Sayeth Deb:
In March I read a piece in the NY Times about a bunch of hip young people who live and work in Washington DC. It ran during the thickest part of the primary election cycle, and it was about how they're all part of a subculture of bloggers.
Here at G40/20Z we had just had our conversation about the quality of a piano recital several of us had been to, and we peeked through the window at what we later learned would be Scott's research topic about the effect of the blogosphere on arts criticism. I also knew we were ramping up for the spring limerick contest, which, in retrospect, sealed all our fates as fellow travelers into perpetuity.
So the Times piece was pertinent, and I read it all the way to the end. One night, several of the hip young people got together and made dinner at a guy's house. One of the friends chopped some vegetables, and was referred to as the "sous-blogger."
I just googled the term again, and I haven't found any other references to it anywhere here on the Internets. I think it was just a throw-away comment, but I've been thinking about it ever since.
Because I am the sous-blogger here.
It didn't start out this way. In the early days, you'll remember that The Blogger Himself gave honorary titles to several of his friends, in a transparent effort to generate foot/mouse traffic. And it worked. I was BossOfMe, and very happy about it. I love new restaurants/blogs, and it was fun to be here when the doors opened.
I've never worked in a commercial kitchen (uh, OK, I've never worked in a normal residential kitchen either, but that's off-topic, and I'm trying really hard to make a point so I'm not going there and you shouldn't either) but I think I've developed a comprehensive job description for myself. It's more than just chopping vegetables.
As the sous-blogger, my purpose is to work in the service of the executive chef/BloggerHimself, and to keep the restaurant/blog in the hearts and minds of the people. I want to help in the presentation of our ever-changing menu/postings. I don't have a restaurant/blog of my own, and don't really want one.
Every so often I get to develop a special dish/guest-blogger entry and am gratified by the customer response to my efforts. I try to keep the chef on his game, but at the end of the day, it's his problem, not mine.
OK, yes, I'm still awake when he's sound asleep, but again, that's Off Topic. For now.
Now and then I work a shift as a fry cook at a couple of other local bistros/write a response that's so funny I almost can't believe it myself (see EWAC 4/9/08 comments section).
From the beginning I watched over the well-being of the place. Recently I've taken on additional duties, and received a double-oh security clearance so I can delete spam from the comments section. I'm very proud of being entrusted with the keys to the liquor cabinet/password.
As we've grown here, a number of very able line chefs have appeared, and I feel less pressure to be on site whenever the doors are open. Within minutes of asking, I got international grammar assistance for the title of this post (thanks Stephanie). And I think I've sweet-talked ms. p into providing lifetime tech support for my knitting projects. And I like to think I've influenced the shaping of young minds toward a cynical view of psychoanalysis (hi Ann). And I have to be honest--I can get either one of the Erics to do anything I want. Or maybe not. (heh heh. hi guys.)
So there you have it.
Happy May 6th from the Sous Blogger.
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10 comments:
Hi, back at you, Sous Blogger extraordinaire.
It's wonderful to come home from a long day of editing down my vocabulary (interally, using the Ann-thesaurus) and check into G40 for adult talk. And by adult I mean multisyllabic, post high school educated, and occasionally sordid/crude commentary on topics other than how "being in your class Miss Wachtler has helped me understand The Simpsons and SouthPark so much better."
Sous Blogger - mais oui! I so enjoy your presence here and elsewhere in the blogosphere, and I love the new title.
Transparent effort? heh heh
It's healthy for the front page of G40/20Z to have an estrogen infusion now and again, IMHO. The readership can only benefit from the balance and wisdom offered by the shamlippen set.
This is what happens when I give up creative control: shamlippen slithers in.
My alternate topic was to focus on being bilingual, but after the recent labia crisis, I was concerned that Scott would unravel completely, so I resisted.
I think I should get credit for my rare, sustained display of decorum.
Credit, indeed.
We can't unravel Scooter when he needs this week to focus on finals.
However, next week...
(I apologize for missing an "n" above in the word "internally")
What a lovely post, Deb.
I confess that I'm torn between
1) being pleased that you followed the formal French rule and used "le sous-blogger" in the unchangeable masculine (I'm all about grammar rules--like Ann, I often feel I should post a correction if I notice a typo in one of my comments), and
2) wishing you would have joined me in my efforts to subvert the inherent sexism of the French language and bent their grammar to promote gender equality by using the feminine "la sous-bloggeuse."
Or maybe, in true sous-blogger fashion, I should be pleased that I didn't have to make this weighty decision myself and just get to comment on it!
Schamlippen, indeed.
Confidential to other Eric:
Is that true? Are we mere pawns? Oh, what a shocking discovery!
(Is that okay if I say that, Deb?)
to eric m: no no no you're not a pawn, really. you're like a king to me. or a knight. or a bishop or castle. or a queen. (and i love you because you commented, unlike some other erics, who are apparently "too busy".)
ok, other eric. i still love you too.
to stephanie: i chose the "le sous blogger" form because of my showing-off reflex. i decided if anyone every googled the term again, i wanted my post to pop up and be the first recorded definitive use of the term. showing off trumps subverting inherent sexism for me. the force is strong in this one.
I've just been so busy, what with having another photo shoot this morning, followed by my first manicure. My goal of becoming America's Next Top Model is well on its way.
Deb, I approve strongly of all attention-seeking behavior (as long as it doesn't deter any attention from me), so I applaud this decision.
It could be argued that by discussing the linguistic debate in the blog, you could have garnered all the google traffic AND subverted inherent sexism with a single post, thereby taking advantage of an educational opportunity. But given how well Scott has reacted to your sex education efforts in the past, another one might have him revoking your password privileges, and we definitely don't want that!
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