A short post today to congratulate myself and all of you who continue to stop by the Banter to read.
Today is my 100th post — wheee!
Click here!
(All the play buttons are really short snippets, be brave, press ’em).
You may have noticed to celebrate this world-renowned milestone I’ve changed the look of the Banter. It will most likely be only for today or until the next time I post. (You likey? Tell me yay or nay).
The red background is one of my paintings that I’ve entitled “Contained Chaos.” I painted this years ago when I lived in a place that had a large garage. There was wine involved, music and buckets of paint in which I dipped my hands and brushes in to create this on a large canvas.
It was during my Jackson Pollock red period.
Shiny, happy people here at the Banter.
I wish I had something really grand to say but I’m not great at speeches. Since I posted my first ramblings on January 29th of this year, I’ve received thousands of likes (thank you) and acquired an intelligent and talented group of followers, 467 so far and I hope to have that number doubled by my year of blogging mark. Oh, to dream. My busiest month was in May when I was Freshly-Pressed and I had nearly 18K visitors that month with two of those days bringing in nearly 10,000 visitors.
This is what we are:
Many of you stuck around and since then I’ve been doing this with you:
On a few blue days, I’ve read your comments or read your posts and you’ve made me feel like this:
Like Madeline Kahn in Young Frankenstein, you guys have been an “enormous schwanstucker” to me at times, making me laugh, feel good and my heart goes Ah-h and Aw-w more than a few times.
Other times I read some of your posts and think:
And others I read and do this:
And then other times this:
No matter what emotion that comes bubbling out of my subconscious from reading you and knowing you, it’s always fun, heartwarming or one of those things that make me go hmmm. And, I’ll keep reading you and hope you’ll do the same.
Here’s me looking at you looking at me. You read me, I read you, you follow me, I follow you…you’re getting very sleepy…..
Thank you. Now here’s to my 100th post, to us and with any celebration, give me and you a big round of applause:
And end here with a celebratory song. Have a wonderful weekend, y’all.
Woo-hoo! Jump for joy with me against a beautiful sunset. Cue the music and fade to black.
Brigitte's Banter 
Congratulations, Brigitte! Unfortunately, I’m on my iPad today so I can’t see your lovely red background. Will have to check it out later if you still have it up. 🙂
Posted by Carrie Rubin | September 21, 2012, 1:06 pmOh, I just saw it. Lovely!
Posted by Carrie Rubin | September 21, 2012, 1:07 pmThank you. There are some VERY COOL sound effects as well. You must revisit, Carrie and thank you! Woo-hoo!!!!
Posted by Brigitte | September 21, 2012, 1:07 pmWay to go! Just a quick question. Is that “finger puppet” supposed to look like John Lennon? Anyway, keep up the good work! I’m sure your goals will be easily attained.
Posted by Brother Jon | September 21, 2012, 1:07 pmI don’t know. I found it at Free Digital Photos, a very cool site where you can get those freebies. It does look like him though. The music snippets are brief should you choose to listen, BroJo. And thank you so much. Glad I found your blog!!
Posted by Brigitte | September 21, 2012, 1:10 pmand Cheers to more happy bantering and rambling! I like your Jackson Pollock moment! 😉
Posted by Les Petits Pas de Juls | September 21, 2012, 1:14 pmWhy thank you, Jules — cheers my friend! :).
Posted by Brigitte | September 21, 2012, 1:19 pmCongrats Brigitte – really enjoyed all the sounds and music and as you know enjoy your blog immensely – celebrate, celebrate- dance to the music – brings back wonderful memories of when I used to be a dancing fool–unfortunately now I am just a fool (lol)
Like the background–you should keep it for awhile
Good luck in doubling your followers–
Posted by on thehomefrontandbeyond | September 21, 2012, 1:16 pmLou Ann, so glad you did. It is a lofty goal indeed, but who knows? HA! It could happen. Thank you!!
Posted by Brigitte | September 21, 2012, 1:19 pmit SHOULD happen
Posted by on thehomefrontandbeyond | September 21, 2012, 1:27 pmWhat a milestone. Yes, I like the red but then I like red, a lot! I find your bantering inspiring. Thank you for sharing.
Posted by pardonmybag | September 21, 2012, 1:20 pmHi and welcome! Thank you so much — that makes it worthwhile. And you’re very welcome. :).
Posted by Brigitte | September 21, 2012, 1:22 pm“It was during my Jackson Pollack red period.” Excellent!!! Congratulations on this momentous occasion Brigitte. You are a shining beacon, I hope you know, and it has been fun getting to know you too. Love the “shiny happy people” pic. I don’t remember posing in my Madonna bra 🙂 must have been that one Saturday…Great post.
Fun and inspiring – As Always~~xoooo
Posted by Honie Briggs | September 21, 2012, 1:32 pmWhy thank you, Honie. What the heck, if you’re gonna go, go big. Wow — what wonderful words you have bestowed upon me, my friend. You are as well and it’s been great getting to know you too. I bet you rocked that Madonna bra. ;). xxoo
Posted by Brigitte | September 21, 2012, 2:25 pmYou know I did. Here’s to another great weekend! (No, I don’t have a drink in my hand.) Yet 🙂
Posted by Honie Briggs | September 21, 2012, 2:28 pmCheers!!!! 😀
Posted by Brigitte | September 21, 2012, 3:05 pmCongrats & Celebrate – You DESERVE It – Here’s to Many More Posts!!! Happy Friday:)
Posted by cravesadventure | September 21, 2012, 1:54 pmHi Craves!! Thank you and Happy Friday to you!
Posted by Brigitte | September 21, 2012, 2:25 pmCongratulations, Brigitte! I love the red painting…I vote for keeping it. You’ve brought a great deal of Love and Light to my corner of the Universe, and I’m daily grateful for this! Keep it up, dear friend! xoxoM
Posted by Margarita | September 21, 2012, 2:08 pmHi Margarita, thank you. So glad you like the red. Change is good, yes? I love that you say I bring love and light — now that’s better than any 100 post celebration. Thank you, friend. xxooB
Posted by Brigitte | September 21, 2012, 2:26 pmcongratulations! I love the new look. The red is so pretty. Happy Friday!
Posted by Maggie O'C | September 21, 2012, 2:15 pmHey Maggie, thank you! Happy Friday to you. 😀
Posted by Brigitte | September 21, 2012, 2:27 pmBrig, you have a ton of friends who adore you, a zippy red post (which I love), Freshly Pressed status, and clever little sound effects to celebrate your 100th post. What can I say, YOU HAVE IT GOING ON, Miss Brigitte! I think you’re the bees knees. I love your posts because they make me think and laugh and remember the past. You and your warm, open, compassionate heart have offered a safe place to congregate and celebrate life. Thanks for being my friend and blogging buddy! Congratulations on this huge milestone!!!
xoxoxoxo Grippy
Posted by A Gripping Life | September 21, 2012, 2:26 pmGrippy, yeah I kind of like the red; maybe I’ll go back to the black/white…not sure but glad you liked! You have it going on, Lisa but I think you already know that. ;). I just don’t know what to say with your saying all these wonderful things except thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank YOU for being my friend and blogging buddy. It means more than you know. xoxoxoxoxBrigitte
Posted by Brigitte | September 21, 2012, 3:02 pmI dig the painting background! Congrats! I almost to my 100th post as well
Posted by becca3416 | September 21, 2012, 2:48 pmHey Becca! Why thank you, glad you liked the celebratory change. ;). It’s weird, huh? Thinking you have written 100 posts! That’s a lot of writing but the good thing, the more you do it (write) the better you get at it. Don’t ya think? Thank you so much and have a wonderful weekend. 😀
Posted by Brigitte | September 21, 2012, 3:03 pmCongrats! I love the painting/background ~
Posted by Rutabaga the Mercenary Researcher | September 21, 2012, 3:05 pmWhy thank you, Ruta my friend. So glad we found each other over at that clown place. :).
Posted by Brigitte | September 21, 2012, 3:07 pmMe too! He’a clown bridge to good people!
Posted by Rutabaga the Mercenary Researcher | September 21, 2012, 3:11 pmWhy he is, isn’t he. Likewise my friend. ;).
Posted by Brigitte | September 21, 2012, 3:13 pmTotally –
I am so impressed with your stats! I hope to one day have a fresh pressing (but I’m lacking cleverness with pictures…) and 100 posts! I’m at 30 something, I believe. Blogging has been really fun. I have met so many really amazing pleople (and people).
Posted by Rutabaga the Mercenary Researcher | September 21, 2012, 3:22 pmIt took me 216 Lame Adventures and over a year and a half writing my site to get FP’ed. If I’m not mistaken whoever gave my site that coveted acknowledgement was fired by WordPress and is now employed in a prison labor camp. You sure do impress me Brig! Congratulations on your milestone. Your layout and graphics look good to me, but as I scrolled down to write this comment I noticed that the red background peters out. Is there some way to keep it on an infinite scroll?
Posted by lameadventures | September 21, 2012, 3:48 pmV, I got lucky with just the right subject at just the right time, I suppose. Ha! What was your FP’d about? You impress me too and thank you!! It was doing that (the background petered out to black, but I changed something and to me it’s goes (the red) all the way to the bottom. Thanks again for stopping by to help me celebrate. :).
Posted by Brigitte | September 21, 2012, 5:54 pmI was not expecting to ever get FP’d since what I write is edgier and if I need to drop a curse word, it’s dropped or mention a sex act, it’s mentioned. Somehow someone lost their mind at WP and they approved my post about when Milton and I attended the Savage Beauty exhibit at the Met in summer 2011; that was the Alexander McQueen exhibit. Forgive me for posting the link here and no hurt feelings if you remove it because shilling one’s site on someone else’s is so gauche (plus I did this as recently as yesterday so I understand completely if you eliminate me in a drive-by shooting):
http://lameadventures.wordpress.com/2011/08/08/lame-adventure-216-savage-waiting/
Back to your lovely Celebration post, I’m home and finally had the chance to read it again — and properly — with the sound effects. It was a good post made much better since the bells and whistles are such a deft touch! A technical note from someone so technologically inept I only stopped singeing my hand in the toaster three days ago, your new wallpaper with your red painting scrolls perfectly on my Mac. On my PC at The Grind it cut off. What does that mean? I dunno. Email a complaint to Bill Gates and send your good karma vibes to Steve Jobs since Apple got it right.
Posted by lameadventures | September 21, 2012, 9:23 pmV, I visited your post — AWESOME and funny and left a lengthy, babbling comment. Brevity is not my virtue. You can leave a link anytime. I’m all about shameless promotion. I like edgy and I follow many blogs that are edgy. I keep my PG but appreciate those who push those boundaries. My never-ending book I’m working on has plenty of edgy.
Yeah, I have a MAC and it looks the same on mine too — the red goes all the way down so glad you got a chance to view and hear it in its full glory. Thanks for a second visit; it just doesn’t work as well without the sound effects. :).
Posted by Brigitte | September 22, 2012, 8:56 amI always make an effort to respect an artist’s wishes. I figured the sound effects were integral to the post or else why put them there?
Thanks for being so generous Brig!
Posted by lameadventures | September 22, 2012, 10:28 amHappy 100th post, and I’m looking forward to the next 100! Great painting, too! 🙂
Posted by jmmcdowell | September 21, 2012, 4:29 pmHi J! Thank you and nice to know you’ll stick around for the next 100. :).
Posted by Brigitte | September 21, 2012, 5:54 pmDarn. I can’t see your painting! The background is gray.
Congrats to you! Since I just started following you, that means I have 99 posts to get caught up on!
Posted by robincoyle | September 21, 2012, 4:42 pmThat’s weird. It’s red to me — what the funkyhouse”??? Rut-ro, if you do happen to go back to my first one, be kind. :). Thanks, Robin.
Posted by Brigitte | September 21, 2012, 5:55 pmAfter I commented, half of the background was red. The other half gray. I’m sure it was a WP hiccup.
Posted by robincoyle | September 21, 2012, 6:39 pmcongrats! I always love when a blog I follow reaches a milestone like this,it gives me hope for my own. The background is awesome! As a painter myself I can appreciate it! Of course red being one of my favorite colors helps also… 😉
Posted by changeforbetterme | September 21, 2012, 5:26 pmHi Change, thank you so much. I thought I was following you — now I am. That Kentucky Burgoo Recipe on your blog looks yum btw. :).
Posted by Brigitte | September 21, 2012, 5:59 pmThanks! Just call me Jackie 😉 I love your blog!
Posted by changeforbetterme | September 21, 2012, 8:08 pmJackie it is and thank you. 🙂
Posted by Brigitte | September 21, 2012, 8:58 pmMy Queen of Kindness.. you rock it and CONGRATS.I am so glad and thankful I somehow stumbled onto your world. I love reading your blog and this one really made my day with your music snippets and happy faces. You really are pure gold.
I am along for the amazing ride and cannot wait to celebrate your anniversary– which by the way is the Big Guy’s bday so it is karma baby.
Audra
Posted by unfetteredbs | September 21, 2012, 6:01 pmHello darling one, you rock too and thank you!!! I’m glad you stumbled over to mine and I stumbled over to yours. It’s a mutual love-blog thing, believe me my poetic friend. Thank you for celebrating. It is an auspicious sign, some freaky good mojo that it landed on the day the love of your life was born. CELEBRATE and I’ll take that good, great karma from you, soak it in and send it right back at you….NOW. xxoo
Brigitte
Posted by Brigitte | September 21, 2012, 6:14 pmCongratulations on 100 posts! I’m always excited to see an email in my inbox notifying me that you’ve published a new post. Blessings on your head!
Posted by dianasschwenk | September 21, 2012, 6:07 pmOh, Diana thank you. I love seeing yours pop up in my email as well. I love that expression – blessings on your head too, friend and good on you. ;).
Posted by Brigitte | September 21, 2012, 6:15 pmBrigitte,
Congratulations! This is indeed cause for celebration! And there are so many little excerpts I have enjoyed in this festive post:
1. “There was wine involved, music and buckets of paint”… This sound like the perfect night to me… Only thing missing is rolling naked in the paint.
2. My Jackson Pollock Red period… This made me laugh. You’re the Picasso of this blogosphere, my dear.
Félicitations mon amie, je suis fière de toi, et content pour toi.
Eric
Posted by Le Clown | September 21, 2012, 6:16 pmEric,
Thank you my friend. I tried the rolling around part — it’s not as easy as it seems.
Thank you for your congrats and I think you said you’re content and proud of me? That French stuff you write is so beautiful; I just don’t understand it all.
Thank you, get some rest and have a wonderful weekend,
Brigitte
Picasso of the Blogosphere
Posted by Brigitte | September 21, 2012, 6:23 pmCongratulations to you, Brigitte! You absolutely know how to throw a fun 100th post party! And I like the party look, too. It’s so cheerful and bright, just perfect for your blog! I look forward to the next 100 posts!
Posted by Deliberately Delicious | September 21, 2012, 7:37 pmHi Sally, thank you friend and thanks for stopping by my celebration. So glad you’ll stick around for the next hundred and have a wonderful weekend. :).
Posted by Brigitte | September 21, 2012, 8:59 pm100 posts! Wheee! I am extremely impressed you got FP’d AND amassed so many followers before you hit 100! But you’re awesome, so what’s the alternative? ;D Love the new look, and I am glad to have you as a blogging friend.
Posted by The Waiting | September 21, 2012, 9:38 pmHi Em, thank you! Yeah, it took me by surprise too. You’re awesome too and so glad we are blogging buds. ;).
Posted by Brigitte | September 22, 2012, 8:15 amBrigitte,
Congrats on all of it, FP’d, 100 posts, all those hits, awesome! You so justly deserve it. You’re a wonderful writer and I always enjoy your posts. Like the red painting, too! Wouldn’t mind seeing that stick around for awhile.
Cathy
Posted by Cathy Ulrich | September 22, 2012, 8:54 amHi Cathy, thank you so much. You’re a great writer yourself — loved your last poem! I may have to live with the red for awhile…what is that red does? Makes people excited or hungry? I guess that a good thing…:).
Posted by Brigitte | September 22, 2012, 8:57 amThank you! I so love red – red shoes, red purses, red jackets, red walls (there’s a theme here). It’s a “power” color – but if you know anything about chakras, red is the color of the root chakra. It represents grounding and being in the physical plane. I even have a red iPad cover! 🙂
Posted by Cathy Ulrich | September 22, 2012, 9:15 amYay! In Chinese culture it is a very auspicious color, representing happiness and good fortune. So I think you and I are covered, Cathy. ;).
Posted by Brigitte | September 22, 2012, 9:30 amCongratulations!
Posted by Change My Body...Change My Life | September 22, 2012, 11:03 amWhy thank you so much and thanks for joining in my little celebration! ;).
Posted by Brigitte | September 22, 2012, 11:22 amCongrats on 100! That’s a stellar achievement.
Posted by Fish Out of Water | September 22, 2012, 4:11 pmThank you kindly, Fish. :).
Posted by Brigitte | September 22, 2012, 5:08 pmI love your beautiful red background 🙂 And congratulations to you – you really are an inspiration to me.
Posted by sarafoley | September 22, 2012, 4:15 pmThank you, Sara! You are to me as well.
Posted by Brigitte | September 22, 2012, 5:09 pmCongrats on this milestone accomplishment, Brigitte!!!! There are so many who are grateful you’re in the blogosphere!
Posted by Ron Stempkowski | September 22, 2012, 11:58 pmThat’s so nice, Ron. Thank you for celebrating with me. xxoo
Posted by Brigitte | September 23, 2012, 7:31 amDrat, I’m late to the party. Congratulations and felicitations, Brigitte!! You’re one of my favorite bloggers because your posts just make me feel better, even when they’re about heavy stuff. You just have a way of seeing things that makes me glad. Here’s to 100+ more!!
Posted by Madame Weebles | September 23, 2012, 9:34 pmYou’re never too late Weebs and thank you. You’re one of my favs as well and I think you know that. I so appreciate your being in on the celebration and thank you so much for your kind words — they mean a lot.
Posted by Brigitte | September 24, 2012, 9:40 amWhenever I see Madeline Kahn (or a scrumptious Teri Garr) in that movie, I think: “I wonder if they have any real German in them.” Because, you see, I could help with that.
Congratulations on your 100th Post! I did not recall that you had been freshly-pressed! That may have been before I started reading (or, as is also likely) what brought me here in the first place. I would be very embarrassed to find that not only HAD I read it, but that I’d commented “Congrats on being Freshly-Pressed Brigitte!” May was when my schedule started to get really swampy.
So congrats again on 100 posts and here’s to many, many more. There are many different voices on the internet and blogosphere, but your impassioned, sweet and utterly unique take on life sets you apart. You have a true positivity (which is organic and character-defining, as opposed to “forced positivity”, which although I admire it as an attempt to ‘right the ship,’ is still more of a mask and very fragile), which shouldn’t be confused with an inability to discuss painful things or to be hurt, sad, disgusted or what-have-you, but is rather the lens through which you see these things. I admire this quality in people. I think it is hugely underestimated as a positive factor in both personal and professional environments. The personal aspects are easy to see, and hardly bother mentioning, but in professional situations, a person who is essentially bright and positive is an indispensable asset to a team or organization, particularly in our increasingly interconnected society. So that’s a good thing to have going for you.
Re: Sound clip #1. While I share your enthusiasm and pride in your not-inconsiderable accomplishment, I detest sudden loud noises. If I was into that, I’d join the army.
Posted by Smaktakula | September 24, 2012, 3:11 pmThere are SO MANY great lines in that movie. I love it and the characters. Madeline Kahn — one of the best female funny ladies ever I think. Teri Garr and the “knockers” line — just great. I bet you could help em’ out, Smak.
Thanks for the congrats. I don’t think you and I were following each other back then but if you’d left a “Congrats on being FP’d” that would’ve been just fine. I don’t know how to take all your extra-nice and special compliments in other than to give you a very heartfelt THANK YOU. I admire your wonderful wit, don’t always get all of it, but I respect and admire it. I don’t think it’s you, but me. I hope my posts come across as genuine — not “preachy” or judgmental but just some simple observations on viewing life — through all its ups and downs. I hope I’m succeeding in that regard!
I’ll try to put a warning on future sound clips just for you. Wouldn’t want you running away because of a few loud horn noises. ;). Thanks, friend — your elegant and thoughtful words are always so appreciated.
Posted by Brigitte | September 24, 2012, 3:37 pmAbsolutely love this! I literally just read your comment congratulating me on my 100th post this afternoon, and now catching up in my reader I see I get to congratulate you right back! Way to go! Thanks for all the clips and smiles while reading this.
Posted by britta326 | September 24, 2012, 9:46 pmAnd I’m glad to be here to help you revel in your 100th post!
Posted by Sword-chinned bitch | September 28, 2012, 10:00 pmSandee!!! Thank you — how are you friend? Thanks for stopping in and hope to ‘see’ you again soon.
Posted by Brigitte | September 29, 2012, 11:05 am