I have this wonderful friend named Jane. She lives on Cape Cod and works in a museum and can make anything- anything! She bakes from scratch and writes books and makes leather-bound journals and sculpts tiny monkeys lovingly cradling tropical fish in their clay arms. Once for my birthday she handmade wee envelopes out of beautiful papers, each with a distinctive pen-and-ink drawing on the front and sealed with wax. Inside each envelope was a small message of comfort, for when I needed it most. (I have opened most, but am saving one.) I miss Jane very much, as I rarely see her. However, I am reminded of her almost every day because I have to use an elementary school bathroom. See, Jane loves googly eyes, and when we were in grad school together, she would always bring a packet of them along, because there is no thing, it seems, that cannot be improved through their application. The most memorable use of googly eyes I can remember from our time together is when she stuck them on the toilet paper rolls in the dorm bathroom. Imagine your suprise at noticing googly eyes staring out at you from such an unexpected place! Or rather, imagine your surprise as you undressed the next morning if you hadn't noticed them in time. A-hem!
At the farm this week, there was not enough Internet power to blog, so I found myself fooling around with my stats and such, and there I discovered that my blog looks a little strange through Google-y eyes. For instance: people searching for the term "loveswing" on German Google will find my site first, because of this post and Cara's comment on it, though if you check out a couple of the other links, you'll see that Herr Loveswing was probably into something a little racier than a two year-old's birthday photo.
I've also received plenty of hits from people Googling "a million little pieces book report" which totally cracks me up. I'm a part of the plagiarism problem, after all! I picture high school English teachers across the country receiving a slightly tweaked version of my scathing review. I have to say, I'm tickled.
Checking out my stats has also brought me surprises of a not-so-pleasant or giggle-worthy sort. I found, for the first time, a photo of mine on another blog, and even though the entry on the blog gave me credit for it, I was never asked permission for the use of my photo. While I know the blogger meant well- even meant to flatter- it was jarring to find something I consider "my work" posted elsewhere. In addition, and on a lighter note, I've received a TON of hits lately from a couple of very conservative political sites, which directed readers to one particular post of mine that they found funny- in a good way. This made me feel a bit sleeping-with-the-enemy-ish, but it wasn't until a couple of my red state readers poked around further, found content they didn't like, and left some nasty comments that I felt I had to do something about it. I took the post down. No huge loss, unless you count the drastic drop in hits. That's a drop I can take.
The Girls Only Weekend was estrogeneriffic. We got 700 little plants into the ground (swiss chard! spinach! scallions!) and I thinned countless greenhouse plants (survival of the fittest!) and wore the uniform (overalls! comfy!). We watched "Desperate Housewives" and knitted and really, really tried to sleep in, despite a couple of years of training to the contrary.
More knitting and less greenery in the next post! And if I find some googly eyes, I'll be sure to plant them in the girls' room and tell you how it goes... It is April, after all. Time for foolin'.
Sounds like another great weekend at the farm! Kind of weird how your stuff can get misused though. You know, I can't help think I have tons of googly eyes in my craft stash! Why wait for a face to come along to apply them?
Posted by: Carol | April 02, 2007 at 03:25 PM
It's so interesting to see how people get to blogs. I have to wonder if the post you took down is one that actually made me start reading your blog :) Different strokes for different folks.
Posted by: Kristy | April 02, 2007 at 03:33 PM
I love the googly eye story, that is great and its true, you can improve almost anything with them and get a good laugh!
Posted by: So Much Fun | April 02, 2007 at 03:43 PM
What a crack up - putting googly eyes on a toilet roll. How hilarious when you do feel as though someone is staring at you, and that is it. I am sorry that someone used your photo without permission too. How awful and people should ask, even if they are being complimentary. The farm weekend sounds as though it went well for you too, nice to sit back and get some fresh air.
Posted by: Sue | April 02, 2007 at 04:30 PM
So, what did you do about your photos on other sites? That's happened to me as well a few times now, and although it was totally meant as complimentary in all cases, I still felt very irritated by it. In the end, I just let it go; I took a stab at composing emails that requested that the people in question remove the pictures, but couldn't find the right tone for them. (Plus I suck at confrontation generally.) I need to put something in my sidebar that tells people not to do it, I guess, but really, do people have to be told at this point?
Posted by: Ashley | April 02, 2007 at 04:34 PM
Aw, what a wonderful post to read! Made me think of my best girlfriend, who also brings that kind of whimsy into people's lives. Yay for Jane, and yay for girls weekend. Sounds like a great time. :)
Posted by: pamela wynne | April 02, 2007 at 04:35 PM
700 plants? How truly fabulous. Love it.
Posted by: Miss T | April 02, 2007 at 04:47 PM
The two funniest referring Google searches I've gotten are "pathological hording"(enough said) and "big thigh ice skating" (during the Olympics). I also get a ton of hits from Japan and Turkey (?) because of one random Sanrio character pic I posted on one of my very first entries.
So glad you had a great time at the farm. I am now never able to sleep past 7, it's just not possible any more.
And I love your comment to me about baby knitting requiring much less commitment, so true!;)
Posted by: Heather | April 02, 2007 at 04:48 PM
Ew, I hate having to deal with that kind of bloggy stuff. I hope it was resolved (the picture thingy) without too much stress for you!
That leafy green picture looks YUMMY.
And also, you are such a good writer, lady. Even when you're talking about yucky bloggy things, you're FUNNY. :)
Posted by: Carrie | April 02, 2007 at 05:19 PM
Hooray for farm days! I work at a wholesale nursery, and I am forever enchanted by little green heads peeping out of their cell trays... Hey! It's time to start my tomatoes! Thanks for the reminder :)
Posted by: reluctantmango | April 02, 2007 at 05:54 PM
When B and I were courting, I filled his Valentine's Day card with spangly red hearts. They got everywhere, were impossible to clean up ... and are still turning up now and then, 17 years later.
I can't wait to plant our garden this year. This will be the first summer we won't be travelling during prime harvesting months, and I have a hankering for some fresh basil.
Posted by: Ruth | April 02, 2007 at 06:43 PM
Why have you been living the farmer girl's life I yearn for?? I want chickens. And spinach plants. See ya, internets... I'm off to the commune for some true peace and quiet!!
Posted by: knittingphilistine | April 02, 2007 at 07:32 PM
This post was too funny! I'm going to have to do that googly eye thing.
BTW - Can I ask you how you do the stat thing and see how people find you through google?
Posted by: tiennie | April 02, 2007 at 07:48 PM
Hmm, you mananged to get 700 plants in the ground and I can't even get to a pack of seeds for basil. Also, I think everyone needs a Jane in their lives.
Posted by: nova | April 02, 2007 at 10:09 PM
All those green growing things are doing wonders for my freezing new england heart right now. :)
Posted by: frecklegirl jess | April 02, 2007 at 10:38 PM
i love the googly eye thingy. i may bring a bag with me when i go on vacation in june with my nieces and nephews. they'll get a kick out of it. (i am supposed to be the fun aunt after all).
Posted by: maryse | April 03, 2007 at 04:26 AM
we all need more janes in our lives!
Posted by: brenda in toronto | April 03, 2007 at 09:25 AM
jane sounds amazing. what a beautiful idea with the envelopes and the warm wishes.
and your farm days... blissful... i love seeing all of those plants! i heart swiss chard.
Posted by: amisha | April 03, 2007 at 12:50 PM
Hey! Hey! Hey! My mom is Jane and lives on Cape Cod. OK, clearly not the same Jane on Cape Cod but you stopped me with that intro!
Tomato plants look great! This is my favorite time of year: tomato garden planning!
Posted by: Elinor | April 03, 2007 at 07:10 PM
My aunt would do stuff like that--a few years ago we were visiting her and she said she wanted to take our picture. She grabbed a camera, said smile and when she pushed the button lots of plastic discs came flying out of the camera at us! My kids were enchanted and realized how special this older woman was...they'll never forget it! Friends like your friend Jane are magical and truly a treasure!
Posted by: victoria | April 04, 2007 at 06:47 AM
I just told my D#1 about the googly eyes on toilet paper thing. Her college suite is looking to revenge prank the upstairs boys' suite!
Posted by: ann | April 04, 2007 at 09:25 AM