Sassistas! Our dish on the social soup.

Our Fifth

 

Five years ago, the Sassistas! opened the sassosphere and now -- 1,529 posts and more than 57,000 comments and 555,600 page views later -- we're still sassing, though perhaps not with the same regularity and snarkiness.  Old age; perhaps, more accurately, wisdom, does that.  A hurting world needs more kindness tossed its way, or at least, we do.

Last year, to mark our fourth, we asked the 'sphere to post four-word comments and/or sayings. Click here to read through the 245 four-word comments we received (with much thanks to babysis).

Needless to say, we want the 'sphere today to be filled with five-word comments and/or sayings.  

You understand what I mean? (That's an example of a five-word comment).

Flann's fifth is pictured right. (Another example).

Thank you and much love to all who continue to faithfully follow our sass.

Near Cat-Astrophe

She looks SOOOOO innocent, doesn't she? . . . Flann's female cattie, Scout . . . . I mean, look at her, what harm can she possibly do?

EXCEPT that yesterday late afternoon, in a middle of a HUUUUUUUGE client deadline, Scout stepped on or sat on Flann's keyboard and/or touch pad and suddenly . . . my desktop screen magnified and became as HUUUUUUUUGE as my office wall.  (I am not kidding.) I could not access the applications on my dock or even the Apply icon "thingy" in the top right-hand corner of my display because they no longer fit onto the existing screens on my two monitors.  I think they could only be seen from my neighbor's backyard, the images were THAT magnified.

What was I to do?  I called TRM's IT department for help (does anyone know what "IT" stands for?), but they were only proficient with Windows.  Then I called another friend, who claims to know ALL things Apple/Mac. He didn't know what to do.  So I called my shooter/editor, Mike, who sassgested, "Did you try restarting your computer?"

Well . . . no, because we couldn't locate the Apple icon or dock.

But after about 50 minutes, Matiss and I were able to restart my Mac, and the original desktop image size appeared as it was (see image above and on the right with Scoutl).

All is right with the world at the moment, but what can we call what happened when Scout sat on the keyboard an/or touchpad?  Seemed like the world went beserk.  What should Flannista do with Scout? Is she a cat from the devil?  Or a cat from heaven? What lessons should Flann be learning from this near cat-astrophe?

 

 

 

 

Half a Million

Ever produce half a million of ANYthing? 

Kind of a big deal, right? The Sassistas! think so.

It's been quite a while since we've marked a significant statistical milestone in the sassosphere . . . but yesterday, we passed the milestone of a half a million lifetime views. That's right -- 500,000!

We realize, of course, that many websites and blogs get that many views each day, nevertheless, we think that for two broads who know little about SEO (Search Engine Optimization) or what-have-you, we've done pretty well. Our views have come the old-fashioned way -- folks really wanting to read, comment and connect with one another over the long haul. So we are grateful and thank you from the bottom of our smartie-ass hearts.

Question, though: if you could have a half a million of ANYthing outside of half a million bucks, what would it be?

 

Our Fourth

While on a long walk on Monday, Flannista remembered that four years earlier on March 5, she and Matissta opened the sassosphere to the world.  In past years, we had always counted down the days to our anniversary. This year it happened quietly.  I called Matissta when I got back from walking and let her know. 

It's been a strange year all around for the Sassistas! Both of us have and are experiencing personal and professional losses -- some of which have taken their toll in the sassosphere. We miss those who once sassed with us on a regular basis. Flannista is especially aware of how her spirit, and undoubtedly her manners, plummeted following Gwen's death last June 23rd. Our posts became sketchy and somewhat misdirected after that, like I had lost my way. I had. I'm not certain I have it back or want it back. Perhaps we're on a new path. It goes without saying that we are grateful for those of you who have remained with us, warts and all. A special sass-out to Westsista who continues to produce thoughtful and provocative "Meet the Sass" posts -- among our most popular.

To help us celebrate our fourth anniversary -- and this our 1,285th post -- we thought it would be a hoot for the sistas and mistas to post popular four-word phrases, like "son of a bitch" and "thank you very much".

In that spirit, we leave you -- and begin our fifth year with -- "we love you so."

 

Macaroni Trees

Nothing says Christmas dinner better than Macaroni and Trees, don't ya think?

Picture left is just one of several hilarious spoofs of products offered by the the retail store, Anthropologie. One time at a mall, Flannista walked into one of these stores by mistake and had no idea what it sold.

Yesterday, the Sassistas! came across the blog, Anthroparodie which featured a post called, "Macaroni and Trees" with the following descriptive copy:

Nothing says Christmas dinner like a rich, creamy macaroni tree frosted to delicious perfection in a blend of three artisanal cheeses.  

$98 Actual color may vary

Flannista spent some time on the blog and discovered something perfect for her "dark moods. For just $4,800, Flann can purchase a "Fog Machandelier":

Our new incognito fog machine is disguised as an antique wrought iron chandelier but produces over 9 semi-clouds of vintage, noiresque haze per minute to shroud your favorite room in mystery.

Your prohibition-themed soirees and wine-tasting masquerades will never be the same.

Love it! And love the creativity in this blog. Why not spend a few minutes perusing it? Be prepared to spit out your morning coffee all over your keyboard.  Click here to pay a visit.

So Yesterday

A couple of hours ago, the Sassistas! received the following comment from Westsista on yesterday's post called, "Making Friends":

It is completely surreal to read your electronic comments, posted under a pseudonym, criticizing another electronic medium where comments are posted using real names.

Blogging is so yesterday, haven't you heard? I don't care what people think about that, either. Facebook is exactly like every other communication medium - TV, movies, Skype, blogs, email, phone, texting, letters, books and yes, even face-to-face interaction. It is possible to skim over reality in every one of these venues.

I enjoy Facebook every day. It offers a snapshot into the lives of lots of different people that I care about. I have made friends with people I've met in bars, in bookstores, on Sassistas!, at work, on Facebook, in church, in Taos and once even from a wrong number. I don't worship Facebook any more than I worship my phone, but I appreciate it for what it brings into my life.

And yeah, I was offended too, for what it's worth.

It's worth alot and deserves further reflection.

 

 

Technical Difficulties

 

Flannista's computer tech is flummoxed by Flann's computer.  It's all unplugged, sitting in Flann's office broken and forlorn.  Stay tuned. (We hope.)

Stay Tuned

The Sassistas! respective professional lives are in a state of flux and uncertainty.

We apologize for not being able to concentrate on much else.

Our Third Anniversary!

Today marks the THIRD ANNIVERSARY of the sassosphere!  Three years ago today, the Sassistas! published our first post.  This is our 1,015th post.  We've had approximately 360,100 page views and a whopping 37,850 comments -- an average of about 37 comments per post.

They say that good things come in threes, like me, myself, I or yesterday, today, tomorrow or blah, blah, blah.  What "threes" come to your mind?  Please post them today and tomorrow as a way to celebrate our anniversary.  And please know from the bottom of our hearts that there would be no sassosphere without you, you, you!

This Here Rodeo

Two years ago today, the Sassistas! opened the gates to this here rodeo.  That's right, pardners!  Today is the Second Anniversary of the Sassosphere!

Since saddlin' up on March 5, 2008, the Sassistas! have published 677 posts and received 20,250+ comments . . . an average of nearly 30 comments per post.  YA-HOOOO!  And on Wednesday, we surpassed 220,400 lifetime views.  On our first anniversary, we had just surpassed 90,000 lifetime views. So our numbers are building.

But you know what?  We don't care about numbers.  We care about you.  We care about Westsista, who each month, posted knock-you-off-your-saddle "Meet the Sass" (12, count 'em, TWELVE posts) that challenged all of us.  Or half-a-sista, who posted about "Christian Jihad" (May 27, 2009) or about his travels to such exotic places like Precious Moments (Oct. 2), plus other provocative posts.  We care about Jerseysista, who posted about "Paella Mandela" on April 2 (the beginning of several posts in 2009).  We care about Carolyn, who posted about donating a kidney on June 3.  And we care about babysis, when we published her first post, "Monster Jam!" on February 25 of this year.

And that doesn't even begin to cover the comments.  The Sassistas! may open the gates, but the real heart of the sassosphere can be found after the gates open . . . in the corral of comments -- the most intelligent and hilarious comment feed to be found in all of the blogosphere.

So what have you learned about life and about yourself this year in -- and out -- of the sassosphere?  To make your thoughtfulness worthwhile, the Sassistas! will donate $10 for every comment today (up to $500) to IDignity -- an organization in Central Florida that provides ID cards -- birth certificates and Social Security Cards to the homeless that are crucial to helping them become self-sufficient.  Flannista had the honor of working with some of the rank-and-file of TRM's company who donate their time to this very worthwhile cause.  She plans to make the donation in their name.  So please tell us what you have learned over the past year.

What to say except we are very humbled and grateful, sistas and mistas, to be be entering our third year in the sassosphere.  We couldn't do it without you!  Thank you, and always remember this:  don't squat with your spurs on, though like Sassistas!, it can be surprisingly stimulating!

Love to all.

(P.S.  This is a special sass-out to the mista in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a very gifted artist that I've know now for more than 25 years, who faithfully reads Sassistas! every day and keeps threatening to join the sass feed.  Belly up, pardner!  You're welcome anytime.)