national delurker day!

apparently it's a real thing and it's today, people! this is the official day when we are supposed to step out of the shadows of the blogs we read without ever commenting or following or having any presence in and make some noise.

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so if you're here and i don't know you or have no idea that you've ever read one word of this blog i would love to meet/hear from you...seriously even if we share no common friends or if you found me by googling "shut up mega-bitch" or if you were my 7th grade nemesis (hi, JM!). i have made several great buddies through the lurking creepster--->outed follower transition (both mine and theirs). recently i was really excited to find out that several of my long lost friends actually stop by putapuredukes occasionally (looking at you susan, mariah, ashley and katy!) and have dropped me a comment or message and it pretty much made my day.

click the pic and scroll down to read an explanation if you think i'm making it up

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in my head we get hits here almost solely thanks to the interest and clicking of me & jesse, our moms (my mom has the lowest comment-to-page views ratio EVER at zero to thousands so she is the ultimate lurker...i see you in that dark alley, genia!) and, of course, lena. and i'm pretty sure people only became official followers to shut up my self-promotion (ha! nice try). but i promise it's not self-promotion (this time). i don't get anything out of more hits or comments or followers besides a little self-esteem plus the information, wisdom, hilarity, encouragement, helpful tips and new perspective that you leave on the things i am screeching about. i definitely don't do this just hear myself talk and clear out my mental gutters (where my mind is, often). i am interested to hear other ideas, opinions, fact, or random side stories about anything you have to say. for reals. i want this to be a conversation more than a stream of consciousness. that sounds super touchy-feely...sorry. i am not trying to get in your pants.

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i certainly lurk on several blogs (on my favorites sidebar and other super secret ones) and i am going to go "come out" and comment or officially follow them in honor of the "holiday" and so that i am not a raging hypocrite (i'm nervous!). and while i'm in the spirit of coming out, i will say that i am officially, if begrudgingly, on twitter--which i am still very clueless and intimidated about--but i will add that link to the blog in case you are a tweeterer (?...twite? tweetledum? twatface?) yourself.

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so there. picture me with a handful of juicy acorns trying to sweetly lure frightened baby squirrels from the shady boles of the oak trees. i am standing really still and not making loud noises. i smell like birdseed. it's safe to come out, guys. please don't bite my eyeballs.

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if you are one of the peeps who is a regular commenter: change NOTHING! i cannot tell you how much it means to me, seriously, my heart goes a-flutter every time i see a new post by you and i read every one about ten times. so thank you marisa, nat, tiff, merran, amy, linda, tatum, aunt jo, kara, brei, alicia, kristy, betsy, hill, mae, joanna, mary beth, erica, abby, mariam, jennifer, alex and jesse. if i forgot you i'm sorry i am stupid and worthless and learning disabled and possibly cannibalistic.

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*i have heard some folks say they have technical trouble commenting, and i think maybe i know what's going on. sometimes when i comment on other blogs i get a red error message when i first try to post, but then i just hit the post button again and it goes through...maybe that's what happening. we have now reached the outer limits of my technical savvy and georgia tech education*