A story about Sophie and A Hole in the Fence

Ok I have to tell you ... the first thing that caught my eye at A Hole in the Fence is Sophie's way of being able to say a lot with just a few words. For proof ... I give you her whole blog. It's a new blog ... but she doesn't write like a new blogger.

So ... when it came down to discussing our alliance (I admit I hadn't yet read Sophie's "About" page), I sent an email asking if there was any particular way she wanted to be described. She sent me back a piece that knocked me out of my chair. I personally think she should do the You wouldn't know ... post.

Here's what Sophie sent:

I started my blog primarily as another outlet for my writing. I am a published author of over 50 books and on-line projects, but they are in the realm of instructional material, programming guides, and other software-related information. While I love the challenge of teaching others new skills, all of these publications are "works for hire," so there is very little of my personal self in them.

My blog is a place where I can write about the things that touch my heart: my family, my faith, and whatever else happens upon my path that inspires me. I try to write with humor because I've yet to find a situation that wasn't helped with a little bit of that.

My main focus is on parenting. Being a parent is a thrilling, but exhausting and frightening, job. Sharing my experiences with other parents, whether through blogs or in person, has really helped me. So, I would like to extend that sense of camaraderie and help to my blog visitors as well.

I have a special affinity for working mothers as well, since I am one. I think we are all too often misrepresented in the press.

Every so often, I like to point out articles or news bits that I find interesting and send my visitors in that direction.

"We read to know we're not alone," C.S. Lewis said. I think that we bloggers write for that same reason as well.

See ... so ... this just explains everything. Technical writing is very, very difficult. I've written a few pieces and then spent hours taking words out. (Yes, I hear you all giggling over the very idea that I would need to remove words.) Not to mention trying to rearrange the grammar so there ain't no dangl'n partysipples. But, believe it or not, technical writing is excellent practice for being able to express oneself precisely.

For proof positive that Sophie IS a technical writer hanging out with programmers, I present Sophie's very first post on her new blog: Hello World. (Don't worry if you don't get the joke ... unless you're a technical writer or a programmer. If you're a technical writer or a programmer and you don't get the joke, don't talk to me. Do the research.)

And then ... today I discovered something else very interesting. Some of you know Clare's dad and that he's a stay-at-home dad. Well, I did a double take to discover that Sophie is the wife of a stay-at-home dad. But no, Sophie's Pumpkin is not Clare.

Still, I think it's way fun to read the blogs of two families going at this child care solution from the same direction ... except one is a dad-staying home ... and the other is the mother going to work. In A Water Bottle for You Sophie discusses some of her views on this arrangement and also provides us with an excellent one-liner.

Which brings me to Sophie's sense of humor. It was indeed the second thing that caught my attention. Not only can she hit the hammer on the head with a few words, she can be hysterically funny when she does it. I do not recommend drinking and reading her blog at the same time. So that you will be prepared for exactly how outta the blue her wit comes buzzing right out of your peripheral vision, I suggest you read Electra comes to Our House.

AND then ... I was ROTF LOL (You all know that's Rolling On The Floor Laughing Out Loud, right?) to discover that Sophie has this same personality test obsession that Mary-LUE has! What is it with this Myers Briggs thing? May I Quote you on That?

Now we get to the third part that was the final straw regarding the establishment of an alliance between Sophie and myself: She's not mean. The day after we agreed to an alliance she (unknowingly) confirmed that this attitude is not an accident. She discovered and promoted Chookooloonks Kind Blog Pledge in a very revealing post entitled: Playing at Being Nice. A few days earlier I noticed the eye-catching Kind Blog badge on Kit's blog: Food and Family. So, yes, adding the badge to my blog is on my to-do list ... because it definitely comes with good company.

Since it's been a rather difficult week for a great many of us, I'm going to repeat Sophie's last line of her email to me:

"We read to know we're not alone," C.S. Lewis said. I think that we bloggers write for that same reason as well.

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