Me, The Pioneer Woman, Dooce & Jason Gough
Blogging rock star Ree Drummond (The Pioneer Woman) was in Utah to sign copies of her new cookbook tonight. I wanted to meet her. So did a lot of other Utah bloggers. Like Dooce (another rock star).
In the photo @inevergrewup @DomesticBecky @sweetlifeinthe @thepioneerwoman @joanieatwater @carolrice @emihill @newspapergrl and we are at @kingsenglish
What I wished happened:
The King’s English bookstore booked a bigger place and listened to me when I warned them that Ree was drawing huge crowds and I didn’t think they were prepared. I also wish they had invited a delegation of the biggest bloggers in the state to meet Ree for a reception beforehand. But that’s not how this went down. Thank you for bringing Ree and her cookbooks. Please communicate with everyone more clearly about how things will work and make it easier (and avoid fights).
What actually happened:
There are so many people we can’t get in the building. Instead, we’re standing outside in the dark with hundreds of other women. There’s no way we’ll hear from or get to meet Ree but we see her walk by and it is so Hollywood.
I came up with a plan earlier. I called Utah bloggers April and Joanie Atwater and ask for their help. April is queen of getting product donations. So I asked her if she could get a gift basket we could give from the Utah bloggers. I bring the card and have everyone sign it. She brought a basket of products from this great state. After all, Ree said this was her first time here. We wanted to welcome her.
(and we did welcome her! Here are the blog posts)
Sweet Tooth Fairy
Georgie Tees
Get Up and Play
Newspaper Girl
Utah Loves Cupcakes
Jet Set Carina
Moosh in Indy
Miranda Walker
Petit Elefant
Jules Keeps the Rules
Two Peas and Their Pod
Food Finery
So what does this have to do with Jason Gough? Or Dooce? Wait.
In the crowds of people I see Dooce (Heather) casually stroll by. We all notice and ooh and ahh. I decide since there’s no way we’re going to see Ree we may as well meet and get pictures with Dooce. It goes well. I get another idea…and ask Heather if she knows Ree. Of course she does and that’s when things start moving.
While we’re waiting to see Ree I remember I had a boss named Jason Gough who told me about Dooce years ago. At that point I didn’t know any other bloggers and was already pretty addicted to blogging. I think I was close to being Dooced myself. I could only remember Jason’s first name. So I ask Heather if she knew a Jason with fiery red hair. Eventually it comes to her and with great theatrics she says Jason Gough. They went on two dates!
So I tell her how I went on a date with the same Jason who later ended up being my boss. It was a blind date. We almost got arrested for trespassing. He ended the night by saying it was the worst date of his life. And he felt guilty for saying that for the next 10 years or so. I forgot about it (I don’t have a great memory anyway and some things bring on instant amnesia). I just really needed that job and there was something keeping me from getting it. In the interview [God intervened] I got an idea to ask Jason if there was a chance we’d ever been out on a date. Yes, bold of me. I still managed to get the job.
So there it is. Dooce and I went on a date with the same person. On the same night I met Dooce for the first time, I got to meet Ree. Who is just as down home and charming as she seems on her blog. And who seemed to like hanging out with us too.
11 Responses to “Me, The Pioneer Woman, Dooce & Jason Gough”
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November 5th, 2009 at 8:42 am
Well, you did better than me. I couldn’t get in at all despite being there a half hour earlier. When Picoult came to town they booked an auditorium and it probably had half the crowd as last night. It was crazy! Looks like I don’t hang with the right crowd either.
Glad you had a great time.
November 5th, 2009 at 9:09 am
Love this pic! This was so much fun
Thanks for including us in your idea! 
November 5th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
It really was a fun night… too bad there were a few grumpies. Nothing some yummy pie couldn’t fix. Too bad you and Jason didn’t have the Pie in Provo way back when… it would have made the night tons better
btw - missing a notebook? I think its in my car!
November 5th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Glad you got to get in and see her, isn’t she lovely? Bad planning, bad execution, wonderful guest. argh.
November 6th, 2009 at 9:28 am
So sad to hear how things turned out - with the poor planning on Kings Bookstore’s part - but glad you got to meet Ree AND Dooce! What a big night for bloggers!
November 6th, 2009 at 9:37 am
Thanks for the comments friends. I DMed the King’s English with a link to Carina’s post. I basically said, look what’s being said. They DMed back with their email. So hopefully this will create value and start a conversation.
I’d like to see them leverage and encourage the buzz and attention they could get, rather than alienate us. I could see some great potential partnerships whenever they bring in someone like this. Provide us early information and access and we’ll repay it in publicity for the event.
People have gotten all sour calling the bloggers elitists. I don’t agree at all. It’s like calling the media elitist for their access to events. If you’re a social media extrovert (as Jyl calls us) with a strong community then your experience will be shared and trusted with a lot of people. Why? Because you’ve earned that position. You didn’t take it.
Look at Ree - she had thousands of ready buyers before she even started her book. It’s a testament to her dedication, work and building a devoted following with all sorts of people.
Stepping off soapbox.
Blog on
Janet
November 6th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Yes, thanks Janet for calling us and asking me to put together the basket. Thanks to Joanie for talking to the books store and getting us in to see Ree. Thanks to Heather ( Dooce ) for standing out there with us while the book store figured out who she was lol. Fun night.
November 6th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
I wish I was in the pic!
November 10th, 2009 at 9:02 am
Hey, Janet! Fun to see you linked on Pioneer Woman’s site! It’s funny how small the Utah world is, eh?
November 11th, 2009 at 9:59 am
I love floating above all the drama.
I’m very Luna Lovegood when it comes to blog drama these days. I like it.
Lovely to see you there regardless.
November 18th, 2009 at 11:30 pm
Jason was my boss too. But I never dated him. Are you still in Utah, Janet? Maybe I will see you around sometime.