February 24, 2009
The Mic Is On: We’re Talking about Firsts!
ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 7:00 pm
It’s Like Open Mic Only Different
Here’s how it works.
It’s like any rambling conversation. Don’t try to read it all. Jump in whenever you get here. Just go to the end and start talking. EVERYONE is WELCOME.
The rules are simple — be nice.
There are always first timers and new things to talk about. It’s sort of half “Cheers” part “Friends” and part video game. You don’t know how much fun it is until you try it.
There’s a First Time for Everything …
What Were Some of Yours?
- Your first word
- Your first kiss
- Your adventure your parents didn’t know
- Your first blog post
- Your first award
- Your first colossal and embarrassing moment
And, whatever else comes up, including THE EVER POPULAR, Basil the code-writing donkey . . . and flamenco dancing (because we always get off topic, anyway.)
Oh, and bring example links.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
image: sxc.hu
Related article
What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?
Filed under SOB Business, Successful Blog | 132 Comments »
C'mon. Let's talk!
132 Comments to “The Mic Is On: We’re Talking about Firsts!”



Joe said
Hey Liz,
How about First Kits?
http://workingathomeinternet.com/WP/2009/02/24/one-of-the-rewards-of-working-at-home/
Can’t avoid the Cute Factor!
ME Liz Strauss said
Hey Joe!
That is so cool … and cute!!
A kite can’t help but be good thing right now!
Joe said
Maybe we should do a Name Game thing to figure out the names of the little ones?
Mom is Bahama Momma
Now we have to come up with 5 names that fit the Mommy.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Hey Liz and Joel,
My first live online presentation http://www.doitmyselfblog.com/2009/celebrating-a-newly-discovered-ability/. Yes!
Joe said
Oh, and 2 of them have faces that look like little monkeys. For real.
ME Liz Strauss said
Glenda,
Your first but not nearly your last. I’m liking where this is going!!!
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Adorable babies, Joel!
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Liz, me too! Opens more doors!
Henie said
First time here! :~)
How about my very first memory was at 6 months old. I was wearing a diaper and a tee and I was being handed over to my nanny by an uncle…and I had a bottle that was suctioned to my toothless gums!:~) And I can still see it in my mind’s eye today!
Does this count, Liz?
ME Liz Strauss said
Glenda,
You’ve open doors and Joe’s been flying kites since I’ve known you both.
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Henie!
Happy first time here!
Thanks for your firs memory!
Of course it counts!!
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Definitely freeing, eh Joe!
Amy said
Happy Tuesday all. Thanks Liz for reminding me what day it is.
Glenda your first live presentation was awesome. Of course, I didn’t get to see it live. But I saw it on your blog.
The first time I remember what day it is… that’ll be a good first. Hehehe.
ME Liz Strauss said
Amy,
I’m still working on that calendar algorithm. I don’t know when I’ll get to the clock part.
alex shalman said
I went to the first SobCon and I gotta admit it’s my favorite blog conference to date.
ME Liz Strauss said
Thank, Alex,
It’s gotten to be something really special this year.
Jay said
I remember being at a state fair that had huge statues of lumberjacks that were 50 feet high. It is now a mall.
Amy said
My first time smuggling my rabbit onto a greyhound bus was interesting… not as interesting as the second time, but interesting.
I can’t remember my first embarrassing moment, because there have been so many they all blur together.
I ain’t touchin that kiss thing.
LOL
Amy said
PS Liz, you can just poke me to remind me what day it is. No algorithm required.
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Jay!
A lumberjack that’s a mall … a first for sure!!
Joe said
Ms Glenda, that was the first time I saw that presentation of yours.
Awsome!
alex shalman said
I’m sure it improves each year.
Joe said
Amy, I hate to remind you it’s FAT Tuesday, that means we’re all on a diet starting Tomorrow!!!
ME Liz Strauss said
We’ve got some cool SOBCon sponsort’s this year. But the first one was the first one.
GossipSecretaries said
The first time I signed up on Twitter, I thought now what? How the heck does this thing really work? But now I have got the hang of it, I am enjoying it.
Carole Hicks said
And now for a more juicy and scandalous post: My first kiss was probably in sixth grade. I was the most popular girl (or so I thought) in that grade. I collected ID bracelets (that’s why boys gave you in elementary if you were “going steady” where I grew up in TX) — broken hearts left all along the TX roadsides. First kiss with tongue — umm probably about 7th grade. I so hope my daughters don’t inherit my early kissing genes!
ME Liz Strauss said
I’m thinking of lots of firsts.
The first time I drove a car.
I had to drive in the snow.
Amy said
Joe, I’m not Catholic. I seriously had to have someone on Twitter explain the concept to me … I will eat for two if that’ll make you feel better.
Jeb Dickerson said
I married my first serious girlfriend. i was the first in my family (2 older brothers) to get married, have kids, move away from home.
Joe said
I loved the First SOBCon, got to meet Liz for the first time.

The second was cool because it was IN the City.(boat ride on the lake too)
I wish I could make III, but doubtful this year.
ME Liz Strauss said
Hey Gossip Secretaries.
Open Comment Night is a lot the same way!
Welcome!
Musings of a Housewife said
This is my first The Mic Is On!
ME Liz Strauss said
Carole,
You should be running Deb “Girlfriendology” blog.
ME Liz Strauss said
C’mon in Housewife and join us.
You’ve gotten the first, first out of the way.
Musings of a Housewife said
Haha. Hm. First blogging conference – Blissdom. It was a BLAST, and I was introduced to Liz Strauss!
Sueblimely said
Hi all
I remember my first driving test as it was also my most embarrasing moment. It was pouring with rain, visability was low and while backing round a corner I crashed into a tree.
ME Liz Strauss said
#35
I met myself there too!
ME Liz Strauss said
#36
Don’t feel so bad Sue,
I have a friend who’s insurance company declared her null an void by the time she was 18.
Musings of a Housewife said
This is going to be the first night I watch 24 without my hubby if he doesn’t get home pretty soon. AI was preempted by the Presidential address, and 24 is beckoning from my DVR.
Joe said
I don’t know why everyone has problems with the driving test.
I passed my First driving test the First time on the First Try. (No go arounds or anything)
Tammy Lenski said
Happy Tuesday evening, everyone! I’ve missed hanging out here on occasion and thought I’d pop in until Obama comes on the television.
Jay’s memory about lumberjacks transported me back to a first that will definitely date me. My first membership:
I was totally taken by Smokey the Bear when I was 4 and wanted to join his club, the Junior Forest Rangers. I still have the badge and Smokey-the-Bear plastic spoon that came with membership. And my Methodist mother thought it was the funniest thing in th world that I didn’t really understand “junior” and went around telling people I was a Jewish Forest Ranger.
What a fun topic…thanks for the memory trip.
Amy said
I have never driven. I tried to drive a go-cart once. THAT was a funny first. Too bad no camcorders back then.
Sueblimely said
I am enjoying this season of 24 more than the last couple.
Delaney said
Hi Liz! Haven’t stopped by in a while. Taking a break from making editorial changes to journal article.
Delaney said
I remember my first published journal article. It was in the Labor Law Journal in 1987.
Musings of a Housewife said
It’s pretty intense!
ME Liz Strauss said
Tammy
I keep thinking of you as I get better and better at saying what I mean. I’ve been having a lot of firsts lately in that department. YEa!!
Joe said
Ok, who want’s to be the First to get a Klondike Tonight?
~~~ Catch ~~~
Tammy Lenski said
Woohoo, Liz!
And that’s a two-way street, my friend. Even when I can’t stop by regularly, I read your every post and use your writing and thinking here as a beacon for lighting my path.
ME Liz Strauss said
First blog post …
The more I give my soul room to breathe, everyone around me gets nicer.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
[I'm back] Thanks Amy and Joel, hopefully the first online presentation of many!
ME Liz Strauss said
First out of state road trip — we drove 15 hours total to be a party for 90 minutes with the people we started out with.
ME Liz Strauss said
Hey Delaney!
You still publishing?
Joe said
My first poem:
There once was a girl from Manoa…
Sorry, I forget the rest…
ME Liz Strauss said
My first rock concert.
I stood on a table in Kdg and pretended I was Elvis singing “On a good ship Lollipop.”
Who knows how they conned me into that? I was painfully shy.
Amy said
Liz……… I have a group of lawyers who need to book you for that performance.
Tammy Lenski said
Elvis sang “On the good ship Lollipop”? I have this weird image in my head of Elvis dressed like Shirley Temple…
ME Liz Strauss said
Yeah, I could probably do it justice about now!
Joe said
Tonight is the First time there were NO takers for Klondikes!!!
Joe said
#48 I threw out a bunch and no one grabbed them up?
Tammy Lenski said
Joe…just wouldn’t go well with the glass of riesling.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
For the first time ever, I don’t really have much to say on a Tuesday night. I’m feeling brain dead.
Elvis sang “good ship Lollipop”? I’m definitely brain dead.
Amy said
Me too Glenda!
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Joe, I’ll take the first klondike, please!
Tammy Lenski said
G’night folks…turning my attention to Obama’s speech.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
You too, Amy?
ME Liz Strauss said
I can’t compete with Obama!
shh!
Amy said
Yeah, Glenda. I’m feeling braindead. I think I have been working too much. My brain needs a nap. AND icecream.
Joe said
I don’t know Glenda, I think your brain works better than most.
And I want to hear a tape of Elvis singing “good ship Lollipop” myself.
But it must have been quite a site to see Liz’s performance!
Delaney said
Yep. Just had article accepted on diversity training programs and why many of these don’t work. Are you working on a new book?
Amy said
I think someone spiked Liz’s koolaid.
Joe said
Ooops, Here Glenda a nice Klondike bar for You!
And Amy, you want icecream, here is a Klondike for you too.
Delaney said
@Joe Do you have a Margarita Klondike?
Amy said
Thanks Joe
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
I’m not sure about that right now, Joe. {did I call you Joe a few comments ago? I’m sorry. }
I think Liz should perform that number at SOBCon!
Joe said
Delaney, is that made with Liz’s Koolaide?
I have a Pina Kolada Klondie, is that Ok?
ME Liz Strauss said
My husband made turkey for dinner. Now I’m done eating. Roar!!
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Interesting Delaney. Why don’t diversity training programs work?
Amy said
Liz, please send your husband to my house to cook dinner. Does he do vegetarian cooking?
Amy said
Delaney, that sounds like an interesting article. I’m curious why they don’t work.
Delaney said
@Joe Will Liz share??
ME Liz Strauss said
Husband doesn’t cook vegetables that aren’t corn, peas, or lima beans.
Delaney said
@Amy @Glenda A recent study that reviewed 31 years of data from U.S. workplaces found that much of the diversity training being conducted is “ineffective and even counterproductive” (Vedantam 2008) Part of this is due to bandaid approach-companies think training will keep them from being sued.
Amy said
I like corn, peas and lima beans. According to my mother — who worked in produce for too many years — none of those are vegetables. (Yes, there is a lecture for everything.) But I’ll still take them. As long as there are no weird mystery sauces. I don’t do weird mystery sauces.
Amy said
Delaney, that makes a lot of sense. I’m not really surprised, now that you mention it. I’ll bet it’s a great article.
Joe said
Turkey needs Mashed Potatoes (yes the “e” is Ok), Corn, Sweet Potato, Stuffing, Gravy, Salad, Cranberry Sauce to start.
And Pumpkin Pie, or Apple Pie to finish.
Did I miss anything?
ME Liz Strauss said
That makes total sense, Delaney.
We don’t really want to understand. We want to protect. Different is a problem not something worth learning about.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Delaney, ah, when these programs are done as a reactive measure? From a legal approach /perspective?
Delaney said
Thanks Amy. I’m currently revising a second article aimed at college teachers on how to teach diversity. It focuses on how to handle those awkward moments in the classroom dealing with stereotypes.
Joe said
Delaney, as long as TV & Movies continue stereotyping and being accepted, nothing will changs.
That includes Ads and stupid sit-coms and the so called funny skits on Comedy Channel.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Joe, turkey, cranberry ‘jam’ and pumpkin pie = I’m happy!
Delaney said
@Glenda You might find this interesting: Most diversity training ineffective, study finds. Washington Post (January 20) Retrieved from: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/19/AR2008011901899.html?nav=emailpage
Amy said
Sounds like something a lot of people need to read.
Joe said
Glenda,
You say Potato & I say Potatoe
You say Tomato & I say Tomatoe
Delaney said
Back to firsts. Do you remember your first plane trip? I was 22 and I remember being amazed at how the clouds below us looked like cotton balls. Done a lot of plane travel since then.
ME Liz Strauss said
Stereotypes are hard to change. We don’t know that we have them.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Off-topic, if that’s possible here, Faith has a ton of cat toys. Her most recent favourite game – a piece of paper moving underneath the desk. I need to constantly move it or she swats me. Try constantly moving a foot while writing a post. I’m not the coordinated!
Why???
Amy said
Glenda, one of my bunnies is crazy like that. I have to put him in the other room while I work. Then he scratches the door. :-\
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Joe, is it shit or shite?
Delaney said
@Glenda So…who has trained whom?
Joe said
Delaney, my First plane trip was to Florida to take my son to see his Aunt for the First time.
He sat in the Window seat and I leaned over him for the whole trip to look out the window.
He hated it, but it kept me from getting airsick.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Delaney, she has definitely trained me!
Joe said
Glenda, try hanging your headset from the side of your desk. The cats round here play with the cord and leave me alone (most of the time).
Oh, and we call it “poop”
Delaney said
Remember when plane rides were fun?
ME Liz Strauss said
Oh man I miss flying for fun!
Amy said
I don’t remember my first plane ride. I was very young.
I do, however, remember the first time I was forced to see Santa at the mall. THAT was scary.
Delaney said
OK, this has been a good way to get out of working but…back to the article for me. The editor wants a quick turnaround. Good night all.
Joe said
Delaney, plane rides were never fun, they were always a look at death right in the eye and dare it to take me before I threw up!
Amy said
People fly for fun? :-O
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Delaney, “Rather, it showed that mandatory programs — often undertaken mainly with an eye to avoiding liability in discrimination lawsuits — were the problem. When diversity training is voluntary and undertaken to advance a company’s business goals, it was associated with increased diversity in management.” confirms what I believe. Mentioning the legal aspects tends to make people adversarial and resistant. I rarely mention the legal aspect in my stuff, unless a bigger hammer is needed. Thanks for the link. I’ll finish reading it.
Joe said
Amy, it goes like this…
:-0~~
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Joe, first I’ll need to get me a headset! We need a blogger’s line of cat toys.
Joe said
I think you’re on to something Ms Glenda.
We could make Millions! (or at least hundreds)
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
My first plane trip to Scotland at age five, I banged my head in the tiny bathroom.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Sounds good, Joe. An usb cat toy!
ME Liz Strauss said
Glenda,
Ido think you’re on a roll!
Amy said
Glenda, get a shoelace. Just as good as a cord.
ME Liz Strauss said
Looks like the 9pm wind down eh?
Amy said
Yeah, that’s the time I scare everyone away by.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Yes, but Amy, the shoelace has to move, ie me!
Liz, I’ll get right on that. Amidst writing the ebook and preparing my SOBCon presentation.
Jim said
Can I tell a lawyer joke here?
Amy said
Glenda, have you tried a ring off a milk carton? Those things keep my friend’s cats busy for hours. They bat them around the kitchen floor.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Yes, and twist ties. Then she paws at me to move the damn paper again! Who’s going to be the paper mover while I’m at SOBCon?
Joe said
There are Firsts around us each and every day
New Babies born their first day on earth
Our first tries on the internet we will say
We should celebrate and party with such joy and mirth
First plane rides can fill us with so much joy
Or give us trepidation and make us really wary
Sometimes it is just like riding a in a big toy
Or we worry so much it becomes quite hairy
Then we remember why we took the airplane
To be with our friends new and old is such a treat
Even though it is sometimes really insane
When we see them and hug them, it’s the only way to greet.
Burma Shave
Nite Liz
Nite All
Amy said
Glenda, I am giggling thinking of you posting an ad on Craiglist for a volunteer substitute paper mover for your cat. I am laughing because I have seen stranger jobs posted.
Please tell Faith for me that cats are supposed to sleep during the day. I read that in Prevention Magazine.
Amy said
Nice one Joe.
Night all.
ME Liz Strauss said
Good night, Joe!
Sleepy swell!
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Amy, her other new thing is, after her morning peanut butter and such, I tuck her in under the blankie on the couch. Then I can work for a few hours. Spoilt or what?
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
G’night Joe.
Thanks Liz.
Amy said
Aw! That’s adorable! She’s like a real kid.
Glenda Watson Hyatt said
Yep, my 4-legged 2yo!
Keep It Classy Jen said
My first blog post:
http://keepitclassyjen.blogspot.com/2008/07/we-are-hintons.html