long…
Esther- Well I’m very glad you found your way here. As for the expat community, everyone’s been uber-supportive and helpful. It’s great having people who are going/have been going though something similar to you to talk to.
Jim- Three? Really? Here I was thinking you’d made one, maybe two… heh
Boo- Here’s some info: Boo was my nickname growing up. Thanks for piping in and letting me know you’re around!
Carol- I’ll email you tomorrow about your visit. It sounds like you’ll be primarily on the west side of germany, but if you drift a little closer to center I might be able to swing it.
Rositta- It sounds like you’re going to have a great time visiting the fatherland. Sometimes being stuck so far to the east sucks… makes me miss a lot of the get-togethers.
Jeanni- I heart you… flying monkey references or no.
Hexe- Ohhh, my fingers are crossed that you’ll make it all the way out here!
Christina- Looking forward to seeing you again in November…
More Cowbell- Isn’t it odd how the whole ‘living abroad’ thing never really leaves you? I was preteen when my family left Europe for America, but there was always a part of me wanting to go back.
Lee- Looking forward to that cup of coffee… well, the conversation anyway (coffee is icky!). I always love reading your perspective on Dresden and expat life in general.
Lisa- You’re too nice to me, thank you. And who knows, maybe one day you’ll be starting your own expat blog down under?
Michelle- Thanks for the kind words. Looking forward to meeting you & your boyfriend later this year.
C.- Ok, beyond cringing at the whole ‘a texas girl to the core’ bit, what you had to say was really nice. lol
Alex- I still tell myself the only reason you were interested in the Lionel Richie concert was because you’d heard that hot, limber german chicks completely devoid of gag reflexes were going to be there. It’s the only way I can still respect you. Heh.
p.s. One day you’ll have to let me buy you a beer and we can wax poetic about Halloween on 6th street and the Christmas ‘trail of lights’ in Zilker Park.
Mud- Well I hope you make it back here if that’s what you’re wanting. I remember what that was like… wishing to be in europe and waiting for the phone to ring.
I thought your blog was edgy…and it is…so I keep coming back.