When Dykes Collude
Because Saturdays are supposed to be fun and are also notorious for light Internet traffic, we’ve decided to use them for strolling around behind the scenes, looking in a few windows, and listening to the gossip here at Our Big Gayborhood.
We’ve all watched enough episodes of the L-Word to know it’s never smart to apply two strong-minded lesbians to the same project. Which is why the soap-opera music started up in my head when Lori Hahn suggested she and I be co-editors here at Our Big Gayborhood.
I said, “That’s crazy! It’ll end up in some kinda dyke drama.”
She said, “Nuh-uh.”
Dang, that woman’s persuasive! So I said, “Well, if we do it, can we make a pact that it’ll never, ever harm our friendship?”
I could tell Lori knew she had me hooked and had already turned her thoughts to the next item on her checklist, so again I said, “Promise me this won’t hurt our friendship.”
Real distracted, she said, “Oh, yeah, yeah, sure. Okay, gotta go, but I’ll email you a few thoughts I’ve had about this thing. Nothing firm yet, actually. Just a few loose thoughts.”
The second I made that commitment, I started wondering how deep such an ambitious project was going to cut into my writing time.
Then, in the few seconds it took me to turn my phone off and wake up my laptop, my inbox was already lit up with an email from Lori. There was a spreadsheet attached, laying out the writers’ schedules, their Gayborhood emails, all the Gayborhood passwords, and a link to the “preliminary, not really formed yet” Gayborhood site. Pretty much what you’re looking at right here, now.
About five minutes later, my cell vibrated. Lori. She asked, all casual, “So, where do we begin? Any ideas how we should set this thing up?”
I hit the link in her email and the entire site unfolded before me. I said, “Looks like you’ve made a little bit of a start on it. In fact, I feel kinda bad about not helping you with any of this.”
Lori said, “Oh, don’t worry, there’s something huge I want you to do.”
And it WAS major. If you look at our header up there, you’ll notice a flag waving from the top of the tallest building in the whole Gayborhood. I’m the one who climbed up there and hoisted that flag.
When I finally rappelled back down, Lori had her laptop out with about four spreadsheets open at once while she did some of her magical networking stuff, and I could just about see the thought bubble over her head with the words “I can’t believe she’s letting me do ALL the fun stuff” inside it.
So, I took that opportunity to go off and play with my new audio software for producing the Starr Ann podcasts. I can’t believe she’s letting me do ALL the fun stuff.
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The longest journey begins with a phone call (and follow up email) from Hahn.
gayborhood Reply:
February 6th, 2010 at 10:10 am
You are on my list, Woman. You know you are.
Margo Moon Reply:
February 6th, 2010 at 10:14 am
You be on my list, too, Peg, and I don’t even make lists!
The day I opened my e-mail (and I am one of those lazy women who only check it about once a week) and saw a note from Lori, I knew it was probably something interesting. And then when I read the lovely little “come hither” e-mail, I burst out laughing because she got it just right.
My writing was praised exuberantly. A good editor knows that this is how you get any writer to keep reading. We are all whores for praise. Then she asked me about writing for OBG (ok..that sounds all wrong, I feel my vagina twitching already..lets just call it Our BG for short)…and my first thought was “Fuck no. I don’t have time. I am good at spelling but suck at grammar. I can barely keep up with my blog…” I sent some stalling remark back about checking it out soon.
Within minutes, she replied. She had some ideas on days that would work for me, once again slyly praised my writing. Used the word “team” a lot. Did I want to be a part of this great “team?” I felt her fingers all over my back, so I checked out the site and immediately made the decision to read it daily. I sent another e-mail stressing that I had just buried my mother in law, Liv was sick (we found out yesterday that she actually has MONO and I made her go to SCHOOL. BAD MOTHER. BAD MOTHER!), but I would try to send on something.
Well, now. Another five minutes passed and she sent me my schedule. So, I decided to commit, mainly because I read her blog and like it and because the few times we have visited via e-mail, I found her to be funny and edgy, two qualities that I insist on to like someone.
I think Lori should probably run the galaxy or at least run for an office because she is….DRIVEN. And I would lick envelopes for her any day.
Maria Reply:
February 6th, 2010 at 11:39 am
Well, I just read that comment and as a halfway decent mother, I want to stress that I only made Liv go to school BEFORE I knew she had mono, not after. I’m not Hitler’s niece or anything….and I am kicking myself for not realizing that it was mono on my own. How lame am I?
Margo Moon Reply:
February 6th, 2010 at 11:51 am
OMG! OBG plays the same visual acronymnal trick on me, Maria! I keep making it OBG (YN?).
This comment is a post in itself, woman. And, I have actually seen her spreadsheet for running the galaxy. She makes it seem deceptively simple.
Great to have you here, by the way.
Did someone say licking?
I was trying words out to complete the acronym but realize that you wouldn’t want to exclude anyone.
Ooooh, game for the day!
Well, I’m glad that both of you found the project so irresistible. We’re all better off for it. It would be hard for me to say no to something like that…
Ha! You make it sound downright Godfathery.