When Angie explained the "opportunity" she had for me, I wanted to scream and knock somebody down. For a blogger, it was better than combined into one.
And I guess I could ultimately blame it on Amanda; it was she who "invited" me to host when I had known her all of five minutes. Angie was one of her guests and I liked her within seconds of meeting; she's a wordificator who speaks my mother tongue.
But I'm ahead of myself…this story is best-served with a little background….
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It was one of those weeks where I really needed a baby rainbow.
Disappointment and defeat were circling my wagon, the kind impossible to distinguish between real and imaginary. I had made a misstep or two, only to find out later I was missing a critical piece of the puzzle that would have made a huge difference. In another instance, I felt abandoned by a friend, the distance a mile wide and twice as deep, and I couldn't decide whether to Let It Be or salvage what I could…or realize the chasm existed only in my head.
In my Silent Alone, tears flowed freely and I hated each one. Drops of weakness. Insecurity's shower. Hormonal display that made me feel crazy!
One of my greatest strengths has always been my ability to be reasonable; to understand both sides of every story or even to entertain a third if necessary. Circumstances were rattling my foundation, and even though intellectually I understood what was going on, my emotions battled for control.
Thankfully, these Crazy Times are short lived, and all my 40-something friends tell me they know exactly what I'm talkin' 'bout.
(Can I please get a witness from any pre-menopausal woman???)
Talking to Angie at the end of a drama-tinged day suddenly cast everything in new light.
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She reached out by way of Facebook, a message that grabbed me by the throat and demanded immediate response–
I have a super-secret opportunity, through my work that I think would be perfect for you. It involves blogging, facebook and twitter. It is so secret that I am not allowed to talk about it online at all. So when you get a chance, would you call me?
She had me at hello.
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Over two weeks of keeping it secret has threatened to explode me from the inside out! I have a job. Part time. Temporary. A short-term project really.
Social media director for…………
…for the Chattanooga/Tri-County area, their 188th home!!!!
Even if you don't live in the area, I hope you'll follow our updates on Twitter and , and ask your friends to do the same. You can also subscribe to receive updates and learn the many different ways to support the build.
If you DO live in the area, make plans to ~
- Get rowdy at the Big Hearts Pep Rally this Thursday, February 3! Beginning at 6:30 at The Chattanoogan, admission and parking is free. Bring a non-perishable food item to benefit the Extreme Food Drive. Tee shirts to wear your support will be available for $15.
- Come to the Big Hearts Bash at the Car Barn on February 17.
- Say thanks to Vision Homes for leading this build; because of them and so many others, a family's life is about to be radically changed.
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If I'm doing my job well, you'll forget it's me Tweeting and Facebooking and at times updating the site. Never have I been more thrilled to be invisible! Watching our community rally together and swell with excitement and pride? Anticipating the family's reaction to learning "they" are the ones? Helping support the Chattanooga Area Food Bank and the American Heart Association?
Those are the best paychecks of all!
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Have you subscribed to PENSIEVE in a reader or by email yet? Please do! Let's follow each other on Twitter, too!
How cool 🙂
Awesome!!! Congratulations! 😀
Doooood! How awesomely amazing!! Absolutely perfect!
That is fantastic!!! YAY!!!
There is no end to your fabulousness!
Cannot believe that I only got to meet you in the last hour of Blissdom, so do hope we get to spend a ton of time together in the future … unless of course you jet off to Hollywood to arrange the social networking of the rich and famous 🙂
HUGE congrats!!!
WOW–that is incredible! Congrats, and good for you, Robin! I’m cheering so loud for your success you can probably hear me all the way from Michigan. (It was fantastic meeting you at Blissdom, btw!)
Wow!! What an excellent “job!!” I am so happy for you and I know you will do such a GREAT job for them. That is so incredibly exciting! I’ll be watching!!
Um. That is super duper really especially the coolest-est thing ever. Plus one.
How fun! I hope you have a complete blast!
I’m so proud to know you!! 😉 So very excited that you get this opportunity! Love and miss you!!
I have another friend who is working on the food side of this project and so I was following various links and checking twitter for info. I found the twitter handle and saw they only had a handful of followers, one of which was you. My thoughts, “Robin is always on top of everything going on in this area!!” =)
How completely delightful to see that you are doing something you love so much for a cause so worthy.
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
baby doll, you are a ROCK STAR!
Exciting stuff! Congrats 🙂
I’m so excited, I’m so proud, I’m so… choked up and I don’t even know who the family is yet. So happy to see so many people in our area come together to make something so good happen overnight for someone in need. Can’t wait to “watch” via your updates.
Congrats, Robin!! That is super awesome!! I am so excited for you!!!!!
oh.my.goodness! ROBIN! you are a good secret keeper! I cannot wait to watch it all unfold! Love the mission behind this awesome show. Perfect fit for a generous heart like yours
Umm, do you need another Chattanooga girl to help 😉 That’s awesome!!
WOOHOO!! You are perfect for the job! You are a pretty darn good secret keeper too! 🙂 I am so happy for you! I will be following your every tweet! 🙂 And status, but tweet sounded so much better.
Congrats!
So exciting! They could not have picked a better ambassador. 🙂
To all of y’all who are whoopin’ it up with me (and were kind enough to leave a comment–THANK YOU!!!
Nicole, I told several people about meeting y’all at the last minute; I’m SO glad my conference ended on that note. It is definitely MY good fortune to have crossed your paths (and I’ll be stalking you shortly 🙂 ).
Meagan, so THAT’S what that noise is! I LIKEY! It WAS great meeting you!!! xo
Valerie, I need to know where you ended up on Sunday; you would have LOVED the place we visited! (Thanks for your encouragement!)
Kat!!! SO glad you finally saw my “reveal” :). Your tweets made me happy.
Becca-boo–YOU COMMENTED!!! YAAAEEEE!!!
Phyllis, is your friend Heather? Amanda is the food coordinator and the “friend” I mentioned in this post who’s indirectly responsible for me getting the social media gig. 🙂
Gitz, if I’m not mistaken, your response is EXACTLY what mine was ;).
Alli, this thing will have long-range repercussions for the Chatty area I hope. There’s no reason to stop the good will, ya know? 🙂
Jana, if I could choose the show I got to do this for, EMHE would be it…it benefits an entire community when it helps a family :).
Sara, you never know………. 😉
Julie!!! I’m so glad you saw my tweet to know I finally blogged about it, too! I’ve been dyin’ to tell!!
Amazing! Awesome and wonderful! I’m so happy for you friend! :^D
Absolutely amazing! Congratulations, Robin!
you go girl!!!
so excited for ALL involved and our dear city plus ++++ YOU!!!
go chattanooga!
so nice to meet you at blissdom.
see you thursday night. xoxo
kellie
Now that was AWESOMENESS (in Scott’s voice)!!! Congrats you so deserve it!! 🙂 I had wondered at Blissdom but didn’t want to put you on the spot! So excited for you!
That is so awesome Robin! I don’t know of a better person to let their light shine through this event. Congratulations girlie!
Oh gosh, that’s amazing babe! So happy for you! <3
I am so excited for you!!! Congrats!
How EXCITING! It was a pleasure to meet you at Blissdom. You are perfect for this job!
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am so flippin’ excited for you. YOU ARE PERFECT FOR THIS!!!
I cannot wait to see what you do!
Happy for you. Can’t think of a better writer and social butterfly to do a job like this. Congrats. I hope you enjoy this every step of the way.
Robin, I’m so stinkin’ proud of you! You are going to knock this out of the park and it’s just the beginning. I’m so excited to cheer you on.
AWESOME!!!! Can’t wait to show my support!
I just saw someone retweet about this and I know I do not know you, BUT THAT IS TOTALLY AWESOME!! Congrats!!!
WOW! This is beyond awesome! I love those moments that when you feel like things can’t get worse, something happens that gets you out the hole…something like a geyser propelling you at incredible speeds back into the light!
Congratulations on this opportunity!
How fabulous. It’s going to be awesome and I know you’re blessed to have this opportunity. I saw you struggling the first day at BlissDom. Where AM I going anyway? Girl…YOU GOT THIS!
What a cool opportunity, Robin! You’re going to be great. Complete side note: I didn’t remember that you lived in the Chattanooga area- it would be fun to either meet you there or meet halfway between Nashville and there sometime.
GET. OUT. Robin. How wonderful for you! Woo Hoo!!
EM doesn’t know what’s in store for them–this is going to be a blast to watch! Good for you.
By the way, I’m a 40-something, and I’ll give you a witness. I’ll give you witness from every one of the personalities that lives inside me these days.
congratulations, babe! you will do GREAT!
In the words of Napoleon Dynamite….
LucKeeeee!
AWESOME!! You are going to do a wonderful job!! Make sure you keep us posted and maybe even a picture or two.
Okay, y’all…for ALL of you who are squealing with me??? THANK YOU!!! It’s almost like we were together jumping up and down to celebrate. For people who “live” in this space, it means SO MUCH for you to be happy with me!!! xo
Kellie, great meeting you in Nashville but looking forward to seeing you HERE!
Chele, feel free to put me on the spot anytime….but don’t be mad if I don’t always kiss & tell! 🙂
Kathy, meeting people is one of the best parts of Blissdom–and thanks!!
Stacie, okay so all your exclamation points? Wins brownie points for YOU!!!!!!! 🙂
Monica, HEY! LONG TIME, NO SEE (here or IRL). Thanks for dropping a line 🙂 xo.
Melanie, you, my dear, are one of my favorite, bestest encouragers. So thankful to have you in my sphere :). We should thank Shannon, shouldn’t we? 😉
Lynn, well, now…THAT blesses mah heart!
Crayon Wrangler, what a PERFECT way of describing it! You’ve got quite a way with words! 🙂
Angela, I think we crossed paths at just the wrong time, lol. That was a fleeting moment (thankfully). Thanks, too, for your enthusiasm! 🙂
Leigh, that sounds like FUN :).
Richella, girlieQ, you were definitely a Blissdom bright spot. The more I learn aboutcha, the more I like! 🙂
Wanda, you have no idea how much it blesses me that you’re quoting NapDyne. To the moon and back!!!!
rrmama, the build doesn’t start quite yet, but no worries….I’m a blogger…how can I NOT post a piccha or 27???? 🙂
Oh my gosh, that is AWESOMEsauce! Congrats on the new gig and I can’t wait to follow along even if I am a few states away! Have fun.
Yes Robin, my friend is Heather. Tonight I get to meet Amanda. I’m glad she thought of you. She couldn’t have picked a better gal!