One recent rainy Saturday, I had the opportunity to meet Veronica Mitchell who writes Toddled Dredge.
I found Veronica’s blog shortly after she started writing it back in March of 2006 and have been stalking her admired her ever since. I have no idea now how I even found her blog. I think it was listed on someone’s blogroll and like many of you, I wondered what in the heck is a toddled dredge? So I toddled over to find out. I still don’t know.
As Antique Daddy and I were driving to meet Veronica and her husband Az for lunch, I started getting a little nervous because, you know, meeting a blogging buddy in real life for the first time is kind of like a blind date — a study in awkwardness. Then to make matters worse, I recalled a post she had written last year:
“Authors are apt to be disappointing in conversation. The written word is deliberate, but conversation is unrehearsed. You could get your favorite authors together for tea only to discover that the poet can’t stop talking about Kobe Bryant, the Pulitzer prizewinner snorts tea out her nose when she laughs, and Salman Rushdie? He spends the afternoon staring at your breasts?
I spent the rest of the drive saying to myself, Don’t stare at her breasts, don’t stare at her breasts, don’t stare…
In spite of pelting rain, missed highway exits, sweaty palms and fussy children, I think it went well. I didn’t stare at her breasts, snort any beverages out my nose or blurt out anything terribly inappropriate. All in all, I found Veronica to be pretty much exactly as she portrays herself on her blog – she does in fact have curly hair. The only disappointment on my part, was that we didn’t get to visit longer.
Here are some fun facts I learned about Veronica over lunch that are totally true. Totally.
She plays the accordian.
Shania Twain is her second cousin.
She speaks fluent Portuguese.
She and Az teach polka dancing at the local YMCA.
She once had dinner with Ralph Nader.
* * *
If you haven’t been reading Veronica, by way of introduction, here are a few of my favorite posts:
Another SAHM Talks About Linda, Subtitle: One More Fart in the Effluvium
The Christian Smart Ass or Why Nobody Wants To Sit By Me In Heaven
Veronica says:
You forgot my webbed toes.
July 9th, 2007 at 8:16 am
Beck says:
LUCKY! Both of you are right at the top of my Bloggers I Would Love To Meet list.
July 9th, 2007 at 8:36 am
Girl Gone Wild says:
I actually dog-eared her blog months ago but haven’t lurked over there since. Thanks for the reminder…she is definitely a good read!
July 9th, 2007 at 9:05 am
Everyday Mommy says:
Okay…I’m seeing a recurring use of “had dinner with Ralph Nader” thing goin’ on.
By the way, Ralph and I had dinner one summer evening in 1997.
July 9th, 2007 at 9:31 am
Susan says:
Well, isn’t it nice that you have the Ralph Nader thing in common? Good icebreaker. Come to think of it, I had dinner with him once too. Small world.
July 9th, 2007 at 9:56 am
Kacey says:
I’ve been reading Toddled Dredge just about as long as you have and think she is a gifted writer. You must have missed her reason for the blog name — it was a take off on some news person’s missuse of a famous skater’s name that had cracked her up. Todd Eldredge was the inspiration for her blog and it cracks me up, too. By the way, I am probably the only blogger in bloggyland who has never even seen Ralph Nader, let alone have broken bread with him. Some things just aren’t fair! Sigh!
July 9th, 2007 at 10:36 am
Antique Mommy says:
Last night, when I wrote this post, it looked fine. And then this morning, after I published, I noticed it had question marks randomly inserted throughout it. So I went in and took all those out. And later this morning, AD brought to my attention that it had some sort of symbol, an A with a mark, inserted throughout the post. I have no idea or explanation. If some other sort of weird symbols show up in this post, I shall have to have a word with my evil twin.
July 9th, 2007 at 11:27 am
Tracey/Real Estate Girl says:
Well, maybe the symbol is something similar to the “artist formerly known as prince”… maybe Veronica’s hubby now wants to be known by a symbol rather than his name. It’s cool—we’re hip girls, we’re down wit dat!
I’ll have to drop by her blog. I LOVE the title of the smart ass in church!
July 9th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
Pieces says:
Polka dancing? Sign me up!
July 9th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
Kat says:
Okay…I read your post and hurried over to see what the fuss was about. So glad you suggested we give her a try. I see why now. Great post. Thanks.
I’ve met two of my blogging friends so far and it’s always a fun time. I hope to meet many more in the future.
Hugs!
Kat
July 9th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
Lindsey says:
So glad you ladies had fun together…and the fact that both your hubbies came I’m sure made it that much more enjoyable! I love reading your blog…your posts always leave me laughing or touched to the point of tears.
July 9th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
Tam says:
How cool to meet a blogging friend! Thanks for giving me another blogger to follow…
July 9th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
kelli says:
I love the fact that she is holding a pullup.
Now fess up – yours … or hers ….
July 9th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
Painted Maypole says:
thanks for another view on one of my favorite bloggers! (I enjoyed hers of you, as well!)
July 9th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
bee says:
I would be a nervous wreck if I ever met any of my bloggy friends in person!
July 9th, 2007 at 5:43 pm
LeeAnn says:
Oh no! Just what I needed- another blog that I just might get hooked on… Good thing it’s still summer vacation and the kids are going to grandma’s for the next couple of weeks- plenty of spare time for reading!
July 9th, 2007 at 6:31 pm
Megan says:
I just love that quote about authors in conversation – I will definitely have to share it with my favorite writer/friend.
July 9th, 2007 at 7:58 pm
Emily says:
WOW, that is a lot like a blind date. Looks like this one went well. I clicked over & absolutely LOVED the “Christian Smart Ass” post. I can see why you fell in love with her blog too.
July 9th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
wordgirl says:
I’m adding Veronica to my blogroll and I’m looking forward to having lunch with you and Ortizzle sometime soon.
July 9th, 2007 at 11:06 pm
Roxanne says:
Nah. . .I think that smudge of black is either an errant Goldfish cracker, Sean becoming a little too exciteable with cinnamon sugar shaker again, or a run in with a piece of corn.
July 10th, 2007 at 12:51 am
meredith says:
I enjoyed reading what you two wrote about eachother on your respective posts, it’s a little bit like being at that lunch with you.
July 10th, 2007 at 12:11 pm
Julie (a.k.a. calm mama) says:
Whenever I read your posts I laugh out loud, and then I have to read them to my husband, who laughs too. I adore your stories. So this seemed like as good a post as any to click comment and tell you so. I’ve been lurking on your blog for a long while and then I was so thrilled to have you visit my new blog recently and comment! Thank you! I’m pretty new to the blog world — still getting used to all this commenting and virtual friends and such.
Thank you also for being an inspiration! At 38 and expecting, I’m pretty antique myself…
July 12th, 2007 at 12:54 am