Four against one — I like those odds
As my sister reminds me, “it is an honor just to be nominated”, and while that is certainly trite it is also true. I have long been a great admirer of the writing and twisted humor to be found at The Glory of Carniola, so it was especially pleasing to learn that it was Michael Manske, media genius and 2005’s big winner there, who nominated isoglossia for an award in the Best Expatriate Weblog category in the Third Annual Satin Pajamas Awards conducted by A Fistful of Euros. Also, seeing the small size of the pool of nominees and the high quality of the competition added to the frisson.
Sorry about that ‘frisson’. Don’t know what came over me.
This friendly competition afforded an opportunity to see how supportive and creative our peculiarly deranged readership is. It was equal parts hilarious and touching to see people falling over themselves, internetally speaking, to vote, double-vote, exhort others to vote, serve as character witnesses, express bafflement at our nomination, and urge us on to victory.
Our close competitor in the Best Expatriate Weblog category was Le Meg of Le Blagueur à Paris, who, to be fair, is only one expatriate. Here there are two of us and we’ve learned how to manufacture our own — four against one is simply not fair. Also, Michael used his bully pulpit to make this a nationalistic issue, and when things looked darkest Magda called in the Slavic cavalry on Friday afternoon, mobilizing an unstoppable force called the Polish maternal instinct when she informed her young mothers’ discussion group that we were neck and neck with Le Meg. Things really turned around when one of our supporters began a black propaganda campaign in which he accused Le Meg of not liking beer.
If this contest has brought any new readers through all the frantic linking and counterlinking, I’d like to welcome you. You don’t have to stick around, obviously, but if you do there may be pugs, poop, and placentae in it for you.
Wait! Where are you going? That was supposed to be an incentive…
The only downside to all this link-love is that some of our most ardent supporters may have written blog-checks drawing on our account, which, believe me, is already overdrawn. Jagosaurus, for example, promised a vote for isoglossia would result in the following:
- You’ll feel better about yourself.
- Your hair will be shinier and your skin will be matte perfection.
- Also? You will, the second you vote, become a ninja. If you already are a ninja, you will, the second you vote, become a … a … SUPER NINJA. Yeah.
Our self-appointed unofficial manager in all this, DarkoV, also apparently invited all of you over to our house for beer, as well as promising on our behalf photos of the eponymous but fictional Satin Pajamas. It’s something of a Slovenian tradition to post such pictures, and I certainly don’t want Michael’s Maribor Mafia after me, in addition to all of those disgruntled, low-self-esteem-having, dirty-haired, greasy-faced regular ninjas. So I guess I’d better get started on fulfilling some of these campaign promises.
The Żubrówka may not last long, but I guess we’ll have enough beer for all of you.
If you haven’t already done so, please go and take a look at the other sites in our category:
Loxias, Our Man in Tirana, The Copy Dude.
YEEEEE-HAAAAAAAA!
Regarding the ninja skills and whatnot, as with all acts of faith, one must truly believe in one’s heart that these things will come true. If people did not receive said gifts after they voted, then they have no one to blame but themselves.
Comment by Jane — Monday 28 May 07 @ 21.23 MDT+2.00
Magda’s going to regret helping out once all the groupies start swarming all over you, with all their talk of “aren’t you the guy with the huge blog?” and what-not. They’re like harpies, I tell you. It’s like a curse. A very sexy curse.
Comment by Michael M. — Monday 28 May 07 @ 21.39 MDT+2.00
Harpies, you say? A sexy curse? I like those odds.
Comment by sgazzetti — Monday 28 May 07 @ 21.42 MDT+2.00
I will honorably accept any blame deemed necessary for getting you in this situation. When you were cruising at 1% of the total vote, I may have jumped the shark (Is that way to old of an expression?) on the invite to your Villa of Good Times and Free Beers as the first act of self-appointing myself to unofficial managerdom. Please understand that a serious shaking of the dormant readership of Isoglossia was needed. We are here to read, laugh, and take in your wisdom.
But we were also here to support your cause, albeit a cause thrust upon you.
It’s for the children that we did this, you, of course, know. They see their father punching away each night, toiling with just the right construction of the sentence, polishing endlessly the bon mot that will make our week. And what good do the Sons of Sgazzetti see? Why, their tired, empty, dis-illuisoned tata! What they need to see is his trip to to International Award-dom. And since Mr. Manske so kindly offered the opportunity…well, we your readers, were more than pleased to help the Sons of Sgazzetti achieve the Satin PJ’s, a true international prize.
It was an honor to help the cause, despite the appearance of madness from this corner of the world. I’m beginning to think that voting does actually matter (no matter how many times one does it). Your election has put to bed, finally, the concept of the hanging chad.
Comment by DarkoV — Tuesday 29 May 07 @ 03.39 MDT+2.00
I want a recount!
Just kidding, Sgazzetti. Congratulations on cleaning my clock – you deserve it.
xo,
Leg Meg
Comment by Le Meg — Tuesday 29 May 07 @ 14.03 MDT+2.00
I intended that to be “Le” Meg, but I kinda like it…
Comment by Le Meg — Tuesday 29 May 07 @ 14.04 MDT+2.00
I have noticed that I can jump a little higher since voting for you.
Comment by Erik R. — Tuesday 29 May 07 @ 15.16 MDT+2.00
Congrats on the win! I am one of the many who discovered this blog just in time to cast a vote. If that’s not extrememly informed voting, I don’t know what is…Looking forward to seeing whether you come through on your campaign promises!
Comment by camille — Tuesday 29 May 07 @ 17.07 MDT+2.00
Congratulations!
Looking forward to the pyjama pic, and the drinks!
Comment by Loxias — Tuesday 29 May 07 @ 19.16 MDT+2.00
Congratulations! The victory is well deserved. The sgazzetti boys will be very proud of their Tata one day. And the rest of us are looking forward to a good beer (or what was that? bison grass vodka?!).
Comment by gwynne — Tuesday 29 May 07 @ 20.06 MDT+2.00