Some of my friends have started a new company in Nashville.

And because I’m a) friends with them b) on twitter and c) a sucker for sweet compliments, I agreed to help them out by posing for a picture and getting a free shirt.

I’m a giver. What can I say.

Here’s the thing. This website is cool and all, and I love my shirt, but I will say I don’t love the other shirt. A bit too much for me. Hence the reason I went with the dude shirt. But none the less, I think the idea is cool. And funny.

The other thing that is funny. My picture. Because really, how is it possible that a picture of me can look NOTHING LIKE ME. It’s not bad, it’s good photography, but I don’t think it looks like me.  Which I think is funny.

Because HELLO. I am not a model and how they managed to capture me making some sort of fierce face, I have no clue. And I’m seriously laughing out loud. You know my personality and this face is NOT my personality.

And The Bangs insisted on being the star of the show. No shock there. They are SO self-centered.

Who knew that twitter would lead to the birth of my modeling career?

And by “birth”, I mean “one-hit wonder”. Cause don’t worry, I’m not giving up any of my day jobs.

And before you continue this post, you have to make the conscious choice not to judge me when you read this.

Make the choice.  “I won’t judge Annie right now.”

Thank you. There is such freedom in that.

I have a dream job that I really want. It’s not common- in fact, I don’t know another person on Earth who aspires to this. But to me, when I think about day jobs [also known as "Until-I'm-A-Real-Author-I've-Got-To-Find-Other-Ways-To-Pay-The-Bills"], this is the one that I want.

And by “one”, I mean this is the one I want to tack on to the other two part time jobs that I already have (as Nanny McAnnie and at Mocha Club).

Because nothing says starving artist like a bouquet of part time jobs.

My dream job: running the craft section of Wal-Mart.  Specifically, cutting fabric for people.

You said you wouldn’t judge. Listen, if there are two companies thriving in this recession, it’s Wal-Mart and McDonalds and though I do love McDonalds, I think it would really be detrimental to my girlish figure to work there.

If you haven’t seen the craft section at Wal-Mart, you are missing out.  There is a large table with a deep ridge in it, where the fabric cutter [ME!] can slide a pair of scissors, cutting the fabric without having to move the scissor blades, just slide them.

Can you even FATHOM the kinds of stories I would hear?

“I need this cowboy print fabric for a new shirt I’m making Bubba.” [My response: "You are only feeding the stereotype, ma'am."]

“Could I get 2 yards of white tulle to make my veil?” [My response: "Please buy your veil, it's your wedding for Pete's sake. Oh.... your LAST husband's name was Pete? My apologies. 2 yards, you said? Let's make it 3. That 3rd one is on the house."]

“How much black fabric would I need to cover my entire room floor to ceiling?” [My response: "Go home. You're creepy."]

See, I would be PERFECT at this job. I’ve prepped for the conversations. What more can Wally-World ask for?

And after I would cut the fabric, then I get to use a scan gun to scan it, type in how many yards, then print out a little sticker to attach to the fabric so they know how much to pay.

Did I mention that I wouldn’t even have to move the scissors? Just slide them?

It all sounds rather heavenly.

I don’t know how, but I just wrote an entire post about how I dream of working at Wal-Mart. My life is a cornucopia of random.

The next step for my book is to make a list.

Not a grocery list, though I do like making those. [I am currently addicted to THESE veggie chik'n nuggets]

But a bloggy list.

So I’m wondering, if you have a blog, would you be willing to be on the list? All the list is saying is “I know Annie and I kinda like her maybe a little bit and when her book comes out I wouldn’t mind reading it and then encouraging my people to get a copy for themselves.”

If you like it, of course.

(No worries if you don’t have a blog. I’ll have a separate list for you jokers in the near future. I promise. I love you just as much as I love those who have a blog.)

Q: Annie, how can I agree to this when I haven’t even read your book?

It’s just a list, people. Chill. And if you hate the book, you can say so. [But just to me, not to Amazon.com.  Deal?] I kid. No pressure. Just if you want to be a part of this process, sign up.

Q: Annie, I don’t even know what your book is about?

Oh, well, that’s different. Ok, I don’t know exactly how much I’m allowed to say and wouldn’t it just be a kick in the pants if the whole project went down the tubes because I blogged TMI? But I can tell you it is a non-fiction for late teens/20s on how to grow to love the body that God has given you AND use it for His glory.

Its a good book.  But don’t take my word for it. Get on the list and hopefully you’ll know soon enough.

The book isn’t published yet- like I said, this is just a list. I need to be able to show the publishers that I have peeps.

And thanks to Thomas, all you have to do is click on this graphic and there should be a form there for you to fill out. I’m getting seriously fancy. [Yeah right.]

[And by the way, I know that "She writes good!" probably isn't correct grammar, but I think it's really funny. Again, humor trumps all here at annieblogs.com. And let's be honest, they are signs made by marshmallow peeps- is that not impressive in itself?]

You in?

(Let’s hope this form works. If it doesn’t, let me know. I’m trying to be really tech. Which could totally blow up in my face.)

I can’t stop thinking about this post. I wrote it in August, but it keeps resonating through my head.  Maybe being a writers’ conference reminds me of why I love you, sweet blog reader. People will ask about my blog and they want to know this or that and I just want to tell them “I wish you knew my readers. They are my friends. And I love them.”

I blog for you. -Annie

____________________

I got an email this week from someone at some University doing some research on Christian girls who blog. I thought, “You gettin’ a degree in lady bloggers or somethin’?”. But no, his degree is in Communication. He asked four specific questions, but one stood out to me.

“What is the purpose of your blogging online?”

Though I am not sure that question is grammatically correct, it did get me thinking.

Why do I blog?

I blog because I love to write. I blog because I can’t keep anything to myself. I blog because I like to cross things out and leave them there for no other reason than the sake of humor. I blog because it gives me a chance to make stupid jokes to a larger audience than just my roommate. [My dad can appreciate that- he loves a good crowd when its time to drop a joke.]

But really, I blog because my story isn’t for me. What God is doing in me, through me, to me, for me, around me- its great and all, but if I just keep it to myself, that isn’t enough for me. That’s not the call I feel God has placed on my life.

I blog for you. For you out there that need a laugh, need a break, need encouragement, or just need to know that someone on the other side of the screen is human and full of doubt and hurting and scared and stupid and weak and posting it nightly for you to see.

I blog for her. For that girl, or that woman, who doesn’t have a voice, or a way to express her heart to God. I blog for her to see that it starts with typing one word, letting it out, and being honest. I blog for her to see that God is enough. Even when your emotions don’t agree. And honestly, sometimes “her” is me. Because sometimes getting the words out on here BEGINS the healing process in my own heart.

I blog for them. For them that don’t know God. For them that stumble onto this blog, having no idea what this place is all about. I blog for them to maybe see a glimpse of a God who is so very loving that He is truly irresistible.

I blog for Him. I blog because God deserves my utmost praise. I sing like a donkey and can play a guitar a wee bit better than a camel, so this is my form of worship. I worship with words of complete adoration. And complete frustration [at least I'm honest, right? ]. Though there are days when I am faithless, He is always faithful. So I’ll wake up tomorrow and do it again. Write for Him. Live for Him.

So Mr. Fancy Pants College Blog Survey Dude, there is your answer.

I blog because my life is not my own. My story is not my own. I live, I write, I move- all of it- to bring Him praise.