The New York Times Called
I got high heels for the rehearsal dinner. They’re really, really high. The salesman kept saying stuff about Project Runway, and “Only seven-thousand of these in stores!” Seven-thousand sounds like a lot to me, and if it’s not, the shoes were pretty cheap, so that can’t be right. And when I watched Project Runway once, the judges picked the designer who only did little shapeless gray dresses, because he was inspired by Japanese ghost stories, or something. I was offended. But I bought the shoes, because I never wear really high heels. And because I’m going to get married, which I also never do. Getting married feels brave. Much braver than wearing five-inch heels. So I figured now was the right time.
(Maybe I’ve been looking at too many high heels, but these look so hot to me right now. Source)
Now is not the right time for writing. Not this week, at least. But some news: I am about to become a professional blogger. That’s right. Someone is willing to pay me to blog.
Yesterday, the New York Times called. OK, that was misleading. The New York Times is not asking me to blog for them. That would be insane. New York Times, if you’re reading this, that would not be insane. That would be an excellent decision on your part. The New York Times called, and said, in the voice of a single, calm-sounding woman, “Hi, I’m calling from the New York Times about your wedding announcement.”
I was walking down fifth Ave, and there were a lot of people trying to get into the Prada store at once, and they were very loud about it. I said “Oh my god.”
She said, “Yes.” She’d obviously heard that a lot, and finally realized that she was God.
We started talking. She asked me about what I’d put on the form, as my occupation. There was a lot of stuff there. I wrote about this in the piece on doing everything and nothing in your twenties. She was fine with the bit about being a lay cantor (though the “lay” threw her off momentarily). But when she got to “blogger,” she said, “Blogger. That’s new. That’s very new. I don’t think we can include that.”
I said, “I do it a lot.”
She said, “Are you paid?”
I said, “I hope that one day I will be.”
She laughed gently, and said, “I’ll check with my editor.”
I stopped by Bear’s office, and when he came down, I jumped up and down a little and said, “The New York Times!” too many times. And he smiled and said, “Oh no. What did you tell them?”
“Well, she asked when our first kiss happened.”
“Oh no.”
Bear did not want to be selected. He is very private. Which is why me being a blogger is awful for him. I wanted to be selected. I got really girly about it.
About a half hour before I got the call, I was in a dressing room with several people, all of whom were focused on my mother, who was having her final fitting for the gown she will wear to my wedding. Her gown is a lot more spectacular than mine, by the way. And I don’t say that in a resentful way. She’s been married for thirty-five years, I haven’t even gotten married yet. She definitely deserves the fancier dress. I was sitting with a notebook in the corner, disappearing (and writing, of course), and she was being fawned on by the shy seamstress and the exuberant and sweet gay salesman with the British accent. The conversation moved from tanning creams to earrings to “hose” to “blush nail polish.” At which point I said, “I don’t think I was meant to be a girl.”
Everyone paused for a moment, and the salesman said, kindly, “You were definitely meant to be a girl.” Which made me feel suddenly conscious of the fact that I might have been too gender-something. I mean, he liked fashion much more than me, and it isn’t like someone has to be a girl to like fashion…But then, I do feel like I’ve missed some basic lesson in girlishness (that my mother has apparently learned later in life). So when I jumped up and down for the New York Times, it all balanced out.
Anyway, it’s funny, because the NY Times woman didn’t really think “blogger” would fit, because I wasn’t a professional blogger. And then today, I got contacted by a blogging network that wants to make me (sort of) legitimate. Sweet!
The woman who I spoke with from the blogging network asked if I’d be blogging on my honeymoon. I said, “Definitely not!”
She seemed a little surprised. She said, “Good for you!”
Once you start, I guess it’s hard to stop.
* * *
Un-roast: Today I love the way I imagine I look when I already feel really excited.
P.S. This is a good article about thinness and jobs.
P.P.S. Hung out with Deborah Rhode yesterday, before a private, and extremely exclusive, and so very high society Manhattan (did I take it too far yet?) event. Stay tuned for my post of the interview. One of the things that she talks about in her latest book, The Beauty Bias, is how a majority of women suffer physically from years of wearing high heels. I’ve failed her already. But I love her anyway. And I promise not to wear them very often.
Kate on October 8th 2010 in Uncategorized
SR responded on 08 Oct 2010 at 5:43 pm #
Congrats – I’m so happy that you will have a record of your special day! I am not surprised that you got some pushback about the blogger title, that department is extremely detailed-oriented, to put it nicely, and when we did it, they wanted a third-party verification of every fact. I thought the NYT asked more questions about me and my husband then they did of the Bush Administration and their POV on weapons of mass destruction. They wouldn’t take my online transcript as verification of my honors in school, etc. They called my parents’ bosses and my bosses, etc. And they sorely wanted to classify the specific type of litigation my husband dealt with, which was problematic for his employer.
But at the end of the day, it is all worth it. And your Bear will think so too – especially when he sees your smiling faces in-print! Congrats!
Kate responded on 08 Oct 2010 at 5:50 pm #
Ha! I’m trying to figure out how to get a copy of my diploma to them, as we speak (type)! But I don’t think they’re calling any bosses. I hope. When was this? Maybe they’ve chilled out slightly?
Yeah, the whole WMD thing was not really investigated thoroughly enough….
Mary responded on 08 Oct 2010 at 6:32 pm #
Those heels are HAWT. I would love to wear Christian Louboutin shoes when I get married in December. Sadly I could never justify $600+ on a pair of 4+ inch heels. Just thinking about it is making both my feet and my wallet hurt.
I love your wedding posts because I can totally relate. I feel swept up in a world of of chivari chairs and sahara roses and charger plates: things brides are “supposed” to know about but I’m just like ???
Also, I had no idea the NYT was so competitive for wedding announcements. Or that they had fact checkers for wedding announcements. Go figure.
Kate responded on 08 Oct 2010 at 6:52 pm #
@Mary
Are the shoes in the photo Christian Louboutin? I just clicked on the prettiest picture. I must have expensive taste! At least you can console yourself with the fact that you definitely know more about all this than me 🙂
Wei-Wei responded on 08 Oct 2010 at 9:00 pm #
I didn’t know that the shoes were Christian Louboutin – I don’t even know what that is! The shoes do look sexy, though. I think you may have offended the salesman a little, though. I would have been horrified. :S
zoe responded on 08 Oct 2010 at 10:13 pm #
I said “Oh my god.”
She said, “Yes.” She’d obviously heard that a lot, and finally realized that she was God.
…you’re hilarious :). congratulations for being selected! that’s pretty awesome. as are those heels! i always forget how much i hate high heels whenever i buy them. i just get drawn in by their prettiness! i love being taller for an evening (i’m only 5′ 1″ :() but some how i really don’t love the ache they leave in my feet the next day and the difficulty in walking. hmmm…
anyway, congratulations again. can’t wait to read the interview!
Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday responded on 08 Oct 2010 at 11:13 pm #
Maybe it’s because I’m Canadian, or maybe it’s because I’m not from New York (or any big city for that matter) but is it not possible for everyone to put their wedding announcement in the newspaper?
Either way, this seems like a really big deal– at least I remember Charlotte on Sex and the City making a big deal of it when she married Harry– so CONGRATULATIONS!!
Noel responded on 09 Oct 2010 at 12:45 am #
CONGRATS!!
That is so exciting! How does that work? Do you keep this blog and start a new one for the network? Or does this blog move somewere? Either way, I hope ETDC is here to stay! Especially because I’m just getting caught up on posts I haven’t read!
Also congrats on the NYT announcement! Being from the midwest, we don’t really have anything like that (not that I know of anyways), but as someone already mentioned I know from SATC that this is a huge deal!!!
elise responded on 09 Oct 2010 at 2:37 am #
i never even cracked on my computer on our honeymoon. it was absolutely liberating.
cant wait for the interview.
those heels are SEXY!
Laura responded on 09 Oct 2010 at 3:02 pm #
Mmmm, louboutins. Carrie Bradshaw would be so proud of you!
Kate responded on 10 Oct 2010 at 9:50 pm #
@Laura
I didn’t actually buy these, to be perfectly clear. I wish I was that fashionable, or that financially daring, but I’m neither 🙂
Kate responded on 10 Oct 2010 at 9:51 pm #
@Noel
You’re sweet— but Cake is not going anywhere. I’m just doing some work for the network.
And yes, it’s basically like SATC. That’s where I learned what a big deal it was, too.
SR responded on 11 Oct 2010 at 10:51 am #
This was in May…I think they have a few people on the team, so maybe each one approaches it differently. I ended up faxing the diploma – they probably only call bosses if you want your work title in your post, I just realized….
Again, congrats and enjoy celebrating the day with your loved ones!
Amanda @ HopeHasAPlace responded on 11 Oct 2010 at 3:08 pm #
Congrats, congrats, congrats! On all three counts—your wedding of course, the NY Times, and being paid to blog! You certainly deserve all of it. 🙂
Your blog always makes me laugh, and you’re an excellent and level-headed writer. It’s about time someone paid you for this!
Rebecca responded on 11 Oct 2010 at 5:14 pm #
Peectures of your pretty shoes?
Please?
I know heels are bad for my back,
feet,
ankles,
etc.
But I love them so!
And at 5’2″, I *neeeeed* them!
ps (I highly recommend breaking your new shoes in prior to the dinner–walk a couple of blocks in them, and then get squishy pads for any spots that rub your feet)
Noel responded on 16 Oct 2010 at 11:45 am #
YAY! Glad ETDC is not going anywhere. 🙂 🙂