Monday, December 21, 2009

Secret Santa Surprize Spinning

Check out the post under the sunset in the sidebar. You'll thank me....

And now, back to our regular schedule....

I joined the Spin Cycle a year ago this week; I’d been shyly reading other bloggers’ spins and when the Secret Santa was rolled out I couldn’t resist the chance to surprise a blogger with a spin on how much and why I enjoyed his/her blog. The way Jen sets it up, you email her five blogs you love and she does a master schedule.

I’ve been a part of Jen’s weekly Spin Cycle most weeks since. I love the challenge of spinning a topic – like a little bloggers’ writing group. Kind of like why I enjoy my book club – it stretches me to read books that I probably would not choose myself. Jen stretches me to write about topics I might not have considered.

So, on my one year anniversary of Spinning, I gave Jen my list of five and got my secret assignment.

Without further ado, I am pleased as punch to sing my praises for the witty, wise, and wonderful blogger Beth, from What I Should Have Said.


Beth is an elementary school Principal. She is also a brave blogger who takes risks in calling out the underbelly of her profession. Wacko parents? Yep, she covers that. With insight and humor and humility.

District red tape, difficult students, whiney teachers, the intense juggling of roles she has as a Principal. All that and then some.

Some of my favorite posts are the ones where she tells the story of a young child who is different, who to some might be considered strange or odd or hard to appreciate. And Beth tells the story in way that not only shows her utter and complete empathy for the little soul, she also leaves the reader with the feeling that we know that child as well. And we are grateful that someone like Beth is there for that kid.

Beth is wife to a caterer. Who knows Paula Deen and her sons. That carries a load of cool in my book.

Beth is a mother, step-mother, dog mother to Miss Poopy, and she takes beautiful photos.

She is one of the reasons I want to move to Georgia. She entices me with her State in her posts.

Beth is Mistress of the line out. Like poetry. There’s a book I’m reading that one of my students insisted I read over the break. The girl liked the book that much. The title of the book is Crank, and it is written very creatively where the outer column of the prose is also a separate poem. Beth’s skill with line out is like that, only Beth’s poetry is usually a very witty satire of whatever she is writing about. ALWAYS READ UNDER BETH’S LINE OUT. It will crack you up.

Beth is a wonderful friend. Despite her busy life professionally, personally, and bloggilishisly; Beth helped me through my unbloggable. In emails she has reached out to me, endeared herself to me with stories of similar unbloggableness, and sent me articles to read and help deal with the underbelly of my own life.

Happy Holidays to my dear friend Beth from your Secret Santa Spinner. Maybe you should have said it, but a lot of us are happy that if you don’t say it, YOU DO POST ABOUT IT!
For more Secret Santa spins, head on over to Sprite's Keeper.

27 comments:

Rosaria Williams said...

It's a great spin on Beth's blog. I too enjoy it and commiserate with her.

(I'm a retired principal and know first hand of what Beth speaks.)

Sprite's Keeper said...

Ooh, luckily, I'm on lunch because there are so many links I am dying to read! You're linked and I hope Beth is as flattered by this as I would be. You are a true friend, literary and real!

Kristan said...

Aww, what a lovely idea!

Man, I almost ate at Paula Deen's place in Savannah this weekend. (Lady and Sons) But we ran out of time... :(

Michele said...

Very nice spin about Beth.

Beth said...

Oh, wow! You made me cry. I don't think anyone has ever said such nice things.

I am so blessed to call you my friend. And I really do want you to move to Georgia.

♥ Braja said...

Holy crap Beth, whaddya mean? I'm ALWAYS saying such things to you. Jeez....where's Michel? We need a tribunal.....


:)))
good spin Ms Pseudo xoxo

Amy said...

how sweet you are. I hope you and your family have a very Nice Christmas..

Brian Miller said...

nice spin. beth is an amazing person with wonderful posts.

hope you have an amazing christmas!

cheatymoon said...

I love Beth's blog. One of my favorites. You've done a lovely job spinning on all of her top posts.

Awesome awesome!

xo

Mike said...

I love Beth! That's all I need to say, I think!! :))

Melissa B. said...

Sounds like I need to get over and meet Beth. Sounds like my kinda gal. She and I can commiserate over Principal Man and inane inservices, no?

ds said...

Beth sounds like a lady I need to get to know, and whose blog I MUST read. Thank you so much for introducing her! That's a holiday gift for everyone.

Maureen@IslandRoar said...

I don't know Beth, but it sounds like I need to.
What a heartfelt tribute. You are such a good friend!

Cristin said...

Yay! I love Beth! Nicely done Pseudo.

Joanna Jenkins said...

Great job on Beth's Spin. I'm off to read some of her posts.

Merry Christmas!
xo

Mango Girl said...

Happy Holidays Pseudo!

xo, Mango

Ginger@When Ginger snaps... said...

I've never taken the time to read Beth's blog, but I've noticed it on quite a few blogrolls around here. Now I'm definitely going to have to check it out. She sounds way to cool to pass up!

Janna Leadbetter said...

What a great idea! Beth sounds uber cool. And I like your blog!

Thanks so much for stopping by Something She Wrote yesterday, with support for missing person Kathleen McBroom. I'm so glad to help spread the word.

Merry Christmas!

tera said...

Yea! Beth's blog is one of the ones I feel I must read most days! What a nice shout out to her :)

Heidi said...

I can't wait to check out her blog. Such nice things you've written about her!

Jen said...

I wish my daughter had a principal like Beth. I drove through Georgia on my road trip and was surprised how beautiful parts of it were. You should at least visit.

Smart Mouth Broad said...

Lovely tribute, Pseudo! If I didn't already love Beth, I would go love her just from this post. Great spin!

Erin@TheLocalsLoveIt said...

OOhhh.. I love to learn about new bloggers to visit.

Happy Holiday's.

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

What a great idea this spin is! And you did Beth proud!

Mama Badger said...

Headed over to Beth's now. How did I miss her?

The post in the side bar is beautiful. Thanks for sending me there.

Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Santa Claus said...

Ho Ho Ho!! Merry Christmas!! From me and my buddy Otin

Stacy Uncorked said...

Awwww! What a wonderful Tribute Spin, Pseudo! I'll definitely be checking out those links! :)